R.I.P Lauren Grahame (28.12.95)

As you can guess, the title explains it all. Today is not the best day in the world for me or the family. After the joys of Christmas, a dark cloud descends over our house because we lost our sister/daughter back in 1995. She's always in my mind and I wonder what life would have been like if she was with us. Today I wish my dearest sister Lauren Grahame a Happy 19th Birthday.

I would have had 2 younger sisters in my family but instead I only have 1.
Back on 28th December 1995, my sister Lauren was born prematurely like me however she only lived for 1 day. I would show you a picture but I can't seem to find the book that it's in and come to think about it it would cause distress because you'd see a baby hooked up to a machine full of wires...
My parents told me and Becca when I must have been around 10 years old or a little under, Becca would have been 4 years younger. We were told by Mum and Dad that we have another sister in the family who unfortunately didn't make it like us. On that day when Mum showed me a Baby Record Book (like the one for me and Becca) and told us that a girl was born on 28th December 1995 and was named Lauren.

To this day, it's still tough to cope with and will do forever. People say you should move on and continue to treasure her memory to which I do, but you can't treat her birthday like it's nothing and when she's in my head of course I'll have a hole in my heart and then the following day all will be calm again.
It's hard to explain how reminiscing someone is painful and joyful at the same time whether tears are happy or sad.

Today like every annual 28th December (along with several other days throughout the years) we all head on over to Horsham Cemetery to pay our respect to her. We clear off the autumn leaves on her birthday and remove the small Christmas decorations and tinsel we left for her back in Nov. And also bring new silk bouquets and make sure no fairy statues have been damaged by the seasons. Being in the graveyard is interesting as it makes me question and wonder about death itself, not in a suicidal way (god no) but more of a glimpse into how much longer I will come back here as I grow older and life takes over too, plus what will I do with anyone else who's dear to me and passes on. But theres no need to think like that since we are all living our lives to the fullest and if we feel s**t one day, then the rest can be better.

Sadly today, I've had a lot of anger and hatred in my head and heart. I think it's because this day just gives me a bad vibe but it doesn't mean whenever I think about her then I get mad, it's just hard to accept since she was never really given a chance. But I know tomorrow I'll feel good again as time passes on a little and by New Year's I'll be in great company and won't have any negativity floating around my head.

I regret to admit that I have crossed the line once or twice where I took Lauren's name in vain. With Rebecca, I love her dearly but like every pair of siblings we argue, fight and try to hurt each other and just one time when I had had enough of the arguments or threats we throw at each other. I once said "I wish Lauren was here instead of you!" I know it was wrong and I later apologised to her and Mum made me aware of how wrong it is to think that way, let alone announce it. Of course I still think it sometimes but it all blows over like hot steam since I just want to hurt her as badly or more as she tries to hurt me (but not physically since we hardly fight).

The sad truth always hurts and no matter how much I try to understand and cope, I still feel even worse to learn the truth about what Lauren would be like if she had pulled through back then. According to Mum, if Lauren had survived then she would be severely disabled. I always imagined that she would be more sensible than me or Becca. And this crushes my imagination as to when I always imagined having one of those family portraits where both sisters were on top of me and had me in a painful position in to submission for laughs. Knowing this awful truth just crushes all my hopes and dreams as to wishing she were alive for real.
Fate is cruel and now all I can do is just treasure her memory, tell people I did have another sister and just hope that whatever happens when life ends that if the "Good Book" is correct then I will see her again someday. But it does make me wonder as to how I'll cope when Mum, Dad or even Becca passes on, but then I remember and believe that I'll have a family of my own and will honour their memory as much as I do with Lauren.
This post isn't the nicest to read as I shed a tear writing this up. But I end it knowing that I have released my stress onto this page and feel better about everything and know that "I can't let one sad day make me feel I have a bad life!" and I heard this one from a good friend "Sometimes you have to forget about all the things that are upsetting you, and focus on the things that make you feel happy" of course I won't ever forget her, I just can't let her memory be sad and I reckon over time and thanks to the comfort of my family and friends, it will get easier to deal with.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day 2014

It may be a day or two later but like they say "better late than never" right? How have you all been this Christmas? I hope it's been just as Awesome as mine! I've had 3 eventful days that all went smoothly. Take a look at what happened to me this Christmas.

