31st December

It's 31st December.  I woke late and so got up late, stripped bed and put that in the wash, back is a little cranky, probably from too much sleep over the past few nights.  When the wash had finished, I went off to the supermarket and stocked up on salad.  I aimed for the DIY tills as I usually do, and when it hiccupped, as it usually does, the lovely Mary queried if I really did have 4 cucumbers in my bag.  Oh yes, diet starts tomorrow, then we had a discussion on if I really needed to diet or not.  She is lovely, always is, year round and I really must write to her bosses to sing her praises.

I headed out for Starbucks in the still pouring rain, mid way there, I realised it was Saturday, (my Starbucks opens early on Saturday.)  Mr Regular has already arrived, (he's not in his usual seat, someone else is there.)  He's at a table today, laptop open as usual, busily typing away, I've just collected my coffee from Michelle, who doesn't usually work Saturday's so know wonder I don't know what day it is, I'm about to say hello to Mr R but he's on his phone.  I take up my usual window seat and as I take off my jacket, he shouts over to query why I'm late, having finished on the phone.  I tell him I forgot it was Saturday, then he tells me that he's already evicted several people from my seat including the ladies in the opposite window, just in case I turned up.  (He is of course, kidding.) 

Spoke to J last night, her friend's daughter was due to marry in August 2013, but for one reason or another, they've decided to bring it forward, I agree, why wait?  So, it's going to be August 2012.  As we spoke, J was knee deep in healthy recipe books and keen to get going on a new and healthy regime.  I in turn, was google-ing calorific values of all the usual foods I eat, just because I'd forgotten what was in them while I tried to remember how to eat healthily, it doesn't take long to fall into bad habits does it?

Faye has just arrived for her shift, she's around 20 minutes early and she does as she usually does if I'm in, and brings over her tea and stands, or sits talking to me, until it's time for her to go.  We must look and sound so funny, we both talk ten to the dozen in order to squeeze everything in that we want to say.  We're both full of ideas for the coming year, she's already lost 48lbs, looks fantastic and doesn't have much further to go in the New Year, we both vow to be super toned before long and I tell her I've been eyeing up kettlebells, or... kettleballs as I keep calling them, I think I keep getting mixed up with medicine balls?  Remember those enormous and extremely heavy balls from school?  Made out of some kind of hide, didn't bounce, weighed a ton?

It's a little cool in here, Mr Regular has just been over to comment that we're busy listening to "music to slit our wrists to," then tells me he's going to ask for cyanide in his next coffee.  He's right, we are indeed listening to a particularly slow and depressing version of; "Blue Christmas," (It'll be a Blue Christmas without you...)  He's made me laugh though and his comments tickle me for ages afterwards.

Yes sweetie, I do love my Christmas earrings, I found them a little tricky to get in, so once they were in, well, I've slept in them for the past three nights! They are lovely, I really do love them, I love both sides, (yep, they are reversible,) but especially love the side with "writing" on it.

Before I leave, Faye comes over to give me another hug, we've already hugged.  We'll see each other tomorrow as all being well, that's where I'll be and she's rota'd in.  I go over to Mr R to wish him a good evening, he asks me if I'm out and I tell him I'm not a fan of New Year but I'll go out with my coal etc.  After he's scoffed at me, and I tell him it's tradition, he tells me it's the tradition of an 80 year old and I agree that, that's where I got it from!  He said he'd rather be in Barbados and we both agree that it can be a bit sad, and we'll see each other again soon.

We're in the throws of the last few hours of 2011, I feel a little sad to let it go because it takes with it events from that year, and with each passing year, I feel a little further away from people I miss, but I know better than to try to hold back the hands of time and instead, give it a respectful and reverent nod as it prepares to bow out.  Because Mr Regular agrees with me that it's a bit sad, I don't feel too much of an oddball.

My iPod has gone wonky.  About two thirds of one of my running playlist has evaporated, it's still in my iTunes library, just not on my playlist and yep, I've tried synchronising a couple of times to no avail.  I sound like I know what I'm talking about don't I? Don't let me fool you, I have no clue.  I wonder if it doesn't like the new ear buds?  Well, changed the old ear buds back, re-synchronised but no... still missing.  Go figure.



I've been tidying on and off all afternoon and Pride & Prejudice has just started, which I can iron the bedding to, it's my favourite version, the one with Donald Sutherland, Keira Knightly, Brenda Blethyn, Matthew MacFadyen et al, oh, and a young Carey Mulligan, although your BBC adaptation has also been on over the holidays, your favourite I think.  Incidentally, "Mr Collins," (Tom Hollander,) is hysterical, ("exemplary boiled potatoes.")  You need to watch it again.  Some parts are filmed at Chatsworth which I visited with B, the statue room especially springs to mind, the film company had a bust of Matthew MacFadyen made especially for the film, which the company bequeathed to Chatsworth after filming, and with which I had my picture taken with lol.

I read in the news this morning that Russell Brand and Katy Perry, Katherine Jenkins and Gethin Jones, and others nearer to home have all decided to call it a day, all very sad but better to begin the New Year afresh maybe?  Who knows?

That's the end of Part 1.  It's almost 3pm, I have a long way to go, and I will be back later x