It's all over for another year!

Christmas was hectic. The weather here, as for everywhere else, was treacherous. On Christmas Eve the OH went out to the bank, and slid the car into the kerb at the top of our street. Damn snow! We had a nice day, with a lovely Christmas dinner prepared my me. My Mum and Dad came for breakfast on Christmas morning. And no.1 and no.2 sons went to their Dad's on Boxing Day, so I got the car out and headed to their Dad's house. But the car had no power in the steering and the wheel weren't aligned. The OH had managed to bend the wishbone, costing a nice £100 to fix. But it's only money, you can't take it with you, so they say!

So Tired.

I haven't had the energy to blog recently since the OH started working. He finishes work and 2 hours later I start work. When I finish work it's a constant rush. A quick run around the shop, unpack said shopping, get No.2 son fed and ready for school and all that before 8.30am. Then there's Oscar, he needs at least an hours walk a day. And the never ending round of housework, while the OH sleeps the day away. Christmas cards keep plopping on the doormat, I haven't even bought cards yet, far less written or posted any. And there's now only 10 days to go. I was so smug, all my shopping done and almost everything wrapped, now I'm crumbling under the weight of it all. Serves me right, I suppose.

That's Christmas Sorted!

Well it seems I was wrong, I thought my Christmas lights had blown last year, and I was ready to either buy new ones or repair by taking every bulb out and testing it. But I got the OH to get the stuff down from the attic and they were fine. And I had a packet of replacement bulbs with two left in it. Instead of getting slightly senile with age, I seem to be getting more organised. Quite odd. Every year as a child, my sister and I would beg my Mum to put the tree up. All our friends would have theirs up. And eventually we would come home from school and it would be up. We never got to help and it was always a work of art, like an interior designer had worked their magic on it. It didn't bother us, that was just the way things were done in our house. And by the 28th the tree was taken down and everything was back to normal. And as a result I can't stand my tree being up for long. I usually put it up as late as possible and take it down a day or two after Christmas. And I never let the boys help, they would get home from school and find it all done, just as I did. So this year I decided to let them help. No.2 son always moans to be allowed to help so this year I caved. And it was good fun. We listened to Christmas songs and for an hour there was no bickering. I should put a tree up every day. I did the lights and tinsel but the boys hung all the baubles, and made a damn fine job of it too.

My Favourite Christmas Films

This is a screen shot from my number 1 favourite film - It's a Wonderful Life. Jimmy Stewart is one of my fave actors. The little girl looks just like my mum did at that age.

This a screen shot from my second favourite Christmas film, The Bishop's Wife.

The originals of 34th Street and The Shop around the corner are much better than the modern remakes.

Christmas Awesomness

I'm feeling very festive, hence the bright red text, I finished my Christmas shopping today. I still need to get stocking fillers but all in all its done. It has been a hard slog, but I guess it will be worth it. Until No.1 and No.2 sons break everything. And start fighting (at about 11am on Christmas morning). But I'm in such a good mood I may even put the tree up tomorrow. I usually leave it until the last possible minute, because I'm so behind with Christmas shopping, and the tree is just a visual constant reminder of everything I still need to do. But not this year, and I feel quite proud. I remember one year, with a week to go, just starting the shopping. It was actually how I imagine hell. I'm not a huge fan of shopping as it is, and the seasonal madness that is Christmas shopping is just a nightmare. Working in a supermarket doesn't help my loathing of shopping either. It's been almost a year since I worked during trading hours, but the memory of holiday shoppers still haunts me. But back to the tree. I need to find a spot where Oscar can't reach, it's his first Christmas, and he's an excitable puppy at the best of times. I can see him having lots of fun with my carefully decorated tree. I think I need replacement bulbs for the lights, I put them away last year, broken, they hadn't worked for a good few days. Roll on Christmas, I'm ready for you this year.

