Happy New Year

Happy New Year

I went back to work yesterday for the first since before christmas.  Boy was i tired, i could do with an other 2 weeks off i think.

Well what do you know i am going to a new years eve party tonight for the first time in years.  Daughter has invited us to her church's party.  I'm a bit tired because i had a bad night last night but she doesn't want to go on her own and i'm looking forward to it.  It will make a change to watching tv with husband snoring in the chair beside me while i wait for the family to phone and wish me us happy new year from their various parties.

Which brings me back to why i'm tired.  Hubby works nights so i get the bed to myself all week.  Saturday night he goes up early because he was at work night before, spreads himself across the king size because that's what he is used to all week.  I then get in and move him over, then the snoring starts.  All week there is no one to poke him to make him shut up (you can hear him through the ceiling) so he has got into the habit.  I get him into a quiet position and all is well, but i have to keep turning because of painful joints.  Everytime i move even if it is to scratch my nose he moves and starts up again.

This goes on all night and i get precious little sleep.  I love him dearly but there have been times when i have looked at him in the middle of the night and wondered if i could get away with a little smoothering with the pillow. 

Sunday night we are back to normal, he knows his place on his side on the edge of the bed and i have the rest.  The status quo has been resumed and then the rest of the week we both have the bed to ourselves again.  Hence i am always tired on a Sunday. Yawn, yawn.

Goodbye 2006 and hello 2007

Jenny <><

 

Post christmas

Oh far, far too many late nights, i am cream crackered.  My brain is like mush, i have suitcases under my eyes hanging down to my chin and two days of turkey, stuffing and brussels sprouts have taken their toll.

I looked forward to christmas dinner - we went round my sons, daughter and grandkids were there too, 13 of us with my mum - the dinner appeared, we wait all year for it and suddenly it was gone.  In a flash, straight down without touching the sides, hours of cooking demolished in a minute.

We had a good day though, it was nice to see son's children - two step sons, twin boys and a daughter.  Daughter in law was merry drunk and at one point i couldn't help but point out that a whole load of drivel was coming out of her mouth which made her laugh.  Me mum was knocking back son's Jack Daniels and red wine.  Neither husband or myself drink so it was funny watching the affect it had on the others.  Thankfully no one drank so much as to be a nuisence.

Then we did it all over again the next day with daughter and husband's sister.  More turkey, stuffing and brussels.

Then yesterday it was our 37th wedding anniversary.  We had booked it at the local registry office for about 11.15, i think.  Dad phoned for a taxi and asked him to be on time as it was for my wedding.  The taxi driver asked him if he wanted the cab swept and a ribbon put on the front, how much asked my dad, £4 was the reply.  So what do you think dad said?  No thank you just come as you are.  No expense spared there then LOL!

I am told i got in the taxi with my slippers on but do not really remember.  My wedding dress cost four pound four shillings.  It was a very short white lurex dress which i had taken up even shorter hence the four shillings (remember these were the 60's when the mini was all the fashion). 

After the wedding we had pictures taken and some with us getting into new father in law's car as his was the poshest, but the car we drove off in was our friends and best man's three wheel robin reliant.  We all went back to mum's house and had turkey sandwiches etc.  the turkey being left over from christmas.  As it was an early wedding by six o'clock we started to get a bit bored, mum suggested it was usually good down the British Legion club so we all went there for the evening. 

On the way home we stopped at the bus stop and waited for the bus, but along came a black taxi we so we all started to pile in but there were 6 of us and it only took 4 people and he wouldn't make an exception.  Half of us were in the taxi and half out when the shout went up,'here comes a bus', so they all climbed out of the taxi and we caught the late bus home.  I can assure you it looked a lot funnier at the time then it does in the telling.

Midnight found us finishing off curled up dry sandwiches and falling into bed absolutely pooped.  We had 2 days off work each and then back to the grindstone. 

We lived with mum and dad for a year and three months when we moved into our first flat.  After 3 months of marriage i found myself preganant with son who i had January 3rd the following year.  When son was 4 months old i again found myself preganant with my daughter whom i had on January 26th the following year.  Now where is it babies come from???

That was it, no more for me, i had 2 cots, 6 dozen nappies and a twin pushchair, that was more than enough.  Thankfully they  both liked their sleep and daughter never did wake up for a nightime feed.

