Christmas Rose

This is truly a Christmas rose, still in bloom in my garden on the 20th December, never known that before. Our winter so far has been very mild, only a couple of days ago it was 12c here which is very rare for northern England at this time of year. Our winters are definitely getting milder over the last few years. To be honest I don't really mind it when it is cold and icy because you often get blue skies and sunshine then whereas this milder weather usually means cloudy grey days which I hate. Anyway, it's early in the winter yet and all could change. And the good news is, after tomorrow's winter solstice, the days will be start getting longer again!

Bah Humbug Christmas, 2013 and All That

Well the mad Christmas season is over and I'm glad, I'm a bit "bah humbug" at Christmas. I was maybe a bit more bah humbug this year than usual as I had two event over the festive season. One was that my dog Max went a bit barmy, got really crotchety and bit me! I've never been bitten by any dog I've had and it was a shock. He was generally extremely bad tempered for no apparent reason. Now, my Max has always been a bit of a grump but this was extreme and I knew there must be a physical reason for his behaviour.  So after the holidays I took him to the vet and she diagnosed arthritis in his thoracic vertebrae. I had been worried that maybe he had the dreaded dachshund curse, slipped/herniated discs due tot heir long spine, so I was actually relieved it was something less serious. She gave him a pain-killing jab on the spot and gave me some to give him each day. And I'm pleased to say he is much better, just a bit grumpy occasionally, but not aggressive, poor fellow, he must have been in a lot of pain.

My other Xmas event was sewage coming up through a grate in my garden! Luckily it was only slowly oozing out, but still, not very pleasant! I rang United Utilities and they said what I already knew, if it was a pipe from the apartment it was my responsibility to sort, if it was a main sewer it was theirs, they said they would send someone out to check it out.  After phoning I went to a friend's for a meal and three hours later when I got home all the sewage was gone! Luckily the blockage must have been in the main pipe and they sorted it in record time, thanks United Utilities!

So now it's 2013. I always get quite sentimental at New Year, thinking of the times past and those to come.  It loved ones not with you anymore, and now, especially as I get older, how fast time is passing by.  This year will be a BIG birthday for me and I'm celebrating it in Dublin with a week's stay in Dublin with a small party one night in the gorgeous penthouse of The Clarence Hotel, so looking forward to that!

Another plan for 2013 is to spend New Year in Iceland with my good friend Dianne and her daughter Danielle. It all depends on funds on my part, but I hope to be able to do it, New Year in Iceland seems amazing and I've always wanted to visit that stunning country in mid-winter - very good chance of seeing northern lights too! Besides those two trip I haven't anything else planned but I'm sure things will come about as the year progresses.

But really, what matters is to be happy and healthy, that's my main wish.  Something I've learned through life experiences is to take every opportunity that presents itself, life passes so quickly and once you get into middle age you really don't know what's around the corner, so make the most of every day and, if possible grab every experience life throws at you.  So I hope 2013 will be good for you, and thank you for reading my musings on this blog :)

U2 Christmas Party

U2 threw the Christmas party for their staff at Principle management on Wednesday 21st December at Harry's Cafe Bar on Hanover Quay.  As well as the staff, The Rubberbandits and Gavin Friday were there.  Apparently also attending were Gavin's dogs Ralph and Stan wearing Santa hats!  I'm sure a good time was had by all!

Photo:  Irish Independent     

Bono Busking on Grafton Street - Again!

So  Bono eventually made it home to Dublin despite being held up by the weather.  He found time to go out busking tonight in Grafton Street as he did last Christmas.  Shame it wasn't next week when I'll be there!

A Christmas Message From Pepsi the Dachshund

Hello, I'm Pepsi, looking very sweet and gorjus.  Like my hat?  My mammy bought it for me, I need it with all the ice and snow outside, not gud wether for dachshunds!

I thort I'd write a little Christmas message to you, pleese excuse any spelling mistakes, I'm very clever but am only two.  My big brudder Max wouldn't wear his hat, or pose for a foto, he was just watching when I had my foto taken, he can be a bit anti-social, but I love him anyway, he's my best pal.

And here's me showing my true colours, (I have a lovely smile and don't you think?) a bit of a rascal who can't keep out of trubble for long - that's what my mammy says anyway, but I just love having fun, fun, fun  BOL!  She wasn't very happy when I chewed her boots the other day, she went rather red in the face and said sum strange words.  But she soon loved me again when I laid on my back to let her tickle my tummee.  

I eventually managed to perswade Max to pose under the Christmas tree with me, here's our festive foto.  Only four days to go - I'm soooooo looking forward to Chrisrmas and TURKEY! 

Happy Christmas to you all, and health, happiness and lots of juicy bones for 2011,  from mammy, Max and me, Pepsi! xxxx

The Joys of Christmas Works Dos!

Well, it didn't start off well, got into the car and it wouldn't start! My car never doesn't start!!Rung my friend Margo who I was supposed to be picking up, luckily her son James had just popped in for something and she asked him if he'd pick me up and take me to her house which he did, bless him. We got a lift to the venue for our staff Christmas do from Margo's husband who is a taxi driver and luckily wasn't busy at the time.

We were booked in for 8.30pm, time passed and time passed, and it was not until 9.15pm that we were taken to our table. We got our starter, which was very nice, shortly afterwards them there was a wait of about 35 minutes until we got our main course at 10.15pm!

At the other end of the table things were going off, two members of staff who had been going out together and had recently split up were unfortunately sitting near each other and the male person (the only male in our group) was getting obnoxious to the female involved. Then he started being rude to other staff, but there are a lot of strong women in our group and he was told straight it was unacceptable by a few people. Unfortunately he didn't really get the message, probably due to all the drink he was consuming, and it caused a bit of tension for a while. But we tried to ignore his behaviour for the rest of the evening, he wasn't going to spoil our night out.

Dessert arrived at 11.15 and coffee at midnight, I've never eaten so late in a restaurant! The meal was actually really nice, but they did not have the appropriate number of staff to deal with serving the amount of people that were in the restaurant and that's just not good enough. What annoyed me was that we got no apology for the lateness in getting our table or the long gap between courses. We will definitely not be going back there!

PS. My car started ok the next day!