I have been mainly lurking recently as life has got crazy busy. I am still reading, but don't have as much time posting as I would like. I did not get the promotion that I had applied for before going on my big vacation. I was a little disappointed at first, but I have to say that at the moment I love my job more than I have in the last couple of years. We are making some tweaks to various job roles at the moment and it just so happens that I seem to be doing more of the things I like (training, coaching, team assist, etc.) and less of the ones I don't. Long may it continue!
One of the side effects of not getting the promotion is that my work life balance has been somewhat thrown into disarray. I don't drive and I have been car sharing with one of my co-workers for the last 3.5 years. He did get one of the promotions and is now on fixed hours whereas I continue to work shifts. It takes me a lot longer to get to and from work by train especially as I don't always manage to get away promptly either now that nobody breathes down my neck anymore. On a positive note, I do seem to have a lot more time to do things like listening to music and reading when commuting by train. I recently got a new phone. I went with the iPhone 4S and I am absolutely blown away by the sound quality.
I am nearly ready for Christmas. I have all presents apart from one stocking stuffer for Graham, that I ordered online and still has not arrived. Everything else is wrapped and ready to go. I have to get some ribbon to tie around the gift boxes that contain the presents for two of my co-workers and that is on the to do list for tomorrow. I managed to get the turkey, side dishes and Christmas pudding for our Christmas dinner today. I have Friday off this week and I am going to have to brave the crowds then to get the vegetables. Boxing Day, we will just have assorted hot canapes this year. I have to work all three days of Christmas and I will be on the late shift on Boxing Day. As there is no public transport on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, I had to hire a car and Graham will chauffeur me back and forth between home and work. He is lucky enough to be on vacation from December 24th to January 3rd. So that way, I can just put the canapes in the oven when we get back and we can eat 20 minutes later.
I had one Christmas party. I especially got myself a new evening gown for the occasion from the same seller I got the two wedding dresses from. In fact what drew me to it was that it has a similar top to the dress that I wore for the actual vow renewal, but the skirt looks pretty similar to the dress that I wore for the Trash the Dress photo shoot. Unfortunately it did not arrive in time. The party was on the Saturday, and the dress arrived on the Monday. Still, I will need to formal dresses for my next cruise so it will get worn then. It seems very fitting for the Prince and Princess theme of one menu.
Before the end of the week, I should hopefully able to add us to the list of people visiting WDW next year. We are hoping to be at WDW from November 17th to 26th. So by my reckoning I should be able to make my reservation at our home resort Old Key West tomorrow for the entire stay. We are hoping to do a split stay and spend 4 nights at VWL and 5 nights at OKW. However, I can't do anything about VWL until April. Still, even if we cannot get into VWL, we would both be happy to stay at OKW the entire time. We have not stayed there until October 2009 and we do love this resort.
Corinna
Loved the music! 
I know that happy feeling you will feel when you get the reservation booked! 
Elin and I are musicians, we would never think of THAT for such an important event! 
We were in the 2nd row that evening! Tori was taking the pictures and NPH did look right at her several times! 
) There were times during the CP when he was very serious; then times when he showed that adorable smile! 
I had that when I was prego with DD and very 
