Christmas With The Kays

Christmas Eve was spent in the local. On arrival we found our table laid out with presents (from Denis, Mark and Jo) and Panettone. Mmm... Soon enough Mum, Stuart, Beth and George arrived and we settled down for a lovely meal followed by the quiz. Sadly Denis was a little worse for wear by the time the quiz came along and it took so long the others had to leave by the penultimate round. This was no major disaster as we still came... first! I know, it's a bit suspect but that's now 7 consecutive victories (ignoring our day off and the music quizzes). Left the pub like a pack horse, ladened with 12 bottles of wine, and all our gifts.

I was a tad annoyed to hear one of the members of another team (one who rarely makes it to the top three to boot!) came up to Jim and accused us of cheating. If he'd said that to me, I think I would have been very aggrieved but Jim handled it with good festive cheer which I think was the better way!

Christmas morning we headed down to Snodland to pick up my Nan. Sadly she wasn't quite ready by the time we got there so we parked up on Constitution Hill and whilst Jim caught a quick snooze I reminisced about the old video shop where my Mum worked whilst I was young, and the Lodge where my Nan worked and I used to hit up the old ladies for sweets and presents. Finally we picked her up, dropped by Great Aunt Joy's to get more presents and then we were on our way down to Hythe.

When we arrived at Hythe I opened the boot of the car to find we had brought LOTS of things. Presents, food and WINE. Lots, and lots, of wine. We settled down so that Nan, Jim and I could indulge in our delayed Christmas morning tradition of opening presents.

I was much pleased with my haul... the centre piece being a 1000 Marks Reichbank note from 1910 in perfect condition from Mum and Stuart. Also got: Stasi Hell or Workers' Paradise? Socialism in the German Democratic Republic from a Dear Constant Reader, Fragment from Beth, Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall and The Scottish Nation: 1700-2007 from Mum and Stuart, Guinness World Records 2010 from George, Calvin Klein's Crave from Jim (and some more from Mum and Stuart), a nice wine from Great Aunt Joy, Great Railways of the World from Denis and a tenner from my Nan. Most excellent present gathering indeed!

This was followed by an awesomely relaxing day with very little TV, lots of chats (and Nan anecdotes such as the time she used a teddy bear to pick up a dropped knife to avoid bad luck!) and a huge dinner. Beth and George went to their Dads in the evening and we settled in for Doctor Who and other festive TV. All very nice.

Boxing Day was again relaxing and after taking a Nan back home, Jim and I went down the pub for a locals night where leftover food was shared out and much Wii bowling occurred (I got a most excellent score of 198 but didn't make it to the final!!)

Yesterday was the laziest day in history during which I geeked out over railways and Jim played his guitar.

I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas time. I also hope you can forgive me for some of the forthcoming end of the decade nasel gazing that is to come this week. But don't worry there shall be an uplifting post at the end of the week looking to the future!

This blogger works for nothing but the joy of writing but always appreciates things bought from his wishlist

Christmas Time Is Here!

For the most part I've been able to spend the last few days being all smug at having purchased all my presents online. I hate shopping at the best of times, but I absolutely fail to understand the urge people have at Christmas time to engage in the torturous consumerist ritual of Christmas shopping.

Sadly, I had to pop to Tesco's in Lewisham today. Tesco's in Lewisham gives me a headache at the best of times, but today... today was awful. It was bad enough doing the shopping but the queue at the checkout was where even Jim "Nothing To Worry About, We're Not In A Rush" Niven lost his temper. We were third in the queue. Not bad I hear you think. Alas, first in the queue were two women who had three trolleys full of food. They couldn't quite understand the concept of one loading and one packing and instead one continued to shop whilst the other had a nice chat with the checkout girl. They were there for ONE HOUR. ONE HOUR just to checkout 3 trolleys of shopping. ONE HOUR!! Stupid people..

Anyway... I've got a meal with the family in the pub and a quiz tomorrow, Christmas Day in Hythe and then should be back home sometime on Boxing Day. So I probably won't be blogging between now and then and thus I want to wish every Dear Constant Reader a very Merry Christmas!!

