Another lovely day at work in an empty office... :-)
Last night we ended up not bothering with the cinema (we are supposed to be going tonight instead), and just ate leftovers (far too many) then walked up the local pub for a pint. Nothing very exciting! Popped to see Jamie and Adele after work, which was nice - although turns out poor Jamie had a very disappointing Christmas. He had been ill with a vomiting/squitty bug all over the festive season, although I guess he had one advantage over me; he managed to lose weight! (not that he needs to).
On with work! Big hello to Jen, who is also working over the Xmas period. I share your pain!
Much love
Hayls
xxxxxxxxx
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Back to Work!
Boooooooooooo..... am sitting at my desk, not wanting to be here... nevermind, I guess that it is a good sign that I don't want to scrabble back to work to escape my Christmas!
Had a really really lovely weekend and Christmas and Boxing day...
Saturday
I got up nice and early (before 6am, with Mark), and drove straight over to Lowestoft to start the rounds. Managed to get the last of my food shopping from a very empty Tesco garage on arrival in Lowestoft. so was jolly glad about that! Popped to see Mum for a bit (and admired their new conservatory), and then went over to see Nanny and Grandad. They both seemed very well, and chatty as ever. Was also nice as Robert turned up too - so could give him all the bits and bobs I carried home for him, and that saved me a journey later on. I then went to see Janine and the adorable Lola in their new house in Dene road. Gorgeous place with so much potential (although most of it has been done for them). It is amazing how much more you get for your money in Lowestoft! Lola is gorgeous - standing (not *quite* walking, but almost), and chatting away. She seems a very laid back and smiley little girl, who chuckled like crazy when I threw her up in the air and caught her... have discovered that this may be a very good way to get rid of my bingo wings ;-)
Left Janine to feed Lola, and headed round to Nanny Brown's place... I always feel vaguely sad when I visit Nanny. She spends far too much time alone, and her health is not great. However, some of her isolation is self imposed (she tends to upset people)... its an odd combination of pity and regret I feel there. What makes it worse is that she is always so pleased to see me. Yet again, I departed with a promise to myself to try and make a bit more of an effort with her... although I know that for various and complicated reasons, getting too close to the woman is not a good idea. A tricky call.
Late afternoon, I finally made it to Tracy's new place... one word: GORGEOUS. The place is stunning. Yet again I am staggered at Tracy's good taste in all matters decor, and felt envious of her beautiful house, her closeness to the family, and her two beautiful blonde children... sigh. Then again, I could do without her stressful lifestyle... piggy-face turned up with Henry at dinner-time, and Tracy (somewhat rashly, I felt!) invited him to eat dinner with Me and my parents... nevermind, the slow-cooked belly of pork (done in a most delicious Chinese 5-spice rub in the aga... AGA!) made up in some way for it. Thankfully he didn't stay too late, and we continued to drink wine/baileys until fairly late. Henry is simply gorgeous these days - he has me in fits of laughter continuously... I read him "Twas the Night Before Christmas", and amid the "Whys?" you get for almost every line ("why is Santa's nose like a cherry?", "why does he smoke a pipe? mummy said it's dirty!"...), he seemed properly enchanted with it. He did announce though, apropos of nothing, that Father Christmas would not be visiting Uncle Mark as he eats children's toys... (Mark, some months ago now, pretended to eat a plastic beetle belonging to Henry, and Henry has never quite forgiven him or forgotten it!). Apparently, the only way Uncle Mark could guarantee himself a visit from the big man, was to "make sure that he didn't wee his pants on Christmas eve"... which of course, is nigh-on impossible ;-)
Tracy, Oscar and I ended up sleeping in Tracy's enormous bed for the night... I almost got the shock of my life when I was awoken by what appeared to be a hairless cat (Oscar), slapping me in the face and pulling on my nose in the night! Perhaps I had one too many Baileys... heh.
Sunday - Christmas Eve
Had lovely brekkie with Tracy and the boys (again, Henry had me in stitches... re: a discussion of "what Trolls might eat for breakfast", THE most disgusting Henry could think of, aside from "poo poo Pizza" and "mud pie" was a crab stick that had been dropped on the floor!).
