I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing

So we hurtle towards 2010 and I feel a review of the year coming on.

I have travelled, and visited some new places and some old places. I have made new friends, reconnected with old friends, met one friend in the flesh for the first time, and been neglectful of some others.

I have been happy at work, cross at work, disappointed at work.

I have been to one wedding and not been to four funerals. I have seen one couple decide to marry, and I await the birth of a baby to a mother whose nappies I changed when she was a baby.

I have watched my beautiful tiny girl grow into a big girl, who reads and writes, and looses teeth, and has grown in confidence, and still brings me so much joy that I am crying as I write this about her.

This year I have laughed and smiled and enjoyed. But I have cried and shouted and despaired too. I have been sadder than I have been for a long time, and found myself in a place I didn't expect to be in twice in my lifetime. This isn't the life I expected, but then, whose is?

Next year.....
I hope the hostilities cease.
I would like to loose weight.
I ought to try to drink less.
I should exercise more.
I will be rid of my glasses.
I suspect I shall still be me at the beginning of 2011, whoever me really is.

HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL

Remember my name

I am going to a family funeral tomorrow (actually, looking at the time, it's later today). As we reach the end of another year and in the style of the TV review shows, let us remember who we have lost this year:

Ron Lemmer, the last of Albert and Annie's four children.

Jack Lemmer, in his 103rd year.

Michael Horkan, 74, after a long and dibilitating illness.

And Nigel Lancaster - suddenly and too soon.


-- Post From My iPhone

Donald, where's yer troosers?

A general rant about a number of things...

Jeans. Am I unusual in wanting to buy a pair of ordinary jeans? NOT made out of stretchy material? NOT full of holes? NOT looking like someone did the painting in them. And most certainly NOT leggings made to look like jeans. In Harrogate I am apparently in a minority of one.

Grammar. It is "you're", not "your", you utter half-wit. You are old enough to know better. Do it one more time and I will correct it, in red, and send a copy to all the *senior* managers you keep going on about.

Mnemonic. I know how it is spelt. However, I also know how it is pronounced. What's more, saying I "mis-remembered" doesn't soften the blow. It just makes you sound even more patronising. I do seem to to have mis-remembered why I married you at this precise moment in time though.


Thanks for listening...I needed that.

I wanna be loved by you..

I was contacted by an old school friend via one of the many social networking sites that I frequent. Well, I say school. It was a boy who was *allowed* to come to our (girl's convent) school to take part in a joint play we were putting on with their school.

Anyway, he admitted to a huge crush on me....28 years ago. And I felt all warm and fuzzy for a couple of days afterwards......That is hopelessly sad, isn't it, and I really...REALLY need to deal with my self esteem issues soon, don't I?

This is me when I was the object of his affection. No...that most certainly is NOT him in the picture. And I am applying stage make up, not gazing lovingly up into this fella's eyes! I was stage manager, you see.....I spent weeks painting shoe boxes. That will give you a clue to the play if you want to have a guess.

Hanging on the telephone

Yay for technology. I am embracing web2.0 by blogging from my phone while on the train.
I am half way to Birmingham for a meeting with our customers. Not all of them. In fact not many at all. It appears that Dudley on a miserable Tuesday is one step too far. I on the other hand have been on the train since 6am, after only three hours sleep. Jetlag. Thank god I wrote my presentation before I went to the US. I can barely string a sentence together at the moment. There has to be more to life, doesn't there? In fact, as Morrisey once said "there's more to life than books you know". Scarily close to my catchphrase, used when a colleague or even a customer, has their knickers is a twist about something..."it's only an f'ing library". Better yet, if we are trading pithy one liners , from the brilliant course I was on last week "your opinion, although interesting, is irrelevant." it's supposed to mean that you need to have facts, not a personal opinion. They even sell mugs with it on.

Oh, a station. Derby? Yes. Good. Still time for a quick nap before New Street.

-- Post From My iPhone

There'll be bluebirds over.....

Dashed sorry to have to tell you chaps that escape tunnel "Bradford" collapsed overnight. No chance of salvaging it. We are going to have to start a whole new tunnel. At least the camp commandant didn't get wind of our plans.