Yuck... Happy Holidays. How very dull. I think next year we must all eradicate such silly phrases... it's Merry Christmas or nothing! :p

This blogger works for nothing but the joy of writing but always appreciates things bought from his wishlist

Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire

Christmas has well and truly begun!! Saturday I went on a brief but interesting sortie into Folkestone via the High Speed link.

Now, overall, the outward journey was only a few minutes shorter than going via the main line as I had to take a half hour journey on the DLR to Stratford Regional and allowed myself some extra time because I didn't know what to expect. It was actually really rather easy, getting off the DLR and then heading through the well signposted subway to Platform 11. Walk to the end of that and you find a bus (where tickets can be purchased for the Southeastern High Speed services). This whisks you to Stratford International (there's no pedestrian access at the moment!). There was only two of us on the bus which was also a bonus!

Stratford International puts me in mind of some of the newer TGV stations like Valence. It's big, modern and lacking charm. Not in an awful way, it is just a means to an end after all.

The train arrived, looking all sparkly and new and FAST, and upon boarding I found there was plenty of space and leg room (something I was NOT expecting). The journey was smooth, fast and the conductor was nice.

Kent was covered in snow! After moaning for so long about having no snow I was very happy to see it, even if it was at a high speed blur!

Arriving in Folkestone felt like coming home. Nothing better and I grabbed a taxi outside Folkestone Central and headed to the East Cliff Pavilion for Three Valley Waters Christmas do. Saw loads of old faces, felt more comfortable than last time and Stacey Lady was there which is, as ever, the best thing about TVW dos. Mere hours later I got a taxi back to Folkestone Central and headed back to Greenwich. Now without my added extra time for safety's sack the journey is a good 20-30 minutes shorter on the way back than it would be on the main line. Getting home I settled in at the pub for a cheeky midnight pint with Jim before sleep.

Sunday. Jim went to see his children which left me at a loss as to what to do. Hmm... Christmas. Jae is alone. Time for... Christmas movie day! I watched A Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone 2, Gremlins and Miracle on 34th Street. All very Christmassy and it was a very nice lazy day.

Monday... work. Yuck! But things brightened up at 4.40pm when there was an unexpected snow shower. Not just a little one either. By 5pm it was time to go home and I got to trudge (I repeat... TRUDGE, don't you love that word Dear Constant Reader?) through the snow to the tube station. All was going swimmingly until I arrived at Cannon Street. The station was closed and a huge crowd was gathered outside being marshalled around from the road by police. I made an executive decision and returned to the tube and made my way to the DLR at Bank. Here was crowded too (as not everyone is London is a total idiot) but there were two Lewisham trains due, a minute apart. I knew what that meant.

I settled down and watched the ensuring fights and squeezing that occurred when the first train arrived. Then once it had been departed I strolled up to the platform edge (behind the yellow line of course) and lo and behold the second train arrived and I sauntered on in comfort and calm, confident that the train in front would keep on clearing the platforms at every station ahead allowing me a no hassle journey home. Bliss.

Got off the train and headed straight for the local for twas the night of Christmas caroling! Whilst the Christmas Carolers when off around the Triangle (as we call the area here in Greenwich) demanding money with menances and threats of singing, the remaining men of the pub gathered around an open fire, roasting chestnuts and doing those oh so stereotypical "men around a fire" things. the Carolers returned and more songs were sung (not by me for both ideological and concerns for other people's ears reasons) before we had a dinner of jacket potato, beans and sausages from the BBQ round the back. Snow made the scenes even more Christmassy. There was a quiz but as Jim had written it, we didn't take part and then most of the Carolers left... except one. Oh, she was a little worse for wear and after telling Denis how hot and sexy he was she then decided Jim and I didn't look gay, began matching up other men in the pub who weren't gay and then went back to telling Denis how hot and sexy he was. Repeat for two hours. Hilarious!

A very good night indeed ended with a brief early morning snowball fight. Perfect.

This blogger works for nothing but the joy of writing but always appreciates things bought from his wishlist

Christmas At The Folks House

So what have I been up to? Not much really. I did do a quiz on the 16th at the pub. I thought the questions were quite easy but alas no one else seemed to agree and the highest scoring team only got just over 30 out of 60. Let's just say: there was heckling, and it wasn't very popular. Oh well...

