Christmastime!

I can't BELIEVE it's only a week until Christmas. It only feels like a few weeks ago I started working with Royal Blind and suddenly there's a notice on the HR system that my 3 month probation is almost up. Crazy!
Thankfully I get along with everyone, really enjoy working there, and have been told on more than one occasion by more than one person that they don't know what they'd do without me/I'm such a help because I reduce their massive workload. So here's hoping they keep me!

I decided last week to replace my bed before Christmas so last night I bought a new bed. Seriously. It's in the hallway and it's perfect.
Or at least, it will be once I build it.
BUT LOOK AT HOW GORGEOUS THIS AMAZING BED IS!


Just imagine that with clear fairy lights, less cushions, and a black duvet cover with lots of rainbow polka dots.

I also bought a bedside cabinet. I've never had one before and I knew I'd need one because my bed at the moment has a built in cabinet with four shelves, three drawers, and space on the top for stuff.

It took me three hours to build this cabinet last night. Finally finished about half ten so I just washed my hair, heated a frozen curry and went to bed.
Which resulted in me having no lunch today so I went out and got a chicken and chorizo salad with cheese and sweet chilli sauce.
Best. Lunch. Ever.
I am definitely going back for that again. MMMMMM.

Exciting weekend ahead! Tomorrow I'm meeting the girl I've gone out with a couple of times, we're going bowling which is super exciting because I LOVELOVELOVE bowling and she's a lot of fun to hang out with. I'll have to remember to challenge her to air hockey while I'm there.

Saturday for reasons that shall remain undisclosed I'm going into Glasgow for some last minute shopping. I needed to be out of the house for a few hours and I have some stuff left to get so it worked. So I'm going for a driving lesson, then going into Glasgow with my parents. They're going further on to a hotel they like to stay the night and I'm doing shopping before going home and building my new bed! Whenever my parents go away for the night they leave £20 for my brother and I to get takeout so he's going to help build my bed, we're going to hang out and eat and I have a good way to thank him that he'll love.

Sunday I'm hoping that I'll have got my bed sorted so I can just relax and take it easy for the day. Wrap presents, watch movies, and just chill before the Christmas madness starts.

Next week I know of five people, myself included, who will be in the office. Bob, the HR Manager is coming in because Wednesday is his last day, after that he's officially retired. What an amazing Christmas present! As far as I know, neither of the two people who are technically my bosses are going to be in so I have no idea what I'll be doing all week. I'll be alone in the office, apart from Bob who's office leads off from mine, so we'll have to time our lunch, tea and bathroom breaks so that someone's always there to answer the phones.

Christmas eve we kind of finish at midday. Apparently it's not an official thing, but the Chief Exec, Richard, always tells everyone at midday that they can go home. I offered to buy my dad lunch before we head home for Christmas because why not, he's been really great since I got this job with helping me out and driving me there and back and stuff.
Then we come home, watch the Polar Express as is tradition, eat biscuits and whatever tin of chocolates we have until about 10.30pm when dad does a kind of mini buffet with Waitrose and M&S nibbles (we get the classy stuff at Christmas ). Afterwards it's off to midnight mass because mum and I are in the choir. There's been one practice for this mass so far and I missed it because OH MY GOD.

So my brother's school has a Christmas concert every year. He sings. So last year we went because he was in the choir and they were singing at it.
This year, a few weeks ago, he told us he was doing a solo of O Holy Night as well as "something special that's a surprise". So we got tickets, dad and I to go on Monday night and mum to go on Tuesday at lunchtime.
So dad and I are sat there, with our phones to record the sound since video isn't allowed and after half an hour or so, it's Mike's turn.
He gets on the stage and it takes a few minutes for the person accompanying him on the flute to get ready and stuff. The intro plays, he opens his mouth and oh. Dear. Lord. I swear this was incredible. It was like when Susan Boyle sang for the first time on Britain's Got Talent. Our jaws just DROPPED. We knew he was a good singer, he sings a lot around the house and in the shower, but this was beyond what we'd ever heard.
My dad and I just looked at each other, open mouthed, like "where the FUCK did that come from?!"
It was indescribable how amazing he sounded.
The "something special" was him and his friend doing "Me and My Shadow" which was also spectacular. His voice is really suited to that kind of music. I really want to hear him do New York New York or Feelin' Good.

FIVE people came up to us at the end while we were waiting for him and said "Was that your son? You must be so proud, that was fantastic!"
One asked if he takes bookings. She was serious.
We spoke to his music teacher who said he'd see if he could take him into the professional recording studio they have next week to record the song for us.
My dad and I both cried. It was that good.
I know that since he's my baby brother I'm bound to be biased, but he really did steal the show on Monday.
I keep listening to it and I'm still shocked every time.

So proud of him.

So yes that's my ramblings. Exciting times ahead!

Merry Christmas, TeenHelp! <3