Wednesday 31 December 2008

So here we are. It's the last day of December, that last day of the year. Be careful with any cheques that you write from now until... ooh, at least July.

It's been really really foggy here since lunchtime. This morning we walked into town, and paid some money into the bank, went to the post office etc. Quite mundane apart from when we walked past Woolworths. Oh woe, oh tragedy... it has finally happened. One of the stalwarts of the British high street has finally gone. It was very sad to look into the carcass of the store. Perversely, the security camera was still running and you could look up and see yourself on the TV over the door as you pressed your nose against the glass. I choked back more than just a single tear, I can tell you.

As I discussed yesterday, Christmas is over. All the excitement has gone, although I've still got the Father Ted box set that I was given for Christmas. I am really looking forward to next year, I believe that it has a lot of promise. Forget all the doom mongerers, 2009 will be what YOU make it. Come on...

Tuesday 30 December 2008

As we approach new year, I have been thinking, as I do every year, about the passing of Christmas. I love Christmas and December in general as much, if not more than the next man, woman or child. I am always melancholic when it is over. January just holds no cheer for me whatsoever.

Please stay with me, as there is a point to this nonsense, HONEST! I think that Christmas Eve is my favourite part of Christmas. It's the anticipation, that tingle of knowing that tomorrow is the big day. I guess it's a hangover from childhood. From a very early age, I could never sleep on Christmas Eve. My brother, with whom I shared a bedroom would be off, giving it the z's very early on. I just could not sleep, although I was never awake when my presents were delivered. By the time I was able to go out on the ale, getting to sleep on Christmas Eve didn't seem to be such a problem.

But what of the big day? I tend to view it as the beginning of the end rather than the climax of the celebration. Oh no, in a week's time it'll be January and a couple of days after that it's back to work... Am I really that much of glass half empty person?

Well, no actually, I don't think that I am, because all day today for example, I have been mentally looking forward to the new year. First there's the lighter nights, it's still light at 6 o'clock by the end of January. Then there's the clocks going forward at the end of March, then Easter. Then our first Birthday of the year in May, then the Cup Final. Then in even years, there's a World Cup or Euro Championships, test match cricket, bl**dy tennis, effing motor racing and so on and so forth.

Monday 29 December 2008

Today we've been to Wrexham shopping. It seem that with Woolies closing, Oswestry has lost quite a large chunk of its retail capabilities. I bought a box set of the Absolutely tv series from the late 1980's. I've watched the first couple of shows so far and whilst it's a bit slow in places some of the stuff is just as good as I remember. It stars Morwenna Banks - Peppa and George Pig's mum, along with John Sparks - the new voice of Fireman Sam. Gordon Kennedy is in there too - a very funny man, there's Jack Docherty, Peter Bakie and Murray Hunter.

Sunday 28th December 2008

Went for a walk up a local hill. As it was such a beautiful day, we could see for miles and miles. The boys enjoyed the walk too. It being that time of year, I decided in my infinite wisdom that we'd have beans on toast for lunch - some nice bland stuff to bring us all down to earth after the rich food that we've been eating lately.

We arrived back home after an hour of the Newcastle v Liverpool game on Sky Sports. I really do need to check the timing of these games. That was I can make sure that I watch the whole game. That said, what I did see was very reassuring. Looks like Liverpool are going to be in there at the end of the season. Ho ho ho.