life has become an endless round of working and avoiding christmas. the latter being the hardest to do.

everywhere is tinsel, musak and irate shoppers. i hate this time of year sooo much.

my grouchiness reaches epic proportions as people become more frenzied with 'christmas arrangements' - it is just another day.......... even if you are 'religious' you do not need this month of madness. i am up for working all day everyday if required.....

last months pay packet was rubbish coz i'd had holiday time for alex's visit. i was missing the enhancements for night duty. i am on a mega economy drive this month - and next month too i expect. i have car tax and insurance due in january... always in the leanest months.......

looking at my finances i do not know how i can afford to go to nz in february - i have a bad feeling that it is not going to be 'do-able' until later on in the year. don't know how i will tell alex this - but my sensible head tells me it is just not possible (unless my numbers come up on the lottery)

when i tot up the expected - and probable- bills i have to pay, i am left with very little. damn and blast how expensive it is to live on a nurses pay.

ok - rant over.

i have settled into winter-mode now. the garden is put to bed and i am spending more time on indoor pastimes. i did do a massive prune of the conifers at the weekend. started out with a little cut back job and ended up with me tree climbing with a saw in my hand. end result looks ok - loads more light into the house now. my muscles ached for a day or two - but not as bad as i thought they might be.

i went onto you tube for the first time yesterday. i searched for new zealand skydiving and it came up with lots of videos of alex jumping out of planes with people strapped to his front. it seems that half of the uk have been skydiving in nz with my son.... the site is amazing. the things some people consider anyone would want to watch........??????.........

the tibetan prayer flag in todays picture is getting a real thrashing in the strong winds that are blowing today.... hopefully, my wishes are being carried off to wherever they go to come true....... i am waiting.........