Plan B is a little better now there's a couple of people there I can talk to but still not the ideal place to be. Perhaps it's only 100 times better than my last job after all :p

For Christmas I got: LOTS! Thanks Zoe and Lee for the book!! Add to that... oh I don't know about 20 more books, and a couple of DVDs and a HAMPER (yes, a HAMPER) of Guylian chocolate and you'd have one very happy Jae. But Jim, as always, has to go and beat everyone else. Not only did he get me the Special Edition of the Love of Siam (including postcards, photos, the soundtrack and a bonus feature of Mario Maurer in the bath...) but he also bought me the wooden Father Christmas toy from the movie!! It was meant to come with the special edition but production problems stopped that happening... so instead Jim went out of his way to find it and very sweet of him too. :D Happy times.

Christmas has been good so far, and I hope yours has been too.

New Years Resolutions??? Hmm... MUST LOSE WEIGHT! Honestly. This time I mean it. You guys simply have to start being meaner with me! Send me hideous amounts of emails calling me fatty or something ;)

And finally after being absent from our televisions for some months I'd forgotten how gorgeous and beautiful a speciman Spartan from Gladiators is so for all us Gladiators fans here we go:



Don't you just want to have his babies?

It's Christmas Time... Nearly

I can tell because the strange mixture of extreme delight and despair has fallen upon me as is now a Christmas tradition.

I spent the weekend down in Lympne with the parental units and my siblings and had a lovely time. Jim cooked lovely fish cakes, we watched movies and the Christmas tree went up.

But I know I can barely afford Christmas this year and things are going to be really tough. :(

Jim has gone over to Boston for a few days so my mood hasn't been helped by the loneliness.

And work. Leaving my last job was a good move. Finding another job without finding a way to earn money without doing any work at all was a bad move. If it wasn't for the rather awesomely pretty boy (I'm talking AWESOMELY pretty. Think The Sixth Former sort of awesomeness) I saw on the tube today I think I may well have given up and gone home (thankfully he got off at Hammersmith too).

My laptop died yesterday, the hard drive is fried I think, so this will probably be my last post for this year (blogging from work, it's a big no no around here). I don't know when I'll be able to afford a new laptop but it may well be some time indeed (think years rather than months!). Sorry Dear Constant Reader, you'll have to make do without me.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

So in case I don't see you; good afternoon, good evening and good night.

Christmas - How Can It Go So Fast????

Christmas Eve Jim and I headed to the locals Christmas Quiz after watching Muppets Christmas Carol and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.



We had a team of six (Jim, me, Mark, Jo, Gloria and Gus) whilst our neighbours Rod and Melissa had a team of 4 right next to us. Had a brilliant time and thanks to Jim swotting up beforehand our team, the Tailenders, came third out of nine and won a bottle of wine each.

Christmas Day. We awoke quite late (nothing to do with the night before surely??? ;) ) and opened our presents. I got more presents than I've had in years. Jim got me The Times Complete History of the World, the Temeraire books: The Throne of Jade and The Black Powder War and Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 9. My family got me The Empire of Ivory, Shadow World, Lord of the Flies, Extraordinary Animals Revisited and Heart Shaped Box.

I'm told that more presents now await back in Folkestone. Woo!

After a quick nap and some watching of You've Got Mail we headed to the local again, swapped cards and Merry Christmasses with the regulars before the pub shut... with us inside... What?? Didn't I tell you we had been invited around for dinner by the landlord and his husband? ]



Yes... we had a most lovely Christmas dinner, cooked by a proper chef, with a Mushroom and Onion soup to start, a starter of duck in a crispy pancake, salmon and a Sea Bass fish cake, a main course of Gammon, Turkey, Lamb and bacon cover sausages (the lamb was so nice) and then desert of Christmas Pudding followed by coffee and wine.

We were join by Karen (a regular at the pub who provided us with some wonderful songs between courses, she has an amazing voice!), Morris, and Anna Lee (an elderly German who took the traditional Nan's role in the event).

Afterwards we all sat around watching the landlords husbands brother Sri Lankan wedding on DVD. I thought it was all going to be very awkward but it was delightful and I got the most lovely scarf as a Christmas present from the landlord. Yum!

