Back to work today after a couple of days off on holiday. I really didn't fancy it this morning, as Carole noticed when suspiciously eyeing me lying in bed 30 minutes before I was due to leave (with still the dogs to walk, shower, shave, etc).
"Do you have another day off?" she asked more as a stimulus to get me up rather than as a question.
I raised myself grumpily, but not half as badly as Luca. The world and it's oyster was his to be objected to this morning. "No want to wear that", "No want that milk", "No eat the toast", etc, etc.
We love him on days like this. I'll let him off though, as he's still struggling with a bug. Indeed, we kept him at home all day yesterday to allow him to recover. It felt strange driving through to Aberdeen, as other than for football or nights out with Carole I haven't driven into town without Luca in the back seat for quite some time now. I get used to the inane chatter coming from the back and rather missed the company he provides.
That said, it perhaps was best he didn't come. I was in town for a bit of Christmas shopping and was astounded with how busy it was. It was 11.30am on a Wednesday morning - I know it's Christmas but do people not have to go to work nowadays? (Yes, I'm aware that being off myself makes that statement a little nonsensical)
One shop in particular was enough to make you weep - Marks and Spencers. The desperation in the eyes of the elderly ladies as they shoved and swore their way through the store was a sight to behold. Indeed, while waiting at the till I had to step in and have a word with one particularly unpleasant woman as she rather viciously verbally attacked a young checkout assistant. Interesting to see how quickly this particular bully shut up when faced with me rather then the quivering young girl behind the till. I know it's Christmas and everyones stressed but why do people think they can behave in such a fashion?
Carole went out not long after I arrived home (Luca was dreaming his way through his afternoon kip by this time) and came back shortly afterwards with bags of Christmas decorations. So at last our house is looking a little more festive, and Luca (on awakening) absolutely adored putting baubles onto the branches of the Christmas tree - I'll post a picture of our beautifully gaudy Christmas tree in the next blog.
Which reminds me - I'll also post a picture of Carole too. I managed to get her to pose when she came home from the hairdressers on Monday night. She took my advice (I know, I'm as shocked as you are) and asked her sylist for a new cut. Personally I love it, let me know whether you approve when you see it. Indeed, this may be an opportunity for another poll.
And Liz/Val/Jane - don't worry, it's not a massively drastic change. I didn't convince her to get a mohican.
The mohican will be Luca's next haircut......
In a "Groundhog Day" repeat of last weekend, I may again suffer similar loneliness. Carole's out again, and this time she's going for it full pelt. On Friday night she has her Gordon House Christmas night out (she gets two Christmas do's as she's based in two separate facilities), on Saturday lunchtime she's out to lunch with the gym girls and on Saturday night she's off to see Simple Minds play the AECC.
Whew! I think Sunday may be a write off. I do feel a little guilty about not going with her on Saturday night, but when the gig was initially mooted she quickly saw the look of fear spread across my face before regaining my fixed grin.
Yes, safe to say I'm not their biggest fan. That said, there was another gig I wanted to take Carole to - Florence And The Machine, who are playing tomnorrow night at Lincoln Engine Sheds - but this plan was scuppered due to an overly busy (and already booked) social calendar. A shame though, as it would have provided the dual purpose of a great night and a visit for Luca to see his Grandma, Gramps, Nana, Grandad, Uncle, Auntie and cousins. Ach well, the best laid plans of mice and men as they say.
Anyway, Luca and I will keep ourselves busy on Saturday with a first. Weather (and illness) permitting I'll take him to Pittodrie for his first game of senior football. It'll be interesting to see how long he'll last watching Aberdeen versus Hamilton Accies on a wet and wintry afternoon. My money is on his patience lasting only until half time, and even that will surely be dependant on his supply of chocolate and Ribena.
Of course, as with all Luca related plans, it may be scuppered if he runs himself ragged at his Christmas party on Saturday morning. It's at his nursery and features a puppet show and Santa. Great fun? For Luca yes, for his Dad perhaps less so......
And lastly, Kelly - watch your PC this weekend. I'll try to Skype you when Luca and I get home from football on Saturday (around 6pm local time). We had our first Skype attempt on Monday night with his Granny and Granda, and despite the ZX Spectrum-esque blockiness of our images (anyone remember the old Speccy?) it was a success.
A relative success. Literally and figuratively.
**Useless fact of the day - Skypes present commercial value is around 5.1 billion dollars**
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