Merry Christmas!

How have all the festivities gone? Had plenty of new socks? Fallen out with the family? Eaten and drunk too much? I've enjoyed my Christmas, apart from my dog being rather poorly again- he seems to be on the mend now though. However, I've really struggled this year to feel festive- Christmas just seems to come round far too quickly... I think Christmas every two years would be far better!

My last two days at work before finishing for twelve (yes, a whole twelve) days were fun, if rather hectic. We were charity bag-packing at Morrisons on Tuesday...fun, but I wouldn't like to do it every day. It appeals to the people-watcher in me. It's fascinating both seeing what people put in their shopping trolleys (an awful lot of alcohol) and listening to the conversations/ arguments between husbands and wives at the checkout! Some people really haven't heard of Christmas cheer. We raised just over £520 which wasn't bad for packing a few shopping bags, but I didn't half ache the next day.

Wednesday was our party for the children and young people who come to the Playground. What could be better than a load of over-excited children just before Christmas- poor old Santa nearly got crushed! I do enjoy it though, it reminds me of the excitement I felt as a child at Christmas.

Christmas Eve was busy. Had to clean the house, wrap all my presents up (I was as disorganised and last minute there as usual) and drop presents off all over Stoke-on-Trent. Called in on my brother and saw his new puppy, Boddington. He's a Staffordshire Bull Terrier which isn't one of my favourite breeds of dog- I prefer large dogs- but I must admit he is rather cute.

I spent Christmas Day with my family and that was a lovely relaxing day. Just wish there had been some snow. I love my turkey dinner, and Christmas pudding with rum poured over it (my grandad started me on that one at a very young age!) is one of my favourites. Actually that is a good enough reason not to have Christmas only once every two years. Yes, I had some socks, but no, I didn't have any arguments and no, I didn't drink too much, though I did eat quite a bit. Had some fab presents including another new bookcase from my parents (Voley is very jealous), some Morph and Chas bookends and books to go on my new bookcase (by the way Voley, did I mention about my new bookcase?!!), vouchers which will be happily spent when I next go shopping, and a variety of other bits and pieces...oh, and a mini Radley bag keyring, just to feed my obsession.

Christmas Day wouldn't be Christmas Day without Doctor Who and I wasn't disappointed there. Fab. David Tennant is soooo good, can't wait for the New Year's Day episode. I may well cry when he regenerates though (and I never cry at television programmes or films...well, except for when E.T. dies, that gets me every time- sorry) and I think an official week of mourning may be necessary. Matt Smith is going to have to be very good to top David Tennant, don't think it's going to happen.

Voley came to stay Boxing Day, bringing me more books for my....wait for it....new bookcase. Much appreciated. We watched Doctor Who (yes, it was good enough for me to watch twice) as Voley's family didn't quite get the timing of their Christmas dinner right and I actually spent most of an hour not annoying Voley with my incessant waffling...didn't last, especially after I had drunk a couple of Archers. Yesterday we had lunch at my brother's pub and then went to the book shop (no surprises there!).

I've done very little today. Had a lie-in and mooched about. Am off out later for a post-Christmas buffet soiree with my good buddies. Hopefully I will be able to follow conversation tonight as when we went out for dinner last weekend I was deaf in one ear- the whole evening was a bit like a game of Chinese whispers!

Toodle-pip for now.

It's Panto time (oh yes it is)!

I bravely took 40 of our children and young people to the pantomime- Dick Whittington this year- at the Regent Theatre in Hanley last night (not single-handedly I hasten to add, I did have a little help from my staff). Robbie William's best mate Jonathon Wilkes was starring again for the fifth year running (he is obviously inundated with offers of work) alongside a cast of other not-quite-made-its. I didn't realise till after the show that Robbie's dad was actually one of the main characters- he needn't give up the day job. The only really well-known cast member was Three Degrees singer, Sheila Ferguson, who belted out a few numbers as Fairy Oatcakes!Pantomime isn't something I would normally choose to see if going to the theatre, but I must admit I do love taking all our children, they get so much from it. We got loo rolls thrown at us and got drenched with water guns (why do I always book the front row seats?) and laughed lots. There was plenty of slapstick and a lot of double entendre (didn't help that the main character is called Dick).
We didn't lose any children (never have yet!), we didn't gain any, noone required rugby tackling after making a break for the stage (that was last year), and I didn't have to clamber over the cubicle wall of a toilet to get someone out (the year before). I make that a success.

