Things I found when cleaning out my desk at work

So it’s a Thursday afternoon, and we are getting ready to move to a clear desk system at work.  I hate clear desk systems.  And to make it harder, they are taking away desk drawers and moving to a hot desk model.  Yuck.  I spend so much time at my desk, that I like to have photos up and post its etc.  I have always been this way.  My first real desk at an insurance brokers, more years than I care to count ago, was covered in photos of my friends and family.

So, today, I set out to clear off my desk.  To clear out the drawers and to throw away a lot of stuff.  I found all manner of things.  I found fold up Frisbees, that are now being thrown around the office, I found ex staff passes, I found a lot of stuff that belongs to a team I have not worked in for 2 years.  It all went back to them to deal with.

And I found this – its Sam’s first letter to Santa.  Awwww – the translation is Dear Santa, Bee costume please, love Sam.  I remember that year vividly.  Sam was 4.  It was the first Christmas that I was spending away from my family.  My sister was still working and she scanned and sent me this gem.  It goes with the Christmas card that he sent me.  Or if you were Sam aged 4, Chrimmas.  I treasure both of these things.  There was also a copy of his Santa photo that year.  Awww.  Sam received a bee costume that year – my sister found one for him.  And the result was very cute.  

This time three years ago, I was a home for Christmas.  It was for my sisters wedding.  Since then, I have another nephew to bore people silly with.  His name is Archie and he is adorable.  It was a great Christmas – I spent it in the sunshine, we sat outside, ate way to much and I enjoyed seeing my family.  I headed up the coast for New Year, had a great wee impromptu concert with friends and generally had the time of my life.  Every now and then when I think about that Christmas, it makes me smile.  My friends keep telling me how happy I looked and how content I seemed.  Yep, London agrees with me.

Two years ago, I had my first and last pub Christmas.  It was brilliant, lots of London orphans gathered together and ate till we could eat no more, drank till we could drink no more and generally ran amok.  The next day we cested on couches and watched movies till way to late.  I loved that Christmas so much.  I miss the players of that Christmas - most of them are scattered around the globe now.  But we will facetime on Christmas day, hopefully - hint hint, you know who you are!

 

Last Christmas I was in Brussels – freezing, not quite snowing, and spent Christmas Eve in Brugges.  This year, I am heading to Norway with a group of friends, to try my hand at a hostel Christmas.  I am being very brave, I really am not a hostel fan.  I am hoping for good wifi so that I can facetime with my family, there is nothing better than speaking to excited nephews on Christmas Eve.  Well maybe actually being there for cuddles would be better, but this is a close second.  The number of times I have answered the question – Nicca are you coming home for Christmas this year?  To have to say no and be answered with upset whining.  The only thing that heals that cut is a chat to them on Christmas morning.  

I love Christmas – I love the tacky decorations, I love the iceskating, I love the buying and giving of gifts, I love the mulled wine, I love the family or friends time, I love overfed naps and I love watching Christmas movies like Love Actually.  This year, as with every other year, I reach this stage, the before I knock off for the year stage, where I just want to slap a number of people and am at my wits end, and then after a week or so off, I am back to my sunny happy self.  I used to find a week at the beach did wonders for my soul.  The last few years I have had to make do without the beach, but a few days off always makes me feel better.

Christmas can be hard when you are so far from home, I remember as a child my aunt calling from England, how much that must have cost her!  I am thankful for Facetime, which other than the cost of the internet is free.  Its essential to surround yourself with an urban family and celebrate as hard as you can, so that you don't feel the ache of the people who are not there.

So that is my Christmas, a few nights away, with snow and lots of booze – hopefully.  Where are you spending yours?  What are you up too?  Do you love Christmas as much as me?