Tag: The Day Job

The quiet inter-Christmas

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Geth and I have established a new pattern from last year onwards where we do pre-Christmas with Geth’s family around the time of Geth’s mum’s birthday, which is mid-December. This is a bit of a win-win, as it (a) means we get to celebrate Anne’s birthday with her and (b) gives us roughly a week to have our own bit of Christmas – just the two of us with our sofa and our videogames – before we join my family for Christmas itself.

Today has been a Christmas holiday kind of day. Geth has been off work for a week already and my work has thankfully been quiet this week as well (although you can never rule out a last-minute urgent client deadline on Christmas Eve, so I’m not declaring myself officially on holiday until 5pm on Tuesday!). I went and had my hair cut this morning, and since then have been relaxing with my 3DS on headphones while Geth has been playing the Switch on the main TV. I love Christmas.

Back to parkrun tomorrow morning… finally! My cold is properly gone now so I am all set.

Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology on 3DS
Not an OOTD: I’ve been playing the demo of Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology. This is a really enjoyable game and I may end up getting the full version seeing as how it’s currently on offer in the Nintendo eShop.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Perry Como – ‘It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas’
The Communards – ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’

An ending of sorts

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Geth finished his work for the year today, so the plan was to go out for the afternoon and then go for a meal to celebrate. As it happened, though, we both ended up working till about mid-afternoon, and then once we’d finished our shopping in town, all the restaurants were busy with it being so close to Christmas, and neither of us were feeling especially celebratory after the election result anyway… so we went home and ordered pizza.

We’re going to be spending a few days hanging out with the in-laws for pre-Christmas, so hopefully it’ll be a nice peaceful time.

Christmas market
Not an OOTD: Geth enjoying some mulled wine at the Christmas market. I had a hot chocolate with a flake 🙂

Today’s earworm playlist:

Duran Duran – ‘Winter Marches On’

Knots and crosses

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Back to normal today – I’ve been working most of the day and have had the Christmas tunes on. Feeling as though I might finally be over my cold as well! I headed out to vote earlier this evening, but otherwise it’s just going to be a quiet night in and then early to bed. No election results for me – my nerves can’t take it!

Out and about at various points tomorrow to celebrate Geth’s end of term.

Civic duty December 2019
Not really an OOTD: Geth is hoping this selfie will still be valid for a free beer at Brewdog tomorrow.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Thought Beings – ‘Hazy’
Duran Duran – ‘Winter Marches On’
Arcadia – ‘Election Day’
The Boomtown Rats – ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’
Duran Duran – ‘Michael, You’ve Got A Lot To Answer For’

Gradually getting back to normal

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I sort of don’t want to say I’m feeling better, because every time I do, I feel like I’m jinxing myself for another setback… but I have felt a lot better so far today, and I’ve managed to get a lot of stuff done without making myself feel ill again, so I’m feeling hopeful.

I had a bit of day job work to do during the day, and have also managed to get in some ukulele practice. Christmas decorations are very nearly finished as well!

I’m out and about again the next couple of days, so I’m really hoping I’ve recovered enough not to make myself unwell again.

Christmas mug
Not an OOTD: the Christmas mugs are out. Hot drinks are very welcome in my current state!

Today’s earworm playlist:

David Essex – ‘A Winter’s Tale’
The Justice Collective – ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’
Kuana Torres Kahele, James Ford Murphy and Napua Greig-Nakasone – ‘Someone To Lava’
Pretenders – ‘2000 Miles’
Sam Bailey – ‘Skyscraper’

A new week ahead

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I’m still coughing a bit, but I feel like there’s light at the end of the tunnel with regards my cold. One more day inside and hopefully I’ll have got rid of the worst of it.

Today was a lovely relaxed Sunday with lots of music and good TV (I’m all caught up with Strictly and I LOVED the semifinal – looking forward to the final next week).

Assuming I don’t have another setback, it feels like I’ll have the energy to put the final few touches to the Christmas decorations tomorrow. I also have a bit of day job work to do, but at least that can be done from the sofa!

Spotify 2019 summary
Not an OOTD: Spotify have sent me my 2019 music listening summary. Unsurprisingly, Duran Duran were my most listened to artist yet again!

Today’s earworm playlist:

Traditional – ‘Bleak Midwinter’
Blur – ‘Country House’
Richard Marx – ‘Right Here Waiting’

Back in the toon

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I travelled back to Newcastle first thing this morning (although I didn’t go to Slimming World because (a) I had a few last-minute clients with urgent deadlines today and (b) I’m really struggling with my cold today – wish it would just go away now). Have had a nice quiet day playing my ukulele and catching up with Strictly episodes!

Tomorrow will be all about staying in the house and trying to knock this thing on the head!

