Oh My..

OK, it's May. Apologies for the quality of the photo but when grabbing the phone to take a picture I didn't realise the flash was on...

Xmas?!

I seriously hope they just need to change the shopping trolley ads, and aren't starting just yet ;)

...And A Happy New Year

So, without too much hassle *cough*lies*cough* Christmas is over. Done and Dusted. El Finito. Felt like it was forever in coming (almost a year in fact!), lingered for ages and then finally, it's gone.

Now, the final hurdle of the season is New Years Eve. The year is over, hooray yay etc etc. And for a change, we're off to a fancy dress party. But, me being me, I'm not a partier. No doubt once I am there I will be fine, but the threat of being surrounded by people and having to be social... I don't know. Jo is a partier, and no doubt she will be burning up the dance floor, having laughs and fun, while I reacquaint myself with my good friends One Warm Beer and Mr Corner.

But anyway.

Unlike the rest of the world, I won't be making Top Ten Lists of anything. Best movies of the year, best song of the year (or even, All Time Best *anything*). Strangely and mostly, I don't think I can think of ten of the best movies, songs, TV Shows or anything else. I contemplated ten best blog posts, but most of my blog posts are me whining and moaning about something!

Can you tell I'm tired this morning ;)

Anyways, with everything still poodling along here, kids still hyper and mental, I'm not sure I will be posting before next year (hehe), so will take this opportunity to wish all my readers, regulars and newcomers alike, a very happy new year. Here's to 2008 being slightly less....

What's the word I want here.... Ah yes,

Shit ;)

And New Year Resolutions? I fully intend to become a lot less........ FAT.

So This Is Christmas...

After two days of trying to borrow the neighbours wobbly wireless connections, Grant announces that his internet hub is wireless. So finally I have a decent - and legal - connection here on the laptop.

Anyways - today is Boxing Day over here, which means the crazy usually subsides. But, of course, this is MY life, so the crazy just carries on at a different pitch. The highlight really has to be the sore tingling nose I noticed on Christmas Eve. Twenty four hours later - I have a stinking cold. Or, of course, waking up at 4am Christmas morning thinking "Hmmm my foot is sore" then nearly collapsing on Jaysen when I try to stand on it.

No idea WHAT I've done to it, but it is freaking agony. I am hobbling around like Jo was a few weeks ago. I wouldn't mind, but it happened at night while I was doing nothing. I think Santa decided I was naughty and got out his hammer...

Anyways, all is going relatively well here, with just two family disagreements so far, neither involving me or Jo, so it's all good. Kids are behaving one minute, then getting to that "going mental" point, so they get told off, come back down a few notches, then slowly start to build up again.

And on a final note - Christmas Eve, I sucked it up and went up to Bethy's Garden to wish her a Merry Christmas. My goodness it was difficult, but I did it. I had to just stand and look down on her garden, and Jo looked after me, but I bloody did it. Aside from the funeral, it was the second time I've been up there, but I think it is the last hurdle I need to really deal with. All I ask is if you make a comment on this post, ignore this part - I don't want to wallow or anything. I went, I cried, I've dealt. That's enough for now!

So, today, aside from being a day of lounging around with "uuurgh I ate too much yesterday... Pass me a beer" we're off to my mums after lunch and her pack of wild animals - which I am hoping, the kids play with and not the crystal/china/electronic stuff all over the place ;) Change of plan. Because I am soooo poorly, we're not risking my trip to my mums. My grandmother is due an important Oncology appointment soon, and the last thing she needs is my germs. So, because I am getting *cough* no sympathy from anyone being sooooo poorly, I am going to drink lots of Jack Daniels today.

I hope you are all having a great Christmas, even the poor Americans that don't have Boxing Day. Serves you right for kicking us out all those years ago ;) Your loss!

Merry Christmas Ya'll!

Being that life here in Chez 0ddness is something akin to an SAS Operation over the last couple of days (with no Sunday Morning hangover, I should add), I suspect my internet access today and tomorrow will be spotty, to say the least. Later today we're off to the in-laws as today is one birthday.

We're staying over tonight, Xmas Day chaos, staying over, Boxing Day Chaos, then my mums in the afternoon, then back to the in-laws, home on the 27th, then Friday we're likely going to my dads, quiet weekend coupled with Jo's mums birthday, then New Year kicks in, complete with Jo's brothers birthday on New Years Eve AND a fancy dress party we're going to... Then Jaysen is back to school on the 3rd.

