Well, it's boxing day today and I'm sat at my Aunt's stealing their wireless and thought I'd update you all with what I've been up to recently. Aint I kind.
Well, my hair is no longer in my eyes and twisting up at round the shoulders (bad hair!!). I completed my shopping and wrapping.
More helpfully, I've met my Brother's Girlfriend. She's very chatty. She's also a dog person. And I think Stuart's been telling her how Gothy I am. Or rather, that I'm very gothy which is a different thing entirely. More on this later...
Work's doo was alright. No one able to tie a bow tie though so had to make do without. We've hired a new duty bar manager/ents person who is very cute. Unfortunately my gaydar screams "no" very loudly and my realism sense screams "never mind different league, he's in a different game completely". Oh well, I can dream...
And then things went downhill. My nose decided to reprioritise its tasks. It currently believes that maintaining a clear passageway for air to flow into my lungs is a minor task but that producing thick green icky stuff is of major importance.
This means that very little, fractured, sleep has been my due since Monday night. Waking up with sore throats and headaches every couple of hours is not nice when coupled with the late nights of family gatherings.
Friend's doo, hosted most wonderfully by Emma and Andrew, was a success. My Pate has gone down well both there and with family here in Nottingham. I think Andrew now probably knows more about timings and mass catering than he ever wanted to (hint, it's going to take longer than you think).
I'll skip past Christmas Eve/Amber's birthday because I spent most of it trying not to fall asleep or show frustration at ten and thirteen year old cousins (I'm not good with children). And anyway, Christmas Day haulage is much more interesting...
"Half ten over the road for presents" we were confidently informed. So at half ten we started lugging over our presents. At elevenish we started being able to dish them out. Eleven for presents - it's just wrong.
So, apart from the usual collection of selection boxes and chocolate, money and gift vouchers, books and underwear, I got some "other" gifts...
From Vicky (actually opened on Tuesday) I received an amazing Squid/Cthulhu hat (hand made by mistressvickimon herself). Caitlin (Brother's girlfriend) recognised it as Cthulhu, Stuart's opinion was "it would be cool if it wasn't linked to that Cthusjdujks thingy". Amber (10 year old cousin) looked on in pure horror when she saw it. Anything that can get a positive reaction out my my brother has to be good. Thank you Vicky!
You know how I said earlier that Caitlin seems to think I'm more gothy than I am... well, she got my a cape. In crushed black velvet. Yes a cape, of the "does not enable wearer to turn into a bat" type cape. I see myself getting drawn into vampire LARP before long with this (because I can't see myself wearing it day to day no matter how cool I think it would be...). I will have to consult the ever so talented Vicky about making it bigger (so it fits). So, Thank you Caitlin.
Courtesy of Santa I also received HellBoy II: The Golden Army and Lush goodness. I'm having trouble believing I forgot about Hellboy in the "Best Film" category in my last post and am happy I have this. Now, I really should find some time to watch some of these films... Thank you Santa.
Courtesy of SantaThing I received Pattern Recognition (William Gibson) and Jennifer Government (Max Barry). Now, Gibson is an author I should like: sci fi, cyberpunk, lefty. However, I tried reading Gibson's Neuromancer a few years back and gave up so I decided that the only way to give it a fair chance would be to take it, and only it, on the train down to Nottingham. What a mistake that turned out to be. I persevered for 5 whole chapters before deciding I'd be less bored staring out the window. Thank god I also brought some music with me. Jennifer Government will hopefully be a lot better. Thank you for trying SecretSantaThing.
I didn't see Doctor Who (Bad Gay Geek) but it was an RTD christmas special, how can it be any good? I did manage to see Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death. Good, but not as good as their earlier outings. I liked the mechanical bits which were toned down in this one...
If anyone's wanting my thoughts on the Pope's recent declaration you're going to have to wait. My brain's still alternating between laughing at the absurdity and going "WFT?!!??".
Alex
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