When we had our 25th silver wedding anniversary, we decided we didn't want a party or anything but choose to have our wedding blessed in church and to re-take our vows.  Now it meant something to us both as we were now christians and realised what it was we were doing and why.  Back in 1969 i was just 18 and couldn't understand why a piece of paper making it legal should matter other than to our parents and society, those were the sweet innocent days, but with age brought wisdom (hopefully).

We had a nice service in our church with all our church family there as well - we just invited anyone who wanted to share it with us - and as a surprise for my husband i asked my friend to sing 'we've only just begun' by the Carpenters. 

Well four more years and it will be our ruby anniversay, son will be nearly 39 and daughter nearly 38, how the time does fly.

Jenny <><

Wordplay

This is the first time i have tried a wordplay so i hope i have done it right.

 

'Twas the nanosecond before Christmas, and all through the bungalow,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mercat.
The thongs were hung by the stool with care,
In hopes that St. Rhiannon soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their chairs,
While visions of sugar-haggises danced in their hairs.
And soulmate in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
slept open the shutters, and wept up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the luster of mid-lifetime to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear?
But a freezing glass, and eight tiny sloths.

With a little old driver, so lively and pretty,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Rhiannon.
More rapid than pigs his sloths they came,
And he whistled, and togggled, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! Now, Gordon! Now, Road and Vixen!
On, White Top! On Toad! On, Scarf and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the television!
Now pray away! Pray away! Pray away all!"

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the stool St. Rhiannon came with a bound.

His eyes -- how they welded! His dimples, how spooky!
His aorta were like buses, his tongue like a chip!

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work,
And filled all the thongs, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his spleen aside of his tonsil,
And giving a nod, up the stool he rose.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a ping,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good nanosecond!"

Wordplay with Val at http://journals.aol.com/valphish/ThereisaSeason/

This and that

What did Cinderella say when her photographs weren't ready?

Some day my prints will come!

Hubby was standing at the back door laughing, squirrel was digging up his nuts but this time Maggie had brought a friend along and they were doing fly pasts - criss crossing over the top of squirrel.  Squirrel in turn looked like a Wimbledon spectator head looking from side to side.  Maggie's friend obviously found no fun in tormenting squirrel and flew off to more profitable pursuits leaving Maggie to decide what to do next.  Squirrel's head disappeared under a bush leaving just backside and tail to view.  Maggie stood looking, head cocked to one side, then she grabbed hold of a small low twig (attached to bush) and started to shake it.  This was too much for squirrel who backed out from under the bush and chased Maggie down the garden, head down and tail up shaking madly from side to side.  Maggie realised she had gone too far and legged it fast, wings flapping till eventually she took off giving up till another day.

I do hope this squirrel and magpie keep up their antics through next year as they are giving us so much fun.

Well after a lot of panic we have finally got a turkey.  Not the one we hoped for.  All we wanted was a plain, ordinary, frozen, large turkey but all the shops are selling are ready basted, so thats what we have got.  We have two  more presents to buy, my husbands presents to wrap, the fresh food to buy and that then will be us done.  Hooray!!

Card's have been written and sent and i don't think i have forgotten anyone this year.  Hooray!!

Presents that need to be given out have been given so no running around to people at the last minute.  Hooray!!

Well that's enough back patting of me because as sure as eggs are eggs i will remember something big i have forgotten to do and then i will be running around like a headless chicken panicking.

What i am aiming for now is to have some time to take in the reason for the season, to reflect on what this is really about, to have some time with Jesus and prepare for next year and all the great things he has in store for me, to pray and meditate on his word.  This is what i aim for, i just hope the festivities do not overtake my intentions like they so often do.

Why did Santa think it would be easy to use a computer?

Because first Yule log on!

I bowled

Well we went bowling and i had a great time.  It's been years since i have been.  Mind you my arm is stretched down to the ground LOL!

My son and daughter in law came and i hadn't seen them for a while and they brought 2 of their kids (my grandkids) with them.  grandaughter whose birthday it was had a great time too.  Husband didn't have a go because his back was hurting and he didn't went to make it worse.

I still have prezzies to buy and don't know what to get.  I have bought and wrapped all the things i know people want and now i am at the hard part.  I cannot seem to get out on my days off work.  But i also have no inspiration.