Met up with Jane and Jamie in Oulton Broad for coffee in the Red Herring. Was really good to see them both! They both looked fabulously well and were on good form - Jamie has even had his goatee shaved off (which seemed to take half an hour for me to register!). They had some good news... they have won a contract to overhaul the gardens around the Art Cinema in Norwich. I am SO pleased for them. It is a gorgeous, and very historic, site. Could open many doors for them!
I drove home immediately after leaving Jane and Jamie, and managed to get home not long after Mark. I prepared all the veggies and turkey for Christmas day, and we settled down with a bottle of wine and watched Alien II - very christmassy!!! ;-)
Monday - Christmas Day
Had a lovely Christmas day with Mark and his family. We started the day with smoked salmon and bucks fizz (kindly donated by Jamie and Adele), and I managed to sort everything out in the kitchen for dinner. We also found time to make a few phone calls (Mark got through to a very jovial sounding Jez and Marta in China) and wish people Happy Christmas.
We opened pressies when Suzy and John arrived. I got lots of lovely bits and bobs from friends and family, including a lovely silver cross and chain from Mark, and some money from Mum and Dad, Nanny and Grandad and Tracy.
I did a starter for dinner (Prawn Cocktail - classy!), followed by turkey and all the trimmings for Mark's parents and I, and a vegetarian haggis for Mark. I did Christmas pudding and custard for dessert - although managed to fluff up the fresh custard I was supposed to be making (with egg yolks, cream, sugar and vanilla pods) - somehow the double cream in it separated... Serves me right for showing off! ;-)
In the afternoon we watched The Long Engagement on DVD (fab film), and then headed to Mark's brother's place to see him (Paul), his wife Alison, and their kids (Jessica, aged 12 and Sam, 9) and some of Alison's family. Spent the evening sitting around and stuffing our faces!
Tuesday - Boxing Day
Another really nice day with Mark's family. Mark's mum cooked for all of us; Mark's sister Caroline, her partner Phil, and their two children (Katie, aged 3 and Emily, 4 months). Paul and Alison and the children also made it over. Basically we sat around watching TV, stuffing our faces with Quality Street, and watching the children run amok with their various toys...
In the evening, Mark and I just stayed in front of the fire drinking wine and whiskey and watching The Pirates of The Caribbean, and The Mummy Returns... yummm.... Johnny Depp....
Wednesday - Back to work!
I am the only one in the entire family who has to return to work today! Booo... was very hard to leave Mark tucked up in bed this morning - not made any better by the wine/whiskey fest we had last night! ;-) Ah well... no rest for the wicked, hey!
Spoke to Tracy this morning, and unfortunately she had to have the paramedics out last night - as she had a major asthma attack... not good! She seems better today though, if not a little drugged up on steroids!
Anyway... had better do some work. Lunch is over... tonight we are going to the cinema to see The Flags of Our Fathers, which looks excellent...
Speak soon. Hope you all had a good Christmas...
Hayls
xxxx
Had a really really lovely weekend and Christmas and Boxing day...
Saturday
I got up nice and early (before 6am, with Mark), and drove straight over to Lowestoft to start the rounds. Managed to get the last of my food shopping from a very empty Tesco garage on arrival in Lowestoft. so was jolly glad about that! Popped to see Mum for a bit (and admired their new conservatory), and then went over to see Nanny and Grandad. They both seemed very well, and chatty as ever. Was also nice as Robert turned up too - so could give him all the bits and bobs I carried home for him, and that saved me a journey later on. I then went to see Janine and the adorable Lola in their new house in Dene road. Gorgeous place with so much potential (although most of it has been done for them). It is amazing how much more you get for your money in Lowestoft! Lola is gorgeous - standing (not *quite* walking, but almost), and chatting away. She seems a very laid back and smiley little girl, who chuckled like crazy when I threw her up in the air and caught her... have discovered that this may be a very good way to get rid of my bingo wings ;-)
Left Janine to feed Lola, and headed round to Nanny Brown's place... I always feel vaguely sad when I visit Nanny. She spends far too much time alone, and her health is not great. However, some of her isolation is self imposed (she tends to upset people)... its an odd combination of pity and regret I feel there. What makes it worse is that she is always so pleased to see me. Yet again, I departed with a promise to myself to try and make a bit more of an effort with her... although I know that for various and complicated reasons, getting too close to the woman is not a good idea. A tricky call.
