Thank You...

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all my loyal readers a very happy festive season and to thank you for your continued readership throughout 2011!

It's been nearly 4 years since I started Secret Life of Ginger and as a writer there is no greater feeling than seeing people read your work.

So have a very, very Merry Christmas full of fun, friends, love, laughter, music and turkey sandwiches.

As much as I'd love to give you all a physical token of my thanks.. I'll instead leave you with a selection of Christmas tunes to get you in the spirit.... (see if you can guess what they are before you click the link!)

It was Christmas eve babe.. in the drunk tank, an old man said to me, don't say another word

Fall, on your knees, all hear the angels voices

Someday soon we all will be together, if the fates allow

Those Christmas lights, keep shining on 

Merry Christmas!

Love Miss Ginger xoxoxox

Packing Conversations #4

Last night I think the boy and I had our first argument. Over what I was intending to bring to Yorkshire for the festive season. This conversation was brought about by my lack of awareness of what people wear in Yorkshire, what the family protocol is for Christmas Day and our lack of a plan. Spontaneity require a larger wardrobe!

After much bickering about why I needed a large suitcase (we're going out 4 nights, you want me to look nice, I need at least 4 freaking outfits.. honestly) I humpfed and said whatever. Indeed, I was very cross with him and even more so when he did nothing but burst out laughing at my tantrum.

An Imaginary Christmas

Today, I sit at my desk listening to the strains of Big Ben heralding the arrival of 8.00am and one of my colleagues experimenting with his new speakers by blasting out Christmas carols. The countdown is on for everyone and I'm rather excited that I finish work tomorrow lunch time!

It has filled me with a sense of melancholy as Christmas, as much as I love it, never lives up to my expectations. In my head I imagine a magical time where miracles happen, people find romance and long-lost loved ones miraculously make it home for the special day. In my head, everyone should sit round the fire (or air-conditioning) watching It's A Wonderful Life, drinking wine and wrapping presents wearing novelty knitwear.

A case of the Man-Flu

After a string of rather gloomy posts from yours truly I’d like to bring this blog back to its traditional light-hearted commentary of unimportant things.

I’m feeling rather guilty to be honest, for a reason that I will share with you today. I’ve had a lingering cold the past few days and I’m afraid to say I’ve given it to the boy, who has now officially got the Man Flu.

Really, I should have refrained from being in his personal space when my nose was running like a leaky tap. But selfishly, I was unable to resist his delicious kisses and cuddles. After all, they made me feel better and forget that I was feeling under the weather.

Old Fashioned Values

I found myself liking David Cameron lately. Particularly his recent call to return to Christian values, which despite a bit of a backlash makes perfect sense to me.

Rarely do I admit my religious beliefs, mainly because I have many friends whose opinions are staunchly opposite to mine and I was brought up that some things should be kept private. But I have to say, that the return to some Christian values, would do us all the world of good.

To me, this has absolutely nothing to do with promoting Christianity over different religions, as for the most part the fundamental values of each religion are the same. And its these that we should start to embrace.

A grim outlook

Reading the paper on the way home from work yesterday was just freaking depressing. All doom and gloom, double-dip recession, excessive government spending, the Eurozone, North Korea, shops closing their doors. 

It seems the media want to terrify us into believing the worst for 2012. I ended up leaving my 20 minute train journey feeling utterly despondent. 

But then I got home, and I busied myself by doing 2 loads of washing, changing my sheets, wrapping some last minute presents, shaving my legs and cooking pasta. It's a well prove fact that doing things and the old "keep calm and carry on" mentality is an excellent distraction from the woes of society. 

The December Pinch

Today, the expense of the festive season well and truly hit. With social catch ups around every corner and last minute gifts, my bank balance has been taking a pounding. 

It was much easier when I lived on the Sunshine Coast and never did anything. But as I insisted on moving to one of the world's most expensive cities in the middle of a recession I must start cutting my costs. But the question is where? 

Potentially, I could look at cutting some friends out as a money saving exercise. After all, the less friends you have the less social occasions one must attend. But then I'm afraid I'd get horribly bored and spend money on wine, fancy underwear and dresses I don't need in order to amuse myself. 

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

I love Christmas wholeheartedly and every year delight in tinsel, lights and buying presents for the people I love.

However, it seems that this year in the office, the only person rockin’ around the Christmas tree is me. Or rather, I would if there was a christmas tree.  

But it seems not everyone shares my disappointment at the lack of tinsel. But to these people I’d like to make the following points.

No I don’t want a bag, thanks

I’ve never been overly environmentally conscious. But lately I’ve been feeling somewhat angry at being surrounded by a complete lack of regard for wastage.

In many office, we for some reason have a shortage of tea-spoons. So instead of buying more, or everyone just keeping theirs for the day, we go through literally HUNDREDS of plastic spoons each day, with people letting them pile up in the sink. Likewise, our kitchen recycling bin is frequently full of food scraps and things that are very clearly not recyclable. And the rubbish bins full of recyclables. Sigh.

But what baffles me most is when you go to a supermarket and purchase one or two items, and the conversation goes something like this…

Pondering the future

I don’t often like to comment on political manners. I was brought up to believe that it’s bad manners to talk about politics and religion in public.

Today’s strikes have got me pondering the current state of the economy and the government, and I find the whole thing very scary. 

We are so used to being in the “I want, I get” generation, with endless credit facilities, rapid job progression and the world being at your fingertips.