Christmas Eve:
Turned up for work as usual but we all did our part and luckily finished by 12pm on the dot. Being the good lad I like being, I wished everyone around the departments a Merry Christmas before driving home with a smile on my face, listening to Owl City during a blue sky midday.
On the way back to Horsham, I found the perfect opportunity that I couldn't pass up and decided to park safely (with my hazard lights activated) along Ifield Wood to take a couple pictures of a field I always pass by when driving home through the back roads, just getting a glimpse of the scenery while driving gave me a spontaneous urge to get a photo, it was so worth it and I didn't make any issues with a few passing cars, yay.

I made this using the Diptic app on my phone

Anywho, I decided to head to the gym and do my session and later on I met up with Richard for our jog around the park at sunset. Unfortunately my phone's battery died and we just made a big guess on the time it took us to do 3.39miles (5.45km), still not near 4 miles but that one time on the treadmill was lucky and now we both agree that actual jogs are better than being cooped up in a room with others and looking at the same thing during the run. I'm pretty sure we'll make 4 miles asap since we made 3.49 miles (5.62km) back on the 17th.
I was supposed to do hoovering but that wasn't happening cause I had other important priorities like sharing Christmas presents with Kurt over at his. We knew what we were getting each other since we both wanted specific Marvel FUNKO POP's ha ha. My Avengers wrapping paper felt perfect for Kurt's prezzies. We both got the Awesome Deadpool and he got me The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and I got him the original Captain America.

I finished my Marvel Advent Calendar and found out that on the back were 2 cutout bookmarks so I gave one to Kurt too since I was going to his anyway. Stache was quite naughty since he loves exploring the Christmas Tree...
So it was quite the exhausting eve for me full of aching muscles and tiny stress but it was all worth it and me and the family were ready for the next morning.




Christmas Day:

Fantastic Christmas! Super Spoiled!!!
From Becca:
- Guardians Of The Galaxy
- The Fault In Our Stars
- Family Guy Season 14
- Chocolate Game Controller (looks like a GameCube controller)
 From Mum and Dad:
- Adventure Time Season 1 & 2
- Godzilla
- Dancing Groot Funko Pop
- A Million Ways To Die In The West
- The Evil Within Game
- Pac-Man T-Shirt
- Weekday Socks (which I actually love!)
- Chocolates

Everything is Awesome!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!!

Stache stuck his
tongue out at me

Usually me and Rebecca get up bl**dy early but this time we ended up sleeping in till 10.15ish and to tease her even more, I wanted a nice shower before ripping open presents (what? I wanted to look good and clean for when Mum took the photos). I knew what Becca was getting me cause I was there when she purchased the DVDs but she has a few extra tasty surprises and I had some expensive thoughtful gifts for her too. Mum and Dads was all surprise but my big one that they'll go 1/4 payment on is now delayed till Jan/ Feb when I make the final call on deciding if I'll purchase a Macbook Pro as part of my New Years Resolutions and aim to help me practise coding, photoshop, the adobe's etc. But everything was perfect and what more could I have asked for.
Mum and Dad were a little under the weather (whether that's hungover or coming down with the flu, I don't know) but after Mum's special Roast. As they went to sleep, Becca and I had a film marathon of watching Frozen and then she showed me Mean Girls. Very interesting film and it was nice to see Lindsay Lohan looking hot and great before the state she's become now sadly.
But the best day of the year was tomorrow (as well as a certain day in the summer) as I mentioned in my previous post about how special it is to be with your whole family.

Boxing Day:Mum and Dad were unwell to join me and Becca as I drove us to Horley to meet (most) of my Mum's side of the family. I took the back roads since I admit awkwardly and embarrassingly that I've never driven on the motorway before... there I said it. I'm just gonna copy and paste a bit of what I said in the previous post to help make things much easier for me.
You see in my Mum's side of the family, she is one of 6 children to my grandparents and they have 13 grandchildren. I'm the 3rd eldest out of 14 and every year on Boxing Day, we all gather at Nana and Grandads for a special reunion and come together. This year, the 1st eldest grandchild Louise and her husband (Dave) with the girls Imogen and newborn Megan along with Louise's brother Mark (2nd eldest grandchild) and their parents Sharon and Steve all couldn't make it along with one auntie and other grandchild, still it was excellent company (if I was to explain it all and list the family like who's part of what family in the pictures, then I'd diverge myself from the current subject and make things even more complicated and boring like I am doing right now ha ha).

Kyle, Aunty Natalie
and UncleTrevor

Kyle, Nana and Aunty Jane

This year was extra special because when I turned up and explained why we took a little longer, my Auntie Keeley offered to come in the car with me and take me down the motorway cause my parents are always busy to take me down there. It went super well and I was relieve to have driven us down from Gatwick to Pease Pottage and back... alive and I also accomplished something that's long overdue and now I have nothing to fear and doubt about when life takes me along that endless motorway.