Happy Day

The OH hasn't been working for a while (dag nammit as they say in The Simpsons) but he started work this afternoon. Not a good job, probably not even a long job, but perfectly timed for Christmas - we won't feast like The Cratchit's this year. While the OH has been on this long work break, and I have carried on working like a dog, I have delegated the housework out to him. And he failed miserably. Apart from doing dishes, walking the dog and cooking the tea, I had to ask, at least twice, for every other chore to be done. And his stock excuse? The dog wouldn't give him peace to get on! Now that is true for sweeping, Oscar thinks a brush is a toy on a stick, but cleaning the bathroom? Emptying a washing basket and filling the washing machine? Hoovering the stairs? He has been at work for 2 hours and I have done the dishes, emptied and cleaned the kitchen bin, cleaned the toaster, bread bin and microwave, and cleaned the bathroom. And I caught up on some tv I missed while I was on night shift this week. And Oscar? Not a peep. He opened one eye and looked at me as I went upstairs to attack the bathroom (which hasn't been done properly in ages - big shock!). I really don't see the problem, must be a man thing!

Lists

I'm in a list mood.

• I need to finish my Christmas shopping soon
• I need a good night's sleep since I haven't had one since the broken thumb incident
• I have a ton of housework to do
• I have to order the turkey for Christmas dinner
• I have to get No.1 + No.2 sons trouser sizes for my Mum so she can buy clothes in the U.S.

That's it. Well not really, I can't remember the 100 other things I need to do. Oh well!

Trials of a Hardworker

Two hours into my night shift and I had a little accident. I was moving shelves and fitting a bar for pegs. The bar was a bit old and bent at one end but I wasn't letting that stop me, so I tried a bit of force. Big mistake. The bar slipped and I crushed my thumb between it and a shelf edge. It was agony. I spent hours with ice on it, and plodded on as best I could, only getting about half my work done. Not bad considering I was sporting an injury. I left at 6am, even though I was supposed to work a couple of extra hours, because my thumb had swollen up so much I couldn't bend it. On my way home (another struggle, changing gears with my injured left hand not an easy task) I considered just going in to A + E, but I had an appointment with the surgery nurse in the afternoon so I would just ask her to take a look. I only managed to get a couple of hours sleep, every time I moved I hurt the damn thumb again! The nurse took one look and told me to go to the hospital. Luckily it only took about an hour. They x-rayed it and it's broken. Just my luck. They drilled a hole in my nail as well, to try and release the pressure of the swelling. It didn't work. I can't wash my hair, button up jeans, do dishes (not the end of the world). Hopefully, it will be better by Monday night, I can't afford any time off work.

Back on the weird shifts!

I started work at 3.45am, tired as usual. It's not my fault though, usually I love sleeping and get plenty of it, helped recently by the strange medicine from my sainted doc. But I've started reading again, I'm a proper bookworm, but this year I can count the books I've read on one hand, very unlike me. So I said I would lend one of my favourite books to my cousin, but I couldn't let it go without reading it again. Even though I know the story back to front, I couldn't put it down. I was reading during my break at work, staying up to finish just one more chapter, and not getting enough sleep for about a week.

But it was worth it. The book? After You'd Gone by Maggie O'Farrell. I love the complexity of the story, jumping back and forth over about 30 years, and told from lots of characters points of view. I like that parts of the book are set in North Berwick, which is near here, in fact you can almost make it out from the beach where I walk Oscar. In my blog photo, its the thin strip of land on the horizon above the gorgeous blue sea (I took the photo on a really good day at the start of the Summer, it's one of my favourites). And now I've been bitten by the book bug, and I have so many books to read. Just now I'm reading a book by Mark Haddon called A Spot of Bother. I enjoyed his last book - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. And I know I won't settle until I have finished it. Luckily my manager has asked me to work a full night shift. So I start work tomorrow night at 9pm until 6am. And I bet I read too much and sleep too little, oh well.

Adventures Of A Graveyard Shift Worker

I'm new to this blogging lark, but I have been a fan of reading blogs for a while. The first blog I discovered was liberty london girl and I soon found many more fantastic blogs, all of which I have listed in my "Blogs I Love" list. I have also recently discovered Google Reader (yes I have been living in a cave in Scotland) But I am really enjoying blogging, even though its for my own amusement. I find I'm getting a rant out in my blog instead of at the OH or No.1 and No.2 sons, or even the dog, who has this annoying habit of standing or sitting wherever I am. So everyone is happy now.