It's never ending, I swear it.

So, I'll take this chance to wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas and if I don't get a chance before hand, a wonderful Happy New Year 2008.

For those of you that have been reading the blog a while, thanks for hanging around and supporting me. For those of you new to the blog, thanks for coming over and reading.

2008 may have a couple of new additions to the blog, but we'll see about that ;)

Have a good time all, eat, drink, be merry and especially, be safe.

-Dan, Jo, Jaysen & Tamsyn

Tagged: Christmas Stuff!

Greetings from Early December! I'm actually writing this before Christmas, because it was just SO tacky to do any time EXCEPT the day ya'll are seeing this. The weekend before Christmas, if I've done it right ;)

Which would make a change!

I'd seen and done a couple of the Christmas Blogthings knocking around but refused to put them on my blog until the last minute because I'm not a tacky kinda guy. No siree. He says being lazy doing tacky stuff before Crimbo to get it done at Crimbo.

Anyways, you can do these if you have the time too - I tag you. And you. And you too ;)

Merry Christmas!

You Are a Traditional Christmas Tree

For a good Christmas, you don't have to re-invent the wheel. You already have traditions, foods, and special things you bring out every year.

What Christmas Tree Are You?

You Are a Fruitcake

People pretend you're sweet and precious, but they know how weird you really are!

What Holiday Food Are You?

Your Holiday Stress Level is Moderate

The holidays sometimes stress you out, but mostly because they wear you down. Take it easy! You can have a fun holiday without running yourself ragged.

What's Your Holiday Stress Level?

You Know a Lot About Christmas

You got 10/10 correct You know tons about the history and traditions surrounding Christmas. When you celebrate the holidays, you never forget their true meaning - or all the little fun details. Random Christmas fact: In early England, the traditional Christmas dinner was a pig's head prepared with mustard.

How Much Do You Know About Christmas?

What The Holidays Mean to You

For you, the holidays are about emotional connections and bonds. You are happiest being around those you love. You celebrate the holidays in a offbeat style. You believe the holidays are for doing whatever you feel like - and some of your "traditions" are pretty wacky. During the holidays, you like to feel cozy and comfortable. You're happy to stay inside with a roaring fire and a warm drink. You think the holidays should be nostalgic and sweet. The holidays bring out your inner child. Your best holiday memories are warm and intimate. You remember special moments more than gifts or parties.

What Do the Holidays Mean to You?

Nope, You're Not a Grinch

Although you may feel Grinch-like at times, it's just because you're worn out from the holidays. You get into the holiday spirit more than most people - and you truly enjoy celebrating with your family and friends.

Are You a Grinch?

You Are a Practical Gift Giver

Your gifts are useful, appropriate, and custom tailored to each person. In your opinion, the best gifts are gifts that someone will actually use. Your gifts may not be the most glamourous, but they are always appreciated.

What Kind of Gift Giver Are You?

You Are Donner

The most loveable and sweet reindeer, you're also a total dork! Why You're Naughty: You keep (accidentally) tripping the other reindeer while flying. Why You're Nice: You're always smiling, even if you've fallen flat on your horns.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Your Christmas is Most Like: Home Alone

At Christmas, you usually feel like you're going it alone. But you always have a crazy adventure!

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

Your Christmas Stocking Will Be Filled With Coal

You haven't been *that* naughty this year Santa is just screwing with you

What Will Be In Your Christmas Stocking?

You Are a Snowman

Friendly and fun, you enjoy bringing holiday cheer to everyone you know!

What Christmas Ornament Are You?

You Are Eggnog

Rich, sweet, and probably a little drunk. Everyone who knows you tends to get a little fatter.

What Holiday Food Are You?

You Were Mostly Nice This Year!

Sure, you had your naughty moments... but guess what? Santa was probably sleeping when you were living it up. As far as he's concerned, you've been on your best behavior. So cross your fingers, and you might score good presents.

Were You Naughty or Nice This Year?

Boys Time!

With Christmas coming up faster than an alcoholics stomach contents, Jo has poodled off into the great wilds of England to beat the leaving hell out of people. Tam has been stolen by the mother in law, leaving me and Jaysen with the heating on, music up, jeans off.

Yes folks, it's boys weekend in once again.

Dinner will be a case of seven minutes of slaving at the microwave for each of us, fizzy drinks, booze and tea (for me) and whatever fluids are running around for the boy. Healthy snacks will include "Crisps" and "Chocolate" and maybe the dairy group representing with "Ice Cream". Jo left a large bar of Cadburys here which, I'm afraid, is being confiscated and closely examined for foreign bodies (in case she's been knocking off immigrants).

I might even manage a shower this week...

In other news, I found a site of "free stuff" which provided me with hours of pleasure. Samples of mundane stuff - soap, washing powder, make up, deodrant - to the interesting stuff - incontinence pads, colostomy bags, thermometers for elderly people... So I had great fun filling out the form with other peoples names and addresses.

Jo was rather pleased with her very own Paternity Testing Kit... At least she didn't try to stab me with it. Lucky for me, I was under the desk "untangling wires" so was safe from the worst of the fall out.

Anyways, Jo has gone, leaving me to it, while I brave the forces of the central heating, she's braving freezing fog, frost, ice, sleet, wind and rain... How DO I manage to get out of such "fun"...

Tagged - Christmassy Goodness!

Even though I tend to do tags when I am hit with them, every now and then I steal tags from other people. This time around, it's not only seasonal, but stolen from the very lovely Luna. Remember, she's an adult blogger, so bear that in mind when you clickity click that linkity link :D

As always, once you've read through it, I tag you to do it. Whoever you are. By mail or on your blog or whatever. You know the drill. Read. Obey. Complete. Pass the tag on.1

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Helloooo: man... Gift Bags!
Actually, I am the worlds most anally retentive wrapped, which is why I also opt for bags.

2. Real tree or artificial?
Artificial, mainly because of the mess real ones make (regardless of your cunning methods!)

3. When do you put up the tree?
Sometimes the first of December, sometimes after Jaysens birthday (today, the 11th)

4. When do you take the tree down?
Usually pissed off with the decorations and tree by Xmas Day, so the 26th/27th December!

5. Do you like eggnog?
I'm fairly sure I've never actually had it!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Anything construction-based, especially the electronic lab toys I used to get!

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Can you honestly picture me, king of the agnostics, setting that up?
"So which shephard was playing with the sheep dear?"

8. Hardest person to buy for?
Jo - because I buy her nice stuff all year around. Plus she has me which should be enough.

9. Easiest person to buy for?
Neighbours - one tin of chocs, thank you very much!

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Everything pales in comparison to Jo's "Dead kitten on a miniature wicker chair"

11. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Erm, when I remember, mail.

12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Mary Poppins, or any of the Ray Harryhausen movies that appear around Xmas!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
When we A) have the money, and B) remember that Xmas is in a week ;)

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Only the bottles from the alcoholic ones ;)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Food!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Clear Lights

17. Favorite Christmas song?
The South Park Christmas song is currently my favorite!

18. Travel for Christmas or stay home?
Depends - we usually stay with Jo's parents, but I tend to like Xmas at home...

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Rudolph... er.. Sleepy, Sneezy, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Groucho, Harpo...

20. Angel on the treetop or a star?
Fairy

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Crack of dawn, in an explosion of wrapping paper. Jo, after LUNCH. The travesty...

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The fricking weather :D

23. What I love most about Christmas?
Seeing the look of joy on the kids faces.
And the look of despair when Jo realises she's completed another year with me!

Where'd The Week Go?

I'm not entierly sure where the last week has gone. I DO know that is has dragged something awful, and the weekend could not arrive soon enough. And while it's been chaos and hectic, I'm not sure what has gone on.

Guess it's the whole "Christmas is Looming" thing.

In fact, out of the whole week, only three "occurances" spring to mind; a bitch of a migraine Friday daytime (and sleeping pretty much all afternoon), getting a bit tipsy Friday night (and staying up till 6am gassing), and being invited to become a guest author at the site About:Blank that I visit most days.

The migraine - nothing to report. I started to make itself known around 11am Friday morning, and by 1pm, I was out on the sofa wanting someone to just remove my head and flush it away. Aside from an interlude of inviting Jaysen in (worlds noisiest child), it was gone by about 7pm, leaving just that dull "I've had a cramp in my brain" ache.

Later that evening, someone turns up, and we all sit together having a laugh, getting drunk and talking the night away. One person flaked around 1am, the next one flaked at 3am, leaving me bored and wide awake. So another drunk a million miles away in some dodgy town in Bedford kept me company. Until I fell asleep mid-conversation at almost 6am. Oopsie.

