Blogging From My Bedroom

Father Christmas brought me a laptop. Very exciting because it came as a complete surprise. Also, we now have wireless internet access at home so I can use it wherever I like. It's great! Lots & lots of thanks Ed for spending into the early hours of this morning getting it all working. Seams fine now, apart from that it's telling me it isn't connected when obviously it is!

It's been a lovely white Christmas. We've just been out for a Boxing Day walk up on the hills above Sowerby, where there was proper powdery snow.

I'm about to give Grandma a lesson in using Google. Could be interesting! We've not quite mastered how to use the mouse!

Happy Christmas

Haven't had much time to update you on what I've been up to recently - mostly been going to Christmas parties & the like.

Can't write much now either, as I'm about to head of to church. Most of you will be relieved to hear that I'll be playing my saxophone tonight, so not forcing the congregation to suffer my singing. They might just get a lot of squeeks instead.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Photo Update

Why do I always end up faffing with things on the computer when I should be doing useful things or going to bed?!

Anyway, JJ's photos from Dublin are now up. I've also added a few New York pics to my Central America ones (finally got the film developed!)

Heading towards a 'proper' job....maybe

The people in North Shields who I did a training with back in November (Soil & Stuff)got back in contact with me this week. They have lots of short term contract work coming up, on short (ie can you work tomorrow?) notice & reckon that if I leave my current job they'll be able to keep me in work with these. Then I should build up enough experience to find myself a proper, permanent position. So today I told my boss that he should be expecting me to hand in my resignation sometime in January.

It's a bit scary in a way - abandoning the job I'm doing & not knowing for definite that I will end up with enough work to keep me going. But, on the other hand, I think it has to be done to get where I want to go. And at least still being at home means if I do find myself struggling to pay my rent I won't be kicked out onto the street (at least I hope I won't!).

Dublin's (or should that be Blackpool's?) Fair City

Kate, John & I had a long weekend visiting Lucy in Dublin. Thanks Lu & Dave for your great hospitality.

Lots of fun! We went to L & D's work Christmas party - drinks & buffet kind of affair. We ignored the 'friends can come as long as they don't eat the buffet', but to be fair there was plenty left over anyway and I don't think the party would have been nearly as fun without us. The Irish (& Sunderlandish) men were all very sad to see Kate leave ;)

Of course we didn't spend the whole weekend in the pubs - had to fit some culture in. So we visited the Guiness Brewery, where we learnt all about the making of the black gold (whilst keeping on up to the top for our pint). We also went to Dublinia, where we learnt about Medieval Ireland,Dublin Castle & Kilmainham Gaol. All were very interesting - I was very impressed by how much the guides could remember to speel off on their tours (& of course their accents).

Photos of the weekend should follow at somepoint.

Christmas is Coming, Rosie's getting fat!

We had our department Christmas lunch at work yesterday. A bit early for it, but was good fun all the same. Spent the afternoon fluctuating between being giddy & sleepy - not very productive! Having stuff myself at lunch time I wasn't intending to eat much tea - but I stopped of at Andrew's for a chat on my way home & ended up staying for dinner. Have also been eating lots of chocolates at work today, as we won them in the raffle at lunch yesterday. Must stop or I'll explode before Christmas!

Was being trained to do some new things at work today, which was good as I've been starting getting a bit bored recently.

About to put up the Christmas tree :) Not a real one :( Mum rebelled last year & went & bought a fake.

Buddy Holly

Went to see Buddy Holly & the Cricketers in Halifax theatre last night (dad's birthday present). Was good fun, even if I did seem to be about the youngest person there apart from a few children who'd been dragged along by their parents.

Went to Kate's afterwards & played Cranium. Sarah & I lost - obviously down to luck with the dice throws rather than our drawing/acting/humming/guessing capabilities. Realised when I attempted to hold an msn conversation with Alex when I got home that I was more drunk than I'd thought, so sorry about that peeps!

My ankle & foot are getting better now. Went for a bit of a walk on Norland this afternoon.

Peggy Sue on Norland Moor

Hobbling

We went to the Big 6 Quiz on Monday - this week the proceeds were all going to Overgate, dedicated to Christine. Lots of people there, so that was good. We managed to answer some of the questions, even got half marks in the music round, but not enough to miss out on the chocs. I guess reporting back on the quiz is a bit like telling you about my football matches - you can pretty much guess the outcome!

I've hurt my foot. Think I must have gone over on my ankle although I don't really know how I did it, it just hurt - and no, I wasn't drunk! According to the x-ray there're no broken bones so it's probably just stretched ligaments. Got some great advice from the Dr in casualty - it won't get better if you jump on it. Hmm... I was going to do that when I can hardly walk!