Leaving on a jet plane

I'm going to Canada next Friday. Toronto, to be precise. It has kind of crept up on me so I am now in a flurry of excitement about it. Only stopping for 48 hours. I'm actually doing work a favour! I have to be in Ohio, at the mothership,the following week and by flying via Toronto, and staying a Saturday night, I'm saving the company 500 quid! I'm staying with friends (saving more money)...who I haven't seen for about 15 months, and a trip to Niagara Falls has been mentioned..so we are all winners!

Anyway, I fly into Lester B Pearson Airport, and being a bit of a geek I thought I should find out who he was to have an airport named after him. Well, if you didn't already know (I bet Kevin did....) he was the 14th prime minister of Canada, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Now I know we might feel that they are giving those away with cornflakes at the mo (oooo...political satire...)but he got his for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis. He did lots of other worthy stuff too, but true to form this is what actually caught my eye in the wikipedia entry...". In 1917, Pearson transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (as the Royal Canadian Air Force did not exist at that time), where he served as a Flying Officer until being sent home with injuries from two accidents; while training as a pilot at an air training school in Hendon, England, Pearson survived an airplane crash during his first flight. Unfortunately, in 1918, he was hit by a London bus during a blackout and was sent home as an invalid to recuperate and then discharged from the service..." Bless!

On a slightly sentimental note I shall take the opportunity to pay tribute to my lovely friends in Canada - kate & chris. Fifteen years ago this very month I went through a particular difficult time - my first marriage broke up - and without them and my other extremely lovely friends Jenny & Richard I could not have got through it and come out the other side.....thanks to them I have extremely happy memories of two drunken and slightly deranged years in my little bachelorette pad in Sale.

Mad-eyed screamer

I am soooooo bored I could scream. Really, if my desk weren't so cluttered I would lay my head down and howl. I've got plenty of work to do, don't get me wrong. Mountains of it in fact. I'm not travelling too much at the moment, which is good. But I get to go to the US at the end of next week, via Toronto to see some friends. I've just had an excellent appraisal. But.....it's just not doing it for me at the moment....know what I mean? I really need something challenging - in a good way.

Adding to this malaise is that I am in the process of putting together an application for another job....outside my present organisation....shhhhh.....don't tell anyone. It is the perfect job for me...back in the real world of libraries...but kind of not......I am completely desperate to get this job, and can't get it out of my head. I *think* I stand a reasonable chance. I *think* I should get an interview at least. I just have to think up strategies to ensure my head doesn't explode in the meantime.

Here is someone far better at screaming than me, and seemingly still happy in her day job.

A puppet on a lonely string

Yesterday was a good day. Today is not a good day. Just tell me why workplace communication is SO difficult? Is joined up thinking SUCH a crazy idea? Is caring about what you do TOTALLY pointless?

Anyhoo, this is what I listen to when I need a lift...I've lost count of the number of times I've listened to it today. Enjoy and be inspired along with me.....

Moving on up

Nearly managed to not blog at all in September. Really, that won't do.

Apologies for my absence [did anyone notice?]Been a bit low over the past few weeks, and didn't want to turn to blog into a whinge and rant fest. No - I have another blog for that..hee hee!

So, we holidayed. Gite No. 1 was lovely. A new area for us. A covered pool, which Laura adored, and even made me consider [very briefly] rejoining a gym so i could swim more often. Gite No.2 was our usual haunt : Penderff in Brittany, and was fantastic. Felt like coming home, which after four vists is hardly surprising. It's like staying with old friends without the hassle of hogging the bathroom and using all the hot water. We socialised with our hosts at least 4 nights out of 7, and when I say socialised I really mean drank enormous quantities of cheap french wine. It was lovely, and was really the relaxation I needed. A more detailed holiday post with photos (for marketing purposes!) will appear shortly. Anyway, holiday was OK...but two weeks in the company of family 24/7 seemed like a long time to me.

I had another birthday, and channelled my inner Kirstie Allsop by getting gorgeous bric-a-brac from a Bricante. Honestly this chap must be praying we come back next year the amount of money husband spent at his shop! Photos of purchases also to follow.

My parents gave me Lakeland vouchers, and I bought icing kit, because I am heavily into cupcakes at the moment. I actually have a photo this time:



My fantasy is to set up a little sideline in cakes and facepainting....watch this space.

Walk on by...

I'm packed (so that's my clothes and everything the daughter needs for two weeks away from home), all the travel arrangements are sorted, euros to be collected tomorrow, bits to be waxed are waxed, and I have my holiday toes on.....

