Update

[Bigjohn]

I've been busy lately.
As you know, we live on a farm now. Winter is here and we are busy blowing snow and restoring the outbuildings so our horses don't get cold!?! There's about 6 months worth of firewood in the shed. Hope its enough.
Cuba was nice, Nov. 23-30. temps in the mid 30s. Lots of rum, cigars and old cars. Pity the people.
I hate my job. I was transferred to a desk job in July for a 1 year posting. NOT my choice, but low seniority means I was stuck with it. A pay cut of 17% and working 5 days a week instead of 3 1/2. Now I'm on probation because I am not accepting the responsibility as was expected. Oh well, F... 'em! In July I transfer back to my old position.
We've had 60cm of snow in the past week. Yesterday my knee blew out for the first time since the operation 5 years ago. The doctor says it needs to be replaced, maybe in January. I just need to put up with the pain and crutches over Christmas.
We're trying to move my Dad to a new nursing home, at the request of the place he's in now. He's a bit of a contrarian. Lucky he has enough to afford switching every 8-10 months.
Thanks for letting me rant.
Merry Christmas.

[commando]

Wow it doesn't sound like you're having a good time of it John. Hope you can get a new knee, and maybe you better play nice at work otherwise you might get fired before you get back to your old job. Hope you keep the horsies nice and warm!

[RealKiwiChick]

Hugs @ John! Keep your chin up, at least the snow and the fire and the horses sounds like fun

I had a quiet day at work today, SO not busy that I spent the first part of it making balloon animals for my team. Our area is now decorated with lots of tinsel and balloon animals, so I feel I'm making my mark And then the rest of the floor wanted balloon animals and then balloon animal lessons... I liked today

[frood]

I'd *love* balloon animal lessons!

And BJ - it all sounds a little miserable - knee and crutches over xmas, having to move your da and then a really sucky job. It's not good.

It was confirmed today that I was being seconded to the US for 6 months. I go in January.
To Chicago.
Where is is very cold.

I may need more jumpers.

And it's a really sucky project I'm going over to work on - there appears to be no way out of it. But I shall suck it up and work on my escape plan. In my year end review meeting my manager asked me if I like my job and/or team. I said no.

My escape plan is called "Operation Paddington" - I think that it would be fun to go back to university and do another degree.

I just have to write my "Why I want to go back to living on spaghetti hoops on toast" blurb.

I may be over using the work "sucky".

[frood]

And Friday night is the work xmas bash.

I shall be mainly getting very very drunk.

As after all I have a reputation to uphold! Okay it's the one of being the team lush and the team slut, but hey - you take what you can!

[commando]

Back to uni... I have that nightmare sometimes. Unless you want to retrain in a totally different field, be the adult student, and live on nothing, don't do it! Unless you want to.

Maybe saying you didn't like your job got you seconded? But at least they should pay your rent, you should come out ahead if you don't have a mortgage and don't need to keep a place in Ireland!

Hope you enjoy your xmas party, and hope others enjoy it too

[frood]

See the plan is to give up the lease on my house, move everything into storage, and then live of the per diem. So I should be able to save most of my wages for the next 6 months.

Which then will allow me to survive at uni.

I have actually thought about this a little.

[Bigjohn]

See the plan is to give up the lease on my house,

Would you live in residence? That would be fun with the 19 year-olds.

[commando]

See the plan is to give up the lease on my house,

Would you live in residence? That would be fun with the 19 year-olds.

It kinda sounds like Frood might enjoy it

[frood]

indeedy - nothing like corrupting the young boys