A Passing Christmas Weekend

 This year's has been bad and I feel just whacked out from the negative aspects but also the past few days have shown now that people do become more grateful at this Christmas, and next year things will be different for at least a little bit of time before coming to the safe part. 

This Christmas starts off with recovering from a weird food poisoning incident 3 weeks ago while recovering from a cold or flue and I've never puked up so much in my life but that was 3 weeks. But what actually happens is to learn my nan had a stroke and was in end of life care, she passed away peacefully the morning of the 22nd December, 5 months and 1 week after my grandad passed, it's one of those moments where things show the true colours and quite frankly just has to remember the memories. That will be in the end of year blogpost. 

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But christmas eve eve is where we begin

 

Christmas eve eve

It's been one of those waking up about 8:45 and for the events of the day before, I got a lift into work while parents had to clear belongings from the care home, which it's good it's out of the way but also tough to rush on that. But from there it was finally getting a PS5 setup to copy from my PS4, which it was nice to treat myself (self refurbished plus sent into a youtuber repairer from the post of march and that board) and that was going to take up must of the day, 22 hours it was originally going to take. Then it was working in 2 phone plus a quite for an iPad for next week and another phone, which the way it looks was going to mean the planned 2 weeks to cain accounts is not looking promising at all, but that and stock to book in, eventually it was a laptop to setup and then leaving at 17:10 before going to finally a visit to a old friend to help with his heating, the rain started to be a bit of pouring down but the street looked nide. 

Then one more run back to the shop from 6:00 to check on the PS4 and setup remote play before the catching of the bus home which was packed and left 1 minute early too. Which means I got back near home by just over 6:30. On the way back was some deals with both a plant based chocolate bar from the food fridge and then £1.80 from Asda for onions, salsa and sandwich filler.

The pickup of food on the way home 

I reflected as I walked up, the rain was starting to come up to start and it was just that end of a busy week reflections, with little messages to deal with and also still coming up to what might happen tomorrow. I got in and unloaded  and had to check out with the pS5 to see if it was copying over. But then it was to continue on the end of the year review which I've cained typing the past month. But it was then a salad vase light for tea too. 

The lunch 

But the  chatter was not that much, the day after tomorrow was on which has it's vibe of deja vu from years ago before the boxing day things. But at the end, dad has a cheers to both grandparents and may they rest in peace, it feels surreal in one way but also it has it's tolls of lifecycles. Then it was to get the feeling of typing up for the rest of the nice, with a few FNAF help wanted play throughs and also justice league on Netflix to finish off. I got to sleep about 2:15m with typing up on the sofa and crashing out in bed about then. 

Christmas eve

So I had the 7:30am alarm kick in and swiped up then dozed off until 9am, my eyes awoke, checked hinge and wooplus, then got to the stage of going to just getup since I was wanting to plan out the Christmas message since the present video I can't do since mum wrapped my presents for me, I semi have a couple left to do which I can do tonight. I got up and toilet before listening to music and then it was 9:45am and time to get a shave going, but then it was nice to catch up with my sister since the plan was a visit to my dad's brother's place for most of the afternoon for buffet and family event style. 

The selfie after changing and the shave 

The shave was fine but I did cut my chin, so it was a now moment but eventually I semi calmed it down,  but alas it was time to check the internet and luckily no emails, but after all that, we left for the family members while having to park up and wait for Sister and husband to follow us in due to the confusion of the roads to get there. The rain was the entire afternoon too but we eventually got in and gazed at a bigger room than when i went there 4 years ago. But chatter was there and the introductions before it was then about 20 minutes to wait until the food was cooked up or laid on the table, I had a nice orange juice since most other was cans or diet coke.  But it was nice to load up the first check which was the mix of nuts as well with the homemade potato salad. The Seasons eggs were nice too. 

The first part of the buffet in the afternoon 

Then it was sitting and getting to listen in on all chatter from materials used in this place to some gossip about cars and also other bits, for the second partition , it was ending up sitting at the table to hear another side of the family chatter , which i got asked about the bike, some xbox and PS5 bits and then it was to wait a bit for the desserts, like the fruit salad was nice but the biscoff/coffee cake was the best part, especially when combined with nuts too. 

Eventually things were finished and we then went around the sofa and then chatted all of us a bit more with some music being played, the plan was to explore the new build which shows the underfloor heating and is how the floors were made out, some nice little quirks at the very least. Then it leads to being able to check bits out and time to hear about the presents, the baby was getting to be asleep.

