Perhaps this is a good time to resurrect, actually.

Today, the threat of the dreaded big R was haunting our workplace today, and apparently has since Thursday. Honestly, it was like a morgue today at work, first day back after a week off.

Now, I haven't been threatened with the big R, but it hasn't stopped the odd team member trying to work out what they would get paid IF the R hits. (...yeah...I'd get just over a year's net pay..erhem).

Anyway. Apart from the mostly unsubstantiated gossip, based around what the GOC will do next, how safe our jobs are, etc, etc ad nauseum etc, the day was spent sorting out the errors made on a particular task, overpayments, and by far my most favourite activity: winding up MM.

Although I don't see myself as a brilliant writer, I've read over most of my posts here and thought...was this really me? I can be quite humorous and honest when I put my mind to it. Maybe it's time to resurrect this ol' dinosaur.

Any New Year's Resolutions?

Yes.

I'm going to be nicer to myself.

It doesn't matter who you are, where you are or what you do, the last week in December is always a time of reflection.

This year, I only have the last two working days of work for Christmas, and in my business you really don't feel very Christmassy in the lead-up, except maybe on Christmas Day, by which time it always seems like an anti-climax.

However, every year about this time, you're looking back over the year, thinking of the shitty times and hoping the next year is better. Isn't this just wishing your life away in a different form? I can't help thinking forward. I'm not a planner, more a by-the-seat-of-my-pants sorta girly, wondering what's going to happen next, or more often, ostriching myself in the proverbial sand.

2008 will be my last full year in debt. This time next year, I will be looking at my blog thinking there is just over 3 months to go and I will be beholden to no-one. Soon I will be counting off the days like a personal advent calendar, much like I did during my final written warning period.

Stupid way to live really. I should be making plans - like losing weight, stopping smoking, getting my career on a path that is more satisfying - and yet - typical British Human Female - I'm running up and down on the same spot very quickly just to function.

Enough of the morbid reverie. It's Christmas Eve tomorrow and I've got to work. There will be food everywhere and just maybe I'll be let off early. There's a gorgeous lump of prize beef waiting to be roasted on the day and a husband who is really happy with his lot and frankly, so am I. I don't need to strive for happiness - no-one does - they have their dice or whatever God has given them and there is gold there if they can only look for it.

I haven't blogged for a while, and I put that down to extreme laziness.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing that happened this month is that the payroll went so well - we finished two days ahead of schedule and the total errors discovered after pay day was two. Me and JH are arguing over a possible third, unfortunately the boss agrees with them.

I've also started a short story, which I may or may not finish in time to submit; or maybe by that time I will develop an extreme form of my disease - the one which doubts my ability.

SOH hasn't been well for nearly two weeks now and he almost refused to go to the fireworks Saturday night.

Actually, we both shouldn't have bothered. Usually the fireworks are well organised and good fun, however, this year they blocked the road off too late so the car parks were full, so pedestrians had to run the gauntlet with the traffic; the 'gates' were poorly organised so that people could walk in without paying; the fireworks lasted barely 10 minutes, which is disgusting, most displays last at least 20 and the kids were really disappointed, as was I.

C'm'on Abergele Round Table, you've done a lot better than that.

Well who'd have thought my profession could be 'emergency' huh? Well, that's what happened to our temp today, having been to the interview yesterday, starts a new short term contract job on Monday.

And another one bites the dust.

Me and JH, been there, seen it, done it, and no parole for good behaviour.