Lazy life

Thank you for all the positive comments! I think I have landed now, and although the fear of the unknown still hits me every now and then, I am more happy now than I have been in a long time. With the financial crisis and all that, this is possibly the worst time ever to suddenly be unemployed, but I will not let that affect me. Proper job hunting begins next year...

So, what have I been up to? Well, we had some friends over for a mini Christmas party (rather unplanned, but still successful). Tim made a big pork roast (very yummy) and I tried to make Yorkshire puddings for the first time ever (and yes, it is more or less a normal pancake recipe). Mum and dad had brought us some Christmassy candle holders and table cloths, and Tim and I bought some really tacky Christmas lights, as well as dug out my old decorations (mostly hand painted Santas) and our straw (hay?) goat from IKEA (a year-round decoration for us) was placed in front of the fireplace. I even managed to dig out my Absolute Christmas-CD, so the transformation of the flat was complete. I now feel very much in mood for the holidays!

Last night we had Peter and Elena over for dinner. Last chance to see them before the holidays, so we wanted to make an effort. Unfortunately, we weren't too keen on the date: Tim had to go to Paris at 5 o'clock this morning (meaning getting up at 3!), so we were rather stressed hosts but still had a very good time. Peter and Elena (as the good academics they are) gave me gifts as a congratulation to being finished - a book and two Wii games... So we spent the last part of the evening playing on the Wii. Who knew that Australians were so good at winter sports? Englishmen being rubbish was, of course, nothing new.

Today, I'm slowly starting to pack. I've booked by coach ticket to Stansted (wow, that airport is far out!) - a bit scared, since I'm using a new company for the first time, but I'm sure it'll work out. I've also called my mobile phone operators again - and hey! this time I am allowed to use my phone abroad without having to pay £100... Don't know if I should be happy, or annoyed. Probably happy! I'm still waiting for the last load of laundry (which, hopefully, will have time to dry), and updating the contents on my mp3-player (no, it's not an iPod, I hate iTunes). I'm slightly worried about how to get all the things in the bags, but think I might actually leave the laptop behind (and that is shocking!). I'm sure there's one I can borrow at home. Wow! The work me is slowly evaporating...