27 December 2019 (Friday) - Sulking

As I had my morning shave so "er indoors ^TM" let the dogs out to “do their business”. Unfortunately to humans “doing your business” involves tiddles and poops. To dogs “doing your business” means shouting a lot then going back to bed. Perhaps half past five isn’t the best time to “do canine business”?

With everyone else gone back to bed I made toast using the last of the cherry brandy conserve. I’m glad that stuff has all gone, I then watched the first episode of the second season of “Flowers” before sparking up my lap-top to see if I’d missed much overnight. There were a few people posting on Facebook; one or two (like me) were getting ready for work. Quite a few were still on holiday. Whilst I don’t dislike my job, if I had my time again I’d work somewhere that puts up a “closed” sign from time to time. But it could be worse… I went through my diaries last night – I’ve actually had three complete Christmases (Christmas Eve through to Boxing Day) off in the last ten years.

I was rather interested to read some of the posts on the Munzee-related Facebook pages; apparently the parent company is about to go bankrupt?

Yesterday I mentioned that the roads at mid day were as busy as any other day. This morning at seven o'clock the roads to Pembury were the quietest I've ever known them. It took me less than an hour to do a journey which usually takes an hour and a half. Usually there is hold-up after hold-up. I didn't stop once on the entire journey.

As I drove the pundits on the radio were talking their usual brand of nonsense. This morning the country's top Judge Lady Hale was the guest editor for the morning news program. There was a lot of talk about how the legal system is in disarray because the average person can't afford justice. Rather than paying barristers, people finding themselves in court are defending themselves with varying degrees of success. An attempt was made by some other legal bigwig to justify the salaries of those working in the courts. The argument made was that barristers and solicitors should be paid a fortune because the financial whizz-kids in the city get paid far too much as well. I must admit that I wasn't convinced. By that reasoning, everyone doing anything should be paid a fortune too?

It was also suggested that more women should be employed as judges because it was claimed that there are different outcomes when women judge a case (as opposed to male judges).

How does that work? How does justice depend on the gender of the person assessing it?

As I parked my car I reflected that I've never really thought that much of the British legal system, and now I have reason for feeling that way.

I got to work and parked up. Apparently the nice Prime Minister has announced that there will be free parking for NHS staff next year... when they are on night shift. I pay a set amount every month and park whenever my seemingly random shift pattern requires me to show up. I wonder how this free parking at night will work. Will I get a rebate? I suspect that (like most political promises) this hasn't been thought through very well.

As I worked my brother phoned. My mum had been taken poorly yesterday and had spent the night in hospital, but she would seem to be on the mend now.

With work done I came home again. As I do… The roads were quiet on the way home too. Over a typical Christmassy dinner of cold meat, cheese and pickle (washed down with port and stout) we watched the Christmas Bake-Off. It was rather good…

26 December 2019 (Thursday) - Boxing Day? Late Shift!

Perhaps it was all the driving yesterday, perhaps it was the port and cheese last night. But whatever it was I slept like a log. It was a shame that I woke feeling quite so grim – was that the port?

As I scoffed toast so Sid sauntered downstairs. I take no chances with him – he went straight outside where he did “both flavours of business” for which I was grateful. He went back to bed; I thought about doing so, but I was up. I had a little look at the Internet. The couple of piccies I’d posted last night had got one or two comments. And (unlike yesterday morning) people had been posting up pictures of what they’d been up to. Being a nosey person I like seeing that.

We had intended to take the dogs out, but the torrential rain put us off of that idea. Instead we slobbed on the sofa and watched “Carry On Henry”. The film was rather good, but it was such a shame that they had to put on such depressing adverts.

With a little while spare, I had a look at the monthly accounts. As I always say, they could be better but they could be a whole lot worse. Is it wrong of me to want a *lot* more money?

"er indoors ^TM" served up cold meat and pickle which I devoured, then I set off towards work. Months ago when we were asked what shifts we'd want to do at Christmas time I chose Boxing Day late shift thinking it might suit me best... I wish I'd chosen a shift earlier in the holiday now. And I must admit that (yet again) I have to question my choice of career. A rostered shift on Boxing Day got me paid at time and a third. A friend (in a completely different line of work) was offered a thousand pounds for two hours' work yesterday. And he turned it down too!!

As I drove up the motorway through the rain I was rather amazed at just how much traffic there was. It wasn't really any different to any other day. As I drove the pundits on the radio were talking about how much money people spend on sporting activities... not so much doing the activities, but on joining the clubs. Apparently golf clubs across the country are struggling because although there's just as many people wielding golf clubs as ever, there's fewer and fewer people wanting to pay to be a member of a golf club.

I suppose that the general public are asking themselves if they want to actually do an activity, or just talk about it.

I drove to the petrol station; with the "er indoors ^TM" -mobile out of action and me doing the driving at the moment we've used a week's worth of petrol in two days.

Suitably re-fuelled I then went in to the late shift. For all that I might have grumbled about it, and for all that lone working does have its moments (like my bank accounts) it could be a whole lot worse.

I did my bit; I scoffed some of the mince pies which had been left over from Christmas Eve. There was quite a bit of food left over from Christmas Eve; I could have scoffed loads, but I think I ate too much yesterday. I wasn't feeling on top form and I left loads for those coming after me.

I’ve felt rather grim all day… perhaps an early night might sort it out?

25 December 2019 (Wednesday) - Christmas Day

I woke for a tiddle at five o’clock. I chivvied Sid out who had a tiddle of his own, then came back in and crapped on the carpet.

I cleared it all up, and went back to bed.

Even though it was Christmas I still had toast and peered at the Internet. I was hoping and expecting Facebook to be filled with pictures of happy families with loads of pressies. There were a few, but there was no end of posts on the local pages about the real and imagined crimes which had supposedly taken place yesterday.

I got dressed, drove out to Canterbury to collect "Daddy’s Little Angel ^TM" and then on to Folkestone where we collected "Stormageddon - Bringer of Destruction ^TM". We came home, and played Lego for a while whilst "er indoors ^TM" boiled up a rather good Christmas dinner before returning "Daddy’s Little Angel ^TM" and "Stormageddon - Bringer of Destruction ^TM" back from whence they’d come.

With the day’s driving done I settled in front of the telly with a can of mild and a bottle of stout to wash down the left-over Christmas dinner, and fell asleep in front of “Carry on Camping”.

I woke just in time for us to pop round the corner for an evening with Brian and Rachel. We sat in front of the open fire and had a rather good evening which got progressively more vague as time rolled on.

Not the busiest of Christmases… I wonder what we’ll do next time?