Hot hot hot!

I've still got my cold, so in an attempt to clear my nose tonight I ate four of these things. That's my chilli bush on the patio, obviously, I think the frost has kind of killed it off as all the leaves are shrivelling up, so tomorrow I'll pick everything that is left and freeze them. Anyway, they are bloody hot, and apart from my mouth being on fire for about half an hour afterwards, I think they might have done the trick.

Haven't done much today, apart from shopping. Seeing as how I hadn't managed to find anything the first time I ventured into the sales, I made up for it yesterday by getting some new work clothes and spending over a hundred quid on underwear - bloody expensive but I reckon I've saved lots of money becuase had I gone to Rigby and Peller I'd have spend about 4 times that to get the same amount of stuff. Went shopping again today and had a look at what's on for New Year, we've decided to play it by ear as don't want to get tickets for somewhere that ends up being crap or filled with tossers. No point in expecting anything wonderful either as it's always a big let-down! Must be getting old... Was looking back to seven (SEVEN!) years ago when I was doing my elective down under, and found the website of the place I spent Millennium night in, has been pimped up a bit since we were there in that it now seems to have a pool and electricity but it was a superb place to spend the week, although our millennium fireworks weren't anywhere near as good as what people had elsewhere. Maybe tomorrow I'll dig out my diary and recount a Fijian New Year just in case anyone wants some escapism from the rubbish weather we're having here.

Time to spend...

Hope you all had a good Christmas and Boxing Day, I did until today when I developed a cold after having all those ill people breathing all over me over the last few days. Serves me right for volunteering to work at Christmas I guess, but at least I can go and get something nice with the earnings!

Work was actually really busy on monday, the last couple of years I've done the morning shift have been very quiet with about 5 people seen, but this year it was almost fully booked and we were working throughout. At least it made the time pass quicker. My parents didn't end up going away until today so I went back home for a couple of days, had a nice time with lots of food and presents and stuff. I tried going shopping yesterday but didn't get anything apart from some loaf tins for the kitchen, I just couldn't be bothered to fight through all the bargain hunters! I'll probably go next week and see what's left once everyone else has gone back to work. Haven't done much today apart from buy a slow cooker from Argos who are doing them on special offer at 8.99, the aim is that once I start the new job I can bung everything in it in the morning and return home to a hot meal rather than do my lazy thing of sticking something in the microwave or having beans on toast. Haven't really had a proper dinner tonight as my nose is blocked and I can't taste anything, so tomorrow I'll go and get some more chillis off the bush to try and clear the tubes out!

I've now got a week and half off work so no real plans, might pop to London for a day as I didn't get round to going last week, also try and catch up with a few friends. I've got to sort out New Year tickets tomorrow although I'm not expecting anything wonderful, it's usually a big anticlimax. Can't be as bad as 2000/2001 when I spent it in A&E sipping warm sparkling non-alcoholic fizz courtesy of one of the consultants, but the patients on the urology ward where I was working at the time all got written up for sherry which I'd discovered you could prescribe on the drug chart much to the annoyance of the nurses who had to go and find some, but I though it was kinder than valium to stop everyone wandering around!

Merry Christmas!

Hmm, don't think I have an illustrious career as an artist ahead of me, but here is my rubbish drawing of my parents house with the breast-lights shown in red. Doesn't look anywhere near as funny here as it did in reality, but this is the closest you'll get.

Have just made a load of mince pies in proper Christmas Eve tradition, and will be packing up the presents and stuff in preparation for going home after work tomorrow.

So lots more left to do tonight so I'll keep this entry brief and wish you all a very Happy Christmas, and leave you with my top 5 Christmas songs of all time!

1. Chav-tastic tune

2. Shoot me now for admitting I like this

3. Oh dear...

4. You're my besht mate, you are

5. An old classic

Oh Christmas Tree...

How lovely are your branches! Specially for Steve, here is a picture of my Christmas tree in all its fluffy glory. He will probably say that its one redeeming factor is that it is not pink. But it has fluffy tinsel and angel wings and stuff, and I love it!

(Readers might like to note that until this evening, the tree had no decorations on it, and I have pimped it out like this to wind up Steve)

Had a rubbish day at work today as no receptionist turned up so couldn't log me on to the computer (they don't let us docs have all the passwords you see). Spent the first 40 minutes of the shift on the phone to various people who couldn't be less helpful, so in the end I got all the patients to write down their own details on scrappy bits of paper (the centre was so badly stocked that they didn't even have suitable paper to write on!) and I wrote down everything by hand and dumped the 18 or so sheets back at the control centre for them to sort out. Many thanks to all the patients who were so nice about it all, they waited patiently and were very sympathetic about the ridiculousness of the situation, and were al just glad to be seen at all rather than whinging about the total lack of organisation. Not going to work there again though, as new job has been confirmed as mine, have to sort out the contract and stuff in the New Year but it's all a bit of a relief as I might be able to afford the double glazing now and can think about booking a holiday in February before I start properly!