Husband has yet to start his ironing, and we leave in 16 hours, including sleeping. There'll be tears before bedtime I fear.

Time for a little drinkie.....

See y'all in a couple of weeks!

Relax...

I haven't blogged for an age, and now I am popping in to tell you I'm going on holiday at the end of the week. However, now that I am the extremely proud owner of an iPhone, I *plan* to blog from France.......well, we'll see....

Anyhoo, this year I am taking about three-times the usual number of books with me as I regularly run out of reading matter after the first week and am left to raid the shelves for items left by previous holiday makers....usually Catherine Cookson or books about the SAS (why is that?)

So here is the current holiday reading list (and of course a bit of product placement...) click here...

You are the sunshine of my life

My angel is now six, and it's high time for a review. Laura loves school, but would prefer not to go to after school club...well, who would?. Her best friend is still Chrissie, but they aren't going to be in the same class next year. Luckily she has Sofia.




She still loves her soft toys, and now has a favourite - a small pig called piggly. She still loves pink and purple and barbies and make up. She loves her red hair, but doesn't like the curls.




She still loves singing and dancing, and is starting to show an interest in musical instruments.

She still loves cuddles and kisses and tells me she is never going to leave home.

oh happy day...

One of the drumkits is for sale: here

Reward

But husband did give me this as a thank you present. I was extremely happy. Shallow and materialistic...moi?

It's been a hard days night

I've been a bit distracted for the last few weeks, and hugely stressed. I've had a lot on my plate, and now it's all over I can share it with y'all. Ironically, I'm finding time to get back on with blogging because I'm off sick, which is probably my body's reaction to the end of the stress!

So, there's been work...there's always work, but June is the end of our FY, and targets are not met, and, well, you just try that extra bit...to try to make a difference. Then we had some very important clients coming to visit...oh and the small matter of a two day user conference to organise and host. Everything went fine...client is extremely happy, user conference was a success.

Simultaneously I was organising a couple of minor things at home. Laura's 6th birthday party, which should have been straight forward. I booked a local pub play area, and they do all the work. Just turn up with the cake and the child. But we had it on a school night, so there were lifts for various children to co ordinate, and party bags...who knew that could be so complicated?

And then there was husband's 60th birthday....oh the build up to the event of the decade has been going on for 6 (very long) months, since I had the foolish idea of a sixties themed party back at new year, and then somehow this got combined with the reunion of the band he used to play in 40 years ago....hence the posts about the purchase of the drumkit(s).

So, I booked a venue, designed the invites, sent the invites, managed the replies, booked the caterer, organised a cake, liaised with the disco (my brother), booked the live band (my next door neighbour), organised costumes and had a few tears and a tantrum. Peter reaquainted himself with drumming. And...thank christ....the party was a great success. Oh, did I mention, all of the above - work and home events, happened over the space of 5 days? Now you know why the immune system has given up the ghost! Here are selected highlights....







For the foolhardy or the extremely bored all the photos can be seen here.

When I scream I scream about you

Can't sleep. Can't imagine why, cos I'm flippin' knackered. Don't think it's the heat as I haven't had problems the last couple of nights. I have got lots on my mind, so I going to vent here for a bit till the sleeping tabs kick in (bloody hurrah for Tylenol pm I say).

I've been up the hspital today. I got bitten on the ankle on Monday....and it has got steadily worse over the week, and is now extremely swollen, painful and ugly, so i limped off to A&E. Now, we have a marvellous hospital, with excellent medical staff at every level, but the admin staff....all cut from the same cloth as doctors receptionists I am afraid. For the record, as I am not a Daily Mail reader I would not regard Customer Care training as a waste of money. When the YTS trainee in A&E finally stopped yacking the triage nurse, and glanced in my direction, he muttered " Can i help you?" in the slightly puzzled way the youth of today have....I was a bit stumped actually....I was in A&E.....that probably narrowed down my reasons for interuppting his gossiping. "I'd like to see a doctor" I said, trying to remain dignified while standing on one leg. This seemed a new one on him, but he asked me for my date of birth..."28th August 1965" I replied. Then the saga of searching for the records began. No one with that date of birth and my name on his computer...so clearly I was a new patient...no, I said, and even listed some of the previous vists....childbirth, broken toe, removal of tonsils (see blogs passim). No - still could not be found, and his tone of voice seemed to imply i was masquerading as a previous patient just to spoil his day. Finally, after asking for any previous names I might be registered under, and my address, I appear on screen. 28th of the 8th he says in a slightly accusing tone. August was the eighth month last time I checked. Perhaps he was bunking off school that day.