I trust that you, Dear Constant Reader, had as wonderful a day as I did. And here's wishing you a brilliant holiday and a wonderful 2008 too!

Merry Christmas!!!

Being boss has it's advantages, such as allowing my team to go home early... hence why I'm sitting here writing this! Ah... lovely... Merry Christmas, Dear Constant Reader... I hope you get all that you desire!



Love Jae x x x



P.S. Keep an eye out for Father Christmas!

Since I've Been Gone...

...into a very lazy blogger phase lots of things have happened...

Nick Clegg was elected Lib Dem leader (commiserations to my choice, Chris Huhne), declared himself agnostic and selected his "Cabinet". I'm glad he included Chris Huhne in the front bench team... we've got both the candidates in strong positions so we get the use of both of their talents. The best of both worlds!

Teachers tie up children at Folkestone Academy.

The Daily Show will return despite the writers strike, praise be to Jesus!

And...

Customers continue to call us... Don't they know it's Christmas time, at all??? Oh well... I'll just sit here pretending I'm working whilst blogging, playing with my Homer Sapien and playing Star Wars The Complete Saga on my Nintendo DS.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Christmas. I love Christmas. But sadly I am going to have to admit that looking back over my Christmas posts of Olde shows I actually get very depressed over Christmas. Which is sad... but unfortunately it's happening again.

Last night Jim was telling me about a disagreement he had at the local and I said one sentence in which I tried to see the issue from the other guys perpspective, to understand why he would even be upset with Jim. And Jim took offense to that, didn't let me continue (and put the remarks in context. I wasn't blaming Jim... I was just trying to comprehend the situation.) and stormed out. When I asked him where he had gone he just sent back a text saying "You insensitive prick" and that was the last I heard from him. To be honest I don't know why I bother talking any more I only ever seem to upset or hurt people.

So last night I went for a walk for a couple of hours, and when it got too cold and I got bored of sitting on freezing benches, I returned to the local to read for a couple more hours. It gave me time to reflect that I always seem to find myself wandering in the cold at this time of year feeling less than chipper.

I tried to sleep on the sofa at home but that wasn't exactly successful and now here I am at work with projects to do, people to shout at and more work than I really have time for. And when I finish work tonight there is not much to look forward to. I might frequent the bars of Vauxhall or wander into town and see the Christmas lights or see if I can tag along with the mysterious Wednesday Club who are a secretive drinking group from work.

Yay. Another Happy Christmas in the world of Jae.

Really I don't know why I get excited about Christmas. But I suppose I'll have forgotten about how bad Christmas usually turns out to be by next year and will again get out my Christmas Dog and my Christmas smile. Until the next bad thing happens.

SSDD

It's Christmas Time

Sorry if this looks awful again. Still having no luck publishing with Blogger so am using a second rate desktop publisher.

Yesterday Jim made a fab dinner which was so huge I cannot begin to describe it. I still feel full. Ok. I can still force a few After Eights down. But otherwise...

Doctor Who was on last night!! The Runaway Bride was quite good. The monster wasn't exactly scary (very eighties...) but Catherine Tate was a laugh. And David Tennant is the best Doctor ever. And I want to have his babies or him to have mine. I still can't quite decide which so I say both for now. I suppose at this time of year it is better to give than receive... :) Oh I am in a disgusting mood this morning...

Boxing Day today and I'm off to Martine and Nicks to see the family.

Hope everyone is having a lovely festive Christmas!

Technorati : christmas

It's Christmas Eve

Sorry this looks a mess, blogger is messing about...

Friday had a lovely Christmas lunch with the team in the Riverside. Mmm... Guinea Fowl.

Yesterday we got up, reluctantly, and headed to Greenwich market to get the final finishing touchs for our Christmas. Now I had been dreading it all week. I imagined crowds of people, pushing and shoving and being their usual stupid selves. But no! We got there early, it was still practically empty and we were in and out within minutes. It was great! I got an impulse purchase present for Mum to go with the planned one; a hand made glass vase. I bought my auntie Martine a lovely candle holder. We bought some cheeses, some bread and curries for lunch from our little Thai lady. Nice!

Christmas telly has begun! Gremlins was on. It can't be Christmas until they've shown Gremlins. Love that movie. And Twins was on, which is rubbish except for the scene in the motel room where Arnie is half naked. Oh my God he still does it for me.