Cinderella went to the Ball...

...but was rather ill. Couldn't believe it. I am rarely ill so it was just my luck that I had to catch the bloody flu. Typical. Voley (who I must say looked very dapper in his dinner suit) was suffering with an ear infection and had gone deaf in one ear (yes, he strategically placed himself so that I was talking to his deaf ear) and my voice became more and more non-existent throughout the course of the evening- we made a right pair.
Illness aside, the evening was fairly successful- we raised £4500 for our charity which isn't a bad sum at all and money that we desperately need towards our £200 000 a year running costs. Highlight of the evening?- had to be seeing Voley dancing to Wham!

Cinderella is going to the ball

...after I have scrubbed the hearth and done the hoovering anyway. I have the dress, I have the shoes (I thought glass slippers may be a little dangerous, so I have sparkly sandals with killer heels instead), I have the carriage...just need a Prince Charming now!
It's our Charity Ball tomorrow evening at the Britannia Stadium, home of Stoke City FC. Stoke will be playing at home (so I am told) so I'm hoping they win or we may have one or two bears with sore heads. On the other hand, if they lose, sorrows may be drowned in copious amounts of alcohol and from past experience, drunken ball-goers equals more money raised.
Here's hoping it will be a good night. I am being accompanied by Voley- I'm looking forward to seeing him in his DJ! Just hope I can get rid of this awful cough.

Bah Humbug

How's your Christmas shopping going? Mine's going really badly. I'm slightly concerned at my lack of sense of urgency- I only have a couple of days free before Christmas to get practically all my presents bought, it's not good. I think some internet shopping may be in order...how ever did we all manage in the pre-technological era?
In fairness, I was intending to go out and buy most of my gifts at the beginning of this week as I have had a couple of days off work, but my dog has been rather poorly so I have been somewhat housebound. He's on the mend now though so perhaps a trip out tomorrow may be called for. I did manage to get out to buy my Christmas tree this afternoon so a spot of decorating will be on the cards- maybe that will get me into the festive spirit.

Christmas starts here...

...well, I suppose it actually started at our Variety Show considering the number of Christmas songs that were performed, but my first Christmas 'do' was on Saturday. We went out for our staff Christmas meal, and what a civilised affair that was. All I can say is that it was a good job we had the whole upstairs of the restaurant to ourselves. Much alcohol was consumed (more by some than others- I must say I was just nicely tipsy, thus avoiding the inevitable hangover the next day) and presents were exchanged. The highlight of the evening is always our Secret Santa competition. Usually, Secret Santa is about the present that you give, but not with us- we compete to see who can come up with the best wrapping, and we have had some fantastic creations over the years. It does get exceedingly competitive though and when it comes to judging the winner it has been known for waiters to be bribed and flirted with! I didn't win this year, must try harder next year.

Another of those strange weeks

Last week was hectic. I am just drawing breath now. The first part of the week was spent setting up for our annual fundraising Variety Show, so amidst my usual day-to-day duties of managing a charity, I was putting together staging and scenery and even turned my hand to setting up the sound system. I want a T-shirt that says 'Stage Crew' on the back.
We then had two evenings of the show. I must say it all went very smoothly, not a single hitch this year (last year we had to do the second night minus a guitarist in the house band after he very inconsiderately slipped on ice on his way to work and dislocated his shoulder), and the audience was packed. The stars of the show were, as always, our children and young people- I wish I had half the confidence to get up on stage as they do, they were absolutely fantastic. We raised just over £1200 so it was a success all round.
The day after the second night's performance I was in work, bright and breezy, to conduct interviews for new staff members. OK, so I wasn't exactly bright and breezy...I felt more like I had a hangover but without the pleasure of getting drunk first. I can't cope with late nights at work followed by early mornings. Fortunately, the standard of our interview candidates was exceptionally high, which somewhat lifted my spirits- I think if we had had a bad round of interviews I was probably in danger of falling asleep through half of them.
An enjoyable week in general, but by the end of Friday I was certainly ready for the weekend.