Christmas 2014
Christmas this year was pretty good, considering that I'm weaker than a newborn kitten. On the 24th I dragged my arse out of the house and did last minute Christmas shopping followed by cleaning the house and joining in the Vigil meal. On the 25th, I was for Christmas dinner with my boyfriend's family, so I joined them for Christmas dinner, staying over until the 26th. It was enjoyable and it pushed me a lot, but it's several days on and I'm still recovering.
This year, I was a bit stupid maybe with Christmas presents. I hadn't managed to get anyone anything they needed or wanted and, being at home a lot, I could have gotten things off the internet. I had thought about it, but I never quite had the energy to get things for people.
Christmas Eve came around and I had nothing to put under the tree for anyone. The previous day I'd tried to do some shopping, but I'd gone and done some minimal food shopping for the family and that wore me out, so I gave up.
This year mum was really busy with trying to do up the flat for renting and she really didn't do anything much for Christmas. Usually, I'd be all mad keen to help and learn all the things I need to learn so that I can do it in the future, but I was not feeling like I could manage.
I guess I could have just left it. I have an excuse in that I'm recovering from the operation, but I just felt bad not being able to put anything under the tree and I felt bad that I couldn't be there for mum, so I went shopping trying to get at least something and promised to help clean up in the house. Especially as I'd invited the boyfriend around for Wigilia and wanted to show him what it was like.
So, I headed out to get wrapping paper and maybe a few DVDs or ideas at WH Smith. Except that they don't really sell anything like DVDs anymore. So I walked from Oxford Street to Shaftesbury Avenue to go to Forbidden Planet and Fopp, which is the only real alternative if you actually want to buy music and DVDs not through the internet.
After perusing Fopp and failing to find anything my mum wanted, I got to Forbidden Planet and my boyfriend joined me as they'd let him out of work early. I was being a bit random and had nothing much to show for my efforts but he steadied me and judiciously parked me in front of Orc's Nest until I could go "Oh, that looks good, maybe they'll have what I want?". I managed to get him a board game I know he wanted and which looked fun.
After that, I went into Fopp and got a DVD for my dad, which I thought he'd like and then my boyfriend dragged me upstairs when I realised one of the names on my mum's list of music she wanted I hadn't searched. He looked up also to check what the latest album was for me and waited patiently while I sorted myself out. He then carried everything (except his present, which I would have sooner died than let happen) back for me. Did I mention he's wonderful?
We got back and I let him park himself in front of the TV or computer while I went and tackled the huge pile of washing up that my mum had left after cooking a lot of the Wigilia meal. That worked out OK, as by then, everyone was stressing and it got a bit hairy. But then everyone settled into that lovely spirit where everyone's pulling in the same direction and things are happening. I then managed to vacuum the worst of the mess up off the kitchen floor before I decided, along with everyone else, that I'd done more than enough.
By the time Wigilia got underway, I was quite tired, but it was nice have my boyfriend there and generally getting on with the Wigilijne foods and traditions that I've known all my life. Boyfriend does not like fish, but gamely tried everything that was thrown his way. I wish I'd remembered that earlier before inviting him, so I'm grateful that he tried.
Mother then got really upset when I realised stuff had slipped between the cracks regarding the fact that my boyfriend had to stay over the night and I hadn't mentioned it. That was entirely my fault. Mum's been stressed out by a lot of things and I think she snapped having to do so much of the Vigil meal alone. I was sorry about that and felt really horrible. Then, just to top off the level of disaster, my cousin L, who was supposed to come for the meal, arrived late, and neither me nor mum had the energy to talk to her or her boyfriend. We both went to bed.
The next day dawned calmly and after a nice post-Wigilia breakfast, D and I (I can't keep calling him the boyfriend) got in the car and we drove out, further but in the same direction as I go to
pplfichi and doseybat, but much further, to Chadwell Heath, which is up the A12. This was to meet his family.
The drive was generally quite good, and I managed to do well. It was really nice to have someone in the car with me who was actually good at navigation.
