Christmas Day

Phew!! Well that was the main part of Christmas over. It was better than I thought it would be. Christmas Day I didn’t get up until 10:30pm and was just dressed when Cliff rang to say he was on the way. Unfortunately I was caught short and needed the toilet; at least I see the gastro-enterologist next month. We went to see Aunt Rose and Uncle Pete for a while, I’m afraid I didn’t say much as was still trying to wake up. We dropped off at my place to pick up my camera and the stuffing I made the night before both of which I forgot in my rush to get ready.

Christmas Day at Cliff’s was “an experience”. Hahaha, The kids were making a mess and poor Jack was asked to tidy up after them and no sooner had he done so that the “Amazon children” made more mess. Sarah was having her trials in the kitchen and Cliff joined the “forlorn hope”, after both Lee and Gina had popped in with presents for their sisters.

Though there was a problem with one of the cooker rings and Sarah was stressing over the potatoes for mash and forgot the peas, all-in-all it was a delicious Christmas dinner, the mashed potatoes weren’t as lumpy as Cliff said they were, the roast potatoes were perfect, roast parsnips, delicious, carrots, soft but al dente just how I like them. I thought my stuffing wasn’t too bad and my bread sauce was delish. To think I had never had it until Diane, an ex-girlfriend introduced me to it in the mid 80’s. Oh! Silly me I forgot the turkey which was moreish, the gravy, lovely, my Cava great but too much after such a surfeit.

On getting home I went straight to bed for two hours and then had 10 minutes to unwrap my presents before plodding into town to find a pub that was open. No joy. So I went to Lorraine and Craig’s a little earlier than I wanted to, in fact they were just having their Christmas Dinner when I arrived and I felt a little uncomfortable being there whilst they were eating. They were both very hospitable and when Steve got their we enjoyed several drinks, nuts and a cracking Peter Kaye video.

I didn’t leave until two in the morning and didn’t get to bed until six in the morning after catching up on my emails and chatting with Debs, my friend in Belfast.

Wednesday December 21st

I felt rough today and didn’t get much done until mid afternoon. I managed to clean the kitchen before I had to go into town though after checking emails and answering surveys.

Just the one thing to do today and that was to go to the charity shop Sue Ryder Care to look at the furniture I had my eye on. Unfortunately, the wardrobe I was keen on had gone and though there was a nice bookcase I didn’t think it was worth the price for two items plus the £10 delivery charge. There is no immediate rush anyway, I’d rather get Christmas out of the way first and take a deep breath in the New Year and start afresh.

I went to Bond’s after as Lorraine said she would be there to pay me back the money she owed me and after she had to wait almost three hours for her wages she was true to her word even though my legs were really hurting and my guts were not far behind. Like I’ve always said I look after those who have looked after me in the past during the dark days.

Tomorrow, I have no plans apart from depositing the money Lorraine gave me back into my account. As I mentioned before I want Christmas out of the way before I make any more major decisions or purchases.

Annoyance of the day:
Dirty sods who use the gents toilets in pubs without lifting the toilet seat. Disgusting!

Tuesday December 20th

Sorry, I’ve not posted for over a week and I’m not sure why. I honestly didn’t think it had been so long until Dad rang me to get my blog address. I’ll now have to recall what I did over the last week…

Cliff invited me for Christmas dinner and I accepted as though, I have trouble travelling at the moment, I think I can manage a mile, not that it would be nice to accept the invitations from Dad and Miriel in Padstow or with Julie and Ryan in Bristol again. My only responsibility is the bread sauce, 10 minutes, job done; nobody wants my special roast potato recipe. Anyway, I bought a bottle of Cava for us to drink on Christmas Day and if things get a little dull I can always flick mashed potato at Rosie and Emmie for a laugh.

I received a few redirected letters, one from the council threatening legal action if I don’t pay my Council Tax arrears by December 24th, the Amazing debt of £5.42. W@nkers! Waste of public money.

It is now late on the 20th and I’m trying to think of the important or interesting details of the past week or so. Not that there have been that many. The first thing I can think of was paying the bills on the 14th including the aforementioned Council Tax payment, well £5 of it, they can bloody well wait for the rest of it. I’m actually ahead by £1.50 on my TV Licence account and had my E.on gas account wiped out. I am still waiting for the water company to get back to me about the supposed debt I owe and then I can talk to the landlord and get a meter installed. I imagine there letter is in the post or more likely not of a great concern to them until the chinless wonders in their accounts department discover an anomaly on there database. I’m also waiting for the council to confirm my housing benefit award and moreover the dates it will be paid, like the other mail I’m waiting for it is stuck in the Christmas post. I also had to go to Boots to pick up my prescription for Iron and Folic Acid capsules.