Went to see "White Christmas" last night starring Craig McLachlan (Henry off Neighbours) which was excellent, lots of chirpy singing and dancing and happy endings and snow and everything. Bring it on! Still haven't sorted out New Year yet, but I will get on the case...

Ah yes, and I almost forgot to mention something funny that I was reminded of today, my dad's brave attempt last year to decorate the front of their house for Christmas. None of this inflatable Homer Simpson rubbish, he usually puts some tasteful lights on the trees in the garden, and also draped a strand of lights across the front of the house for good measure. He thought it looked lovely, but it was only at night when my brother and I were off down the pub that my brother turned around and looked at the house and announced "Why on earth has Dad put a giant pair of tits on the front of the house?". From the way the lights were draped, it did indeed look exactly like a childish drawing of some breasts, and as soon as it was pointed out to him, poor Dad had to turn them off until he could get back up the ladder the following day to remove them. Unfortunately the picture I took on my phone has been deleted and he's refused to put them back up this year for the purposes of illustrating my blog, so I have instead drawn a picture to illustrate the general idea... which of course effing blogger is now not accepting as the site is playing up, so you'll have to take my word for it until I can get around to uploading it!

Take That, Ray!

To counteract yesterday's entry on something not very nice, today is going to be about the fabulous Take That and related things. First of all, thankfully, the great British public made the right decision and voted Leona the winner of the X-Factor, it was obvious that she was by far the better singer. I had had my fears becuase the people voting are of course the same people that kept the McDonald brothers in until a fortnight ago, but she got over 60% of the vote in the end. Well done her, I hadn't previously thought I liked all that Mariah Carey-esque warbling but it's not annoying me yet and I'm rather liking Christina Aguilera at the moment too, so maybe it's the whole American annoying diva thing that I don't like.

And the lucky girl got to duet with Take That, which scored major points in my book, you can see it for yourselves here. Isn't it great to have Take That back again? I think they're better now than they were ten years ago, and I think I may have said that before on here. Their next single is a cracker too, can't help thinking it reminds me of the Beatles in some way but it's jaunty and catchy and I hope I get the album in my stocking this Christmas! The dancing on that link might however be the gayest in history...

Just had some leftover lamb for my dinner, am still trying to empty my freezer so I can defrost it but I can't help buying things when they are on special offer so I roasted a joint a couple of days ago and it's done me for three meals. Not buying more food until I've emptied my freezer is going to be my new year's resolution I think, although I don't do resolutions as a rule. Of course I'll be allowed to buy fresh stuff, but nothing just because it's a bargain. It's going to be hard!

Eew, sprouts.

Yuck. As you can guess from my opening word, I am not a fan of this particular seasonal vegetable. Nothing against them personally, but I just don't like the taste, however disguised by bacon and things they might be. Every Christmas without fail I am forced to eat one by my parents, but this year I am celebrating getting a reprieve because they are going away for a few days so there won't be a nice home-cooked lunch this year. So indoctrinated was I, that in 2002 when I was forced to work in the hospital all day, all of us who were on call sat down for our free lunch in the canteen (Christmas day perk to staff), and all ate a HOSPITAL sprout because we felt that we had to, despite hospital sprouts being the worst ever, boiled to a mush but losing none of their bitter taste. Eew.

So today I haven't done a lot, a bit of shopping, have sorted out my camera software so I can put my photos straight onto the computer, and am going to put a few more decorations up later. Before the X-factor final (remember to vote for Leona), there's an hour-long special of some of the worst auditions ever from these talent shows, should be a laugh, although fair play to them for trying as I'd certainly never have the nerve. Then again, I know I'm crap at that sort of thing, so I have a certain sympathy for those deluded souls who are cheered on by their relatives despite not having an ounce of talent, I've no problem with them doing it if they enjoy it, but to then get all stroppy when they're told the truth is just cringeworthy.

Vote!

Crikey, can't believe I'm doing this but I would like to urge you all to vote for Leona in the final of the X-factor tomorrow night. Mainly because there is something really creepy about Ray and if he wins it will make me most uncomfortable. It's nothing to do with him being a scouser, what he does is just so wrong. The HolyMoly website has been going on about how he gyrates his pre-pubescent hips in front of grandmothers everywhere, and they're pretty close with this explanation about just why he shouldn't win. To do big-band swing properly you just can't be a teenage vampire look-alike, people such as Michael Buble although young, just have that air of maturity that the great standards need, cashing in by singing Liverpudlian anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" is just a cheap attempt to get votes. So, vote Leona! She can sing and comes across as a nice girl so I for one will be picking up the phone to support her.

I remember the Pop Idol final a few years back when it was Will Young versus Gareth Gates, my mum was totally into Will Young (and still is, I've had to go and see him in concert twice as my dad wouldn't go with her, but it was rather good actually). She had his voting line on speed-dial and phoned me once the lines opened to tell me to vote for him, she then forgot she'd called me and pressed redial, then when I answered she was all flustered, blurted "I didn't mean to call you again, I wanted to vote for Will Young", then slammed the phone down so she could get as many votes as possible in. Mothers, eh? Bless!

