Workwise this week has been ridiculously busy. I have had so many meetings. I have several parts to my role. One is an operational one which just takes out a set chunk of the week with a load of check in meetings, never mind actually dealing with the operational issues that arise. I then have a project related role. This week it was dominated by one client where I really needed to get stuck into project management and making sure that the inputs from the rest of the team were brought together for a 2hr end of phase sign off meeting on Thursday. This involved more meetings (pre-meeting meetings, post meeting meetings, side meetings), working late on Wednesday including staying up until 11pm to receive an item from one director to get it into the presentation for the following day (which had to be sent to the client on the Wednesday). There was no time left for getting other tasks done such as a proposal I was supposed to get together which was left squeezed into an hour slot on Friday and then me fretting about it and not feeling able to send it out when I should do. I ended the week feeling really rubbish and disappointed in myself. I remember I was clear in the interview that business development (BD) isn't a strongpoint of mine. I win work by focusing on the client needs of projects I am already involved in. And it has been demonstrated - I prioritised the needs of the client I was working with. Hum, anyway. I have been meditating on it being OK to disappoint other people, especially when you have been honest from the start. I can't be an optimal, perfect human. I have tried my best and if it is lacking, then I am not the right person for the role. That is OK. I am still enough.
So I haven't managed any yoga this week. I haven't run. I have been eating an inordinately large volume of minced pie products. I feel done in.
On the positive, I did manage to schedule in a walk to Downend with Mark for Friday lunchtime. I was determined that I would make time for it, regardless of all the other work demands. Mark popped into Melanie's Kitchen and picked up various foodie present things. I went into the fabric shop to get a few little crafty presents and then we went to the flower shop to buy a wreath and a few other presents. The flower shop stock some nice potted plants, but also gifts like locally crafted jewelry and toiletries. I could have bought a lot in there and I was glad we had made the effort.
There were a few nice festive things at work. There was a UK wide meeting with Christmas jumper competition. My effort:
I have been enjoying wearing my Christmas jumpers this week.
As have the girls...
Bunnykins wore this one of mine for her school Christmas meal on Wednesday. I was worried it would scare the reception children. But I guess that is one covid-19 benefit...you don't see the other year groups. Woo wore my green teddy bear one on Friday - I am annoyed with myself that I didn't get a picture of her. Though she doesn't tend to let me take pictures much anyway. I also wore my new one for this year (bought off e-bay in October) - but I forgot to take a picture of that too. A treat for next week...
Saturday was a nice day. Mark started the morning baking lots of marzipan medallions and mincemeat medallions. He then went off for a run. I got a bit of crafty wrapping done while he was out. On the wrapping front, he did make me laugh. I have been so busy that he has valiantly got on with present wrapping so that I don't feel like it's all down to me. We have lots of paper in the cupboard, but he took the initiative and went and bought paper from Sainsbury's....
When I asked him why he had chosen children's birthday paper, his response was that Christmas was all about one child's birthday. I am not going to argue, I am just glad it's getting done!
After lunch the girls and I had a go at decorating the window in the front room. On the way to school with Bunnykins, we walk past this house that I really admire. I love the way the front room looks, with lots of pictures and paintings hung on the wall and mustard velvet curtains. Anyway, they had used white chalk pens to draw a snowy street scene with large baubles in the sky. I wanted to do something similar.
I came up with a snowy forest scene idea. The girls were up for it and we got to work.
We had a few people wave and smile at us while we worked which was nice.
I thought it would be fun to create a Lottie doll scene in the woods. Bunnykins was an enthusiastic helper. We created a snowball fight, a campfire and a sledging hill.
That's me who has come a cropper off my sledge and ended up in a snowdrift...
I really like it and it was a lot of fun doing it. Hopefully it makes someone smile.
In the evening I had booked us in for the Winter Wonderland trail at Westonbirt. We arrived and tried out some roast chestnuts as we waited for our allotted entry time. There was general agreement that chestnuts were OK...bit like potatoes...not as good as donuts...
The trail was really beautiful. But it was still too busy. Even in the queue to get our tickets checked, the people behind us couldn't seem to get the hang of 2m distance - even when there were posts marking out all the way along. It's like queuing behavior is something so ingrained that you can't change the habits of shuffling close to the person in front - no matter how many signs tell you not to.
Anyway, it was super pretty and lovely to be out together on a cold dark evening all wrapped up.
Just too many other people for my liking.
Sunday was a nice quiet day. The weather was foul, but Mark had gone off for a run with Jason first thing. I got up late and then got the fire going in the front room. The girls joined me for a bit of White Christmas while I wrapped some presents.
It is such a cheesy film, but so good for being so cheesy. The girls love it and chuckled all the way through. They are still perfecting their routine to "Sisters" 😄.
I had a run after lunch. It was drizzly and cold, but it felt good after a solid week sitting infront of the computer. My warm shower felt particularly good. Now I have finished this I think it is time to pour a baileys and get back to that fire. 🎅🎄🍷🔥
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