Hmmm....that feels better....wonder how many stereotypes I've trotted out, and how many folk I've offended with that?

Anyway, in case you are concerned, i apparently have an infection in the insect bite, and I have antibiotics.

Where do you go to, my lovely?

Sorry, I've been a bit busy....but I'm back now.

I'm off to Munich tomorrow at some ungodly hour, if I make it. I tried the same trip two weeks ago, but the plane had a technical fault, and as I prefer to fly from a regional airport via Schipol, the delay meant I had to abandon the whole thing, which was a bit of a bugger as I'd been up since 4.15am. Anyway, I try again tomorrow, and am looking forward to a meal of very fatty pork, a couple of wheat beers and an early night tomorrow evening. That to me is Germany - well, Bavaria anyway. At the hairdresser's yesterday the junior washing my hair, after failing to get the hint that I have a very uninteresting life,and what's more i am probably older than her mother, after my answer to her enquiry about my weekend plans (taking my daughter to two birthday parties and doing the ironing) persevered with "and any plans for the week?". "Yes, I'm going to Germany" "Oh Germany" she responded gaily, "what's that like?". I muttered something about the place I was going to be very nice thanks, but really....what am I supposed to say to such an inane question? Answers on a postcard.....

Anyway, I've just checked in online, and should this flight actually take off, I've discovered that i'm flying business class tomorrow. Not at all a usual occurence I promise you.(don't worry Kev, that's not where Helminthdale's subscriptions go!) But certainly a treat as breakfast will consist of more than the cup of crap tea and packet of TUC biscuits that we are usually served with at all times of the day in pig class.

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet!

50 ways to leave your lover

The husband has bought another drumkit. This time it is a real one, as opposed to an electronic one.

The little drummer boy

A quick pictorial catch up of my world over the last few weeks.

Here are the drums....




Not as big as you might have thought, but I am informed reliably informed that size isn't everything, as long as the operator is fairly skilled.
And yes, they are situated in a book (and CD/DVD) lined study. Are the family men amongst you asking how that jammy begger gets his very own personal playroom? Frankly, I ask myself that sometimes, especially as he is actually downstairs hogging the telly, watching football, and not even luxuriating in his own private kingdom.



In fact, just to rub it in, here is another shot of aforementioned booklined..etc etc...

If you zoom in Kev you might be able to recognise some of the filums...



Last weekend, as mentioned over at Mrs P's, we went to a wedding, with picnic on Box Hill. We were friends of the groom - he and I were at uni together...indeed we graduated 20 years ago this year, so took the opportunity for a reunion shot.





No shots of the actual service or the official photos you might notice. That's because we weren't there. Shan't go into too much detail for fear I will be overcome (again)with the need to go downstairs and point out a couple more home truths to the man of the house. (Actually, can't do that - I'm still not speaking to him) Suffice to say that if anyone says anything about women and their inability to handle directions I shall be round forthwith and shove a bat up your nightie.

Multi-tasking.....don't get me started.......

D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

The husband has bought a drum kit.

Ain't no mountain high enough

I'm here..I'm back...got back from Salt Lake City about a week ago, and straight into school hols. Oh, and the obligatory jet lag. When I'm wide awake at 4am, listening to the husband snoring like a stuck pig, I write the most witty blog posts in my head. Unfortunately they have disappeared by the time I finally wake up. So, sadly, y'all just get a few photos and a rather dull recap of what I did in Utah.

View of mountains as we flew in to SLC.




The SLC Temple and snow.



In the Family History Library - one of my Irish relatives - fourth from bottom.



And just for Kevin - a picture of the clean sidewalks!

I was actually on a work trip, but there aren't any pictures of those activities. Maybe a picture of me not understanding the functional specification my colleague was proposing, or me punching the air when the customer said" sure - go ahead and invoice us" would have been more exciting?

Sweets for my sweet

It's obviously the 24/7 librarian bit of me, but as soon as I read Mrs Pouncer's reminiscences on the Caramac bar over at Kevin's Commonplaces I felt the urge to google and see what I could find....



