End of Decade

So today is the final day of the 'noughties', or whatever they're going to be dubbed. Today I was already baffled by receiving a text message from Rachel at around 1pm wishing me and Dad a happy new year. It took me a few seconds to twig that as she was in Australia, it was actually 2010 for her already.

This evening I will be heading to the Tisdalls' at some point. Yesterday evening was good, as I spent some time catching up with people. Highlight of the evening goes to Sid, for when asking if I wanted a drink and I self-mockingly asked for an exciting diet coke, asked the barmaid for an exciting diet coke. I got a bonus shot of diet coke in a shot glass, with a stirrer.

Top effort.

Back to Work

So today was incredibly odd being back at work. This was obviously a surprise to others too - including Mark, who despite having asked me when I was around yesterday, decided to call me at work to see if I was free. No, no I wasn't.

Anyway, it was odd. Yesterday it felt like a holiday still, and that it would keep on being one. Today it was back into the routine. An admittedly relaxed routine still, with few people around and a large amount of chatting and catching up, but still a work routine all the same.

Only one and two-third days left this week!

Present Delivery

So, as I have alluded to previously - both this year and years past - I can't stand the bustle and hassle of Christmas shopping in the shops. This year I resolved to do my shopping online. Considerably easier, you might think.

Well, yes and no. The problem is then comes with the delivery. This worked fine - it was due to arrive on Tuesday. Snow probably interfered slightly with the schedules, but it was promised to arrive on Tuesday all the same. They attempted to deliver on Tuesday. Noone was home.

This is where it gets good.

Dad was off on Wednesday, so kindly went to pick it up from the parcel depot as instructed. When he got there, he found it had been put on a van. Strangely enough, noone was home when they tried to deliver it. Infuriating.

A second collection attempt was made today, and I found that not only was the package itself so badly packed and small that it could've been put through the letterbox anyway, but also that it was missing a large amount of the present material I had purchased.

Bugger.

Who Is This For, Anyway?

I was going to spend this evening making some passing comments about snow and cold, but instead my blogging attention was distracted by a truly entertaining article in the Evening Standard I read on the delayed train home.

Essentially, it was a lover's guide for Christmas. I have no idea who these theoretical lovers are, but it seemed like a thoroughly bizarre chest of advice. Here are some of my favourite titbits as to how it doesn't work for me:

- Don't guess her size! Look at some discarded garments discreetly while she showers, etc! Okay ... if I kept Chrissi's spare clothes, let alone underwear around, that would be extremely odd. Not the thoughtful gesture it suggests. Count that as a no ...
- (In reference to, say, lingerie shopping) Ask her best friends what she may like that she's gone shopping with! I'm wondering what Carisa's reaction would be if I were to ask her that. It'd be somewhere between baffled bemusement and moral outrage, I'm sure. It's almost tempting to ask just to see the reaction ...
- What's saucy not sleazy? £200 knickers! I'm sorry, how much? For underwear that there practically isn't anything of anyway? I'll pass, thanks, and spend my money on something with greater value-for-money, like a chocolate teapot.
- Don't be a cheapskate, gifts money can't buy are pointless! Wait a minute, aren't those the ones we're always taught are more romantic? Except at Christmas, where commercialism rules? What's that logic again?
- What about sleeping together at her parents' house? Be wary in case she is extra loud to prove she's her own woman! Erm ... okay ... I have absolutely no idea what that is about, to be brutally honest.

As said, an odd compendium of advice. I think I'll follow my instinct rather than this misguided 'how to' tips collection.

Christmas Countdown

You all have the rare pleasure of a weekend blog; this time I am discussing the charts.

By now you will all now that Rage Against The Machine is rightfully and hilariously number one. It's the first time I've listened to the charts in around ten years, and it was thoroughly worth it. Clearly, we need far more rocking songs in the charts. This also proves one thing above all - don't underestimate the internet.

Talking of countdowns, it appears my blog counts have been off for ages. Seemingly there were a lot of old drafts that I subsequently posted hidden in my posts - so I was about twelve under what it promised. Failing that, this would be my 350th post - but instead it's only the 338th! Not quite as significant.

Snow Day

So that was the much feted snow - supposedly laying waste to transport networks, roads and generally causing chaos. It was a small fall which was perhaps an inch or so. It stuck around, but barely to the level forecast.

And definitely not enough to build any sort of snow-objects out of.

Questions? Comments?

We interrupt my scheduled topic for today with this marvellous extract from, of all places, the side of a cling film box.

"Questions? Comments?"

I'm sorry, if you have questions or comments on cling film then you are not allowed to use it. Just who has questions or comments on cling film? It's cling film, you use it, what's the complication?

[For American readers, you may refer to this by the brandname of Saran wrap.]

I Won't Do What You Tell Me

So last night I read and was thoroughly amused at the fantastic Facebook campaign to replace the manufactured nonsense of X-Factor for Christmas No. 1 in the charts with the excellent Rage Against The Machine's most excellent Killing in the Name song.

Last night over 750,000 people were in support of this according to the ever-unreliable barometer that is Facebook.

I've done my bit tonight and purchased my copy for great justice.

To join in the democratic overthrow of the X-Factor/Cowell chart hijack, download the single (available here), and also contribute to the excellent associated cause of homeless charity Shelter here - which has already raised an immense £40,000 from the generosity of this campaign.

Rage Against The X-Factor!