Late afternoon, I finally made it to Tracy's new place... one word: GORGEOUS. The place is stunning. Yet again I am staggered at Tracy's good taste in all matters decor, and felt envious of her beautiful house, her closeness to the family, and her two beautiful blonde children... sigh. Then again, I could do without her stressful lifestyle... piggy-face turned up with Henry at dinner-time, and Tracy (somewhat rashly, I felt!) invited him to eat dinner with Me and my parents... nevermind, the slow-cooked belly of pork (done in a most delicious Chinese 5-spice rub in the aga... AGA!) made up in some way for it. Thankfully he didn't stay too late, and we continued to drink wine/baileys until fairly late. Henry is simply gorgeous these days - he has me in fits of laughter continuously... I read him "Twas the Night Before Christmas", and amid the "Whys?" you get for almost every line ("why is Santa's nose like a cherry?", "why does he smoke a pipe? mummy said it's dirty!"...), he seemed properly enchanted with it. He did announce though, apropos of nothing, that Father Christmas would not be visiting Uncle Mark as he eats children's toys... (Mark, some months ago now, pretended to eat a plastic beetle belonging to Henry, and Henry has never quite forgiven him or forgotten it!). Apparently, the only way Uncle Mark could guarantee himself a visit from the big man, was to "make sure that he didn't wee his pants on Christmas eve"... which of course, is nigh-on impossible ;-)
Tracy, Oscar and I ended up sleeping in Tracy's enormous bed for the night... I almost got the shock of my life when I was awoken by what appeared to be a hairless cat (Oscar), slapping me in the face and pulling on my nose in the night! Perhaps I had one too many Baileys... heh.
Sunday - Christmas Eve
Had lovely brekkie with Tracy and the boys (again, Henry had me in stitches... re: a discussion of "what Trolls might eat for breakfast", THE most disgusting Henry could think of, aside from "poo poo Pizza" and "mud pie" was a crab stick that had been dropped on the floor!).
Met up with Jane and Jamie in Oulton Broad for coffee in the Red Herring. Was really good to see them both! They both looked fabulously well and were on good form - Jamie has even had his goatee shaved off (which seemed to take half an hour for me to register!). They had some good news... they have won a contract to overhaul the gardens around the Art Cinema in Norwich. I am SO pleased for them. It is a gorgeous, and very historic, site. Could open many doors for them!
I drove home immediately after leaving Jane and Jamie, and managed to get home not long after Mark. I prepared all the veggies and turkey for Christmas day, and we settled down with a bottle of wine and watched Alien II - very christmassy!!! ;-)
Monday - Christmas Day
Had a lovely Christmas day with Mark and his family. We started the day with smoked salmon and bucks fizz (kindly donated by Jamie and Adele), and I managed to sort everything out in the kitchen for dinner. We also found time to make a few phone calls (Mark got through to a very jovial sounding Jez and Marta in China) and wish people Happy Christmas.
We opened pressies when Suzy and John arrived. I got lots of lovely bits and bobs from friends and family, including a lovely silver cross and chain from Mark, and some money from Mum and Dad, Nanny and Grandad and Tracy.
I did a starter for dinner (Prawn Cocktail - classy!), followed by turkey and all the trimmings for Mark's parents and I, and a vegetarian haggis for Mark. I did Christmas pudding and custard for dessert - although managed to fluff up the fresh custard I was supposed to be making (with egg yolks, cream, sugar and vanilla pods) - somehow the double cream in it separated... Serves me right for showing off! ;-)
In the afternoon we watched The Long Engagement on DVD (fab film), and then headed to Mark's brother's place to see him (Paul), his wife Alison, and their kids (Jessica, aged 12 and Sam, 9) and some of Alison's family. Spent the evening sitting around and stuffing our faces!