Concert ukulele
Not an OOTD: after a whole term of only playing my soprano ukulele (because it was the one I was using for class and I thought it was probably better to keep practising on the same one), it was nice to dig out my concert uke today. I’m hoping I’ll have a gig bag for it soon so that I can carry it around more easily!

Today’s earworm playlist:

Jennifer Rush – ‘The Power Of Love’
Coca-Cola – ‘Holidays Are Coming’
Lewis Capaldi – ‘Someone You Loved’
The White Stripes – ‘Seven Nation Army’
Gary Glitter – ‘Another Rock ‘N’ Roll Christmas’*
Kuana Torres Kahele, James Ford Murphy and Napua Greig-Nakasone – ‘Someone To Lava’

*I KNOW. You never hear it anymore (because… Gary Glitter) but it’s on the That’s Christmas compilation album from 1994, which I listen to every year when I’m doing Mum and Dad’s decorations, and it’s REALLY catchy.

A day of two halves

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Bit of a manic morning today, with a last-minute client who had a very tight deadline! It meant I had to rush to get to Slimming World, but I did make it before the end of weigh-in.

I’ve since been having a very quiet afternoon/evening – not planned, but it’s been one of those days where I’ve found it hard to concentrate and I’m not actually sure what I did for that whole time. Hoping to be a bit more with it tomorrow.

Advent calendar
Not an OOTD: this arrived from Mum and Dad today! Always an exciting delivery 😀

Today’s earworm playlist:

Pepsi & Shirlie – ‘Heartache’
Queen – ‘Killer Queen’
Duran Duran – ‘(I’m Looking For) Cracks In The Pavement’
A-ha – ‘The Sun Always Shines On TV’
Duran Duran – ‘Falling Down’
Paul Young – ‘Come Back And Stay’
Michael Land – ‘Talking With Jumbeaux LaFeet’

Glad to be inside

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I was out and about all morning running errands. About five minutes after I left the house, it started pouring with rain, and I hadn’t brought a brolly so I was a drowned rat by the time I got home a few hours later! Glad I don’t have to go out again for a couple of days now.

I’ve been doing day job work since then (and I’ve no idea how it’s managed to get so late as I’m sure I didn’t have that much to do!). Hoping to squeeze in a bit of work on my NaNo later this evening.

Mince pies
Not an OOTD: I’d never normally succumb to mince pies this early but it’s not been the best of days.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Duran Duran – ‘The Chauffeur’
Ed Sheeran, Camila Cabello and Cardi B – ‘South Of The Border’
Sam Feldt and Rani – ‘Post Malone’
Roxette – ‘It Must Have Been Love’
Lewis Capaldi – ‘Bruises’
Meduza and Goodboys – ‘Piece Of Your Heart’

A slightly sunnier Wednesday

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More admin and housework this morning, and then I got a bit of writing done in the afternoon (including a bit of work on my NaNo – which I’m just about keeping up with!).

A good ukulele class this evening, and I’m now back on the sofa catching up with Strictly.

Hoping for another productive day tomorrow – I’ve got work to do for a client, plus a bit more writing and housework to get on with.

OOTD 13th November 2019
OOTD: the second of my new ’80s jumpers! Jumper Sunset Highway (vintage 1980s, bought at vintage fair 2019), leggings Primark (2019), boots Clarks (2016).

Today’s earworm playlist:

Tiësto and Mabel – ‘God Is A Dancer’
Starship – ‘Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now’
Whitney Houston – ‘Saving All My Love For You’
Andy Taylor – ‘Love Or Liberation’
Georgia – ‘About Work The Dancefloor’
Bronski Beat – ‘Hit That Perfect Beat’
Traditional – ‘Bonnie Ship The Diamond’
Duran Duran – ‘Hungry Like The Wolf’
Keala Settle – ‘This Is Me’
Lauv and Troye Sivan – ‘I’m So Tired’

Ever onwards

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I felt a little bereft this morning when I finally had to put my Hallowe’en decorations away (Bonfire Night and its associated endless background bangs and flashes now being over)…but as ever, it’s a very busy time of year. I’m nearly a week into NaNoWriMo (I have no idea where that time has gone), and Geth and I have lots on over the next couple of weeks, so it’ll be December and the run-up to Christmas before we know it. Today is the first day of the year that I allow myself to think about Christmas, so we’ll be sitting down this evening and starting to make plans.

I’ve not had much time for NaNo-ing today – there’s been a bit of day job work, and I’ve still got a lot of admin to catch up with from last week. I really enjoyed ukulele class this evening though, and am now catching up with a few Strictly episodes.

Ukulele notation
Not an OOTD: we learnt another new song in ukulele class tonight! Really enjoying this term.

Today’s earworm playlist:

Squeeze – Up The Junction
Duran Duran – Hungry Like The Wolf
Jackson Browne – Rosie