Thanks to the wonder that is t'interweb you can learn about Caramac,
Buy Caramac..and..um...well, actually, I'm not sure why you'd want one of these.

Take all of me

I have inadvertently got an award - simply by being one of the first five folks to comment on Scarlet's blog. I get to post the award picture, which is nice.



However, I also have to list 10 true facts about myself. I did something similar a few months back at the behest of Kevin. As I am not a very interesting person it is going to be tricky to find more to say about myself, but here goes....taking more than a little inspiration from Scarlet's "truths":

1) I am not ginger either. No, seriously. I really am not, but I always wanted to be. I love red hair. Then my daughter was born ginger, or orange, as she likes to call it. Be careful what you wish for.

2) I have two scars under my chin, both about 1 cm long, parallel. Both childhood accidents - one from slipping in the public swimming pool and banging my chin on the edge, and on from hitting my chin on one of those 70s standup ashtray things.

3) In my job I get to visit lots of buildings and organisations that many people wouldn't get access to. I didn't go to the Lloyds of London meeting, but I have been to the Bank of England and the Lebanese Parliament, to name a couple.

4) I too got Unclassified in my maths O level, despite a home tutor as well as regular maths lessons. I was supposed to retake it the following january but didn't even bother to show up. However, it has been one of my many hang ups about my lack of academic prowess. Despite doing (and passing) statistics as part of my degree, I eventually took an OU maths course a couple of years ago, and PASSED! It was one of the happiest days of my life.

5) I am crap at sport. I was always one of those sad ones picked last for teams along with the fat girl. I was on the arts side - but I was always picked for the school play, so that was good!

6) I am a glasses wearer because I can't really get on with lenses. I have several pairs.

7) I have never been to a Cure concert. I did, however, dress as a pirate for a Bow Wow Wow concert.

8) I am a voracious reader - cannot be without a book anywhere. My dad used to help me with my reading when I was younger by getting me to read hymns - that's left footers for you!

9)I have never been a contestant on a game show, but my husband was a contestant on a radio music quiz. He was knocked out in the first round, but we had great fun at the recording, and had drinks and nibbles with Ned Sherrin.

10) I went for a riding lesson once with a horse mad school friend. I fell off, and thought it was hilarious. I wasn't a horsey type. As with the sport, I was too busy doing plays, doing dance classes or reading a book.

Imagination

When we had the kitchen re-done we couldn't afford a smeg, and with a small child, I needed more freezer space, so we got this:



It's retro, it matches my cupboards and it only cost about 300 quid. And the eagle-eyed amongst you will notice I'm giving you a glimpse of my bush.

Sadly, my lovely fridge is covered in magnets - another feature and benefit of having a small person living in my house.

Here is a close up of the magnets if anyone is interested:




Close ups of my bush available upon request.

The ghost in you

It's 4.23am, and I can't sleep. Woke up to go to the loo, and then started puzzling about this....Since September we have lost the following:

* One blue school pinafore, possibly unworn.
* One long sleeved t-shirt, pink with flowers, from GapKids..fairly new.
* Two..yes two..school cardigans..blue sweatshirt material..badge with white rose of Yorkshire and a dove. Again, newish. Gone missing together.

What the f*** is going on? All these items have gone missing in the house. It's not a big house. Five bedrooms (oh stop...one is so small most folks have extended the bathroom into it - I use it as my study), kitchen, living room, etc....

The cardigans are the most recent item to go missing - sometime over the last nine days (It has been half term) I've checked all the obvious places, even been reacquainted with the bottom of my ironing basket, which is a rare happening.

So what do we think? Ghost? Do ghosts steal things? Very large rats making a nest?

I'm going to try to sleep now, after I've checked to see the results of the Oscars (oh did I mention husband with a head cold, snoring like a ..well, like his usual self actually), but I'll keep you informed.

You don't have to take your clothes off

My husband and daughter are away, so I thought I would try my hand at stripping. I am actually quite pleased with my performance. I wonder if I could be a professional stripper for a living? What do you think? Would you pay me to strip at your place?

Before....

After....

Kick over the statues

And how did the residents of the elegant spa town of H*rr*g*te celebrate the snowfall this week? By building an large snow sculpture of a knob on the main roundabout, of course. I approach it from an odd angle (as the actress said etc etc) and announced to my 5 year old that some had done a person sitting on a horse...til we got closer. Later, on an beer crisis trip to Waitrose my husband spotted people having their photo taken next to it. We may lose our position as the UK's 4th best place to live over this.