Tuesday - Boxing Day
Another really nice day with Mark's family. Mark's mum cooked for all of us; Mark's sister Caroline, her partner Phil, and their two children (Katie, aged 3 and Emily, 4 months). Paul and Alison and the children also made it over. Basically we sat around watching TV, stuffing our faces with Quality Street, and watching the children run amok with their various toys...
In the evening, Mark and I just stayed in front of the fire drinking wine and whiskey and watching The Pirates of The Caribbean, and The Mummy Returns... yummm.... Johnny Depp....
Wednesday - Back to work!
I am the only one in the entire family who has to return to work today! Booo... was very hard to leave Mark tucked up in bed this morning - not made any better by the wine/whiskey fest we had last night! ;-) Ah well... no rest for the wicked, hey!
Spoke to Tracy this morning, and unfortunately she had to have the paramedics out last night - as she had a major asthma attack... not good! She seems better today though, if not a little drugged up on steroids!
Anyway... had better do some work. Lunch is over... tonight we are going to the cinema to see The Flags of Our Fathers, which looks excellent...
Speak soon. Hope you all had a good Christmas...
Hayls
xxxx
Friday, December 22, 2006
A Bonnie Grimble, One and All
Well, 'tis the season to be jolly... I guess. :-) Of course I am Miss-Joviality her very self today. Spoke to Jen this morning (always a good call) and left work mid-afternoon, as is appropriate for Monis employees. Spent later this afternoon at Mark's parents dropping off flowers for Suzy and picking up pressies for Mark.
Mark has gone to bed uber-early as I was wrapping pressies and unable to provide his dinner, so I am updating my blog as he sleeps.
Tomorrow I have a very early start - am setting off in the fog to Lowestoft and have to visit Nanny and Grandad, Aunt Alison and Aidan, Liam and Isla, Nanny Brown, Janine and Lola, Tracy and the boys, and Mum and Dad... and drop off pressies and luggage to Robert and family. Was hoping to see Marie and Ricki, but it is all looking rather tight to be honest! On Sunday am seeing Jane and Jamie, before heading home to start preps for dinner with Mark and his parents.Boxing day we are heading to his pares for dinner with his sister and her family, and possibly his brother et al. Tuesday, I am back to work! Huge shocker!!!
Anyway... hope you all have a fantastic Christmas!! I really do...
Lots of love
Hayley and Mark and Mia
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mark has gone to bed uber-early as I was wrapping pressies and unable to provide his dinner, so I am updating my blog as he sleeps.
Tomorrow I have a very early start - am setting off in the fog to Lowestoft and have to visit Nanny and Grandad, Aunt Alison and Aidan, Liam and Isla, Nanny Brown, Janine and Lola, Tracy and the boys, and Mum and Dad... and drop off pressies and luggage to Robert and family. Was hoping to see Marie and Ricki, but it is all looking rather tight to be honest! On Sunday am seeing Jane and Jamie, before heading home to start preps for dinner with Mark and his parents.Boxing day we are heading to his pares for dinner with his sister and her family, and possibly his brother et al. Tuesday, I am back to work! Huge shocker!!!
Anyway... hope you all have a fantastic Christmas!! I really do...
Lots of love
Hayley and Mark and Mia
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Bah Humbug!
Just got back from a lunch with some of the more sociable guys from work (those that haven't gone away for Christmas already). Had a fairly bad "Christmas" dinner at a local pub (soggy turkey roll, bad veg and... shudder.... sprouts! Watery custard... cheap Xmas pudding... moan... moan... waffle). The company was very good though, and we had a bit of a giggle (and only shandy or coke to drink! We are SO well behaved in Cambridgeshire...).
