New Years Eve, Friday 31 December
The last day of the year, but a bit to get done. Hair visit for Sunday/Monday needed to be booked - but the whole day was free, giving me the choice of ANY time on that day! So, 1500 on Sunday it is.... It's getting in my eyes too far now... Anyway, after that, picked up a couple of microwavable sandwiches from Superdrug. If you've not seen these (I threw the wrappers away so I forget the name), they are around £1.99 each, and they go in the microwave without being pierced or opened. So, a little "pop" after 20-30 seconds of the way. Don't worry, it's not earth-shattering... If you do go for them, I preferred the chicken one to the ham one... but it's a personal preference... I'd eat either of them again. (The work canteen downstairs closed at 1400, u see!)
Stopped at the bus station on the way home to pick up the new Angus area timetables starting on 10th January 2005, and as a result got the 76 from work to town (as it stops opposite the bus station) - thus meaning my last bus of the year was Mercedes Vario 230. In the City centre, all the electronic signs (like Christmas Eve) were pointing punters to read the information board poster (done by me!) which included last times. Although one passenger read 31 December and couldn't see where it said "Last buses on 24 December also apply tonight"..... Millions (now I've lost count too) spent on infrastructure, but there is still a place for paper notices!
Now, this is the unusual bit. Just before finishing work at 2000, the boss pointed out that the 3rd person we'd been drinking with last week, was in the pub already. He had a half day, and won big in the bookies. I popped out just before 2230 for food from Corfu (take away in North Lindsay Street), and on the way back him and a fellow barfly stood outside the door of the pub, cigarettes in hand, and romantically serenaded me around the corner to the door.... Nice one Graeme... who says he was tempted by the offer of blowing the lot on 9/1 for Dundee United to win tommorrow... he decided against it, but he has faith in his team. We shall see.
The night was therefore quiet by last week's standards. Happy New Year.
Christmas Day
A quiet day in comparison to the last few. Spent the evening on Messenger etc. but when chatting with those wondering what to put for today, until we started talking about a certain bus that I used to get home from work (when on 1700 finishes!) until the middle of 2003. It's also the bus I took from the Technology Park back to Dundee City Centre after my successful interview back in September 2002... that makes me feel old! It's 543 of course - what else - and the new owners have a website. Look for the pics of it at the Tech Park... hmm, wonder who took those LOL... (But - also look for my pic of the same bus on Angus College Service 32 in Montrose High Street - very unusual given it was a Dundee vehicle at the time...) Anyway, spent most of the evening trying to get the previous blog posts to look and feel right - not to mention getting severely ticked off with Blogger's US spollchocker...
Christmas Eve Friday, 24 December
Well, Christmas Eve, and just to emphasize the non-stop atmosphere it has been this week...
I got up reasonably sharpish and made it out the door via somewhere for a bite to eat. The post was delivered reasomably early, allowing me to see my payslip before I left... mmm, that'll do.... After last week anything would be good, but that was better.
Bus to work, then got into work and signed in. Shift 1030-1400, but the list said 1100-1430.... Well I'd been told the latter, and I'd been telling everyone the former, and no-one corrected me... Anyway we were busier in the morning than the afternoon anyway.
Just before 1400, the snow started... So I left at 1400 in the snow. Was able to stop in town for a few things, mostly for myself but hey why not... Then first of a couple of trips back home - then out for food, then back in.....
Around 1920 went downstairs to the pub. Not something I do often, but the boss and a colleague were meeting for "a few pints" and the rest of the team were invited (last Tuesday in the team meeting). As it was Xmas Eve, £2.50 to get in, BUT £1 a pint thereafter... As I was on Pepsi it made the night fairly cheap at £2.90 a round... It was the first time I'd sat still for long enough all week...
Well, after 6/7 rounds between the three of us, and at around 2320, the boss was going for a cab home, so I went upstairs. I could still hear the music three floors up...
I crossed over into Christmas chatting with a friend from the states until about 0110, when the phone rings. A friend, who lives in West London, was going to his family in Wales for Christmas, via Hereford.... Turns out his sister backed out on picking him up the 39 miles or so from there, and he was walking... 9 miles into it, and it was snowing... About 10mins later, he calls back, asking me to find him a taxi on the web..... He tried a number I got for him, before calling back to ask for another... £96 he was quoted for the 30 mile trip, but he managed to knock them down to £75. Ironically last week he was telling me about the Christmas eve he gave someone a cheapie on Christmas Eve (when he was a minicab driver) - Swindon to Earls Court for £200........
So, just before 2am, I finally got to bed. Long lie tomorrow, I don't care!
Pre-Christmas Thursday, 23 December
Another rusher! To work, to Ninewells, back to work, then home. I was feeling worn out after the first few hours! This weekend should give me long enough to recover....
Pre-Christmas Wednesday, 22 December
I managed to get up on time today LOL ! Went to work in the 2nd pair of shoes, equally as cutting, but in a whole set of new places. There is a challenge in itself! Got to work, got home, and back out again to deliver the C&NY's to Ninewells Hospital... Past experience shows if it was delivered by the usual mechanism, they go up in February. Now, I was due to come to Ninewells for an appointment on Thursday, but it was to involve an uphill walk from the Tech park, and didn't quite fancy lugging a blue ikea bag to work, out and up the path.. Anyway, after all that, got in, in just enough time to get to bed. I'm tired out this week...
Pre-Christmas Tuesday, 21 December
Oh fook. Slept in this morning... had so much to do this morning, ended up rushing out the house, with the new shoes cutting into me so badly...
On the way to the bus stop, saw my Christmas & NY leaflet has been put up on all the bus shelters... Dundee City Council said they would, and they made it
very nicely into a big poster.
Anyway, snapped that up, then to work. Team meeting, but during the two hours or so of wearing, the pin in the buckle of the shoe comes off.... Not good! And my feet hurt like hell, and the right one has a strap bouncing about on it....
Hmm, not good. Anyway, got home in one piece. Met a friend in the evening for his copies of C&NY, and went down the stairs in the old shoes... Much better idea! Well, I knew what I was getting into all those months ago...
Pre-Christmas Monday, 20 December
Firstly, quick plug for the 2004/2005 Dundee Christmas & New Year bus guide - compiled by me! http://www.scotbus.com/christmas.htm will get you a pdf or word version.
Anyway, this morning kind of saw everything falling into place. I got up, went to work, where the shoes I'd ordered were delivered to (as I've had problems with a certain courier company in the past, I decided not to give them any ammo!) Nice. Opened up the boxes in the loo... Tore the plastic wrapping a bit (two shoeboxes covered in blue poly wrap) but managed to keep enough on so it would hold both pairs together. They look good.... But... We shall see. They are flat enough to wear to work i.e. not fetish material, but also slightly more femme than flat. I am not materialistic in the clothing, and surprisingly the other ones had lasted close to six months - an age on my feet! Anyway, take a look at the loafers with the 3inch back, or the other pair, which are more open with a buckle, 2inch back
Got home, two deliveries doorstepped for me. The main one was two boxes, each weighing 16 kilos, and both contain 1000 copies of the Dundee Christmas & New Year bus guide (see above!) Opened it up and had a look. They look really good on 100gsm paper!
