Happy New Year.

This is not the New Years Eve I'd have chosen for myself.
I'd have been with friends, eating and drinking. Relaxed, music, and time for one another.
But I was working today, and I'm working tomorrow. So I'm alone, and an early night beckons.

It is what it is.

It's not what I'd have picked, but it is what I have, so I will enjoy it.

May the coming year bring you happiness, in whatever form you desire.

Love

Confused.

My mum knew who I was, but couldn't remember my name.
I'll take that... its choking me up now, managed to hold the tears in while I was there in case I upset her.

I've not been in the mood to write anything at the moment.
Losing £100, seeing a woman who I thought was my mum for a moment in a distant city, the workmates getting another easy weekend when the plant broke down again (of course its been fixed in time for my shift again), and general... stuff... has left me deciding that I'm not writing anymore for a while.

A week, maybe two, maybe more. I don't know.

Bye for now.

I'm trying to remember that its not as bad as I think.

Some people have it much worse. Remember that, and try to give a little.

However being told that you are 'money-grabbing' because you're reluctant to take on a huge amount of responsibility and extra work for free... is a little stressful.

What a difference a week makes...

One week you're drinking cocktails and chatting to theatrical dancers, the next you're being told that you are probably working Xmas day and that the whole plant will be running 24/7 though the whole holiday season.
Oh, and "tough what are you going to do about it?" was the bosses delightful attitude. No doubt he'll tell us we're all in it together... while he stays at home the whole time as usual.

Yeah - I'm fucking upset.

It's looming...

I've been trying to ignore it for weeks, months even. Trying to remind myself that it will be over in a day or two and it's no big deal.
But Christmas is getting closer. Everyone is making plans and saying "lets get together" and I want to pull the duvet over my head and stay there until February.

Meeting, and renewals

Sister's birthday party over the weekend meant I met loads of people who I'd not seen in 20 or more years. That, along with fancy dress, and plenty of beer and food made for a good evening.
Scary amounts of ice on the way out made for a painful evening for several people, and even more near misses as people nearly went flying. Number One Son, however walked normally over the sheet of ice, utterly unbothered by it, and didn't so much as wobble...

Lots of driving followed, back home then taking Number One Son back to college.

Lastly I went to what is coming to be known as a Tweet-up, or a Twiss-up. Lots of people I talk to via Twitter, a bar, lots of "Oh my god!" style exclaimations, wine and cocktails all round... Was great fun. And thought provoking as lots of people from very different backgrounds, different agendas, different outlooks made for an interesting night.

Great train journey home too - I'm fairly happy to talk to strangers as it is, but after a few beers... try to stop me! So I ended up chatting to a group of musicians who work in the West End on a variety of big musicals. Had a 'right larff'.
No great lessons learned, but a great day. I even managed to spend an hour or so in the British Museum, one of my favourite places in the world.

A version of this song was in my head all day - Enjoy.
The Diggers Song.

I'm on day two of a decent break. Lots of driving to come over thweekend, but then I should be able to have some fun, and time to myself, for things I like.

I live in hope - but as John Cleese one said "It's not the despair, Laura. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand."