Another year over

[j4]

I suppose it's about time I wrote something here.

I spent Christmas at home with just my parents and my sister, as usual. I can't think of many better ways to spend Christmas -- it seems to be dreadfully unfashionable to say this these days but I actually love my immediate family very much, and enjoy spending time with them.

Thank you to addedentry, lnr, ewx, ejde, angua and rejs for Christmas presents; thank you to everybody who sent cards, especially rysmiel and jiggery_pokery. I'm sorry I was utterly hopeless with Christmas cards; I feel as though Christmas crept up on me and hit me from behind.

I got back to Cambridge on New Year's Eve, and worked in the Carlton from 8-11pm. I've never seen the pub so busy; I barely had time to breathe for the first 2 hours. My party clothes (black velvet dress, purple corset, purple tights, New Rock boots) were ... appreciated. (There were lots of Rocky Horror related comments. Some of the regulars ran a sweepstake on what bra size I took.) The guitarist in the lounge bar was dreadful.

After finishing at the pub I then went to Relativity's New Year party. I changed into my 15" platform boots, kindly taken round to GR for me by sion_a. I have very few opportunities to wear them. It was a pretty good party, all things considered; only one or two 'down' points and I don't see much point in going into them here. The fireworks were pretty, and could be seen from inside without venturing out into the rain. There was an entertaining game of "I have never" at some time in the small hours of the morning. sion_a and I didn't get home till gone 6am.

I've been inordinately lazy for the last two days, spending most of the day lying in bed reading Agatha Christie novels. Today I had the bizarre experience of reading The Mysterious Affair at Styles while "Dead Man's Folly" was on TV in the background (sion_a was watching it). Had to get up today to work at the Carlton again this evening, though, and I'm supposed to be working at Oxfam tomorrow morning (which will mean getting into town for 9am).

* * *

I've more or less avoided email, LJ and news from Christmas until now -- I needed a break from being constantly 'on call'. I don't have very much in the way of emotional energy at the moment. Or, to be perfectly honest, any other kind of energy.

* * *

I've tried a few times to write a kind of roundup of 2003, and every time I've tried I've ended up in tears and unable to write anything useful. I will try again some time. I'll also post New Year's resolutions when I feel able to do so. To be honest though at the moment I don't feel that I have enough control over my life to be able to resolve anything more specific than continuing to breathe.

I hope 2004 will be better, for everyone.

Comments

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

I can't think of many better ways to spend Christmas -- it seems to be dreadfully unfashionable to say this these days but I actually love my immediate family very much, and enjoy spending time with them.
Seconded. I used to feel very out of place at uni and in my early twenties, since I seemed to be the only person I knew who a) liked and b) spent time with their family. (And c) saw them regularly but that's mostly a geographical thing.) A family Christmas is the way, for me, and I'm glad you enjoyed yours.

We didn't send (m)any cards at all this year [imc sent a couple to family friends, I believe and I sent a grand total of two, one inside a birthday card and one inside a package]. I'm sorry about that, you'd definitely have been very near the top of our list if we had. Hope the absence of one didn't get read as anything meaningful. Just too many things and not enough time. Come and see us soon?

[j4.livejournal.com]

[re cards]
Hope the absence of one didn't get read as anything meaningful. Just too many things and not enough time.

To be perfectly honest, the absence of a card occasioned a sigh of relief -- "thank heavens I'm not the only person who didn't have time to do Christmas cards!" -- and stopped me feeling so guilty about not having sent you one. If you see what I mean. Because I was going to send one, and then I left it all till the last minute and then couldn't find my address book, and ... you know how it is. I do still feel guilty though. And, I mean, at least you and DH have an excuse, namely smallclanger. :-)

Come and see us soon?

I'd love to! Only problem is I'm working on Saturdays (Oxfam) and Sundays (pub) now so will have to organise weekends away well in advance. So I can get the time off, I mean. Sometimes I think I do too much. Other times I don't think I do enough because it still doesn't stop me thinking. :-/