We have more food than two people could eat. Luckily I count as 2 myself so with Jim I'll have it sorted by the end of Christmas Day!

Thanks to the Great Cock Hunt for this Christmas cheer

And now "thanks" to Bryn for tagging me with this...

The rules:

1. The player with this game starts with "3 wishes he/she would love to get for Christmas" and also has a list of "3 wishes he/she definitely does not want for Christmas"

2. Then he/she tags 5 friends and list their names.

3. The ones who get tagged need to write on their blogs about their Christmas wishes, as well as state this rules clearly, then tag 5 more victims.

4. And the ones who tag need to leave a comment that says, "You've been Christmas tagged!" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.

My Wishes

1. To have the dedication to make myself look good for Jim next year. Clothes, body and mind.

2. For everyone, everywhere (even all those who have annoyed and upset me this year) to have a peaceful, fun and safe (ish don't wanna be boring now do we???) Christmas.

3. To find a way to match up my interests and a job. This is my deepest wish and given that my interests are obscure (cryptozoology anyone?) it's unlikely.

My Non-wishes

1. To lose Jim

2. To have to move from Greenwich. Fingers crossed for me.

3. To still be doing customer service this time next year. Truely it has broken me. I swear (ashamed, I am). I hate. I feel homicidal. Must move on.

Victims

Everyone who has received a Christmas greeting from me on their blog. Ner

Technorati : Christmas, Greenwich

My Gifts To You

Dear Constant Reader, I have failed you! Today I received an email which complained about the lack of pics recently. I hadn't even noticed. I'm so sorry. I beg you forgiveness and submit the following for your consideration.

Philip Olivier - That boy has the perfect... everything! He just makes me feel dirty. In a very good way

Jensen Ackles Makes Me Hot. My Man of The Year Award is going to him. Just thought I'd let you know.

Charles Dera Is A Very Naughty Boy. I'm sorry but this man turns me on so much. He is the personification of animal attraction.

We Have Bush. I Repeat... We Have Bush. Don't you just wanna pull those sheets down a little further? And those lips are just begging to for a kiss.

As most people will be beginning their Christmas Internet Hibernation may I just say Merry Christmas! Have a brilliant time!

Scrooge Is Alive And Well In Britain Today

Just read this. Loads of people moaning about Christmas. Some even say that political correctness has ruined it and expressed mock fear of offending someone by saying "Merry Christmas".

These people must live dull lives. Every single non Christian person (Muslims and Hindis) I know has a Christmas tree in their house and I don't think you could offend them unless you insulted their mother!

Is it just me or do some people not deserve Christmas?? How can political correctness ruin a celebration that occurs within your own home?? Do you invite people over to your house at Christmas who you feel awkward around or something? If you do you obviously a bit daft.

But hey there's still some nice people around! Like Mark! He's bought me two presents from my wishlist and thus deserves some big hugs! Thank you so much Mark.

And hey Christians seem to be the moaniest people at Christmas (mainly because us secularists stole the holiday they stole from some pagans. They don't like it up 'em, do they now!!). Dark takes on Christmas are part of a tradition! A Christmas Carol isn't a laugh a minute book! Gremlins, The Nightmare Before Christmas etc etc. Keep the Christmas nightmares coming!

A Christmas Do

Hmm... last night out with work was a bit mixed. We spent a few hours after work in the office with nibbles and alcohol. We also opened our secret santa present. I was quite proud that the gift I bought was well used and I was so happy with what I got!

I got two huges packages which when opened revealed a "Bowl 'Em Over" game (miniature bowling) and a Aquadraw Bear!! You can imagine the fun a bear which can be drawn upon could create! Nazi Bear! Super Ninja Bear! Naked Bear! :) Thanks to RJ who was my not so secret Santa (the fact he spent more time playing with my toys than I did was a dead give away!!)

After that we had a limo arrive and rode to Mayfair in style, with alcohol and music. Proper cheesy music too which I would have enjoyed more if the three people at the controls hadn't change the song after each first bar was sounded. Grr....