After returning we all took part in a silly but hilarious game which involved talking without showing your teeth (like an old person) and choose a subject and all speak out an answer without showing your teeth otherwise your out. That was funny and as ridiculous as it sounds, it's a great game to play (besides my favourite horrible game I like called Cards Against Humanity). I also ended up taking a phew selfies of 2 special and AWESOME things I got in Primark a couple weeks ago, I don't care if they look childish, I look AWESOME!

Aunty Keeley

Thomas, Charlie
and Uncle Steven

I love this day so much because to me and I tell everyone that because of the size of my family, I feel that because of my personality that I am in my own way, Peter Pan and the lost boys and girls because I like to have fun and play games with all ages and just be happy and jolly on this fine day for celebrating plus I never really grow up and don't act my age at all. Instead of doing a feast for the size of the family, we all bring buffet foods and just share it all. Nana was feeling a little ill too but she pulled through and still enjoyed herself despite having a soar throat.

Megan, Rebecca
and Uncle Ray

Uncle Darren and his
girls, Grace and Megan

Grandad

Later on, everyone was tearing open presents and it only seems natural and right that once I turned over the age of 18 that I wouldn't receive gifts anymore (but that doesn't stop my grandparents from giving me £20 and a Lynx Africa set plus my Aunty Keeley and her family still give me £10). I even got Nana some Dove Nivea products

Nice socks, Grandad

and Grandad a Kindle voucher and Keeley bought Grandad some funny and funky socks that had everyone smirking. Not long, it turned into a wrapping paper ball fight and it was brutally funny that everyone took part in and we sustained no casualties.

It was time to head home later on as we ended the night with Charades, I drove me and Becca down the motorway successfully. And not long after arriving home, I headed back out to Horsham to meet my "big sister" and close friend Becky for us to exchange gifts. I couldn't wait to show her the Hunger Games t-shirts I got off eBay and she got me an Iron Patriot Marvel FUNKO POP. We spent a good few hours catching up since September and chatting about Anime, Horrors, Doctor Who, Adventure Time etc you know the cool stuff. I look forward to seeing her again next year especially once I've acquired the Macbook Pro cause her friends and some of mine with Lewis can help teach me some things about it and show me some special creative software's that are a must have.

As for today, it's been a lazy day. Mum and me ended up watching Battleships for the first time (despite all the negative feedback most of my mates gave it), we both actually enjoyed it besides Rihanna's appearance in the film along with my main man, Liam Neeson. This finally got round to right before the stroke of 12.
I regret to end the post on a sad note of how tomorrow isn't the best day in the world and I'll explain more tomorrow evening but also add joy and peace to it since you shouldn't always mourn loved ones and we must continue our lives while keeping their memory with happiness and not always sadness.

I hope you have all had an eventful Christmas and here's to New Years Eve which for me will be just as Awesome as last years, with the right people!

The Joys Of Christmas

Christmas is a real special time for the world to enjoy and my personal favourite time of all. I love how people come together and share gifts and everyone is just so cheerful, festive and happy (most of the time ha ha).
December has been great (as always) and this year I've been enjoying myself whether it's finding special presents for my great friends or spending time with my family and friends and just feeling wonderful cause "'Tis the Season". Though putting up the tree is a hassle but it looks and feels perfect once it's done but now I gotta keep a watch on the cats as they take the baubles off and have taken to climbing the tree... darn kitties.

I've had every Friday off throughout December and it has been GOOD, it's nice having a three-day weekend and I now have an annual plan for next December's Fridays. I've been buying t-shirts for all my girl friends Camilla "Mills", Becky and Ellie who are that close to me that I feel I can call them "big sisters" except for Ellie who is younger. I'm gonna upload the pictures on or after Boxing Day depending if I have time to write up a post on the 25th or 26th cause I don't wanna spoil the special gifts I got them all.
Because this isn't really secret, I can tell you that Kurt and I were buying each other Marvel FUNKO POP's we both needed, I bought him Deadpool and Captain America (Marvel Universe) and he bought me a Deadpool and The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The pics will be up on Boxing day or something. Everything is all been wrapped up in special Avengers wrapping paper I got at The Entertainer last weekend.