No, amazingly, it wasn't the booze. I had Jack Daniels, Beer, WKD Blue, even Absinthe, but I was fine. I was, however, very very tired, even though I got up a few hours later at 11am. And no, I didn't have a hang over. I wonder if my migraine meds helped fight it off.... Hmmmm...

And yes, me. Guest Author on a proper webpage. I've been visiting About:Blank for a good while now, and occasionally even post stuff I find there on here. I submitted a link during the week, and the site owner replied, has been here before and apparently I post some "great stuff on my site"

Me? On this site? hehe So here I am, wondering what I could post on a site with half a million visitors, knowing that whatever I post will be seen by a lot of people. More's the point, aside from you lot here, who on earth would both read AND enjoy what I write? Would my very presence be the iceberg to the good ship about:blank?

This is why I don't act - I get up on the stage, the spotlight hits me, and I babble before either passing out of taking off like a greyhound after a fake bunny.

So, anyway, while I consider that - tomorrow is Jaysens 9th birthday. That's scary (in that I've not murdered him before now) and makes me feel older than I am. And by the weekend, we should (all things being "normal") have our Xmas Decorations up. We need a new tree as our last one was destroyed by the joint brute-force attacks of kittens, toddler, kids wanting chocolate, gravity, and a large fat guy sick of Xmas almost bending it trying to get it down last year.

Oops.

So, new tree, new decorations... We shall see.

Bane Of My Life

Like any half-decent Superhero, I have my weakness, my bane, my Achilles Heel. Superman goes all squiffy with Kryptonite. Batman is only a normal person. Spiderman has his whole "Unstable Mutation". The Hulk can't control himself. Daredevil is blind. The Flash has a stupidly-high metabolism. Sportacus is weakened by sugar... Added to this, each Superhero has a arch enemy... Lex Luthor, The Joker, The Kingpin, The US Army, Bullseye, Gorilla Grodd, Robbie Rotten.

Anyway, while proving me and Jo are in fact Big Fat Nerds, I do have a point. And that point is that the bane of my life is the Mobility Scooter, and my arch enemy is "Anyone Old".

So today, we decided we needed to go shopping, and upon arrival in Asda, Jo decides how she is going to shop...


Yes, that is Jo - and Tam - in a mobility scooter. And she also falls into the "Anyone Old" category. So I spent the better part of the morning hobbling around after her while we shopped and filled the basket. Amazingly she didn't kill anyone, though Tam did figure how to work the controls and zoom around randomly. I, however, did get "accidentally struck" a few times.

So, not only was I shopping (*shudder*), not only was every old fart and their partner shopping in their mobility scooters, but I was also dealing with all the Xmas crap everywhere. HOW I didn't murder anyone is beyond me.

I also managed to catch a movie of The Ramming Wonder "zooming" around, and get to play with the Video feature of Blogger ;)


Anyone else spot the irony that there's a pensioner blocking the way and Jo is in the scooter - but unlike "Old Fart in the Scooter" Jo refrained from running her out of the way.

Another Edit: For the perverts of you out there, watch the woman to the far-right bend down to pick up something: Thong Alert!! hehe

The Christmas Getaway

As much as I loved Christmas this year, thank all that is yellow and pointy that it's over with for another year. Give or take two days ;) Christmas morning, as mentioned, everyone slept in late - aside from me, that is - but once the smell of cooking turkey kicked them out of bed, things went from peace and quiet to paper-hell-on-earth. Presents were ripped open, there was much in the way of "ooh" "ahh" and "huh?" but otherwise, the kids got everything they wanted.

Once the bombsite was cleared up, it was an SAS Military operation to get kids, woman, dogs, cats, bags, suitcases and everything else sorted, ready and clean. Ish. It occured to me that with less than an hour to go, *I* had forgotten to shave and shower. Oops. So I got ready with minutes to spare, and we were whisked off to Jo's parents.

Everything was great. Me and Jo did most of the cooking, with her mum poking in every now and then. The two oldies sat and complained a fair amount, but meh. Jo's dad was up and down too, cheery one minute, grouchy-as-heck the next, but again, meh. Me and Jo had a nice time away, and the kids had a blast - both of which were spoilt rotten. Christmas Day was filled with food, laughs, gifts and much in the way of booze.

Boxing Day (that's the day after Christmas Day for you odd non-Boxing-Day-sorts) was much of the same, though with less gifts, more booze, lots of laughs, games, grouchy oldies, and people being generally unhelpful when me, Jo and Fran trying to clear up.

