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So, went to see King Kong last night, t’was eeeeeeeexcellent. Almost makes me wonder why I’ve sat through some of the dross I have this year, only to have the best movie of the year to be the last I’m going to see in 2005. Oh well.

Went to have my blood test this morning - had a bit of a chuckle as well. They tried to take from my right arm(the one we’ve recently found bleeds better when I give blood), got the needle in, got about half a tube thingy of blood, then it stopped coming out my arm - apparently the vein moved, and the needle went through it, so she had a good prod around, before declaring that we’d have to try the other arm. And I’m talking a *good* prod around - if I didn’t know better I’d have thought she was a small burrowing animal - it’s going to bruise nicely ;o) Anyway, she had to chuck that bottle and start a new one with the left arm, which bled like a trooper - so I went into work this morning with a nice plaster on each arm, looking like I had some kind of crazy fallen stigmata. I always knew I was a god really ….. ;o)

Wow. Whirlwind few days that.

Thursday was the team meal at the Raj in Winchester - great food, and loads of it :o) Then a few drinks in town and ended up in the White Swan playing along with the Gary-oke(like karaoke, gettit?)

Friday was the cocktail party at the MadHouse - cue silly costumes aplenty! I, as Miss Santa, got a lift there with Carl, the shepherd, and Martin, the snowman. We were greeted by Anne, the angel, and had a great night - costume of the night has to go to Andy dressed as a christmas tree, complete with tinsel, baubles and fairy lights!

Saturday was then the trip up to Woking for Jonathan’s housewarming. Much pie was had by all, along with lots of fun and lots of 99.

Back to work tomorrow. Boooooooo :o(

A few quick pics of the sillyness in the office …… more to follow, I’m sure ;o)

Oh, and while I remember, my ‘word of last year’ has come back again this year …… ‘tinselets’ - the little bits that fall off of tinsel. I was most suprised when someone said it to me at work this week and reminded me that I’d invented it last christmas.

First, IBM Hursley ……. next, the world! and the OED!

Well, the office has now been officially decorated, and boy, does it look silly. Pictures to follow….

In other news, costumes have been gathered ready for Anne’s cocktail evening on friday :o) There have been requests for them to be worn on Thursday night and Saturday night as well, but I’m not sure that’d be wise.

Off to Narnia tonight - here’s hoping it’s not as bad as the trailer makes it look :oS

Here you go boys ……

When four of Santa’s elves got sick, and the trainee elves did not produce the toys as fast as the regular ones, Santa was beginning to feel the pressure of being behind schedule.

Then Mrs. Claus told Santa that her Mom was coming to visit. This stressed Santa even more. When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out, heaven knows where. More stress.

Then when he began to load the sleigh one of the boards cracked, and the toy bag fell to the ground and scattered the toys.

So, frustrated, Santa went into the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered that the elves had hidden the liquor, and there was nothing to drink. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider pot, and it broke into hundreds of little pieces all over the kitchen floor.

He went to get the broom and found that mice had eaten the straw end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritable Santa trudged to the door. He opened the door, and there was a little angel with a great big Christmas tree. The angel said, very cheerfully, “Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn’t it a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?”

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

(Thanks to typo for sending this to me :o) )