Last night I had a lovely dinner at Robert and Emma's, as Mark was having Noel and Doug over. Dinner was gorgeous (veggie curry with a beautiful dahl), although the evening was soured a little by the discovery that my debit and credit cards were both missing... I haven't seen them or used them since Saturday night, so I guess they may have been stolen in the pub after the meal in Hitchin? The bizarre thing is that a) they only took the cards and not my purse, b) the purse contained cash, which was NOT stolen, and c) they have not used the cards for any transactions... I don't think I have misplaced them, as am unlikely to have taken BOTH cards out for any reason, and haven't actually used my cards since Saturday?! Its a mystery... Anyway... should get the new ones issued pretty fast, but it's a good job I did all my shopping last week!!!
Tonight we are hopefully meeting Paul (Mark's bro) and his wife, Alison, for drinks in le village, which should be nice. Although they live very close, we never really socialise with them, which is a shame really... I guess Mark and his siblings are not as close as Tracy and I. If Tracy lived in the village, I doubt I would go barely a day without seeing her in some shape or form! They do lead very busy lives though (children in early teens who have lots of after school activities to attend), as I guess we do too...
Anyway... back to snoozing off my bad lunch... errr... I mean, back to work!
Lots of love,
Hayley
xxxxx
Last night I had a lovely dinner at Robert and Emma's, as Mark was having Noel and Doug over. Dinner was gorgeous (veggie curry with a beautiful dahl), although the evening was soured a little by the discovery that my debit and credit cards were both missing... I haven't seen them or used them since Saturday night, so I guess they may have been stolen in the pub after the meal in Hitchin? The bizarre thing is that a) they only took the cards and not my purse, b) the purse contained cash, which was NOT stolen, and c) they have not used the cards for any transactions... I don't think I have misplaced them, as am unlikely to have taken BOTH cards out for any reason, and haven't actually used my cards since Saturday?! Its a mystery... Anyway... should get the new ones issued pretty fast, but it's a good job I did all my shopping last week!!!
Tonight we are hopefully meeting Paul (Mark's bro) and his wife, Alison, for drinks in le village, which should be nice. Although they live very close, we never really socialise with them, which is a shame really... I guess Mark and his siblings are not as close as Tracy and I. If Tracy lived in the village, I doubt I would go barely a day without seeing her in some shape or form! They do lead very busy lives though (children in early teens who have lots of after school activities to attend), as I guess we do too...
Anyway... back to snoozing off my bad lunch... errr... I mean, back to work!
Lots of love,
Hayley
xxxxx
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Monkey See, Monkey Do
http://www.himonkey.net/holiday/xmas/wrap/index.html
(Some Christmas wrapping tips from a fluffy Monkey... this really tickled me!)
(Some Christmas wrapping tips from a fluffy Monkey... this really tickled me!)
Monday, December 18, 2006
Deck the Halls
I got this gorgeous picture from Helena's blog today... apparently she was not impressed about having her picture taken on a sweltering hot day, but she looks gorgeous all the same. Love the hair Helena - am jealous of the blonde curls!!!I had a great weekend. Friday night was a very quiet one (Mark was pooped and went to bed early). Saturday, I got up early and took Adele over to the garden centre in Coton to get some Xmas shopping. I managed to get a load of stuff for my fish tank, which inspired me to give Elvis and Priscilla's home a thorough clean and a bit of redecoration (plastic plants ahoy!). They are quite funny, as they seem to display proper human joy when they have been cleaned out - am sure it was not my imagination when Elvis gave me a big wink and a celebratory wiggle... :-)
In the afternoon, went with Mark's Dad and Bro to watch the local team play Cambridge United. Well... was all a bit embarrassing really! We beat them 5-0, which is quite frankly shameful on their part (considering they are in the league above). Our celebrations were muted for a little while as Mark's Dad and Paul are ardent supporters of Cambridge United... "there are some games you just want to forget". We were quite good, and managed to resist rubbing it in a little!