We ate at the Mamounia Lounge. Ok so it looked nice. It was the kind of place you'd bring a lover or have a double date. Romantic, expensive and a way to show off how cultural you are. However. It had a live Moroccan band who were so loud none of us could hear each other. The service was AWFUL and we'd been there three hours and the desserts hadn't even been served. Maybe some people thought that was done so we could enjoy the atmosphere. No. It was done because the kitchen was SLOW. And starter (Wood Pidgeon) was gorgeous. But my stuffed guinea fowl was slightly burnt, something I didn't notice till I'd nearly finished and had no more Red Berry Jus to cover it in. And the place was so poncey! I mean it was filled with all the Nouveau Rich who I HATE. Come on guys get some class! You might dress right but trust me class is so much more than that.

To top it off I had the misfortune to have to sit next to a couple involved in hideous public displays of affection and opposite a gay guy with a very obvious crush on someone else. I kept looking down the table to the fun end and getting jealous.

So, much to the disgust of my manager, I left early (11.30pm). This was when we had to fight to get our coats back! They'd put my coat (without asking me) onto someone elses jacket as well and said person had lost the ticket. They told me and him we'd have to wait till everyone else had left before getting our coats! See what I mean??? Bad service with no style. Needless to say they gave us our coats before everyone else. I just stood there till they went and got it. :) Being an immovable object has it's advantages.

Considering I'd never been there before I was extremely pleased with myself for finding the tube without knowing where it was and without directions. First try. :)

It's Nearly Christmas

You do not have much time to buy things!

Jae's Wishlist

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I had my first Christmas dinner of the year on Saturday. It was the TVW Christmas Do and of course yours truly had been invited to attend.

Jim and I headed down to my parents in the early afternoon and I was quickly roped in to helping put the Christmas tree up. Not really a chore, more an oppurtunity to have some fun. Sadly my sister spent the whole time sulking because I'd told her off for talking back to Mum. I'm a mean big brother.

After that Mum drove me down into Folkestone to the East Cliff Pavillion. Last time I was there was for Eurotunnels Christmas Do 2002. I loitered outside and a few people thought I was the bouncer. I had some fun with that, misdirecting people and such like. Well if they are just going to assume...

Finally Stacey arrived and I gave her a big hug. We went in had a pint at the bar. Despite being exactly 3 minutes late (I keep a close eye on such things) we were the first there. I do believe that no one in Folkestone understands the concept of time. Anyhew... the others quickly arrived, mainly new people I didn't know followed by the old crew who all shouted at me loudly and gave me big hugs which confused the new people. The new people spent the rest of the evening giving me odd looks which said "Who the hell are you???" :) While I was at the bar some petite blonde girl approached me and hugged me. Because I was so in my "TVW" frame of mind I couldn't place her for a moment. It was Becky!! Yes Eurotunnel Becky! I was so pleased to see her.

I got sat at Team C's table who haven't calmed down since I last saw them. Before the starters had been brought out they were already singing (I'm taking some artistic license when I say that) "All I Want For Christmas". It was good to see Stacey though.

Before I'd finished my starter I received a text message. Rob was in the Pavillion with his work! And when I met him at the bar, Olly was there too. Olly was someone I used to walk home from school with as he lived in my street. He also first introduced me to the concept of a soggy biscuit. He corrupted my innocent mind! :)

It was a good night and it was nice to chat with Henry and Rosanna.

Got a taxi home. Weirdest taxi ride of my life. I got in and the taxi driver seemed friendly enough and we drove off. We chatted, he asked me what I did for a living and I told him I worked for an internet company. He said he did too so I asked him what line of business it was. He told me it was a bondage business called Victorian Dover. And so we spent the rest of the journey talking about the ins and outs of bondage. Specifically is it Dominatrixs or Dominatrices as the plural of Dominatrix? Dominatrices loses some of the power of the word...

Sunday after two helpings of breakfast (just like the cats I managed to convince two different people to make me breakfast... mwhahahaha) we headed off to Dorking to go visit Paul and Jane. We had a lovely time with lots of alcohol, food and a trip to their local pub where Jim and Paul were accosted by a rather forward lady while playing pool. :)

Got home about 8pm after a busy weekend. I need a couple of days off to recover from the 20 odd pints of beer and the acres of food consumed. Christmas has arrived!

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