This morning - as much fun as we'd had - we wanted to head home. As much as we love staying there, we have our limits, and after a great couple of days, we came in, unpacked, fired up the heating, and vegged out.

Despite a couple of tearing instances, me and Jo had a really good Christmas. We had a few quiet moments together, away from everyone, talking about Bethy, and imagining her having an excellent christmas up there, but generally, we were fine. Of course, last year was similar - our first without her - but it was New Years Eve that was harder, so we'll see how it goes next weekend.

All that remains for me to point out, is that if you are drinking lots of vodka/peach schnapps in pure fruit juice, remember what lots of fruit juice does BEFORE drinking huge quantities.

Thank goodness for soft tissue paper......

Merry Christmas!!

Hey Everyone!

Just thought I'd take this moment (aka, Calm Before The Storm) to wish all you of - my online family - a very Merry Christmas, and here's to a decent 2007!

Living the oh-so-hard-life that I lead, Jaysen didn't get up till 8.45am, and Tam & Jo have only just dragged themselves from the bed at 9.30am! The turkey is on, the pressies are laid out, and Santa, the messy git, made footprints throughout the house and left crumbs on the table. I think we'll have words next year...

Hope you all have an excellent few days of food/drink/friend/drink/family/drink/food/food/drink.

Thank you all of you that have been there over this year (and, of course, all the previous years!), helping us through everything and generally being there to read my rants, either here or via my emails. It means a lot to us that people we've never met are willing to give us help and advice and bear with my ramblings! So thanks to all of you!

With thanks, christmas greetings, and a hope that everyone has a great day, no matter where they are or what they are doing, Thank You, and let the good times roll!

(PS, Tim, hope you had a great Xmas Day, being that you lot are probably winding down today! hehe Crazy upside-down people!)

Santa Clause Is Coming...

Well, unless that image is correct and he's fallen out his sleigh ;) Anyways,, as they have been doing for the last few years, NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) track Santa around the globe with their international tracking doo-wotsits. Using this site you can track Santas progress around the world - at writing, he's already hit a couple of places, and it's far from New Zealand, where Xmas Day starts very soon.

If you've got kids old enough to appreciate it, let them have a lookie-see. During the day, they upload videos "captured live" of Santa sightings across the globe. Modern technology bringing the Christmas feeling a little closer to home for the wee ones.

We're plunging headlong into the planned chaos - my Dad and his family are due fairly soon (which means I REALLY need to get dressed!), Change of Plan - Dan & Co had to cancel. Later this afternoon, Jo's parents are over for dinner as it's her Dads birthday today. Kids will be put to bed, then tomorrow morning we do the gift things, followed by going to her parents where we're cooking dinner for nine. Drinking, eating, playing games, we're staying of Christmas Night and probably most if not all of Boxing Day.

Nancy, we don't really "celebrate" Boxing Day - it's a day to recover from food and drink mostly, but also a time to see family.

Wednesday and Thursday we have people over during the days, not sure about Friday, but New Year weekend... Well, not a clue really. It's all Go Go Go! I'll update the bloggy as and when I get a chance, maybe complete with some drunken posting tomorrow night for laughs. I'll have my mobile phone with me, so if you want texting, just give me a shout!

Here's to an excellent Christmas for all of you, and a very happy new year. Assuming I make it that far ;)

To Hell With It

I don't know about the rest of the world, but Xmas in this country hits the stores before my birthday EVERY.BLOODY.YEAR. Early September, the decorations go up, the sales start, and most importantly...

The bastards put the music on.

And usually, mid-November, I destroy it further by putting on my Christmas Selection, which is usually destroyed by Jo waaaay before the actual event. So this year, I've held off as much as I can.

But hold off no longer. The collection is free once more. I have unleashed it in all it's glory. Now, unlike most collections, this one is a little different. Mark has his Brat-Pack collection, for example. But we have a bit of everything, some of which is not suitable for the kids :D

66 tracks in playlist, average track length: 3:22
Playlist length: 3 hours 42 minutes 44 seconds