In the afternoon, went with Mark's Dad and Bro to watch the local team play Cambridge United. Well... was all a bit embarrassing really! We beat them 5-0, which is quite frankly shameful on their part (considering they are in the league above). Our celebrations were muted for a little while as Mark's Dad and Paul are ardent supporters of Cambridge United... "there are some games you just want to forget". We were quite good, and managed to resist rubbing it in a little!
Saturday evening we headed over to Hitchin to see Kevin and Heleen, and sixteen of us went for a delicious dinner at the Regent Cottage Chinese restaurant... it was absolutely superb, but incredibly busy (as ever). I didn't drink, which was made easier by the presence of two pregnant ladies (Heleen and her sister-in-law Claire, who are both co-incidentally due on exactly the same day in April!) and a fellow driver. After the meal, we went on to a bar, which (unfortunately for sober me!) didn't seem to ever close... we ended up getting home at 2:30am on Sunday! Despite my sobriety, I had a really good night - they are such a lovely crowd. We also saw Kevin and Heleen's gorgeous little girl Kristin, who has changed so much since I last saw her! She must be about 19 months, but has gone from being a baby to a proper little girl with masses of gorgeous blonde hair! We also found out that Heleen is expecting a little boy, so their family is complete!
Sunday, Mark (unsurprisingly) didn't get up until late. We finished putting the Christmas decorations up around the house (thankyou Jen and Sofie - I now have a Danish flag and a Sydney opera house to hang on my tree!), and put lights on the tree outside the house. In the afternoon, we popped to Mark's parents for an hour, and then made our way to Robert and Emma's place for dinner. We had an amazing dinner there. Emma had made a gorgeous Pumpkin and Sage soup with garlic bread, and Robert did smoked haddock on a bed of "twice cooked" cabbage, and tiny little fried cubes of potato with pieces of bacon (for all but Mark). Dessert was a pecan tart and cream. His presentation is immaculate; just what you would expect in a very posh restaurant!
Unfortunately, I managed to over-indulge in wine (possibly due to being so good on Saturday night), and have felt rough as a badger's arse all day today :-(
Spoke to Tracy this morning. she is finally in the house, and is loving it! She said the kids slept so well, that she had to get out at four to check that little Oscar was not dead (this is only the 2nd time in his little life that he has slept all the way through!). She seems very happy, and trying to make preparations for Christmas. She is a bit run off her feet with the shop though as one of her manageresses has really really sadly been diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. A REAL shock - she only mentioned her raised glands in her neck to her doctor as an afterthought at the end of an appointment for something else. I feel SO sorry for her. She has to start chemotherapy pretty soon. We have had so much depressing news in the last couple of weeks (my half cousin's husband was also killed in a car crash last week, in addition to Noel's brother), would be nice to hear some good news!
Anyway... must get on. Have posted almost all my cards today (a few exceptions - FIONA, what is your address?!?!?!!?). Tonight I am going to do most of the food shopping for Christmas, so wish me luck!
Much love
Hayls
xxxxxx
PS. Big HAPPY birthday to Harvey, Olivia and Ruby - Sarah's triplets, who are five today! This is actually a fairly old picture (I think they are only three here). I hope they are having fun!
Friday, December 15, 2006
Christmas Spirit
Well... its been a funny old couple of days. Yesterday, I felt SO knackered all day, and Mark was tired too (I think he had worried where I was Weds night and had had a restless night), so we ended up going to bed at 8:30 after hardly saying two words to each other... I hate that!