I like listening to podcasts while I work. There's not much else to keep me awake at 4am (well, there is work!) I have discovered a new podcast, it's short but usually very funny, from comedian Rhod Gilbert's radio show on BBC Radio Wales. I've been a fan of his work for a while, and was very disappointed to miss his show at the Edinburgh Festival* this year. But I managed to get tickets to see him next year in Perth, so I am a very happy camper now.

*Not a complete washout because I did manage to see a very funny comedian Mark Restuccia.

Things That Go Bump In The Night

I woke up at 1.30am with the dog cuddled up next to me, and I hear a muffled banging noise. No. 1 and No. 2 sons are both asleep so it can't be them. And the OH (Other Half! He's not my husband, merely my boyfriend of almost 7 years. He barely even lives here) went to watch a football match in the pub at 2pm. So I can only conclude that I'm being burgled. I listened carefully, fully awake by this point, and I realise it's coming from the back door. The OH has a front door key, so it's not him trying to get in. Only one course of action, I jumped up, making as much noise as possible, switching lights on as I went down stair. I marched to the back door, put the key in, unlocked it and swung it open. And there stood (I use the term stood VERY loosely) the OH, with his Dad's house key half jammed into the lock. He had been trying to force it in, in a drunken effort to gain entry! To say I was angry is an understatement. I pulled his key out and threw the set at him, almost taking an eye out in the process (I now understand when my Mum used to shout "You'll take someone's eye out with that") and shouted that he doesn't have a back door key. He just looked at me all confused, holding one hand over his eye. Binge drinking alcoholics, you can't live with them, you can't shoot them!

The Seat Stealer

I have a favourite spot, I always sit here, and so does my laptop (precariously) but every time I get up, Oscar steals my seat. Here he is, one ear flicked jauntily back from the effort of all the seat stealing.

Also, my left eye is a bit tingly. No. 2 son has an eye infection, and I don't know if it's paranoia or impending infection that's causing said tingle. Just what I need, the look of a mad woman with one blood-shot weepy eye at the staff Christmas party. Brilliant. Bring on a surprise bout of acne (of which I've never suffered from) just to complete the look. Just my luck!

Headache Update

Day 10 of the anti-depressants, you'd think I'd be giddy with happiness, seeing as I'm not even depressed, but I just feel my normal, slightly annoyed self. However, there hasn't been a hint of a 3 day long thumping headache, so they must be doing something right.

I even managed to venture out and do some more Christmas shopping. I'm at that tenuous stage where I may have bought everything I need, but I can't quite remember what's in all the bags hidden away from no.1 and no.2 sons. And I can't really be bothered to start raking through them all. Oops! Never mind, either way I'll just blame Santa for the lack of/glut of Christmas presents (works on no.2 son, but no way no.1 son believes)

I'm actually looking forward to Christmas now, we're having dinner at home this year instead of going to my Mum. And even though this means I'll have to slave over a hot stove instead of being waited on, it does mean I can have a few mulled wines or egg-noggs (vodka and wine more like) Usually, its a sober event (for me) then we drive home to a cold dark house before I get to have some festive spirit (the above mentioned vodka and the wine) Of course it could be a disaster (with me too merry to cook dinner, or even to care) but I'm ever hopeful.

Google Wave

When I got up this morning (nice long lie until the dog woke me at 6.45!) I saw that Google Wave was trending on Twitter. Being the nosey mare that I am, I decided to see what all the fuss was about. The idea is simple enough but getting an invite was not. It was a bit like wearing trainers to go to the smartest club, your name's not down, you're not getting in! Thankfully, a nice guy sent me an invite on Twitter, so I'm off to play with my new toy.

A Woman's Work

I hate Sundays, a day of nothingness, waiting for the hustle and bustle of the week to start. And the preparation for the week ahead needs to be sorted. This consists of 5 loads of washing, hoovering, dusting, sweep and wash the floors, dishes. And when its done, I can look around and see where the dog has trailed mud over the clean floor. Or where no.1 son has made a mess in the bathroom. Or where the OH has dumped washing in the empty basket, just too late to make the last wash. It's all just a pointless, but essential evil. I remember when no.1 son was a baby, every night he would settle in his cot, I would start doing housework. My friends used to think I was mad, but once it was done I could sit for a couple of hours in perfect tidiness before I went to bed. Nowadays, I have to wait until the boys go to their Dad's to stay, it used to be weekends, now its whenever it suits him (usually not suiting me in the process) ah, the joys of divorce.