His mother had invited me quite soon after we started going out because I gather she thinks I have a good effect on D. D seems to think so too and it's something that's quite gratifying. So I got to meet her and have someone else cook Christmas Dinner.
It was interesting meeting his family and various people. I definitely got the Mothers Seal of Approval (TM). Apparently, I am Normal compared to the last two girlfriends he brought home and she's jumping on me with slightly unholy glee. It's not that I mind having parental approval (indeed, I think it's quite important), but I want to make my own decisions and her level of zeal is quite disturbing. She gave me various presents, including one quite expensive collection of cosmetics and I really need to figure out how to handle this, because this is a little bit scary.
However, as a person, she's pretty awesome. I found out a bit about her history and what she'd gone through, which included Hong Kong and India, as well as being almost disowned by her father due to Circumstances. She's one tough woman. I also talked to his uncle who is quite interesting. I gradually got drunk with them and apparently my boyfriend recalls with fondness watching me squee about the Hurricane Mk2c and other completely random stuff.
The only downside was getting tired suddenly. I got tired the first time, when I had arrived and gone to visit his autny. I got very vague and I found it hard to fully keep following everything. Fortunately, D insisted I get some rest and we cuddled up in his bedroom for a bit, before playing the game I got for him. King of Tokyo is a lot of fun, but I think it's going to be much better with more than two players. The second time was halfway through a good conversation with his mother, when I just stopped following what was happening and zoned out, which was the cue for bed. I need to get a bit better at communicating tiredness to my boyfriend, because that time I curled up against him instead of just saying "let's sleep".
The next day was tiring. I was not really quite awake from the night before and the morning dilation in a strange place was just tiring and difficult, plus I seemed to find it hard to relax. By the time I got into the car, I wasn't entirely sure that I could make the journey back home OK on my own. The plan was to drop my boyfriend off at his place and continue home, but I was so drained that he decided to come along with me all the way home and go back. This caused some difficulties for him, but was really appreciated by me. I made some stupid mistakes due to tiredness and without him, I don't think I could have coped as well. He thought I was a good driver despite that, which is gratifying, as well.
Anyway, we got back and I made him tea. After he left, I played a bit of computer games, but I was so wiped out that I just crawled under the covers and went to sleep for many hours and managed to sleep through the night too.
This year, I was a bit stupid maybe with Christmas presents. I hadn't managed to get anyone anything they needed or wanted and, being at home a lot, I could have gotten things off the internet. I had thought about it, but I never quite had the energy to get things for people.
Christmas Eve came around and I had nothing to put under the tree for anyone. The previous day I'd tried to do some shopping, but I'd gone and done some minimal food shopping for the family and that wore me out, so I gave up.
This year mum was really busy with trying to do up the flat for renting and she really didn't do anything much for Christmas. Usually, I'd be all mad keen to help and learn all the things I need to learn so that I can do it in the future, but I was not feeling like I could manage.
I guess I could have just left it. I have an excuse in that I'm recovering from the operation, but I just felt bad not being able to put anything under the tree and I felt bad that I couldn't be there for mum, so I went shopping trying to get at least something and promised to help clean up in the house. Especially as I'd invited the boyfriend around for Wigilia and wanted to show him what it was like.
So, I headed out to get wrapping paper and maybe a few DVDs or ideas at WH Smith. Except that they don't really sell anything like DVDs anymore. So I walked from Oxford Street to Shaftesbury Avenue to go to Forbidden Planet and Fopp, which is the only real alternative if you actually want to buy music and DVDs not through the internet.
After perusing Fopp and failing to find anything my mum wanted, I got to Forbidden Planet and my boyfriend joined me as they'd let him out of work early. I was being a bit random and had nothing much to show for my efforts but he steadied me and judiciously parked me in front of Orc's Nest until I could go "Oh, that looks good, maybe they'll have what I want?". I managed to get him a board game I know he wanted and which looked fun.