Had a worry today.... i went with daughter to grandson's christmas nativity.  He had told us all that he was a shepherd as a trick but really he was an angel.  That goes to tell you how less like an angel he is ha ha.  As usual it was boiling hot and we were squashed up and being as me and daughter are both wide of girth we take up our seats and more.  Daughter was on the end but only managed to get one cheek on seat as i was overhanging mine.  Grandson's part was a walk on and off part until he came on again at end.

At one point i looked at daughter and had a shock....her eyes were starting to close....Now my daughter can fall asleep on a washing line, so to sleep sitting on a chair would be no problem.  My worry was that she would either fall off chair or worse still SNORE.  Thankfully she did neither and woke up when i spoke to her and managed to stay awake.

Well i'm going to give my bowling hand a well deserved rest :-)

 

Three old guys are out walking. First one says, "Windy, isn't it?" Second one says, "No, it's Thursday!" Third one says, "So am I. Let's go get a beer."

My week

Well my week was as busy as i thought it would be and even my two free evenings were filled with work.  I sometimes think there is a gremlin out there just waiting for me to have some time off .

Monday's 'listening course' went well but my co-leader had to cry off with a tummy upset, thankfully she is better now.

Tuesday we went to an old peoples sheltered accomodation to do a carol service for them.

Well..... i have done these before and it is a usually a few of us and about 8 - 10 of them and it is all cosy and comfortable.  When i arrived there must have been about 40 of them, in fact we found they had brought a load from another home called 'the Busy Bees'.  We found out that they had each paid a £5 for the day and had been partying all afternoon and we were the entertainment.  There was booze and sandwiches and then US....  A group from 5 churches who had come to sing carols and tell the nativity story.

There was even a mike set up, key board and a man with a guitar.  Well all i had to do was read a bible reading and everthing went well.

But while i was there i saw someone i knew from years before when we where both at a 'young wives' group.  She told me how she had just moved in with her new third husband last week and she thought it was lovely.  She is only five years older than me and there she was in an old peoples home.  Scary!!! Doesn't anyone know that inside i am still 25...

Today i had to do my one Saturday in three at work and the christmas rush had started in earnest.  I was told that Romford shopping centre was full and there wasn't a parking space to be had.  We were kept busy and it was lovely to see people coming in buying christian presents and bibles for christmas.

Tomorrow is granddaughters 11th birthday and we are going bowling.  I am a bit concerned about this because i have been having trouble with my hands lately especially my thumbs.  I think i have arthritis in them and any pressure on my thumbs and they feel like they arecoming out of their sockets.  Those bowling balls are heavy...still i will give it a try.

Sunday evening our fellowship group is having its christmas party.  After eating we sometimes get kids toy music instruments out and sing and make a noise that we call music with maraccas and triangles and the like.  Well it gives us a laugh.

Monday afternoon i am at grandson's school to see his christmas play and he has a line to say in it so that should be good.  And that's it - i haven't thought any further than that.  I still have some shopping to do and cards to write so i will probably start panicing soon, but it all usually works out in the end.

If the grass is greener on the other
side of the fence,

you can bet the water bill is higher.

Getting there

Wrapped loads of presents Saturday... daughter came over and wrapped hers too.  Then we had my usual Saturday night Chinese takeaway.  Husband had his chicken and chips.  Watched x-factor then did some more wrapping and then watched 'An Audience With Take That Live!'

It was excellent...what band can get together after 10 years apart and still be as good, followed by 'Parkie'.  A great evening, so great i slept in this morning till 10am.

Have got another busy week next week.  Monday is the second and last of the listening course i am leading, tuesday a group of us are going into a sheltered accommodation complex to take a carol service for the elderly and Wednesday will be the bible study group i lead.  Thursday and Friday i get to stay in at night.  Yipee!!

Work is building up for christmas (i work in a christian bookshop) and as is usual this time of year family problems have come yet again.  Just when you think everything is going well for a change.....

Still compared to other peoples problems on here mine are small by comparison.

Next sunday will be granddaughters 11th birthday.  Not sure what is happening yet as she usually goes to her dad's at weekends so will have to wait and see.  Saturday is my saturday at work but i am wanted at church to meet a prospective new Minister.  Now what makes you think that next week is going to be as busy as last week, and somewhere in this i have to try and go christmas shopping.  Roll on January!!

But God is good and he will see me through as he always does and i choose to keep a smile on my face and get on with it.

The mighty oak tree was once a little
nut that held its ground.