Want to know something funny?

I don't have recurring dreams, but I do sometimes dream about the same sort of things.

The nightmare I get most often?

Working in an opticians.

An amusing day

I'm having one of those days where I'm generally in a good mood despite a few things just not going right.

I managed to cut my thumb open on a malfunctioning suspension file where the metal caught me.

I then replaced said file with another one only to find after I put the papers back in the card split fully down the centre and I then had two parts of a suspension file...

Since reading about haemophilia yesterday I don't feel too concerned about my thumb refusing to completely stop bleeding because being female I am probably not going to bleed to my death for that reason. Phew.

Also this morning I was waiting for the bus in rather cold conditions, and for the last few days have waited by sitting on the five inches of bench. Problem with that is when you stand back up you are left with the perculiar sensation of having cold bum cheeks touch the top of your thighs. Not completely unpleasant but weird.

And the nails on my left hand are white from where I have painted them, with a plan to do both hands and then paint a pattern on top. At the moment Tom is asking why I've put Tippex on my nails...

It's been a while

and I've been incredibly lazy in terms of this blog. Right now I'm hiding out in my living room and trying to get Jo to not enrole my help in dyeing her hair...

Work has been the same, plodding along. Sometimes frustrating but mostly alright which is always a plus. What is interesting and a little amusing is that more staff have resigned from my old workplace, all of them moving to the same company! Hopefully the old company will actually wake up and start doing something about the problems there for the remaining staff (before they follow suit).

Wedding progress is coming on; I've picked the bridesmaid dresses and Tom and I had Maz (a local Rev) over for a session of marriage preparation and all was well! Seeing as we're pretty much open about everything and enjoy a good bicker once in a while so we seem compatible. But I kinda knew that...

Thoughts

Each morning I get the bus into work, and am quite enjoying this new routine. I'm perfecting the art of rolling out of bed and leaving the house in 15 mins, and getting breakfast at work. It's nice to feel a bit comfortable, especially as I hate getting up.

Recently I feel as though I can see myself thinking and then the thoughts slipping away, and I'm left retracing my train of thought, usually to something important with a lot of other fluff surrounding it. Such as, "I need to text that person, there is a dog in that field, I had a dream about my sister's dog, I was playing on a game with dogs in it, I wish I was at home again... who did I need to speak to about what?"

Work is going well at the moment. I had a bit a blip last week, and we had a bad day each at home so none of us were having any luck with things, but my role is changing slightly and now I know what I'll be doing I'm happier. Part of me is still a bit baffled by my job, it not seeming normal on paper that I'm working in an office dealing with car warranties, but I'm getting used to it. I get to sit in a (usually) warm office, drink tea, get on with the pile of work in front of me, and go home on time without having to wear a uniform or try and sell anything.

I'm also trying to have more of an "attitude of gratitude", despite the cliche. I'm realising how blessed and fortunate I am; a place to live that I love (even if it gets messy!) food, water, electricity, contact with people, a lovely little church down the road, and of course a loving fiance and wonderful family. Last Friday I spent some time with a few close friends and again just felt so happy to have them here with me, that they actually wanted to be around and enjoy each others' company. What a wonderful feeling.

Survived the holidays!

Ah, new year. Well our Christmas didn't quite to plan as my mum got rather poorly with what seems to be a nasty cold/ flu thing, so my dad popped up on Christmas day to deliver presents and a turkey crown, to go home to look after mum, to then end up ill too!

Boxing day we had another Christmas day with Tom's family which was mainly filled with music trivia and me looking like an overgrown toddler in my new onesie! Even Tom was taken with it, despite him hating them...!

80s themed disco at the same pub we are having our reception at later this year (eek!) with Tom's parents, which was a great laugh.

Back to reality though...

Something sickly

I told Tom earlier that I didn't really need anything for Christmas, because he had already given me everything I need. Aww...

Family

I'm just this minute having a near-epiphany about family. I realise how much I value all my family members and how much I miss them.

Last weekend Tom and I trekked up to Blackpool for his grandmother's 70th birthday. Tom's family from Cheltenham were there too, as well as all the locals. It was the first time I'd see all of the siblings and cousins together before, and it was brilliant. The next occasion will probably not be until the wedding next year.

Now these people are also going to be my family, and I can't wait for that! I am going to be married to Tom and both sides will come together and I'll kind of be leaving my family but not really. [Enough lovey sloppiness]

What's also caught my attention a bit is that I have some old friends from years past who once were very close to me, and time has meant we've drifted apart. But there was also a lack of effort on both parts, and now I wonder how I feel. Some of them haven't ever met Tom, who is now a huge part of my present and my future. They've moved on, they are much more popular and busy than I am and they don't seem to have time for me. Likewise I have other commitments and social groups and not sure how things would fit together in this world.

Also, on a political note, can you exclude these people from the big events in your life? Tricky.

Superstitions

Just grabbed lunch from a cafe down the road, and noticed that if you wanted to avoid walking on the cracks, Cheltenham is really not a good place to be.

There are paving stones everywhere, and because nowhere here is actually flat, most of the slabs are cracked and though functional, not tessellating.

The other day I briefly had a chat to someone about superstitions. I'm surprised at the number of people I've met (especcially 'rational' ones) who won't walk over drains. Now I said that I avoid walking under ladders but for the reason that they may well slip of something could easily fall off from them, whereas the drain covers are designed to be walked on. Obviously if one's fallen into disrepair then yes, avoid it. But what else is there to be worried about?

I also had a huge argument (really a heated discussion but I won't deny there was a bit of name-calling) the other day with someone about religion. Yay. I was trying to explain to them that even if they themselves don't believe in anything, there are positives people gain from beliefs and also it isn't ok to go around dictating to others that they should and shouldn't believe something. And that you can share something with people even if they don't have the same attitudes as you. This person just couldn't get that, but we agreed to just let it go before too many black eyes were exchanged.

Back on the spirit of tolerance, I've been making Christmas cookies! They're meant to have holes pierced in each of them so you can hang them on a tree but our tree is already crammed and I don't see the point wasting time using food as decoration when it can be eaten!

It's been a while

So it's now December, the tree is up (thanks, Jo) and we have spent more money than we should have on hopefully beloved gifts.

Tom managed a whole month without shaving his moustache through November, albeit creating a blonde 'tash and ginger chin. But I'm proud that he managed it!

Work is going well. Just over a month ago I was making a few silly mistakes but it seems I have managed to avoid being too cocky and repeated them (mostly) which is progress. I'm a proud soul and hate being corrected or disciplined in any way so although I do need to be chastised once in a while I don't like it! But eventually I'll get it together.

We've been seeing a lot of my family recently, which is always nice, and this weekend coming we're heading up to Blackpool to see some of Tom's relations. But my folks should be visiting us on Christmas day.

Also, today my nails are all sparkly and my hair is amazingly smooth!

Not dead, just lazy with updates

So the crunchy leaves have become slippery mush, all grassy areas have become muddy, Tewkesbury is getting nervous and the rest of us are tired of wind, rain, cold, rain and more bloody rain. Weather is crap and we're all getting the pre-Christmas blues.

However last week the guys in the office got bored and put up the decorations. We now have the saddest plastic tree is existence which is actually shedding pins and a stubborn piece of tinsel which would not stay attached to the door frame. But hey, it's gaudy enough to make you smile!