Merry Christmas!
Thursday, 27 December 2007
It's a couple of days late, but oh well. Too busy being festive to blog, I guess.
I finished work on Friday and anticipated going straight to work at Dad's shop to help with the turkey rush; luckily, I wasn't needed on Saturday until the afternoon, when I went in to clean up.
Sunday and Monday, though, we all worked, all day. It was very odd, really - too quiet compared to the Christmases we've known before, for several reasons. It was a Sunday, of course, so even though every customer picking up a turkey (or goose, beef, chicken, whatever) had been told that we were open on Sunday, none of them showed up. It was an extraordinarily quiet day, especially considering that last year, December 23rd had been hugely busy when compared to Christmas Eve.
We anticipated a hugely busy Christmas Eve as everyone rushed to collect their turkeys - but it never really happened. We assumed that because, for once, we had a full staff - and said staff weren't having to forever stop dealing with customers to sort out whatever cooked meat they wanted, as we stopped selling it after last Christmas - we were whipping through the customers quicker than ever. So, really, Christmas was just as busy, but we were just more efficient. Which was nice. In fact, in terms of how manageable the workload was and how well it all went, it was one of the best Christmases we've had for years.
Christmas Day dawned early - I woke at 3am and drifted in and out of sleep from then, eventually wandering downstairs to greet Dad at around 6. I guess it's some subconscious excitement from childhood bubbling to the surface. I'm meant to be mature!
Got a lot of lovely presents. Skate on PS3 is immense and, for the first time, there's a serious challenger to the OTT charms of a certain Mr Hawk. I'm currently installing The Orange Box and can't wait to get playing. I got books by all of the Top Gear hosts, which was an odd - if pleasing - coincidence, and Heroes Season 1 on DVD. Transformers, too, which I'm hugely excited about.
11 of us went up to the Golf Club for Christmas Lunch, which was a bit of a change from mum cooking, and it was nice that she could relax on the day rather than worrying about the meal - even if the food wasn't as nice as hers. It was still fantastic, though, and I ate far too much. But it's Christmas, I was allowed. Four types of potato, Yorkshire puddings, stuffing, sausages in bacon, vegetables - no Brussels sprouts, thank god! - and thick gravy sat alongside gorgeous turkey and gammon. Christmas Pudding for desert, too, and a good time was had by all.
Boxing Day was also great - West Ham v Reading on the TV followed by Maidenhead v Hayes & Yeading at York Road, which was fun even though they played terribly and lost 1-0. My grandparents and old Aunt Louie came over in the evening as they hadn't been present on the day - they were eating with my Uncle, his Fiance and her parents - and we had Turkey and Ham Pie. My god - it was epic - and is my second favourite meal of the year aside from Christmas Dinner. This was followed up by some gorgeous pancakes and plenty of laughter.
All in all, it's been a fantastic Christmas. There's a party at my Aunt and Uncle's house on Saturday, too, so the festivities won't stop yet.
But if you'll excuse me, I have a companion cube to get acquainted with.
I finished work on Friday and anticipated going straight to work at Dad's shop to help with the turkey rush; luckily, I wasn't needed on Saturday until the afternoon, when I went in to clean up.
Sunday and Monday, though, we all worked, all day. It was very odd, really - too quiet compared to the Christmases we've known before, for several reasons. It was a Sunday, of course, so even though every customer picking up a turkey (or goose, beef, chicken, whatever) had been told that we were open on Sunday, none of them showed up. It was an extraordinarily quiet day, especially considering that last year, December 23rd had been hugely busy when compared to Christmas Eve.
We anticipated a hugely busy Christmas Eve as everyone rushed to collect their turkeys - but it never really happened. We assumed that because, for once, we had a full staff - and said staff weren't having to forever stop dealing with customers to sort out whatever cooked meat they wanted, as we stopped selling it after last Christmas - we were whipping through the customers quicker than ever. So, really, Christmas was just as busy, but we were just more efficient. Which was nice. In fact, in terms of how manageable the workload was and how well it all went, it was one of the best Christmases we've had for years.
Christmas Day dawned early - I woke at 3am and drifted in and out of sleep from then, eventually wandering downstairs to greet Dad at around 6. I guess it's some subconscious excitement from childhood bubbling to the surface. I'm meant to be mature!
Got a lot of lovely presents. Skate on PS3 is immense and, for the first time, there's a serious challenger to the OTT charms of a certain Mr Hawk. I'm currently installing The Orange Box and can't wait to get playing. I got books by all of the Top Gear hosts, which was an odd - if pleasing - coincidence, and Heroes Season 1 on DVD. Transformers, too, which I'm hugely excited about.
11 of us went up to the Golf Club for Christmas Lunch, which was a bit of a change from mum cooking, and it was nice that she could relax on the day rather than worrying about the meal - even if the food wasn't as nice as hers. It was still fantastic, though, and I ate far too much. But it's Christmas, I was allowed. Four types of potato, Yorkshire puddings, stuffing, sausages in bacon, vegetables - no Brussels sprouts, thank god! - and thick gravy sat alongside gorgeous turkey and gammon. Christmas Pudding for desert, too, and a good time was had by all.
Boxing Day was also great - West Ham v Reading on the TV followed by Maidenhead v Hayes & Yeading at York Road, which was fun even though they played terribly and lost 1-0. My grandparents and old Aunt Louie came over in the evening as they hadn't been present on the day - they were eating with my Uncle, his Fiance and her parents - and we had Turkey and Ham Pie. My god - it was epic - and is my second favourite meal of the year aside from Christmas Dinner. This was followed up by some gorgeous pancakes and plenty of laughter.
All in all, it's been a fantastic Christmas. There's a party at my Aunt and Uncle's house on Saturday, too, so the festivities won't stop yet.
But if you'll excuse me, I have a companion cube to get acquainted with.
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