Nana, Grace, Imogen, Louise, Keeley, Sharon and Darren

The weekend that's just passed was really special. You see in my Mum's side of the family, she is one of 6 children to my grandparents and they have 13 grandchildren. I'm the 3rd eldest and every year on Boxing Day along with a day in the summer and in Easter too, we all gather at Nana and Grandads for a special reunion and come together. I'll talk more about that on Boxing Day's post but as for this week early gathering, the 1st eldest grandchild (Louise) and her husband (Dave) who have 2 adorable girls Imogen and newborn Megan along with Louise's brother Mark and their parents Sharon and Steve all came up for a weekend of seeing family members as they can't make Boxing day most years. The picture doesn't show everyone but I can tell you, it was lovely seeing the little ones. Imogen was adorable and playful and enjoyed watching Piglet's BIG Movie with me while her parents went to get medicine for her sick baby sister, who was full of cold unfortunately. Everyone in the family managed to drop in to see them apart from Dad due to work, but despite the quantity, the quality was great and it was like an early Boxing Day which will be the best family day of the year as it is every year especially for me.

Lorna and Wendy

At last today I had the pleasure of giving a special gift to my two managers at work who are like Mum's to me, having known me since I started working at Evans Cycles and have taught me sarcasm (yep) and are real pleasures to work with and know me so well (that last bit wasn't sarcasm... or was it?!)
Any who, since the beginning of December, I bought a Despicable Me Dave Minion action figure that makes funny sound effects when his head is titled front back or side to side along when his tummy or tongue is touched. They were both ecstatic and very pleased that I bought them something to share so it's more of an office based present unless they work out sharing routers ha ha.
All day during this hectic busy Monday, they've been patrolling the work area making Dave fart and "banana" and keep us all giggling while working. This means the present was a success and I have started something annoying and can't stop it, I bet the batteries will die out by Christmas ha ha.

Today, I had a half-day which concludes all my 28 holidays (2 of them used for Boxing day and Christmas day this year) and I was re-united with my best mate Lewis who turned 22 today. I also got to meet his new girlfriend Lucy who was lovely. I bought Lewis an Xmas and birthday present, his Xmas present was a ProDeck Workshop for building miniature skateboards, since he's a skateboard fanatic and his birthday present was a unique Defend Pop Punk t-shirt which included a sticker and I got him another sticker of RiseRecord's Issues Triangle self titled album too from when I got one too back on the 12th when I got some stuff from RiseRecords. He loved them all and I felt proud that I know my mate that well and I look forward to what he'll buy for me when he gets money after boxing day. For my birthday this year, Lewis got me a figurine of the main heroine of my favourite romance anime Clannad (which I'll be talking about next year) it's so special that it's still in it's box.

Looks like they've
been hunted

My lads are growing and becoming so used to the family. They've grown so much since we got them (although still small, I'd say length wise... about a forearm long) and are both chaotic and lovely to have as pets. Both of them love me a lot the most (I don't mean to brag, but I have to), they both rub their noses and whiskers across my cheek and purr loudly when I give them a gentle stroke whether they are on my lap or curled up together. They are definitely outdoing me and dad on the stinkiness of their leavings P.U, god these little crappers have a powerful odour when they take a dump and Stache always flicks the litter everywhere when digging sandcastles in the littler box (that or he's possibly OCD but it's annoying to clean up) ugh. I love ma boyz and they love us all dearly. I think they're coming up to almost being 6 months old aww.

Everywhere I go when going out this December, I see Christmas jumpers that all look festive, humorous and cool. I may not have a Christmas Jumper sadly but I do have my own special 1 year old Christmas "naughty" Tshirt of my favourite Family Guy character Stewie dressed as Santa (like in the f***ing hilarious episode with Brian) saying "I have been rather naughty. I reckon this is as good as it gets and I feel just as cool wearing something that can probably only be worn in this holiday season. 

I was curious though on some Christmas Jumpers that I always wanted such as this Reindeer one from Primark or a few Nerdy ones like Guardians Of The Galaxy, The Legend Of Zelda or Star Wars ones from Teefury.com. Along with 2 nostalgic jumpers from Yellowbulldog.com including designs of the first Sonic The Hedgehog game and the PlayStation Controller buttons. Why do the cool designs restrict to a short holiday that happens late in the year? *sigh* oh well, a man can wait until the right time to purchase something awesome and show off (when he's not working).

You're never too old to enjoy the little things and I was enjoying Marvel chocolates thanks to the advent calendar that Mum and Dad picked out so perfectly for me. Trust me it doesn't look like that anymore (like I'd forget about chocolate HA). On the back there are 2 small bookmarks to cut out when the chocolate is gone on 24th, it's nice isn't it when you are left with a little something after getting big from eating the chocolate. These will help when reading my Marvel Graphic Novels and Comics and I might give a bookmark to Kurt too.

