Wednesday 22 December 2021

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday 655

655 is kind of a nice almost round number for Christmas Week isn’t it. Well done everyone, we’ve arrived. Almost at the point of looking around you and thinking, ‘oh well, if it’s not done now, it’s no longer part of my plan’. Seriously, try it tomorrow afternoon; it may well lift a serious amount of unnecessary and frankly, work that no-one will notice from your shoulders. 
The only paper play I’ve had in the last week was a marathon wrapping fest, can’t show you that. Jan and I had a long overdue, long chat on FaceTime on Monday. It was good to see her. If you’d like to do the same, holler, it’s so easy to set up. As is her industry, when we FaceTime, Jan usually knits or crochets and I felt a bit silly with nothing on the go. I grabbed an old, once damp box that has been in Mr Dunnit’s workshop for a long long time and started work.
This is his collection of football cards that came from boxes of tea. Or teabags, he can’t quite remember. No surprise there, given the age of the cards. I’ve experienced some snot laughing at hairstyles and erm, the length of the shorts in some of the pictures! Here’s a bit of a close up….
Ignore the roll of wrapping paper. Sellotape has been returned to this room from its short stay on the dining table, so any last minute wrapping is to be done in here now. Actually the football cards and the wrapping paper sum it up really…a bit of a jumble, but very nearly there chez Dunnit. I hope you are too. Today will be bit of a run around, our baby gal and current squeeze are coming home this evening. (I call him that to keep him on his toes, but it’s been six years so it’s probably a bit old now) I had worked out a sort of menu for all the comings and goings and I’m a bit behind on preparations for that, and I’m booked in to visit Mama this morning. I feel for the care home staff, protocols for visiting are quite complicated and we’re back to full PPE again which is an additional pull on their time, getting kitted up in reception and hearing all of us who visit say the same things again and again is probably not so much fun for the second year!  I haven’t made a single mince pie yet, and that recently referred to ‘current squeeze’ is very partial, so would like to welcome them both home with at least the appearance of near readiness! And I know loads of you don’t, but I do, so there’s a pile of ironing waiting too. I save it to do when I’m cold, saves putting the heating on! 
Now please share your state of readiness and what you’re working on, it will be marvellous to see you. 
If you're unlikely to have time to check in again, please may I wish you a warm and happy Christmas, and remind you that someone from this marvellous community will be thinking about you at some point over the next few days. I know this because I think of you and your different settings more than ever at this time of year, and I’m an average representative, so I know that others do too!







25 comments:

Helen said...

What a lovely post. I always know that you at least will be thinking of all the deskers over Christmas. I think I am ready, apart from defrosting the beef (bought early in case I got a positive lateral flow and got stuck inside!) and swapping gifts with my brother (really must ring him!) Wishing you, Mr D, Miss D and her current squeeze the happiest of Christmases and remember - eat, drink and be merry! Lots of love, Helen xx

Mary Anne said...

I have already adopted your very sensible attitude about letting things go.I’ve sorted the stockings and so long as I remember to take a couple of integral items out of the freezer in time, I declare myself ready for Christmas! Desk hopping today, amidst a number of things not really Christmas related, and then, just a few days more, and….exhale till next year! A most warm and welcoming Christmas greeting to you and all the Wonderful Woyww folk!
Mary Anne

Sarah Brennan said...

Good luck with the rest of the prep Julia - hope the 'current squeeze' gets mince pies lol. Thanks also for the card which arrived last week. Merry Christmas, Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #4

Lunch Lady Jan said...

It was good to catch up! I think there were things still waiting to be talked about but we ran out of time 😁 Have a marvellous Christmas with Miss D and Mr O, that’s the best present!
Lots of love
LLJ 5 xx

Neet said...

What a lovely cheery post.
Sad to say I haven't made a single mince pie. With the huge variety on sale I just keep buying the odd box to try to see which is my/our favourite. I can make pastry but I don't like doing it, the fat and flour in my fingernails - ugh!
Well, those cards brought back many happy memories (and laughter) at the mullets etc.
Enjoy your family being with you and have a stress free, wonderful, Happy Christmas.
Lots of Love
Neet 3 xx

Annie said...

