Today I've mostly bin...

[Bunnylump]

My daughter's really dropped herself in it though. During the changeover between classes she played the piano and then the saxophone. At the end the head suggested she might like to start up an orchestra... Sounds like my idea of hell, 8 year olds with violins..EEEEKKKK SQUAWK SCRAPE

[giraffe]

Lally's junior school had an orchestra. It was just as good as junior strings at the high school. They only had flutes, cellos and violins, but managed a few simple tunes. I think the key is not to have too many violins compared to other instuments. Tonight there were about 20 violins (1st 2nd and 3rd ) 2 violas, 2 cellos and a double base. one time they added a couple of wind players at the back and that improved it a lot. Once they get to grade 5 they are shifted into senior strings, so they are all fairly beginner level.

[kathlyn]

Freedom arrived. After two weeks of relying on my husband and the 4x4 to get out of here the thaw was sufficient enough over night to allow me to get my car out and take it for a drive and do some shopping on my own

[BassBloke]

Unfortunately the thaw brings other things too. Burst pipe in the out house.

I went to the coal shed (to get coal, obviously ) opened the door and WATER right up to the door sill. Checked the ceiling thinking the snow had done the roof in, no problem. Stepped outside and heard "Wwwwhhhooosssshhhhh" coming for the other half of the building which is the potting shed. Opened the door, completely flooded with water spraying in vast amounts from under the sink. Stupidly opened the under sink doors and was instantly sprayed from the waist down with about 20 gallons of freezing cold water. Oh, how a laughed Luckily there is a stop cock in there so managed to turn it off. So, everything soaked, me wet through and guess what? I'm leaving it until tomorrow coz I can't be bothered tonight.

Wonder what Mrs BB will say when she gets home?? She's the one with the green fingers and it's her potting shed full of all HER stuff. Hmm??

Such fun. BB.

[Bunnylump]

Oh...dear. Just what you needed really...

[Bunnylump]

...Finishing my Christmas shopping!! (YAY!) We went to Watford, which was like HELL.

Then we went to my niece's house (it's her boyfriend's birthday) for tea and cake (well, and mulled wine and hot chestnuts!). They've just got back from a holiday to Vietnam and Cambodia. They had the most amazing photographs. They'd been to visit many beautiful temples, travelled along the railway on a BAMBOO train, which was basically like a raft with a motor on it, which fitted on the train tracks. The trouble is that real trains also use the same track, so if one of them was coming they had to rapidly take it off the tracks and get out of the way... They had a wonderful and inspiring holiday (which they acknowledged was ANYTHING but relaxing!!) And yes, I was jealous. It reminded me why maybe choosing to NOT have children can sometimes be advantageous!! (Although I wouldn't send mine back now...)

[maisie ladybird]

...Finishing my Christmas shopping!!

Do you fancy finishing mine off too?!?

[giraffe]

(typed great long post, but computer ate it when I hit the wrong button Can't be bothered to say it all again! It was probably boring anyway)

[Bunnylump]

...Finishing my Christmas shopping!!

Do you fancy finishing mine off too?!?

Um... how can I put this?

[maisie ladybird]

I'll take that as a no, then, shall I?

[LAT]

There's always the rest of mine to do

Pretty please!

And giraffe - I've done that before now too, frustrating isn't it?

[Bunnylump]

I have to say that this Christmas shopping malarkey is very painful. Bear in mind that I've already had a 10 hour stint in Milton Keynes a week or so ago...

I made my husband and daughter come too today though. My daughter chose a nice handbag from us (so at least I know it won't be being taken back straight after Christmas!!) and I chose some nice Gabor boots and a top from my husband. Actually, come to think of it I PAID for them too... Mind you, come to think of it, it IS a joint account - he earns the money and I spend it. Sounds fair!!

[giraffe]

And giraffe - I've done that before now too, frustrating isn't it?

Part of it was about my Christmas shopping, which I ordered online and two different companies have sent the wrong things. Yes I know they are busy, but the invoice from one clearly stated that I had paid for 2 identical things and they only sent one, and the other I had ordered extra long, which was on the invoice and it came as regular. Both companies were very apologetic when I phoned, but I'm still wondering if the replacements will come in time.

[LAT]

Hopefully both replacements will be sent first class tomorrow

[Bunnylump]

I had that trouble one year with Amazon. It's certainly made me think twice about shopping online at Christmas.

[giraffe]

Neither were things I could get locally, as we don't have a music shop round here anymore.

[Bunnylump]

We have that problem here too. Pain in the neck, isn't it?

[Bunnylump]

Finishing off loads of work (working through my lunch break and then for an hour extra after I should have left ) so that I can take a couple of days off (I'm now "owed" about 2 weeks in time). But the good news is that I'm doing my last day before Christmas tomorrow!!

[giraffe]

Tree is up, outside lights are up. Still nowhere near ready for Christmas.

[LAT]

hrmph!

We now have a very elegant ceiling with about 100 nails holding it up. It probably won't get finished until the new year now so I may get the chance to put the tree up on Wednesday. Along with all the other things I still need to do.

I wish I had only one more day to work before Christmas. Sadly I have rather ore than that.