1. Adam Faith - Lonely Pup (In a Christmas Shop) (1:47)
2. Alvin And The Chipmunks - Jingle Bells (2:36)
3. Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas (3:43)
4. Bert Jansch - In the Bleak Midwinter (2:22)
5. Billie Piper - Last Christmas (5:03)
6. Bing Crosby - Frank Sinatra - Nat King Cole - Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow (2:02)
7. Bing Crosby - Let It Snow! (2:03)
8. Bing Crosby - White Christmas (3:07)
9. Bob Rivers - Wreck The Malls (2:01)
10. Bruce Springsteen - Merry Christmas Baby (4:55)
11. Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (4:29)
12. Chris de Burgh - A Spaceman Came Travelling (5:10)
13. Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas (4:00)
14. Cliff Richard - Millennium Prayer (4:41)
15. Cliff Richard - Mistletoe and Wine (4:04)
16. Cliff Richard - Saviours Day (4:52)
17. Cyndi Lauper - Early Christmas Morning (3:42)
18. David Bowie and Bing Crosby - Little Drummer Boy (4:24)
19. Dean Martin - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (2:13)
20. East 17 - Stay Another Day (4:23)
21. Ella Fitzgerald - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (1:26)
22. Elton John - Step into Christmas (4:10)
23. Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2:35)
24. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power Of Love (5:31)
25. Gloria Estefan - Christmas Through Your Eyes (4:55)
26. Human Nature - Last Christmas (3:06)
27. Jackson Five - Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (2:27)
28. Jane McDonald - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (2:57)
29. Jethro Tull - Ring Out, Solstice Bells (3:43)
30. Jewel - Silent Night (3:07)
31. John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War is over) (3:34)
32. John Valby - Frosty the Pervert (2:26)
33. Jona Lewie - Stop The Cavalry (2:54)
34. Kevin Bloody Wilson - Hey Santa Clause You Cunt (2:48)
35. Kevin Bloody Wilson - Ho Ho Fucking Ho (2:29)
36. Kylie Minogue - Santa Baby (3:20)
37. Mel Smith & Kim Wilde - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (3:35)
38. Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo (2:50)
39. Mud - Lonely This Christmas (3:36)
40. Nat King Cole - Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (3:12)
41. Nat King Cole - Frosty the Snowman (2:21)
42. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (3:13)
43. Nat King Cole & Dean Martin - Winter Wonderland (1:54)
44. Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmastime (3:47)
45. Pogues Ft. Kirsty McColl - Fairytale of New York (4:32)
46. Pretenders - 2000 Miles (3:38)
47. Robbie Williams - Angels (4:24)
48. Ronan & Maire Brennan - Fairytale of New York (4:47)
49. Roy Chubby Brown - Chubby's 12 Days of Christmas (2:17)
50. Sammy Davis, Jr - Christmas Time All Over The World (2:32)
51. Sinead O'Connor - Silent Night (3:43)
52. Slade - Merry Christmas (3:44)
53. South Park - Merry Fuckin' Christmas (1:59)
54. Spice Girls - Christmas Wrapping (4:20)
55. Spice Girls - Sleigh Ride (2:40)
56. Spinners - Twelve Days of Christmas (3:52)
57. State Of The Heart - Last Christmas (3:44)
58. Steeleye Span - Gaudete (2:26)
59. The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick (2:02)
60. The Pretenders - Have Yourself A Merry Little C (4:28)
61. The Simpsons - Jingle Bells (0:45)
62. The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping (5:20)
63. The Weavers - We Wish You a Merry Christmas (2:29)
64. Tom Jones & Cerys - Baby It's Cold Outside (3:41)
65. Wham - Last Christmas (4:27)
66. Wombles - Wombling Merry Christmas (3:21)

If there's anything you'd like, just shout ;)

Random Musings

Wow, is it seriously Christmas is just four days? You know what, I am actually sort of looking forward to it this year. Generally, I've never been much of an Xmas person, especially since being an adult, but fingers crossed this is going to be a good one.

All is cold and frosty here in Sunny Basildon. At least, I assume it is, as the fog is preventing me seeing much. Needless to say I got out of bed to go to the loo and shot downstairs to my friend the thermostat. Less Brrrr, More Ahhh. I was up at six this morning, wandering the web, checking mails, doing my usual daily rituals. However, I didn't need to perform said-rituals, as Jaysens last day at school was yesterday. That, and his grandparents kidnapped him last night so he could stay at theirs. They were over last night, and upon leaving at 1130pm, Jaysen went with them.

Buh-bye now, cya later!

So, with no school, I could have slept in till ten, eleven this morning. But that's the realm of women-sorts. Us long-haired manly men are up with the, er, rooster (guess which word I almost used there!) playing on our computers, drinking tea. And building barns. And stuff.