Despite the bitter cold and frustrating mornings of having to scrape the ice off my car's windscreen and warming up the inside, I do enjoy the pleasant blue and colourful mornings that I get to wake up to and get a glimpse at when driving my way to work. Even the late afternoons have spectacular colours that glow when the sun hits the day. Someday next year, I'm gonna talk about my fascination with the sky and why it means so much to me.

As I mentioned above, I bought some awesome and bl**dy expensive RiseRecords stuff and it all came on the day of my Xmas Work do at the Komedia Club.
I got myself the following:- Issues and RiseRecords Logo Tank Tops
- Crown The Empire Stickers
- Issues Album Sticker
- RiseRecords Logo Sticker
And the CTE - The Resistance: Rise Of The Runaways and Of Mice & Men: Restoring Force Vinyls for Becca since I'm a good thoughtful brother. This all cost me a heavy $62 and expensive $36.40 shipping - just under $100 for everything. But it was all worth it!

How much have you all been spending on your loved ones? What makes you jolly about Christmas (I hope not singing those incessant Christmas songs which are nice but a pain when everyone is annoyed at work with hearing them on the radio especially since they are played from November.
This post was all the good bits of December. I'm pleased and proud of myself for everything this month and look forward to a smashing Christmas and wish you all a pleasant one too!

Evans Cycles Christmas Do 2014 - Komedia Club, Brighton

Last Friday, I had my Christmas Do and I returned to the Komedia Club, Brighton for a good night of comedy, food and dancing with all my work mates and colleagues.

I had the pleasure on that Friday, which was my day-off, of enduring an expensive day out purchasing clothes for myself, Rebecca and some close friends for Christmas. And later, I drove up to work near 4.50pm to jump on the coaches with everyone else and our destination was Brighton. We arrived after a good 40-50 mins drive (at least that's what it felt like), and headed inside ready for a good laugh.We headed down into the underground area of the Komedia Club and like last year I wasn't drinking since I was being the responsible "sober" man cause when we got back to work near 1.00am, I drove my Assistant Manager Lorna, my mate Kurt and a new friend I made on the coach back Jen home. I didn't want to risk even having one drink or a sip so I spent the evening drinking Coke like a hard man!!

But before all that, we were all given a 3 course meal with a fancy starter, a main course choice of Pork Belly , Roast Duck or Chicken and a dessert of either Dark Chocolate Torte or Cheesecake. I went for the Duck and Chocolate. The starter which I was given as a surprise was Salmon with Cheese which was actually not bad and the Roast Duck was excellent and very delicious with some rocket and sliced red onions. Lorna and me both agreed that the Chocolate Torte was amazing and looked like it could give us diabetes, but did that stop us?!

After we finished we got round to the laughs and giggles and our host was Stephen Grant who was an alright guy but wasn't really happy that some tables were talking over him to which he responded with putting that table on the scene and speaking even faster, which I couldn't really catch up on. Many of my friends all agreed that he was playing the same material and jokes to when he performed a year ago when we did our Christmas Do a year ago. It was a little disappointing and annoying for him that one table just wouldn't shut up and put a downer on the opening act.

After him, we had our first act, a hilarious Canadian dude called Sean Collins, who was a real delight and was mentioning all the silly facts of how coming into the country is funny and his life of dealing with his little son and of course we all saw the funny side of being a dad. I had no idea he appeared before on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow before (I found this out on Google Images and on his Twitter "seancollins66"), he's just as funny as Stewart Francis another Candian Comedian and a real genius at one-liners.

Stephen came back on and tried to interact with the audience including with one of my Portuguese mates Bruno. Stephen had a tough time trying to hear Bruno's clear responses and then tried with other people but it was just not going as planned. I'm not dissing him or his credability or anything, I'm only mentioning from my view of seeing him, I'm sure he's funny and a great guy.

And our last comedy act for the night was a tough looking Londoner called Jeff Innocent, he was different and spoke more of his background from East London and his life of still being young for his age and his interesting life with substances and stuff. Not to mention the awkward slight racism (in a funny way) of how he's the only white person in his family. Everyone all agreed that Sean and Jeff were fantastic and highly talented and left us all in hysterics.