Well done you for your preparations. I’m all wrapped up and as ready as I will be now. Just a couple of strawberry trifles to make today and that’s it for me. Once again I must thank you for another year of running the show and keeping us all in order (as if anyone could keep me in order!!). We love you lots and here’s hoping you have a wonderful time with your gal and her squeeze. Let’s hope 2022 see this virus moving on and we can all return to somewhere nearer our normal lives.
Biggest hugs,
Annie x

Kyla said...

Ooh lovely update and those football cards bring back memories. Hope the mama visit goes ok and enjoy the downtime over the festive period.
Kyla

Lynn Holland said...

Good morning Julia and thank you for the lovely gonk card it’s stood up next to the Christmas tree keeping an eye on proceedings. Thank you for all you do in keeping us all together, you are amazing.
Enjoy your family time. Merry Christmas
Lynn xxx

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Sounds like you're in a good frame of mind for the festivities. We are trying to make as much as we can of Christmas for my mum but probably wont see anyone else, it will be a big surprise if we do and that will only be through the window for mum's sake. We are giving the carers half a day off though I know they will still have plenty of others to visit so not really a holiday for them. They are saints for sure. We have lots of those cards that we collected over the years. We used to buy a set nearly ever time we went to the antique markets. Any way better go as I have an appointment for my new specs today but I'll get round everyone later. Take care and wishing you a very Merry WOYWW Christmas. Hug Angela x11x

Diana Taylor said...

Great post Julia, I love the football cards - I seem to recall having a George Best card but only because I liked him rather than football! Hope you get your mince pies made, and I hope you have a lovely Christmas with your family. Thank you for all you do to keep this lovely group going.
Hugs, Diana xx #12

BJ said...

Oh my the tea cards. I cut all my Mother's partner's ones in half and used as a treasure hunt thing when I was a kid! I was not in their good books! Makes me chuckle now though. Just the 3 of us here like every year, although one of son's friends did pop round yesterday with an amazingly hand drawn card for him. Oh and the ironing, yes I used to do when cold too, but had to stop doing it after the hand/wrist surgery and seem to have stopped altogether now! Wrist still sore so have arranged with my insurance to see the consultant again in the new year, wearing my splint at night helps a bit though. Ho Hum - which reminds me wrapping really hurt my wrist this year, usually enjoy wrapping but not this year, good job it is just the three of us. Hoping the New Year will bring further healing, this has been a difficult time for me. Hope you all have a lovely Christmas, BJ#13

Anne said...

Hi Julia. Surprise, surprise lol. I made it back. I still have mince pies to make and am hoping like .are my family will all make it as per plan but we know what happens to plans !!!!
Have a very happy Christmas.

Marit said...

Oh Julia, it's so good to be able to visit your deks - probably for the last time this year but I will keep on trying joining in every once in a while next team (My working contract is extended so in 2022 I will again be working on mo. tue and wedn.) I had a good laugh over the soccer-cards, I too have a few of those cards (Dutch ones) and I, too, am amazed by the haircuts and how old those men look while they must have been only just in their twenties... I do hope you have a marvelous Christmastime with your loved ones and a very healthy and happy New Year. See you again in 2022! Big hug from Holland! Marit #14

Crafting With Jack said...

Good morning Julia, your posts are always lovely and chatty. I still have 9 copies of the Unity Stamp to give away. Many said they wouldn't know what to do with one, so I am going to do a tutorial after Christmas. Wishing you a very happy Christmas x Angela #17

Susan Renshaw said...

Loved reading your post today Julia!

Mincepies are tomorrow's job...Sophie and I managed to find mincemeat in the supermarket today! We like to make version with orange pastry and a blob of cream cheese on top of the mincemeat. Pretty delicious!

My name is Cindy said...