After that, I went into Fopp and got a DVD for my dad, which I thought he'd like and then my boyfriend dragged me upstairs when I realised one of the names on my mum's list of music she wanted I hadn't searched. He looked up also to check what the latest album was for me and waited patiently while I sorted myself out. He then carried everything (except his present, which I would have sooner died than let happen) back for me. Did I mention he's wonderful?
We got back and I let him park himself in front of the TV or computer while I went and tackled the huge pile of washing up that my mum had left after cooking a lot of the Wigilia meal. That worked out OK, as by then, everyone was stressing and it got a bit hairy. But then everyone settled into that lovely spirit where everyone's pulling in the same direction and things are happening. I then managed to vacuum the worst of the mess up off the kitchen floor before I decided, along with everyone else, that I'd done more than enough.
By the time Wigilia got underway, I was quite tired, but it was nice have my boyfriend there and generally getting on with the Wigilijne foods and traditions that I've known all my life. Boyfriend does not like fish, but gamely tried everything that was thrown his way. I wish I'd remembered that earlier before inviting him, so I'm grateful that he tried.
Mother then got really upset when I realised stuff had slipped between the cracks regarding the fact that my boyfriend had to stay over the night and I hadn't mentioned it. That was entirely my fault. Mum's been stressed out by a lot of things and I think she snapped having to do so much of the Vigil meal alone. I was sorry about that and felt really horrible. Then, just to top off the level of disaster, my cousin L, who was supposed to come for the meal, arrived late, and neither me nor mum had the energy to talk to her or her boyfriend. We both went to bed.
The next day dawned calmly and after a nice post-Wigilia breakfast, D and I (I can't keep calling him the boyfriend) got in the car and we drove out, further but in the same direction as I go to
pplfichi and doseybat, but much further, to Chadwell Heath, which is up the A12. This was to meet his family.
The drive was generally quite good, and I managed to do well. It was really nice to have someone in the car with me who was actually good at navigation.
His mother had invited me quite soon after we started going out because I gather she thinks I have a good effect on D. D seems to think so too and it's something that's quite gratifying. So I got to meet her and have someone else cook Christmas Dinner.
It was interesting meeting his family and various people. I definitely got the Mothers Seal of Approval (TM). Apparently, I am Normal compared to the last two girlfriends he brought home and she's jumping on me with slightly unholy glee. It's not that I mind having parental approval (indeed, I think it's quite important), but I want to make my own decisions and her level of zeal is quite disturbing. She gave me various presents, including one quite expensive collection of cosmetics and I really need to figure out how to handle this, because this is a little bit scary.
However, as a person, she's pretty awesome. I found out a bit about her history and what she'd gone through, which included Hong Kong and India, as well as being almost disowned by her father due to Circumstances. She's one tough woman. I also talked to his uncle who is quite interesting. I gradually got drunk with them and apparently my boyfriend recalls with fondness watching me squee about the Hurricane Mk2c and other completely random stuff.
The only downside was getting tired suddenly. I got tired the first time, when I had arrived and gone to visit his autny. I got very vague and I found it hard to fully keep following everything. Fortunately, D insisted I get some rest and we cuddled up in his bedroom for a bit, before playing the game I got for him. King of Tokyo is a lot of fun, but I think it's going to be much better with more than two players. The second time was halfway through a good conversation with his mother, when I just stopped following what was happening and zoned out, which was the cue for bed. I need to get a bit better at communicating tiredness to my boyfriend, because that time I curled up against him instead of just saying "let's sleep".
The next day was tiring. I was not really quite awake from the night before and the morning dilation in a strange place was just tiring and difficult, plus I seemed to find it hard to relax. By the time I got into the car, I wasn't entirely sure that I could make the journey back home OK on my own. The plan was to drop my boyfriend off at his place and continue home, but I was so drained that he decided to come along with me all the way home and go back. This caused some difficulties for him, but was really appreciated by me. I made some stupid mistakes due to tiredness and without him, I don't think I could have coped as well. He thought I was a good driver despite that, which is gratifying, as well.
Anyway, we got back and I made him tea. After he left, I played a bit of computer games, but I was so wiped out that I just crawled under the covers and went to sleep for many hours and managed to sleep through the night too.