Some nice presents to be had and  seeing some looks around it, the country music playing and the volume did end up making a bit of a ow for her. But the gifts for me were nice like a beanie, Bike lights and then even a cap plus money. Then it was more chatter and eventually it was time for some pictures of the family, by the tree. But then it was time to head off about the 4pm mark, since the rain was still there and we all said our goodbyes then drove off home. 

The drive home was nice, some chatter and gossip side but it was a approach of generally things went quite nicely, but then it was time to get back in and walk Rosie, which was going to be how I got the Christmas message filmed. Which in itself was starting to get dark and the wind was picking up, but the message was sombre. 

The bits and presents when i got home 

The Selfie where i was going to film on the railway line 

another selfie 

The selfie under the moonlight 

The mist and the moon in the light 

But that message was sombre and reflected some of the points like: 

• Granparents passing away
• The indictments with the past few months with boundaries 
• Gaza being in the crisis from the western countries and the association with Israel 
• Negativity in the world

But then it was time to deal Wirh coming home and that in itself was nice since my mums friend was just arriving there and chatting, but dome ham and bits were dropped of before it was time for a evening meal of some leftover bits. Which in itself makes it feel relaxing too. 

The tea from Xmas eve, Pringle, crackers, potato salad, Honey glazed ham, Sausage Rolls and salad

Then to be fair it was time to relax while typing up the last bit of the blogpost for the end of the year, It was nice to have the chance to feel relaxed and bask in the warmth of the fire. But in the end it was nearing the end of the blogpost, it was watching the justice league and finishing that until about 1am, which means it was finally the 1st year of the review of the year complete. 

Then it was a sleep from 2:20am until the 7am wish for Christmas Day. 

Christmas Day: 

So this was a bit of  buzz, I got my alarm on the watch done for 7am and it buzzed but the sky was still dark but I laid in bed and then parents woke up about 8am to prepare for the time of the cooking of the turkey, which then it was to semi get things prepared up and help. I eventually work up at 9:45 after a long fap but did get a message from a popular crush too. But then it was to get changed into the Christmas jumper attire to try to sneak out to film but instead it was some chores to help out with. The first was to finish off the wrapping of the labels. 

I

Rosie and the Presents in the morning 

That was done after kneeling to find where the labels were and the  box was easy to find, the parcels put up and then it was time to get other bits done like some of the labels, but then it was more chore of some bits outside to take out, But in the end, the rain was too great to get time to film in that short period. 

The mist 

But then it was more chores and 11:20 or so am and it was time to walk Rosie in the rain, The chatter about bits was there which is fine but it leads to no time to film, but the lucky of the message filmed before was itself to help. A few cars passing by, but it was 20 minutes or more later and we finally got home, soaked in the drizzle. 

Then it was time to edit the message and ger it up, with one attempt to get a bit of things done and it was nice to use glass again to prepare things, since it gives that first person footage vibe, but that message was finally up after having to be about 15 minutes later than when the Christmas lunch was sold. 

But then it was uploading to YouTube and t was time to tuck I greeted everyone, which was just myself, parents, sister and her husband and their newborn, who was bouncing up and down on the walker or bouncer that mum purchased on Facebook marketplace.  The turkey was nice with the mint sauce and cranberry sauce to add later on too, but the tucking in was nice and it felt good with the air-fried parsnips too. 

The Roast for 2023. Roast Turkey, Brussel sprouts, bread onion sauce, Roast Parsnips and potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and gravy. 

We tucked in while addams family was on and gives it a feeling of the taste, it was that nice turkey that was not too dry, the gravy was the typical bistro but turkey gravy was not the one used here. But we chomped and chatted which make it feel nice, but then it was time me and Sister had to help with the washing up since mum burnt her thumb while finishing the cooking off earlier. But washing was done gradually while having to pop out and check the videos being uploaded. But that time of dessert was to appear which was a Mint Vinetta along with a chocolate orange tiffin to go with my sisters warm brownies with sprinkles, which those are actually quite rich, which to be fair that bit filled me up more than the roast. 

The chocolate desserts with the mint vinetta 

By this point ice age was switched to and it was then soon to finish off the meals and it was then time to be ready to settle down in the lounge to pen and share presents. Which there was a vast range, the main ones were like socks and bike lights, since that was a theme this year on secret Santa, but it was a lot of emotional times to since it was technically the final present from nan, in both cash and stocking fillers Christmas wise. So this is really the end of an era, but another begins with mum and dad now being called nan and grandad. 

