Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

The Xmas pressies have started to arrive, & I don't know what to say to people, I just cringe with embarrassment.

I'm not ungrateful, not at all, but I just can't buy into Xmas at all, not one bit, so it makes me incredibly uncomfortable, mentally. For 2 decades or more, I escaped every Xmas to Africa, either The Gambia, Senegal, or Kenya, or to Hawaii, San Francisco, anywhere to escape it all, but it just seemed to follow me everywhere, so I gave up eventually, & just sort of hid at home, barring popping over to see Thewy & the family, & having dinner with dear Ralphy.

So far this year, I have been given a lovely coat, a really nice jumper, and a pot of jam, all of which I was given yesterday, officially my last day at work pre-Xmas. Nice pot of jam, mind.

The Coat was terrific, exactly what suited me, & it cost a lot of money. I happen to know that for a fact, as last Friday, for the first time in 30 years, I went and purchased a coat. The identical coat to that which I was given yesterday.

So I now have two brand new, & identical, coats, & my faithful old Crombie, which I've had for well over 30 years. I happen to opine to the viewe that Crombies are timeless, but then, I suppose I would.

[taximan007]

Crombies are the dogs bollox 

[tikay]

Tomorrow, at 6am, I set off for the long, long, drive to Glasgow, or just north west of Glasgow, actually - Loch Lomond - for an overnight stop, & then on Thursday, continue north, via Fort William, to a little cottage near the Isle of Skye for a week. I'm more excited than I can say.

I have no idea if it has wifi, internet, or TV - I very much doubt it has them all - but so be it, life will go on, though I'm so addicted to the internet that I may struggle. As to TV, not fussed one bit.

The cottage is on the shore of Loch Duich, which is a good base for walking & nature stuff.

I've got a big coat - 2 actually - plus 2 wooly hats, even gloves, the lot, I'll look a right idiot, but there it is, I really feel a need to escape for a few days, & help to get a better life balance, which I've been working on for a while now.

I return next week, & I have a Show, too, after which I plan to really buckle down to work. I've been very disappointed with myself in my work performance since Vegas, & I need to either do a lot better, or retire, I can't be doing half a job.

There have been enormous changes next door, the site is unrecognisable from a year ago, & is barely a few months from the end of the Phase 1 "catch up", but people are resistant to anything that changes, even for the better, it seems to tick a psychological button in our heads, so it's been uphill for me, dealing with feedback from the changes. I've coped OK, but the feedback seems so moany, so personal, & rude, & I have no idea how these people cope with stuff in real life when their dog dies, Tesco are out of eggs, or the wheels fall off. I sometimes think grinding Online seems to cause issues with our minds, our ability to socially interact normally.

Anyway, I have no idea if I will be able to get Online from way up there, though I hope I can, or the withdrawal symptoms may just do my head in. How embarrassing, to be addicted to the internet, especially at my time of life. Bloody ridiculous. That has to change next year, it just does. That's one NYR sorted.

So, in case I can't get Online, I hope you all have a peaceful & happy Christmas, & likewise your family's (families?), especially the kids.

2012? Do more things, do them better, be more self-critical, & the harderst of all, be more tolerant. Think I'll do a proper NYR list when I get back.

Please keep the "best of" Galleries coming please, they bring much pleasure to lots of us. 

[tikay]

Crombies are the dogs bollox 

Truly, I've had two in my entire life, the first lasted 15 years, the next I still have, that one has managed 30 years, & it's as good as the day I got it. I never wear it, mind.

[technolog]

Here's hoping you have a lovely, relaxing break.

[taximan007]

RAF Greatcoats, and Afghan coats were cool in the day also

Have a great break, sounds so idyllic

[Jon MW]

The Guardian Best of 2011 photogallery

[nirvana]

That sounds like a great getaway

Let me wish you peace and happy times for the next coupla weeks

[tikay]

The Guardian Best of 2011 photogallery

Lol - even the Lego Xmas Tree thst Tom wrote about a few weeks ago!

Note how instantly recognisable the location is - it could only be St Pancras which they have really done a job on.

[tikay]

That sounds like a great getaway

Let me wish you peace and happy times for the next coupla weeks

Thank you Mr CH, & may I wish you an absence of "Car Parks" in 2012, & more especially, continued good health, you've looked so much better of late, long may it last.

[Dingdell]

Crombies are the dogs bollox 

Truly, I've had two in my entire life, the first lasted 15 years, the next I still have, that one has managed 30 years, & it's as good as the day I got it. I never wear it, mind.

I took my Dad out on Friday night and he was talking about the coat he was wearing. He bought it to attend my first carol concert when I went to the Grammar School as he didn't have one until then - we were not well off and they seemed to spend most of their money on my school uniforms. Anyway - he wore it on Friday and I remarked that it had worn well (don't do the maths) and he admitted that he rarely wore it as it was a posh coat - so he only wore it for Christmas and when he went out with me.

It wasn't until later I realised he might have been having a dig....

It is a Crombie and a beautiful coat. Good choice.

Have a lovely break, stay off the internet. x

[tikay]

Crombies are the dogs bollox 

Truly, I've had two in my entire life, the first lasted 15 years, the next I still have, that one has managed 30 years, & it's as good as the day I got it. I never wear it, mind.

I took my Dad out on Friday night and he was talking about the coat he was wearing. He bought it to attend my first carol concert when I went to the Grammar School as he didn't have one until then - we were not well off and they seemed to spend most of their money on my school uniforms. Anyway - he wore it on Friday and I remarked that it had worn well (don't do the maths) and he admitted that he rarely wore it as it was a posh coat - so he only wore it for Christmas and when he went out with me.

It wasn't until later I realised he might have been having a dig....

It is a Crombie and a beautiful coat. Good choice.

Have a lovely break, stay off the internet. x

Thank you Miss D!

I don't think it was a dig by your Dad at all - even now, 30 years on, the Crombie only comes out on high days & holidays, it's like the Christmas Room we had as kids at Grannys, it was NEVER used except at Xmas, but it evokes such mermories. Mainly, to be fair, the smell of mothballs.

Talking of health, as I was to Glenn, your Dad has done well, eh?, & I really hope that continues, our Dads do mean so much to us, & we only get the one. I know you'll look after him.

x

[Geo the Sarge]

Have a great time in what is one of the most beautiful part of these great Isles of ours.

Also worth a look. Keep an eye out for the "battlesleds" wtf where they thinking.

http://www.dogfacesoldiers.org/anzio/

Regards the shaving soldier, after 23 years of shaving most every day I still use a shaving brush and soap. Also have an original Crombie that must be 20-odd years old and looks as good as it did all those years ago although it is a blue tweed style effort

Take care

Geo

[tikay]

Think it's time to go, the Diary is gertting all soppy now, & I'm a geezer, hard as nails me, this is bad for my rep.

[Claw75]

trip sounds idyllic.  enjoy it hard-man