Hi there Julia, well I think I'm ready, it's turned into a bit of a last minute low key Christmas for us but all the important bits are done - my only 'real' cooking contribution to the festivities is sausage rolls, we don't really do mince pi4es, and I had a cookfest yesterday so all prepared. Would love to hook up wityh you and Jan in the New Year!! Love n hugs, Cindy xx

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

A lovely post Julia! I often think of you guys (and by that I mean ladies - but it doesn't quite sound as cool that way LOL). Every time I get my dies out of the folder that Shaz sent me, I think of her. Hope your visit with your mama goes well. I do feel sorry for the care staff - this pandemic made their lives so much harder. Have a lovely time with your family this Christmas - and you're quite right, what hadn't been accomplished so far, is probably not worth worrying about now. I hope to be back next week too to wish you a happy new year as well! xx zsuzsa #21

Stacy Sheldon said...

I think that is just great that you are organizing those cards for him to enjoy them Julia. hope you got your pies done and I am sure they will feel welcomed home either way. enjoy those hugs! & Merry Christmas! ~Stacy # 23

Elizabeth said...

Hi Julia, your post is lovely. I think we all think of each and everyone more often than any of us individually would believe. You, through WOYWW, have developed a wonderful community of ladies who seem to only want the best for each other, so thank you for that.

I remember my brothers collecting those football cards when they were young but I don't suppose they've kept them, unlike Mr B. And on the subject of shorts - I'm always amazed at just how truly short those shorts were when some old footage is shown on TV!

I've more or less done all the prep I'm going to do until Friday when my fruit and veg order is delivered. Then I can get on with peeling the sprouts ... I loathe the horrible tiny cabbages but the men in my life love them!!!

Enjoy the visit to your Mama - I'm sure she will be delighted to see you no matter whether you're covered in PPE or not. I wish you and yours, including your daughter's 'current squeeze' a wonderful weekend. Merry Christmas,. Hugs, Elizabeth x #22

Lindart said...

Hi Julia! Just when we were hoping Christmas might be back to normal this year, we get hit with Omicron. Bah Humbug! Our DD and her family are coming home closer to New Years when we will celebrate Christmas then, so it will be a little lonely over Christmas proper. I'm glad your DD and her "current squeeze" are coming to you! Hopefully you will get that mince pie made! I wish you a wonderful Christmas, full of love, joy and family, which is, after all, what we need most! Lindart #24

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Had to stop by because you were on my mind. I also want to wish you a lovely Christmas. I hoe you are able to get everything finished on time. I got the last of my cards and tip-ins out last week and my house is decorated and sort of clean. Clean most would say, sort of for me! Hope it's a wonderful holiday, dear.

Helen said...

I have to confess, the wrapping papers in my photo on the post are 8 and 5 years old (thanks to FB memories for reminding me - so you using last year is nothing!!) Happy Christmas

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

I hope your visit with your Mother went well. I so miss mine, and I loved taking her to visit others within the Manor, but I haven't been back, I did send a few a Christmas card. I've just found my cards, will prepare a few and they'll be late, I stashed them in a drawer downstairs as we waited out the tornado. So baffled I forgot where I placed so many things, jewelry, keys, meds, etc. I loved the FaceTime I had with my son and 3 girls 2 1/2 hrs, you may have seen it on FB. I did send an email but no hurry on response. Wishing you and yours a grand Christmas. AND mince pie is my very favorite. I haven't had it since my divorce. 1998...his mother made them but you only got 1 piece. Celebrate, with a few toddies and all the good stuff.

Robyn said...

may the season bring you peace and grace..
Grateful for our friendship across the digital and oceanic miles!
Big love no you Julia!
Robyn

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

I knew even before I got here that you would still be thinking of other's the very thought of making mince pies raises my BP.. i'll stick to those extra buttery ones for the Mom's as just being able to be in our company is enough for them this year and Mom's handmade trifle (that's if she can remember how to make it..) Thank you so much for your beautiful Christmas card & those kind words, so sorry there really isn't enough free time to join you all each week but I too think of you all.
Wishing you a Happy, cosy Christmas, stay safe Hugs Tracey xx