What you got (off) for Xmas?

[Daisy]

Right you buggers down under, take those rose tinted glasses off right now.

1) slade, band aid, etc... all shit - and when you've heard then umpteen times when shopping for gifts it will make you want to do a stabbing.
2) snowy winters.... are you fucking insane, half the UK is under a blanket of snow, causing travel chaos and broken hips aplenty
3) pubs on xmas eve/day ... full of "once a year" pubgoers pissing off all the regulars by sitting in "their" seats

I'll swap you the warm and the beach and all of that.... well I would if I could get a flight anywhere but I can't because all the airports are shut.

Rant over ...



As for me well I'm working right up to xmas eve, though hopefully the powers that be will let us bugger off early(ish). Then not back in until January the 4th.

This is the first year in many that I have not worked the days between xmas and new year. Usually I volunteer to do them as we normally take a Holiday somewhere hot in January.

We are hoping to take the caravan over to Southport for a few days, but the snowy weather here might prevent that now.

[Miles]

Since I am retired I have all holidays, paid of course, so one day is just like all others. This year my wife and I are the only ones here as my son and daughter have grown and moved on so I am going to celebrate my birthday, 24 Dec, the way I want. In a bar with my wife ,playing pool. WOO HOO

Be more fun to spend it in a pool with a bar, playing with your wife.

Believe me if we had a hot tub it would have a bar and I would not even think of going out.

[Crackpot]

Wednesday is my last day. Back the 4th... Or maybe not. My son will determine that one.

[Rick]

I believe I missed the whole naming thang.

What did ya'll decide on?

[Crackpot]

Erik

[Rick]

Fine name.

Tell the misses good luck.

Don't let her get ahold of yer hand...

[Crackpot]

Hand nothing. I'm protecting my balls!

[alice]

I'm meant to be working up 'til New Years Eve and then off from Dec 25, going back Jan 4th. We have a 'shutdown', and it's paid time - ordinary pay. I don't know if we'll get it next year 'cos we've got a new wages agreement to be negotiated in 2011. They're usually done every three years. What we had in place under the current agreement was/is that we worked an extra 4 or 6 minutes 'unpaid' per day (can't remember which), and that adds up to the time betweem xmas and new year - so we have effectively 'made up' the time, and that's why we get it off with pay.
I'm off at the moment but that's because I'm sick - again. Inconvenient time of the year to be sick. I'm still trying, in between feeling like I'm dying, to do the presents and the wrapping and whataver else needs doing, and I'll have to go into work tomorrow no matter what, to get at least the urgent deadline work out of the way before the shutdown. I'm feeling quite unChristmassy this year, but trying to put on a brave face :-}

[SisterMaryFellatio]

Right you buggers down under, take those rose tinted glasses off right now.

1) slade, band aid, etc... all shit - and when you've heard then umpteen times when shopping for gifts it will make you want to do a stabbing.
2) snowy winters.... are you fucking insane, half the UK is under a blanket of snow, causing travel chaos and broken hips aplenty
3) pubs on xmas eve/day ... full of "once a year" pubgoers pissing off all the regulars by sitting in "their" seats

I'll swap you the warm and the beach and all of that.... well I would if I could get a flight anywhere but I can't because all the airports are shut.

Rant over ...



As for me well I'm working right up to xmas eve, though hopefully the powers that be will let us bugger off early(ish). Then not back in until January the 4th.

This is the first year in many that I have not worked the days between xmas and new year. Usually I volunteer to do them as we normally take a Holiday somewhere hot in January.

We are hoping to take the caravan over to Southport for a few days, but the snowy weather here might prevent that now.

Daisy, i know we sound like right whingin poms, and I am sure the snow would drive me mental but tinsel just looks wrong in bright sunlight! They still spray snow on the windows of shops...its 32 degrees FFS! Santa still wears the full kit and caboodle with fur trim. Hes not in boardies riding a jet ski...It all looks so wrong and so tacky when theres clear blue skies!

Gimme a cold Xmas .....Band Aid, Slade, people fighting for bread in Tesco's, Quality Street (MMMM Caramel barrels) marks and Spencers christmas food. I would swap it anyday for 35 degrees and a prawn on the barbie!

The rest of the year you can keep your drizzle!

[Scooter]

And I'd happily wear reindeer antlers with my swimsuit at the beach if I could switch places with you.

[Lord Jim]

Here in the US, the official legal Holidays for Christmas and New Years, since they fall on a Saturday, are the Friday before....

(Which rather sucks for most folks, since Christmas Eve and New Years Eve are not days most folks outside the retail trade and and medical, fire and police services work much anyway)

We seriously considered renting a place up in Tahoe for a week, (Tati has never had a White Christmas...in fact she's only had one experience a couple of years ago to play in the snow; go sledding, make snow men, have a snowball fight)) but we decided we'd wait till next year when Jimmy's a little older.

[loCAtek]

Jimmy!? You named him Jim Jr?

Does that make him JJ?

[Lord Jim]

I guess you missed this LoCa...

On his birth certificate he's a "II" not a "Jr"....

[loCAtek]

Nope, hasn't seen his birth certificate.

[Crackpot]

So that means he's actually Kenyan

[Sean]

I'm with you fully on points one and two Dais but I haven't been in a proper pub for nearly six years! I would be willing to stand in the doorway all night in the freezing cold for a pint or two of decent ale!

[loCAtek]

So, he's JJ- cool

[dgs49]

I started with a new (large) company on July 26th, and I am surprised that we have company holidays on 12/24 AND 12/27. Next Friday, the 31st is the New Year's holiday.

I have nothing planned for the holidays, and with the weather rather lousy this year I am going to work all the days we are open, saving a few vacation days for a golf trip in late January or thereabouts.

We are starting a new era in holiday celebrations this year. My father-in-law died in March, and his family (including us) always spent Christmas Eve and New Year's Day together. There has been a terrible rift, however (having to do with the old man's modest estate), and we are not even speaking to the other half. Setting up new traditions, I suppose.

After five surgeries and seven months of unemployment, I will not be bidding a fond farewell to 2010.

[Daisy]

people fighting for bread in Tesco's

This year they're fighting over Chicken wings to make Jamie Oliver's gravy and Heston Blumenthal's Christmas Puddings (at least one has sold for over £1000 on Ebay ... mental!)

[kristina]

The shop I work in will close at the end of business Wednesday, and re-open Monday Jan. 3, so I'm going to have lots of free time to make Twelfth Night presents for everyone. Toss pillows for the nieces, grocery/tote bags for my sister and dad, and I have absolutely no idea what to do for the 16 year old nephew. What I have to work with is a mountain of upholstery fabric and a sewing machine.

Any suggestions?