Let it snow, let it snow let it snow....

Hi guys!

Well tomorrow is my last working day before Christmas, but with the snow closing in it looks like I might not make it in.

So, if this turns out to be my last post this year, may I wish you all a fantastic Christmas and a great 2010.

Next year will be very different to this year for many of us - new jobs, new cities, etc. Looks like I will have to keep up with an increasing number of people on FB too, but I guess nothing stays the same. Where ever you are and whatever you do next year, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Have a good one, and hope to see you next year!

Rock Chef

Silly hat time!

Today our wonderful friend Terri posted a photo of herself in a silly hat.

Not one to be out-done, here are some picks of myself wearing a hat that I bought for my eldest daughter a lot of Christmases ago.

Merry Christmas!

PS Terri had a great idea - why don't you post a photo of yourself in a silly hat? Go on, you know you want to!

One Frosty Morning...

Today is cold - I think you can tell how cold it is by my voice - I was having trouble moving my lips properly!

I have mentioned that Mrs RC has built a fake fireplace for Christmas - here is the proof. You can see the radiator through the grill at the front. There are orange and yellow lights under the logs to give the impression that they are burning, and this certainly fools our dog, Custard, who loves to lay in front of it.

My youngest has started to collect these wooden ducks - he knitted the hat and scarf himself. Isn't that cute? Especially when you think he plays games like Gears of War on the XBox where he uses a chainsaw to kill aliens! See, these games aren't bad for you really!


More later! Have a great day!

I almost found a bargain!

Lunchtime - out looking for a couple of extra presents for my youngest.

Went to Game and bought the expansion pack for Spore - Yeah, a good one!

The to the toy section of the biggest store in town. The toys are in the basement, along with the crockery, crystal glasses, etc. Who thought that was a good combination? Someone who doesn't have kids, for sure!

Anyway, I was nosing around and found a game that we had looked at last year but not bought because of the ridiculous price. This year it was knocked right down to £9.99, so I grabbed it.

As I left the store I phoned Mrs RC to tell her about my bargain.

The reaction?

"I hope you didn't buy it."

"Um, yeah?"

"We bought it last year."

"We did?"

"Yes, I paid a fortune for it and they never played with it."

"Oh. Better go and see about a refund then."

So I returned to the store, told my story and was given a slip to get my refund. Refunds are only given out by Customer Services on the 3rd floor.

OK.

Up the escalator to Ground.

Up to 1st.

Up to 2nd.

No more escalators. I was stranded in the middle of a sea of beds and bedding.

Wuh?

I started to wander, looking for another escalator, or something that would take me up.

No sign.

In the end I asked and was pointed to the distant corner of the floor. There, hidden behind a huge display, was the door to the stairs.

Upwards! Yeah!

Got to the top, to be faced with 2 signs - one way to the beauty salon, the other way to the management offices.

Hm, Customer Services must be in the Management bit, I guess. I arrive at an office door. Through the glass I could see that it was just a normal office, but lacking any alternative, I pushed open the door and asked.

Guess what? Customer Services was actually in the Beauty Salon!

So I finally stumbled in and got my refund. I have a feeling that this must rank as one of the best hidden Customer Services desks in the world!

Unless you know of a better one, of course!

What a day!

Today has been really strange - mad activity with dull bits in between. Quite strange.

Not a bad day, though - suddenly found that I was a bit richer than I thought I was, which will certainly help make Christmas even better without racking up debt. Gotta be good!


A thought here - I posted a comment onto FB saying that I can't think of anything that I want for Christmas. A comment rapidly appeared from a good old blog friend of mine (Teresa, once known as Logziella) saying something like "Oh, so you don't want a visit from me then!" It made me laugh. A visit from her would be fantastic, but it is hardly something that I would put on my Christmas list, is it?

So, a question for you. If you could have a Christmas visit from anyone, who would it be? Don't worry if it isn't me, I won't be offended, you miserable git! :-)

A stolen Christmas Meme

I stole this from WIGSF - thought it was a good one!



Here goes...


What do you really want for Christmas but you know nobody will get it for you?


I can't really think of anything that I really want this year! Amazing, I know. I wouldn't mind a new guitar (even though I really do have enough already), but that is about it really...


What do you not want for Christmas but you know that somebody will get it for you?


We tend to be pretty careful with our presents - I can't remember the last time I got something that I didn't want!


When do you open your gifts (Christmas eve or Christmas morning)?


Christmas morning, with a few saved until after dinner too! Christmas Eve?


Do you prefer gifts wrapped or in gift bags?



