WOW!
What a busy couple of weeks.
Christmas in retail is stressful and full on, but fun at the same time, but I have literally only had two days off over the Christmas period, so my final post of the year isn’t very exciting.
Sunday 15th December
The run up to Christmas at work feels quieter than normal and it felt like a normal Sunday at work.
I did enjoy a roast dinner when I had finished though.
Monday 16th December
We are open from 5am for Christmas, which means an early start for me. We had one customer at exactly 5am who bought “Just for Men” hair dye – I think it was the early start, but it made us chuckle.
The fun bit of my job is doing the charity stuff and we had the local Santa Train in store today, which plays Christmas music to the shoppers.
Tuesday 17th December
The kids break up really late this year and don’t break up until 20th December, so it was a late night shopping trip with them to buy Christmas presents. This resulted in Sebby falling in love with a soft toy, so Eliza and I headed back out to go and buy it.
Eliza insisted that we create a story of his journey to our house, which was really sweet.
Wednesday 18th December
One of my last days off before Christmas, so we headed out for breakfast to The Cowshed for breakfast.
It is lovely to find somewhere new and the food was delicious. It is situated on an old farm and there are lots of outlets there with independent shops, so we finished our Christmas shopping too.
Thursday 19th December
The kids penultimate day at school and they performed in a Christmas showcase.
Isaac performed a solo and Eliza did a group number with friends and a couple of songs from their upcoming production of Oliver.
Friday 20th December
Although I left my job at the preschool in the summer, I was still invited to their Christmas party, so we headed out to our local Miller and Carter for Christmas dinner.
The food was delicious, but my favourite part of the meal was their festive cocktails and it was great to catch up with my old colleagues again.
Saturday 21st December
I love Christmas at work, as we try to make it as fun for both colleagues and customers as possible. One of the highlights is definitely moving the elf and I loved some of its antics.
Sunday 22nd December
Super Sunday at work and it was busy, but not as busy as we thought it would be.
My colleague dressed as the Grinch, much to the delight of the kids and we made sure they saw her get up to mischief!
Monday 23rd December
Bedlam!!
It really did feel like everyone left it until today to do their shopping. We had customers queuing up the aisles from 8am and it didn’t stop until early evening. I don’t think I have ever seen the store so busy.
My costume and “added extra” passenger did keep the customers entertained.
Tuesday 24th December
Christmas Eve and I had to work the close, although we shut at 7pm, so wasn’t too bad.
The kids met me from work and we headed straight into town to do the Christmas Tree Wonderland and Christmas Market.
Now the kids are older we wanted a new Christmas tradition and this is perfect as we get to wear them out walking around the gardens.
Wednesday 25th December
Gone are the days of a stupidly early wake up, but they all bundled into our room at 8am with their stockings.
We did some Christmas lunch prep and headed over to my MIL’s to see her. I think Eliza got her favourite present of the year – the Aldi Christmas Rat, from Nanny.
It was then back home to finish cooking. This year it fell that everyone was at our house, so we had 13 for dinner. One dining table, one camping table and the garden table and we just about squeezed in!
The afternoon was filled with fun and games. Lilah gave Pops a makeover with her new Christmas make-up.
Barney, not one to miss out on the action, took his first unaided steps.
Once they had all gone home, it was time to chill with a Doctor Who / Call the Midwife and Gavin and Stacey TV marathon. I LOVED all three and so happy with the Gavin and Stacey finale.
Thursday 26th December
Tesco decided it needed to open on Boxing Day and it fell on one of my working days, so I was back to work, whilst my husband and the kids went to Nanny’s house for a games day.
We got “the Wheel” game for Christmas and they loved so much they played it again when I got home from work, complete with spinning contestants in and out of the kitchen on an office chair.
Friday 27th December
Isaac got invited away on holiday to Devon, with a friend from school, so I dropped him off before work. His friends mum sent me regular updates, including pictures of him taking part in lots of sporting activities. Apparently he also ate very well – must have been all that exercise!
Saturday 28th December
Another work day for me, Eliza went out with her friend to a sing-along-Wicked cinema showing and my only photo’s of of Isaac having fun!
Sunday 29th December
Finally a day off and it was an earlyish start as we had 11am panto tickets.
We always love the Poole panto and this years production of Sleeping Beauty was brilliant, with the perfect amount of tongue-in-cheek humour and silliness.
Monday 30th December
Isaac is home, exhausted, but he had a blast.
We lost Willow for a few days over Christmas. We eventually found her in the garden, having managed to get out of the house through the cat flap. Luckily we didn’t have any frosts, so she was cold but OK and seems to have come to no harm.
The cat flap is now glued shut!
Tuesday 31st December
New Years Eve and another day at work, again on the close. It was surprisingly busy and I was shattered by the time I got home. I normally do around 12,000 steps at work a day but over the Christmas period I did double that. Thankfully my husband understood the missing and had a bath waiting for me when I got home.
I’d love to say I saw in the New Year, but I was asleep by 10.30pm.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!