Oh, Pain

Things that are a pain right now:

• my aching head

• my credit card (from Christmas shopping)

• my head (so sore it deserves another mention)

• No.1 son (after 4 days of freedom he is grounded again, cue moody teenager)

• No.2 son (who has found joy in being by my side constantly, I only get peace in the bathroom, he must think I have bladder problems)

I have just been to the doctors, he says I have tension headaches. He's the expert, but he gave me anti-depressants. They're supposed to prevent the headaches. I have 28 days worth, so I suppose I have a month to see if it works. Also my blood pressure is a little bit high, but it was the last time I was at the doctors, but he wants to keep an eye on it now. Don't you just love the NHS. I'm not insulting them, my mum works for the NHS addiction service, she's great at her job.

I'm away to my bed, I had a really hard shift at work this morning. My manager set me a job to do and he thought I wouldn't finish it. I did it in 2 hours. He was amazed, and so was the night shift supervisor. I maybe shouldn't have done such a good job, he's asked me to do another big profile change tomorrow morning. Something to look forward to then :(

Rain

It has rained for days, there has even been flooding in a town near us. I was uploading some photos I had taken on my phone. This one is an old bridge where I walk Oscar.




This is what's left of an old railway bridge.



This is part of a railway line dumped where new houses are being built.



This is Leven beach. It was a cold morning and I liked the way the caravans reflected in the water.

Oscar, on the same day.

I suppose Winter is here now, I'm missing the better weather. Won't be long until it's like this again.

Tell me why ......

I don't like Mondays? I had a dream last night that I had phoned in sick to work. Then my alarm went off, 3am, and I was still hungover from Saturday night! Just about made it through work, feeling a little bit sick still!

Finally got my stair carpet fitted, joy, I'm going to hoover it, probably won't get done again this side of Christmas. And the electrician came and showed me the catalogue of new fires, and I've picked one. Probably won't get it this side of Christmas!

So I'm off to have a shower, change the bed sheets, fold some washing, then finally, bed, nice and early as I have to get up at 3am. I wonder if I'll try and pull a sickie in my sleep again.

Much Illness (self-inflicted)

I'm really hungover again. And I have to go to work in 10 hours. I'm never drinking again.

Friday Night Joy?

Hints from a wise old woman (my mum - nurse with high blood pressure)

Had a bath, as prescribed by the wise one. It was rubbish. I gave up after about 5 minutes and had a shower. This is why we have a shower. And now I'm half way through the dram she also prescribed (funny, she's almost tea-total, and an alcohol and drug addiction nurse). But she reckons it's high blood pressure that's causing my headaches, she's an expert on it. So we'll see if it works.






Oscar, asleep on the sofa.





And with number 2 son.



He'll be 9 months old soon, if he doesn't stop growing soon we'll have to move to a bigger house. And buy a bigger bed. Maybe we should stop just stop spoiling him and reclaim our bed. Probably.

Friday Morning Blues

I like Thursdays, my last day at work, and I love Fridays. So much to look forward to, and no work until Monday. Last night was just a normal Thursday night. Then youngest son came into my bedroom at 9.45, I was just about to turn out the light and go to sleep. "It's 'wear to scare' day at school tomorrow" he announces, and I'm expected to make a Halloween costume appear! Oh to be 9 years old again!

Then I woke up at 5am. That's a nice long lie-in for me, as I'm usually up at 3am for work. The dog had climbed onto the bed and had shoved me right to the edge. He's a white boxer, completely deaf, weighs a ton, and he's only 9 months old. He likes climbing onto my knee for a cuddle, like a lap dog, he doesn't know he's crushing me! So, getting shoved out of my own bed was the main thing that woke me. But when I moved my head, I felt the familiar shooting pain, the dreaded headache. They are happening more frequently, I feel sick and dizzy when I move. I take painkillers, I've tried lots, even my strong prescription back medicine doesn't work. And if it's like my usual headache, it's here for at least 2 days. I really must go to the doctors, but by the time I get around to making an appointment, the headache will be a distant memory. I wonder if it's migraines?

So, my lovely weekend off work is doomed now, I'm off to lie down in my dark bedroom, and move as little as possible. I'm sure I'll feel better, just in time to start work!