Checking the StatCounter this morning showed someone searching for "badger minge song video", not to mention "Yaar Har Fiddle-de-Dee!" seems popular again. Not sure what I am dribbling on about? Well my friend, educate yourself.

StatCounter has also been showing me something interesting over the last few weeks. The site that is referring me more than any other is... Other Emmas Cbox? Sometimes Joansy gets close, and occasionally Mark or the old blog URL, but it is ALWAYS that particular Cbox at the top. Very 0dd.

Also in the World a la Dan, this bloody great desk is doing my head in, so we're shifting it off to a friend over the weekend and getting me a new, smaller one. I want to see out the window, mainly, but this desk block a third of that and it's set too-far back. Fussy eh? hehe

Now I just need to shift this absolute bitch of a headache sometime soon. Bloody thing won't leave me alone.

Oh, forgot to add. For you American-sorts: Boxing Day. Usually the day after Xmas Day, but as for it's origins, it seems we don't know ourselves... I found a Wikipedia entry for you to read over, but some of you English/Convict sorts might want to check it too, to see why we get an extra day of Christmas!

And He's Off The Hook!

It may come as a surprise to you, Mr or Mrs Reader, that I am not a shopper. My genes have me pegged as a geek, a love of all things tech, a roleplayer and maybe even a damn fine looking man, but they do not have me down as a shopper. It's mostly a female trait. So, when Jo said to me yesterday "I'm going to sort most of the Christmas Shopping", the chivalrous part of me was stomped to death by the anti-shopper in me. When she said "I'll take the kids too!" the chivalrous part of me twitched, but the size 14's of the arsehole in me put a swift stop to that.

So last night Jo took two kids and a taxi, into town. The Taxi didn't want to go shopping, but none the less... And she returned a few hours later, laden down like Santa himself, with bags bulging gifts of various size. I dutifully helped her into the house with them, and stood by with a smile on my face as she explained "And this is for nan, this is for mum, this is for someone else, this is blah-blah." But inside my sad sad little mind I was thinking "Yahoo, most of the shopping is done, whoohoo yay cheer!"

Which means no fighting through the crowds of grannies stocking up for the long winter, no hordes of wrinkled wonders to run over my toes with walking frames, shopping trollies or motorised wheelchairs, and most importantly, not standing in the line headed by the old dear paying for her stacks of shopping One. Coin. At. A. Time.

Of course, I don't for a second think I am going to get off scot-free. Oh No. We've still got to get the pressies for the kids, not to mention Jaysen decided to put his earthly appearance in on the 11th of December - two weeks before Xmas. So he gets nothing for a year, then within two weeks gets piles of gifts. Cheeky little bugger.

And of course, I still need to get Jo something. Of course, she's the perfect person to buy for as she's a geek as well - a lesser geek, but none the less. Her ideas list almost hit girlie... Earrings, necklace, smellies, lingere (which, let's face it, I am sure I can cope with!) - but then her list took a dive towards Geekdom. Keyboard, Mouse, Graphics card... Bless. If Freud were still alive, he'd look at my computer setup, look at her computer setup, and stamp her patient form with "Tech-Envy".

Of course, the upside to geeky-gifts for her - I can order online and not leave the house ;)

The status of my Chivalrous side remains unknown at this time. If you're a female and walking behind me and a door slams in your face, don't be surprised!

And So It Starts

One Hundred and Three Days.
Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy Two Hours.

And so on...

That's how long we've got till Xmas folks! We're not even half-way through September, and it's started. Decorations for sale, Xmas shopping ideas, even the Xmas Spam from Kellkoo and ShopSafe. The off-license (that's a liquor store to our American friends) has a range of "Christmas Drinks" that are mostly Chocolate liqueur and something like coconut, toffee, fudge, strawberry or whatever - kind of like a chocolate selection box.

With my Birthday next week, I always have to chuckle how far away the Christmas stuff starts, and it's ALWAYS before my birthday. Last year I found stuff on the first week, but have to admit I've not been looking too hard this year.

And with Crimbo around the corner, that means New Year is only a week away.

Last year was our first Christmas without Bethy, and while it was tough in places, we got through it. New Year was the kicker - the fact we were starting a year without her felt like the weight of the world was on top of us. Then, two weeks after New Year would be her birthday. Then in late February, it's the anniversary of actually losing her.

Ugh, can you tell I had a bad night last night.

Time to start planning the Xmas gifts I suppose...