Work again this morning, a shorter shift though, and my last before Christmas.
Dad was over with Davies and Scarlett and we had a potential tenant viewing booked for 11am, so Dad and the kids were fully briefed on what they could and couldn’t do and say, I lit a fire and with strict instructions for no one to eat any candy canes I headed off to work.
Work was good, several of my favourite borrowers came in and exchanged festive banter. Earlier this week I was talking with friends about how public libraries simply aren’t financially viable, how they service a minority and are very vulnerable under the scrutiny of the cost cutting local government spotlight. Today I was reminded anew of just how very important we are to that minority though. They won’t be taking to the streets to march and protest, their vocal thanks comes in the way of boxes of biscuits and chocolates to the staff come Christmas or Easter but they should count, they should be included in the shouting hoardes…blimey, had a socialist moment there… 😉
During my tea break I checked my phone to find a message from the letting agents cancelling the appointment. I rang home to let Dad know but he’d also had a message. When I got home at lunchtime the agent had rung again to let us know why the appointment had been cancelled – because the tenant was looking for somewhere long term rather than the 1 year only term we are looking at. Disappointing but it was so quick I had already convinced myself nothing could possibly come of it anyway.
Back at home I made lunch for us all and while we were eating our friend Bruce turned up with Christmas cards and tin of chocolates for the kids. He stayed for about an hour and chatted to my Dad too, then they left within a few minutes of each other.
I marzipanned both Christmas cakes and iced and decorated one. I thought i had some royal icing sugar but I only had glace. I did one with that anyway and added hand drawn holly leaves and berries with writing icing. Ady picked me up some royal icing on the way home for the other one.
In previous years the kids have decorated a pillowcase each for stockings. This year I ran up an oversized stocking shape each for them to use up some of my fabric stash and they decorated them instead. While they were busy with that I made the second cuddly duck for Scarlett. I also re-did the beak on the first one. I am only semi-happy with them but she adores them and proclaimed them ‘bound to be my best present!’ which is all that matters.
We tidied up and I made them some tea then Ady arrived home. After some debate about our dinner Ady and Davies nipped out again to get pineapple and pepperoni for pizza while Tarly and I watched some Deadly 60. I did some more wrapping (just the tiniest bit left to do now, always feels right to have some still to do on Christmas Eve somehow). Ady and Davies came home, the kids went to bed and suddenly it’s ridiculously late again!