Anyway... spoke to my sister first thing, and she told me she was extremely stressed out. The poor girl is up to her eyeballs in it... she is supposed to be moving into her house this weekend (but it still needs lots of bits and pieces sorted on it due to f*ck-ups by the builders), Henry is playing her up a bit and Oscar has a cold (we assume Henry is feeling a little unsettled by the move and his trip to hospital last week), it's UBER busy at the shop and she has staff shortages AND building work at the shop, Sam is generally perturbing her, my Dad keeps on at her about the state of some of the work that the builders have done to the house, she has Christmas to sort out for the kids, and she doesn't feel that well at the moment... I guess that kind of put my stressing over writing a few cards and wrapping a few presents into perspective! ;-)
Some other not so nice news that we heard today, is that Noel's brother died a couple of days ago in a car accident; a collision with a tractor, just near to Fakenham. Noel is one of Mark's oldest friends (they have been mates since the age of four, and Mark meets up with him weekly for a beer/curry). We can hardly believe it! He lost another brother in equally tragic circumstances a few years ago. I actually quite sick for him... I can't imagine losing Tracy. It would be my worst nightmare (again it puts my gripes about getting ready for Christmas into focus). Hopefully we (Mark at least) will be able to catch up with him in the next couple of days and see if he is ok.
On a cheerier note (?!), we have a fairly nice weekend lined up. Tonight, no real plans... in the morning am going with Adele to help her sort out some of her Christmas shopping, and at lunch time we are going to watch the local team play in a very important match (exciting!). In the evening, we are going to see Kevin and Heleen (and little Kristin) in Hitchin, along with Nigel and several other mates. We are going to a gorgeous Chinese restaurant very close to them. Bit of an ass though as the rule is that when we visit friends of Mark, I drive (and vice versa). So looks like I will be sober while they all get ratted (that's what happened last time). Mind you, I don't mind... they are such a lovely crowd, and it's nice to see Mark getting together with his friends.
Anyway... had better get some work finished, and then get home to write some of my Christmas cards! I REALLY need to get some off this weekend - I think have LONG missed the Christmas posting for some of our foreign friends/family, but I guess they may get there in time for New Year. (Jen I got yours in the post today! So don't hold your breath for it! heh).
Lots of love to you all,
Have a lovely weekend
Hayls
xxxxxxxxxxx
Anyway... spoke to my sister first thing, and she told me she was extremely stressed out. The poor girl is up to her eyeballs in it... she is supposed to be moving into her house this weekend (but it still needs lots of bits and pieces sorted on it due to f*ck-ups by the builders), Henry is playing her up a bit and Oscar has a cold (we assume Henry is feeling a little unsettled by the move and his trip to hospital last week), it's UBER busy at the shop and she has staff shortages AND building work at the shop, Sam is generally perturbing her, my Dad keeps on at her about the state of some of the work that the builders have done to the house, she has Christmas to sort out for the kids, and she doesn't feel that well at the moment... I guess that kind of put my stressing over writing a few cards and wrapping a few presents into perspective! ;-)
Some other not so nice news that we heard today, is that Noel's brother died a couple of days ago in a car accident; a collision with a tractor, just near to Fakenham. Noel is one of Mark's oldest friends (they have been mates since the age of four, and Mark meets up with him weekly for a beer/curry). We can hardly believe it! He lost another brother in equally tragic circumstances a few years ago. I actually quite sick for him... I can't imagine losing Tracy. It would be my worst nightmare (again it puts my gripes about getting ready for Christmas into focus). Hopefully we (Mark at least) will be able to catch up with him in the next couple of days and see if he is ok.
On a cheerier note (?!), we have a fairly nice weekend lined up. Tonight, no real plans... in the morning am going with Adele to help her sort out some of her Christmas shopping, and at lunch time we are going to watch the local team play in a very important match (exciting!). In the evening, we are going to see Kevin and Heleen (and little Kristin) in Hitchin, along with Nigel and several other mates. We are going to a gorgeous Chinese restaurant very close to them. Bit of an ass though as the rule is that when we visit friends of Mark, I drive (and vice versa). So looks like I will be sober while they all get ratted (that's what happened last time). Mind you, I don't mind... they are such a lovely crowd, and it's nice to see Mark getting together with his friends.
Anyway... had better get some work finished, and then get home to write some of my Christmas cards! I REALLY need to get some off this weekend - I think have LONG missed the Christmas posting for some of our foreign friends/family, but I guess they may get there in time for New Year. (Jen I got yours in the post today! So don't hold your breath for it! heh).
Lots of love to you all,
Have a lovely weekend
Hayls
xxxxxxxxxxx
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