Wrapped - you have got to have that paper ripping experience!


Did you regift anything this year?


Never!


What’s your favourite Christmas movie


Hah, my older readers will know this one! A Christmas Story! I have already watched it twice! "You'll shoot your eye out!"


What’s your favourite Christmas TV special

The Vicar of Dibley. She cannot bring herself to refuse Christmas Dinner with a series of lonely people, ending up eating around 4 massive meals, one after the other. Utterly hilarious.


Do you like egg nog?


I have never felt the urge to try it...


Real tree or fake tree, which do you prefer?

Prefer real but have a fake one.

Would you actually use one of those fireplace DVDs if you don’t have a fireplace?

We don't have a real fireplace, but Mrs RC has just built us a fake one!

Are you sick of Christmas music yet?

No! Never!

Are you getting up early to wait in line to do some Boxing Day shopping?

Absolutely not! This is a day for total relaxation, having fun with the family, etc. I do not want to waste it fighting my way around shops! I have a theory - God gave us Christmas, so the Devil evened things up by giving us Christmas shopping :-)

When was the last time you sat on Santa’s lap?

I don't think I ever sat on Santa's lap. Always found them a bit scarey as a kid - strange men in fake beards, there is something really wrong there...


Anyone else want to try this?

Snooty sales people...

I hate snooty sales people.

The people who look at you and decide that you are not worthy of their attention. The ones who think that because you need a good hair cut you aren't going to spend any money.


Yesterday I went into a shop to buy a laptop for the kids. I had done my research and knew the one I wanted, and this store had it.

I went in and looked at the machine. Yep, a steal at this price.

A sales woman was busy with a middle aged couple, keen to get the sale. She was like a leech. Even when they made it clear that they wanted to be left to think about things she was still in there, blatantly ignoring my existance.

I waited.

The leech was still attached to her victims.

I waited.

And waited.

The leech continued to press for the sale.

Suddenly I saw a young sales guy across the shop. He looked totally clueless, having trouble summoning the enthusiasm for breathing, never mind a hard sell.

I marched across the shop.

"Hi, I want to buy a laptop."

"OK."

He reluctantly followed me across the shop.

"I want this one."

As I said it, I watched the leech flinch and finally acknowledge my existence - TOO LATE! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

"Do you want anything else to go with it?"

"Nope, just as it comes thanks."

Yep, I gave the gormless teenager the easiest sale possible - I wonder if the leech ever did get her sale?

Quiz night...

Next week we are having a quiz night with the students. Staff have been invited to submit 10 questions for the quiz.

I am thinking of giong a bit different with mine and doing a "Name that Christmas Tune" round, playing a short burst of each song on guitar. Any thoughts? Any suggestions for songs that it would be really good to do? I have got a few in mind...


I am planning to get going on the decorations this weekend - yes the Pooh Bear Grotto will be back, as will the total tastelessmess of my Hall decorating. Mrs RC is doing the living room again, as usual, in her totally tasteful style. Should be really good this year as she has even built a fake fireplace to hang stockings on! Will post pics as things develop...

Have a great weekend!

Yesterday

I was off sick - slept in until past lunchtime, only waking up to eat breakfast and take more drugs. By mid afternoon I felt a lot better and was able to take Number One Son to an open evening at the school he wants to go to next year.

The school looked great and my son had some great chats with teachers and pupils about the courses and what the school is like. One big plus for this school is that it is just over the road from the Uni where I work, so we can meet up in the odd lunch break or after school.

After leaving the school we had to go to the Tesco Metro store in the middle of the town. We wizzed around, grabbing all sorts of stuff. Then it was checkout time.

No manned checkouts.

Just the self-service ones that I hate.

Oh well.

And sure enough it all went wrong.

For a start we had more shopping than could comfortably fit into the bagging area, meaning that by the end I had stuff piled up at all sorts of stupid angles threatening to fall off.

And, of course, half way though that stupid voice started:

"Unexpected item in the bagging area".

I removed the last item.

"Item removed from the bagging area."

I put it back.

"Unexpected item in the bagging area".

I removed it.

"Item removed from the bagging area."

"Shut up you stupid bitch!"

OK maybe I wasn't totally better...

Assistance arrived. The guy had to log in, check that I wasn't trying to steal anything and then reset the system.

Great.

And the delay meant we missed the bus!

Great!

I truly hate self service checkouts!

What a great idea!

Hi guys!

I have got a great idea!

Let's have a yacht race that runs along the territorial waters of one of the most unfriendly countries in the world and then passes into an area that is infested with pirates!

What? Someone already organised one?

Duh!