I had a nice conversation on IM with Beki, the girl I went out with from November 1988 until February 1990, ( I remember all the important dates.) yesterday, she is close to qualifying as a pharmacist and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for her but I honestly don’t think she needs it, she was always as smart as paint and well driven. (Good luck Beki. XXX)

Yesterday, Julie sent me an IM to ask whether I was going to Calella next year. I honestly can’t afford to until at least August if at all. My priority must be my new flat, then my health, primarily my legs, then my gastric problems. I really want to go back to Catalonia next year, Calella firstly then Barcelona and Andorra.

The Landlord’s eejits finally came and cleared the fly tip outside my living room window and proceeded to burn it! There is still some junk out the back and I hope f**king Laurel and Hardy haven’t disturbed the nesting Dunnocks that were at the back. I want to clean the place out come spring and put in a nesting box and a bird table. There are also several magpies nearby so I want to borrow Cliff’s air rifle and irradiate the evil f**kers.

Finally, dad phoned me today and he discussed my present situation based on what he had read on my blog. After that conversation I’m going into town tomorrow to the charity shop to enquire about the unit and wardrobe I’m interested in.

Monday December 12th

Nothing much happened today, I checked my emails and did a few surveys, but as there was nothing left to clean in the flat I decided to go for a walk into town. I just did a bit of window shopping, no purchases. I popped into Bond’s to meet Steve who had the day off, using one of his holiday days before he loses them. A couple of pints and planning my Christmas dinner then I popped into the Coop to buy an onion and mushrooms for a curry I intend to make tomorrow and some frozen Yorkshire puddings for my Christmas dinner. Okay, I prefer making my own but as I’m on my own and I will only eat two or three, making my own would be less than frugal. I’m going to make my own potatoes though, no compromise there. I have a tried and trusted recipe for roast potatoes that I have used for 12 years. I’ll buy the carrots and swede that I want nearer the time but, though I will be alone I will have a great big pig out. Christmas Dinner has always been the greatest event for me over the years because I get to show off my culinary talents. Just a shame I shall be alone but I’m still looking forward to cooking it.

Sunday December 11th

I don’t know why I’ve felt depressed the last couple of days maybe because things have come to a halt with the new place as I still have unpacked boxes and I can’t afford the furniture I want to make it homely. It maybe that Christmas is coming soon too and I don’t like being alone at Christmas but I don’t want to go somewhere out of my comfort zone.

Cliff phoned around midday to ask me if I wanted anything from Bookers, Only cheese is missing but they only have truckles there. I finally got round to washing the dishes from my lasagne and gave the kitchen a good cleaning. I checked my emails and as I got ready to go into town I mopped the laminate floor from the bedroom to the front door.

I managed to phone Ron from Bond’s eventually to wish him happy birthday and enjoy the rest of his day and after A couple of drinks I made my way home which is where I am now, watching rubbish weekend TV, sorting out various official papers and making a pasta bake with the leftover ragu from the lasagne I made the other day.

Famous last words:
Either that wallpaper goes, or I do. ~~ Oscar Wilde, writer, d. November 30, 1900

Saturday December 10th

Actually, today was a very boring day, I got bugger all done, all I did today was collect my mail, meet my mate Steve in Bond’s, buy a lottery ticket and come home. Saturday night TV is so boring. I’m going to eat the last of the lasagne I cooked and have an early night I think.

Friday December 9th

I did have today all planned out but, the best laid plans as the adage goes. The electric meter was just below £2 and there were 3 letters for me, one letting me know the landlord had put my deposit in an account, a reminder about the unpaid bill from South Staffs Water and a card from the Royal Mail letting me know I had a package waiting for me at the sorting office.

After going through my emails and doing a few surveys, I limped into town and caught a bus to Blythe Street where the Sorting office is. £1.20 bus fare to get there. I knew what it was, an electric can opener, the very same that I bought Julie. Thing was, I liked it so much I thought I’d get one for myself and after using my Amazon vouchers to get Julie and Ryan something I had a bit left over so I thought I’d treat myself.

I got the bus back and the driver waived my fare, I don’t know why but you should never look a gift horse in the mouth as they say, most likely because you may see 500 Greek soldiers in full battle armour waiting for the citizens of Troy to go for an early night.

I stopped off in Bond’s for a couple of drinks but mainly to go through my list of things to do for the day. The dishes from the night before and mopping the floor will keep until tomorrow, mañana as they say in Spain.

On getting home I phoned E.on and got them to amend my bill to £0.00, result! Also, South Staffordshire Water, similar outcome, two – nil to me. The only problem I had was trying to get someone from Virgin to give me a straight answer about my bill. Honestly, these Indian call centres should be closed as the operators have only a basic command of English and don’t seem to know what to do if a problem crops up that isn’t in there training manual. I am now going to have to phone Virgin again tomorrow to try and get a straight answer.

Right now I’m watching TV, looking at the things I didn’t get done today and rearrange them for tomorrow, answering a couple of more surveys, (more cash, or vouchers :D) and after checking Yahoo Answers, eat a good sized portion of the lasagne I cooked last night now that it has settled with a portion of chips and then I’m off to the arms of Morpheus.

Today’s Annoyance:
Shops and services that close ten minutes early. Twice in two days this has happened.