The Week in Review #5

It has been a little while since I last reviewed the events of my week. This is not due to those weeks being uneventful. On the contrary, I have seemingly been too busy and rather too tired to put it in writing. This past week or so has flown by. I am sort of glad that Christmas is pretty much over and am actually looking forward to the new year. More or less. :o)

Noteworthy events of the past week or two?

1. We had our Christmas lunch at work. We went to the Chicago Rib Shack (maybe not such a great choice from my team's point of view, since two are vegetarians and I don't eat pork and not so much meat in general). However, the meal was nice. We had a laugh. I got teased for looking even shorter than normal, even though I was wearing heels. We wore silly hats and took pictures of us wearing them. We had a quick chat with the previous Academic Registrar, who had retired in September, and remembered how nice and personable he is. We went to the student union afterwards for a drink, because our table booking for the meal ended at 4.00pm. I realised that although it has been a pretty tempestuous year work-wise for all of us, they are a great bunch of people and that counts for a lot.
   
   
2. We had our Christmas lunch at church. It was a nice gathering. They are a real family and have a lot of genuine affection and consideration for each other. The guys who are decorating the centre as part of their community service joined us for lunch. We saw a card and photo the church had received from a young couple who had attended our church for a couple of months before they got married, before returning to Australia for good. We had sang at their wedding. It was lovely to see that they and their three children are doing well.
   
   
3. We had our Christmas dinner at home. One on Sunday with Bigger Sis and one on Christmas Day. It was nice spending time together. It was also nice eating yummy home-cooked meals.
   
   
4. I sent a big package of chocolate to the Boy to fatten him up for Christmas (lol). I sent a big selection with his favourites stashed at the bottom of the box. I love preparing surprises and presents for people. He loves chocolate an unnatural amount. He's probably eaten half of them already.
   
   
5. However, I realised that some patterns of behaviour cannot be changed very easily. Contact with the Boy has been sparse of late and based on previous form, I have a strong hunch as to the reason why. It's nothing sinister, but I have a feeling that he has some things on his mind and is doing the typical male trick of retreating and dealing with it on his own. (Maybe this is just him and not typically male? If so, I apologise to the male population out there - feel free to correct me) This has happened before. I understand the need for some head space, for some time to get to grips with things on one's own, but leaving the person you say you love completely in the dark, so that they have to psychically deduce what's going on, just ain't cool. A problem shared is often a problem halved, that's all I'm saying. I am leaving him to it.
   
   
6. I caught up on my sleep, more or less. I tend to sleep late, even when I desperately need to sleep early and have been waking up mid-morning, which I know I shouldn't get used to. But I know I should enjoy the luxury of laziness while I can, as next week I have a serious to-do list and will need to be productive way beyond my usual, admittedly pitiful, capacity.
   
   
7. I made plans for New Year's Eve with the Mrs. We realised that in 11 years we have never spent new year together. We were both feeling a little bit 'bah humbug' and thought we may as well be that way together! I am trekking up to her neck of the woods and we are going to celebrate, the two of us, as only we know how.
   
   
8. I got a text on Christmas day from my ex-boyfriend's mum. I love her, she is a really lovely lady and I miss her quite a lot. I felt a little sad as I texted her back, but am glad that she still keeps in touch, even if it is only once or twice a year.
   
   
9. I used the phrase, "You're ruining/You've ruined Christmas!!!" a lot. Example: "Oh no, I've spilt some of my tea on the table." "You're ruining Christmas!!!" I have a strange sense of humour.
   
   
10. I watched the part of Jesus of Nazareth that covers the events leading up to Jesus' birth with Big Sis. Here is part one, if you fancy a watch (I think we watched up to part six or seven):
    
    
    
    
11. I've managed to shake off my mood of misery somewhat. I've had my little self-indulgent wallow in self-pity (of myself, lol. If this joke makes no sense to you, see point #57 here) and am going to get on with stuff. OK, so give it a few days and I might be feeling miserable again, but for now, life is good.
    
    
12. I watched Jamie Oliver's Jamie At Home Christmas special, where he makes his own variation on mince pies. His friend and mentor, the Italian chef Gennaro Contaldo, suggests that along with the Christmas spices used (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc.) the pastries would taste better with a touch of black pepper. Jamie disagrees, but concedes to make one pastry with black pepper for Gennaro's sake. When Gennaro's back is turned, Jamie adds a very generous helping of black pepper, garnishing it with some orange peel to distinguish it from the others. Here's the part where the pastries come out of the oven. Watch Jamie's pitiful attempt to keep a straight face, while Gennaro tucks in. I have watched this so many times now and still crack up at Jamie's laugh. Unfortunately, embedding was disabled, but you can catch it on youtube here (skip to 1:45 if you just want to see that the proof of the pudding is in the eating, or you can view part 5/6 first if you want to see the full lead-up. The mince pies recipe starts at about 4:45). "Is it nice?" :o)
    

This month has disappeared quicker than I ever anticipated. 2009 swiftly beckons. I hope your past week has been suitably festive, peaceful, enjoyable and happy.