Slipper socks 

Lynx Bundles 

Saddle Seats

More Slipper socks 

A grinch cup

Some of the washes and fragrances 

More presents handed out but it ended up being paused since of the King's speech which was a bit more clear and modest and very religious but more of all faiths which is good, but it will feel the world is in conflict shambles, After that, more presents and cards to undo, one of the emotional ones for mum was the special printer calendars my sister did with pics of nan and grandad which includes some of his artwork which did shed a tear in mums eye which rightly so as that is one bit of sentimental value coming up to be fair. 

The Kings speech on the tv 

The burger what i thought was the blanket at the time 

A Design name faceplate thing that desks use 

But more chatter later and it was eventually leading to passing the 4pm mark which for sister and their family, was time to head on to her own the of the family now. We helped load their car and then it was time to say our goodbyes and hugs.  Then it weas all of us on the sofas to watch the rest of the Accountant, which itself dad really likes the film. In then end of that we finally had a bit of a leftover tea which itself felt nice. 

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But then it was resting and typing this up while a few messages here and there, the sweating was starting to happen but also i found out the burger blanket was actually a Snuddie that Primark made and that was VERY warm and comfy. Which for the rest of the night I wore that, until i felt really hot. 

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But alas it comes to the end of the night and when watching wild wild west, I got a message of a voice not on hinge at like near 1AM, turns out someone i matched with and did gift something, only go back to me 2 weeks later since her phone had broken and wanted food on XMAS DAY. Like there was some giggling from mates in the background, so it was looking like a prank, but Since shes Bristol based this might be something real in 24 to investigate. I then crashed out. 

Boxing Day: 

Well it was a final lie in of the year potentially, with work coming back to me in the day, but this was a way to get a bit of a head start to relax and take things a bit easier to finally start off the end of the trilogy of Christmas this year.  But it starts to have a long lie in, almost collapsing when going to toilet around the 7am mark,  and a bruised after a big fap over what happened last night.  But i woke up about 10:45 after a fap. Then it was time to get some preparation done which included some of the post typed up and a nice turkey sandwich with onion and a brownie too. 

The turkey, onion, brownie and ketchup sandwich 

But then it was sorting out the chatter on the post before the changing was to commence which to then have a nice long walk up kit hill, which was a nice reflective walk with chatter about things and memories, one family lost their dog due to some shooting sounds down the valley, the wind eased off and the view was starting to release the haze from the sky a little bit. 

The view from the middle of the hill

The selfie from the summit

But then we walked back down and more cars passing down, which actually was in the end a nice dry approach, we walked down and then it was time to drive home, which we took a diversion which itself was remanence of how quick that road is via car. But we got home and it was soon time to get a nice bit of leftovers part x sorted, which was from the onion and garlic dip to go with the ham and turkey. 

The lunch of leftovers from air fried roast potatoes, ham, pringles BBQ, turkey, stuffing 

But then it was sme more typing up for doing before the last hour of daylight or so, it was time to clean the bike and fit some of the bike lights gifted from earlier above, which the bike was going to have some extra bits sorted for going back and even managed to attach one of the lights to the back of the helmet. But then it was getting colder and dusk which then time to go inside and then relax which for me is just typing this up and making sure its all sorted. While that was happening Chitty chitty bang bang was on which was a nice reminder of the grandparents to remember his legacy from the times.

Chitty Chitty bang bang and blogpost typing 

But shortly after this it was also a time of a WhatsApp message, now this is interesting since it was a contradiction from the Hinge Voice notes the night before which trend out her phone was broken but yet the WA message asked. 

I found ur number on my phone, do you know me please

So that leads to a complication  which means online dating with hinge has gotten further than I thought but at the same time it was no choice that it was actually just getting replied to when drunk. But that looks like 2024 will find the resolution of this. 

But as the film finished and more TV shows to watch, it was time to get some dinner of more leftovers which was nice to enjoy, the ham was coming to its end which was nicer than the turkey, the potatoes were not the best taste anymore or I've had too many bits of the fluffy ones recently. 

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But then it was to finally relax in the Snuddiee and type the rest of this up before having a rest before the final 3 days of work for the year and also potentially 2 weeks off, which isn't really time off of non work but more overdue accounting to sort out. 

Hope you have had a good Christmas and enjoy it 

omracer