My preparations for Christmas are coming along well, I've done all my shopping, sent all the cards, and am feeling very smug as a result. Putting a few decorations up tonight and over the weekend will be doing the usual tidying the house, sorting out a loan for the proposed double glazing, and trying to get the software from my new camera onto the computer so I can start putting my own photos on the computer. Also have been told I have to find out what the plan is for New Year's Eve, which I always think is totally over-rated, but apparently it's all down to mine this year so need to see where in town is going to be worth going to. Probably end up just chancing it though, I was in London last year which was good fun, but since I've not actually spent it in my own town since I moved here (I don't think), may as well give it a go!

New Year Honours' list

Just a quick entry tonight, I know I've not done any gubbins for a week but I've been busy at work and have had lots of early nights, and been to stay with my parents for a couple of days too. So just thought I'd do a brief update and ask for some suggestions for my New Year Honours (and dishonours) list. Yes, like the queen, I'm going to award some gongs at the end of the year to noteworthy people, but as yet I'm a bit lacking in ideas for categories. I already have the "Most Pointless Celebrity" and "Maddest Bloke off MySpace" sorted out, but could probably do with a few more. So if anyone has any ideas please post them in the comments and I will have a think who is the most deserving.
The picture shown here is probably a winner in the "most random photo of someone who looks like Tony Hart riding a llama" category...

Fluffy

Been extremely busy with work this week so no news or anything to blog about, but we were looking in the Oxfam alternative Christmas gifts catalogue at work and found that you can buy an alpaca for a farmer in South America for £20. So I decided to see how much one would cost over here, just as a thought, as if and when I end up in a bigger house with a huge garden, it would be kind of fun to have a few fluffy things parading around the grounds.

They're a bit more expensive over here, sadly, but there are loads of websites devoted to them which are rather interesting. A "pet" standard one would set you back around £750, whereas breeding ones are several thousand. Not cheap, but you can apparently sell their fur and stuff. Could be a nice little project and there is an alpaca breeding centre in the next county who are having an introductory day in January where for 30 quid you can spend the day being lectured about how to keep alpacas and all about them. It looks really interesting actually! However I'm sure that you're reading this and thinking "what the heck?", so maybe I'd better stop. I just thought the picture of them all standing together was pretty cute.

And talking of "all standing together", anyone remember this ? Sort of Christmassy, ish. Still not feeling at all festive though, might have to put the decorations up next week. Maybe I'll chav up my house like this bloke. Classic! In fact, after watching that, I feel like it might even be December after all. Bring it on! And, I've just noticed I'm past the 1500 hits mark. Is that good?

Bah Humbug (part 1)

Ah, what a delightful scene. Answering your door to be greeted by some cheery souls, wrapped up warm in order to brave the icy winter so that they can sing to bring Christmas joy to everyone.

Ahem. Not quite the scene that I experienced this evening. At 4.55pm I had a knock on my door and on answering it found two approximately 13-year-old boys wearing Santa hats, who started singing carols to me. I was astounded. I'm so not ready for Christmas yet although I've started my shopping, but since my mum's birthday is on the 12th, in my family we never start feeling Christmassy until we've gone past that date. So, the singers threw me somewhat, and I managed it in the only way I felt appropriate. Which was to say before they'd managed to sing 2 lines that I didn't have any cash on me (true), and that in my opinion it was way too early to do carol singing. So they quickly gave up on hearing that they weren't going to get any cash out of me. Bah humbug indeed, no doubt there will be future installments as I get even more pissed off with all the hype. Gave up on the Christmas markets in town at the weekend as it was just so crowded, but will try and have a go on the ice rink at some point which is always a laugh, must avoid the mulled wine stall which is right beside it though, or at least save it until after the skating, certain readers will know what happens if I am exposed to mulled wine and ice...

Totty

One reason for not writing some gubbins over the last few days was that I've been rather busy doing stuff, but also because I quite liked having the attractive photo of Martin Johnson at the top of the page. So I thought I'd look for a few other choice specimens to use on the odd occasion when there isn't an obvious topical picture. I've been quite enjoying the TV series "Tripping Over" which concludes tomorrow, it's about a group of 20-somethings who all meet up in Bangokok initially before dispersing to London and Sydney, it follows their paths and as I've been to all these places, it's a bit reminiscent of all the backpacking days which I get nostalgic for. Anyway, one of the blokes (who used to be Joel in Neighbours and has since been in The Bill) who stars in it is rather fit so I thought I'd google an image of him to use. The second picture found was titled "Daniel Macpherson naked in a car" so of course I couldn't resist that. It's taken off another blog, "Tottyworld", which appears to be a bit gay but a rather good site for the girls too, basically a list of links to photos of totty and "detailed discussion into the merits or lack of merits of totty" as its byline reads.

Before anyone complains at the blatently gratuitous nature of today's post, it's my retaliation towards all the papers who have been letching over Myleene Klass in her bikini in the celebrity jungle this last week. As I alluded to before, there hopefully may be some promising news on the job front so if that all goes to plan I will be celebrating by treating my house to some new double glazing and doors as I've finally decided I can't put up with manky ones any more.

Right, time for bed, more in the week!