A Christmas tail

It's a tradition to don your new Christmas gear and go for a walk pre dinner…isn't it?

To my delight I was lucky enough to receive a monkey onesie. It's even got a tail! The dogs needed a walk, I needed to show off my new outfit - off to the riverside we go. Normally a secluded spot, a very pleasant place for the dogs to run in the adjacent field. We head off…we meet some dogs (and their owner  - known to us) all good so far. Owner familiar with the concept of wearing Christmas gifts - however they are not sporting any wildly unusual outfits themselves. Disappointing.

Then…what seems to be half of Sheffield arrive to partake in a pleasant walk in the country side. I felt like a right narna in my monkey suit! Everyone else it seems, received sensible walking shoes or wooly hats. Oh well, the little dogs santa outfit caused some distraction at least.

Back home for Christmas related traditions, including eating too much, Guess what - no waist on the onesie makes it the perfect stuffing your face outfit - no belt loosening needed for me. On reflection…I'm never taking it off.

Happy Christmas all. 

Peace Love Happiness and Onesies 

Christmas is coming, the dog is getting….as much sleep in as possible!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

It all started a little early for us as we need to raise funds for a Guide trip for offspring in 2015…we have been making felt Christmas decorations for what seems like EVER, as well as bath bombs, stockings and brooches. We did two Christmas Fayres and, although we won't make the next episode of the Apprentice, we did quite well. If you would like to purchase any of said items, or would like your car washing, dog walked or cat fed, please get in touch. (it's like 'bob a job' but much more expensive)

Now it's on to the serious business of what's on the telly, when can we tap and unwrap and how much lemonade are we going to need to keep us in snowballs for the entirety of the Christmas season.

Oh yes - and a bit of shopping.

I don't get Christmassy until I've jostled with loads of people and queued for hours to purchase essential Christmas items. Online shopping doesn't have the same sense of build up of anticipation and excitement. 

Fortunately a trip to Chesterfield provided jostling, a scary looking reindeer ride (I was too tall apparently) and meringue snowmen that looked like they had been in fight. Quality stuff.

The little dog is taking up every opportunity to sleep and dream of sleigh bells and Santa Paws. (sorry).

I'm sure it will be worth the wait, all the paper a dog could wish for to shred and distribute, squeaky toys to de-squeak and nice food sniffs. Doggy bliss.

It’s a Cracker

Christmas in the library world is one of extremes. People either love it or hate it. I actually love it, and I’m delighted there are other lovers in our office. The office has been decked out with festive stuff, carefully avoiding the desks of the people not so keen. The only glitch was a small communication breakdown between Leanne and myself. She volunteered to get some decorations for our office from that purveyor of quality Christmas trimmings - poundland. Unfortunately, she believed we had a tree in the office - we do not. This left the lead decorator thinking - what on earth do we do with 40 baubles? A quick creative tying them to some tinsel and a tinsel garland was fashioned which looks great.

All in a festive mood, it was onwards to the Christmas Party. Last year I managed to out myself to the entire library, so what could be worse this year? Let the cracker pulling begin.  Along with the bad (very) jokes and customary hats were bits of plastic fashioned into various toy shapes. I was lucky enough to receive a plastic mustache. Unluckily it transformed me into a Mario from Mario Bros look a like! Just needed a pair of blue dungarees to finish off the look - thank goodness I’d left the dungarees on the hanger in the wardrobe and chosen a black shirt.

On looking around the room, it was rather reassuring and unsettling at the same time to see 1 in 5 librarians transformed in a similar fashion - was the library Christmas do sponsored by Nintendo? Sadly not. However the National Fairground archive did provide entertainment in the form of a magician and ‘Danger Steve’ -a unicycling juggler who requested only minimal audience participation. Phew.

There was food, wine, laughter and dancing and I expect a few sore heads this morning.