Tradition

My childhood was full of funny little traditions:

• Santa likes his whisky with a little bit of water.
• Rudolph prefers chocolate to carrots.
• Tooth fairy rates do not increase with inflation.
• On Christmas Eve we will go down to the pub, get merrily drunk and stagger to Midnight Mass no matter what condition we were in.
• Christmas presents are not to be opened until about 3 in the afternoon (after late breakfast, a trip to the pub and before the meal in the evening).
• Easter is a day for chocolate and church. Your egg will be on the table with breakfast and you may eat it then and there as an accompaniment with full fry up breakfast. You will then go to church.
• At the end of the school year you will take a thank you present to your teacher.
• Bread and butter letters will be sent after staying with someone.
• Home made cards are best.
• No matter what the weather, you will go for a walk on a Sunday.
• Saturdays are for going into "nearest large town to the village". We will meet at 11 o'clock at "random small coffee shop".
• All pets will have random swahili names.

It makes me a little bit sad that N doesn't seem to have had all these types of traditions. If we get married and have children it'll be up to me to make sure that, 20 years on, they're sitting remembering their childhood with fondness and having a little giggle.

Trains, planes and automobiles

I like Dublin. It's scruffy, the people are nice and the money doesn't seem real (am I the only one who thinks that Euros are like Monopoly money?)

What I don't like about Dublin is the airport. I don't like it when I spend more time in the airport than in Dublin itself. I don't like it when my plane is delayed and I have to sit around for three hours with nothing to do. I don't like the uncomfortable seats. I don't like the internet stations that steal all your money. I don't like the noisy groups of teenagers who insist on standing behind me, shouting at the top of their voices. I don't like the fact you can't get a proper knife and fork to eat the (mediocre) food with.

I don't like the fact that I'm knackered today thanks to Dublin airport.

It's raining outside, the heating's finally fixed and for once, I have nothing to do.

A perfect for lying on the sofa, watching bad old films, cup of tea and duvet. I love days like these.

My my, who would have thought.

I am here. I am writing. I am still alive.

Several months have passed, I realise. Several million things have happened in that time. I suppose I might have to update.

1. I've moved into a new house, in a new part of town, with the old boyfriend(old in the sense of time, not age - he'd not be too happy if I spread rumours about his geriatric credentials). One day I might put some pictures up of the new abode. Chez nutty is very much a des-res (mainly because it's about 2 mins walk from our local) but it has a slight problem with its heating. It doesn't have any.

2. I have a new job (hoorah!) The old job was just getting a bit too much to be honest. Lack of money, too much responsibility, no respect. Pah - there's only so long you can deal with that grinding you down every day. So in the end, I decided to go. Great decision. I now work for "Big multi-national company". Sooo different to the last place. We get free coffee here. The strange thing is, since HQ is abroad (and all the internet servers are therefore routed abroad) I'm currently trying to blog in a German blogger. Makes saving posts/adding pictures/knowing what the hell I'm supposed to be doing a little difficult.

3. Dammit. They're making me work!

Once upon a time I had time to do this. One day soon in the future I will again.

Until I move house and get my new computer, however, I'm going to have to close the blog. Temporarily you understand. And not like you'll notice since I haven't updated in oooo.... 2 months!

I move on Saturday and should be computered up by next month. I'll see you all then.

The trouble with rented accommodation
Part one: furniture






These beauties currently reside in our sitting room. Note the tasteful cushions. Marvel at the way in which the fabric matches the tatty rug. Oh yes, a sight to behold.

I can't wait until I can afford my own place.