Meanwhile, a bit o'SWP early 80s nostalgia for you...

The Lebanon

[Yes - that is a song title - Human League]

Anyway, well done to the lovely Ms.SB and to dear old Kevin - you were very close with your guesses as to my work destination last week - what with the temperature up in the high teens, the haunting sound of the call to prayer, and the bullet holes in the walls of most public buildings, I could easily have been in Hastings or Cleethorpes. But I was, in fact, in Beirut. It was jolly nice too....I'm always partial to a trip to that neck of the woods. Gorgeous scenery, lovely people and fab food. Except for the pickled turnip, served at lunch and dinner. Sharn't miss that.

Eeee..it's all glamour my life. Next week, it's Liverpool, Sheffield and Birmingham. The trip to Swindon got cancelled, which is just as well, because I don't think I could stand the excitement.

Where do you go to my lovely....?

See if can guess where I'm going this week (for work) based on this: [KEVIN - you can't play!]

An independent republic since 1943, ?? is a compact country of 10,452 square kilometers with a population approaching four million. Located at the meeting point of three continents. In winter, the high peaks are covered with snow, and in summer, their limestone slopes glimmer white in the distance.

From the hotel the sea is just a short walk away as are the shopping areas.

In these shoes...

This has been a funny old week, chez Robinson. The husband got a promotion..sort of...long story..the short version is that he lost his job back in 2005 in a re-org, and so was given another position in the organisation (it's Civil Service), which was two grades lower, except he still got paid at his old grade, but with no annual increments (you still with me?).

Occasionally he got "matched" to other jobs at his grade, which he had to be interviewed for, even if he didn't want them...he never got them, but still had to go through the prep, and then the letdown.

Anyway, this week he was interviewed for a senior role within his own department, back at the old scale and he got it. It is an ideal role, and his colleagues are very pleased for him.

(Keep going, there is a point to this)

I, meanwhile, have been waiting for a similar-ish decision at work since early November. I thought it would all happen this week, but no...in fact it got even more complicated. So I have been happy for husband, but feeling increasingly ill-used by my own organisation.

Anyway, this is the point.....and the ladies will understand....

Something had to be done.....so, shoes have been purchased....red shoes....and suddenly the world seems a brighter place.




Although, slightly scarily, I find the strapline for the manufacturer is "The footware of universal youth culture fashion."

And, of course, any excuse to bung a Kirsty track in..

""

Pretty in Pink

Shamelessly jumping on the Jukebox Monday bandwagon-

There has been some pointless nonsense in the papers about girls and pink recently.

But back in the good old days we knew that is was OK to be pretty in pink.....

January...sick and tired...

Better late than never, a christmas and new year post.

Christmas was very nice chez Robinson, not least because it was mum's turn to do the cooking honours. We had the stepchildren (or rather, step adults, as they are 28 and 31). Laura was a poppet, in good spirits as Santa seemed to have exceeded her expectations.

And what was stuffed in my stocking, I hear you cry. Well, books mostly. At least three female friends and acquaintances were given bracelets by their other halves...two even went out and chose them without being told which ones to buy. The husband has been informed of this, and hopefully has stored this information away for future reference. [God, I am an ungrateful witch, aren't I?]

Mostly for Kate's benefit, here are the new acquisitions on the LibraryLizzie shelves (not in any order...not even Dewey):

Redemption Falls.
The rain before it falls.
Nul Points.
It's not a rehearsal.
Kenneth Williams unseen
The blackest streets
The suspicions of Mr Whicher
Egg dancing
Austerity Britain
Perfumes
Dry store room 1
Call the midwife
Who do you think you are?

I know I haven't included the authors...that's to make you click on the links. And I'm sure there is at least one more book...possibly two...

New Year was fab - down in Christchurch. Grown up (ish) dinner party and a game of Piss Artist, which me and my team mate Nick won!

Now, everything is over for another year. The decorations are packed away, and I have got viral laryngitis...which is apparently better than having the bacterial kind.

Back at work with the same old annoyances. Clearly certain colleagues didn't think "stop pissing off Librarylizzie is a big way" was worthy of a new year's resolution. My resolution? To try not to let certain colleagues piss me off....