Top: Me, Tommy, Sam
Bottom: Luis, Lewis and Viraj

As soon as that was all over, the dancing began. Nothing but the hits from the last 20+ish years but it was still better than hearing Christmas songs like all day on the radio station and rather not that heavy dub step like in most club's I've been to. Me and the Saturday lads (Tommy, Luis, Lewis, Viraj and Sam) along with our mate Kurt were all taking pictures and they were all pissed out of their heads ha ha. The big boss even bought most of the guys, who are around my age, shots once cause we're all a bad ass team and we were rewarded but I backed out for the right reasons, but it's the thought that counts. Most of the ladies there were fun and one girl, Helen was one minute dancing with me like a swinging cat and then next I'm being grinded by her while being hugged... yep. Bet she don't remember that happening now ha ha. The boys and my mates from my old department before the transfer in August (Bruno, Grant, Ben, Sam and Dave) and me all got photos with people including Vicky and some other hotties which was great, and we shared some group pictures too because why not?

Faded badly, crap.
Ben in the back, Sam inbetween me and Bruno

Luis, Kurt and Me

Bruno, Me and Grant

Everyone was having fun drinking except me, I saw the real side to the night while almost everyone else must have seen another side which must have been more fun but I stuck to my promise and took responsibility (ugh, no matter how much I felt a little left out compared to last year). 

Last year, I did a lot more including drinking 2 Vodka & Cokes, 3 Smirnoff Ice's, Half a Pint of Fosters, 2 j20's and shared my 1st Tequila with Dave. Quite eventful and the most awkward and gross thing happened to Kurt. I don't know if it was him or the others but less than an hour after we arrived he ran all the way outside and produced a beautiful puddle of yuck outside the club!! The guys told me he had mixed Red Wine with Beer, nice.... So he was carried home by the other boys and I thought to myself "I should go and help them" but then I ended up saying "Have fun with that guys, I'm going back inside!" Aren't I a loyal friend?! Glad that he didn't make the same mistake this year and was a lot more sensible, if he did it again I would have dunked his head in his mess.

Then at12.45am on Saturday, unfortunately it was time to head back on the coaches. I along with Lorna and some others all waited for the others who were returning by coach to jump on and then make our way back to work.
On the way back, I made a new friend and helped a damsel in distress. A lady called Jennifer who was next to Vicky, shouted out who's heading back to Horsham. I responded and she asked if I wanted to share a Taxi, while I proposed why not catch a lift with me, to which she was surprised and pleased that I was offering to help and kindly obliged. When we all got back to work we wished everyone a safe journey home, I picked up my fellow passengers and drove them all home to Langley Green then Bewbush and then not far from my house.
I had to grab fuel after dropping off Jen, and I found a double bill movie of the new Planet Of The Apes films and glady picked that up for £10 (I've seen the first one and am keen to see the sequel and witness Caesar's war).

Last year with:
Francesca, Tiago, Dave and Me

Looks like this year's special night was more funny but different in it's own way for me. Last year, I had no fun at all in the beginning, I was placed on a table with nobody I knew at all. I felt super uncomfortable and hurt inside and saw all my mates, the Saturday boyz and friends all on tables near each other. I was tempeted to leave and catch a train home since I figured the night wouldn't get any better. I mentioned this to Mum by text before the food came alonge, luckily she phoned my manager Wendy (who's like another mum to me) and she managed to pursuade someone on her table to swap with me so I could be with good company and my mates. It seems like I got my own way, does that make me selfish or spoiled?! I don't know but I was very grateful to the guy who swapped with me and helped rekindle my hope for the evening.
Later Dave became quite drunk and almost pulled a guy when I came back to the club after doing a head-count and forgot him!!!!. He told me he was trying to pull... But look at him now, a happy married man. So as we got the coach back to work, he asked me to phone his girlfriend to let her know that a) he's drunk and b) he needed a lift to Three Bridges train station. She came and helped us out and was lovely to meet. But I suffered a funny and confused Dave the following Monday (2 days later) and he asked me why I did all that especially telling his girlfriend that he was drunk. I laughed and replied with "How could she not notice?! Plus you told me to tell her?!" Boy was that funny and he ended up laughing too at his silly actions. My manager Wendy and her assistant Lorna still to this day, never let him forget what he did that Christmas Do of 2013.

So it's been good and I'm glad I went again and this time had great company, danced a lot and kept my cool and took responsibility like the adult I know I am. I wonder what next year's will be like and if I'll even still be at Evans. I also wonder if someday I'll be at a different Christmas Do or a casual suit and tie venue or something. But it wouldn't be as fun as this was with my good friends.