Reflecting

So I didn't write a blog post every day but did keep going. In the spirit of done is better than perfect I've sometimes posted two in a row. I've gone back -fixed typos but not deleted any post. I've found this a little surprising, even though there are minimal views I expected to have some form of 'Bloggers Remorse'. I didn't go mad buying for Christmas, did get sick of the' what do you want for Christmas?' questions . Sounds ungrateful but as an adult, you don't want to ask for expensive gifts, you have most of what you need anyway(I'm aware that not everyone has this privilege) and the build-up goes on for so long you are kind of over the whole buying gifts thing. And people don't listen to you and buy extras. At least we got something for everyone. There was a mix up with or just ignoring of my Mothers attempt at Secret Santa. We were the only ones that heeded it and only bought for one...They weren't angry. I think they realised what had happened.
  Or maybe that's just me and my 13-year-old. She wanted so much to get things that were 'good' presents, but we ran out of steam. She was really enthusiastic then genuinely exhausted from the count down to Christmas and early school morning starts.
She does like going to the shops but not in the way her friends do. She was horrified when one of them filled up a basket in Penny's, got to the till and discovered it was more money than she had. She promptly got them to refund items. The staff or her friend took no notice, but she would have had to add it up, even roughly, before paying. I would have been midways between her friend and herself when I was younger. I may not have added up correctly before going to the till. Sometimes some small embarrassments help you mind your money without massive consequences.
 I say I didn't go mad shopping. That is until you see the actual haul altogether. I mean I don't buy or wrap my presents all at once so tend to forget what it actually adds up to. I used vouchers quite a bit as my daughter won €100 to spend on O Neill's website, but there was nothing she liked so I claimed it, and I had a €100 One4All which I used on Lifestyle Sports for her. I used discount codes, 3 for 2 /2 for 1 offer (only if I actually wanted the things), money off SuperValu vouchers, Tesco's, Iceland, Dunnes for regular food shops as I have been in Tralee a lot recently and just been better about storing/using food up. I had cash if I needed it then for Christmas. Really I'm trying to save up for when the Old Toyota gives up.
 I bought some chocolates, biscuits, drinks but didn't go overboard. We always get some so end up doing a sort of a swap with people. It means I have something in if someone calls but we won't be still wading through it by the end of January. The Organic Farmer is still avoiding most sweet things but had some Christmas day. Whiskey he rationed but could probably have done a bit more. It was spread out though, and his blood pressure was down before the holidays. I'd say he hasn't undone his work. He's lost several stone. Others have noticed but maybe because I see him most days I haven't.
None of us have been driving early in the morning on public roads. The new drink driving laws can put you over the limit very easily. And straight off the road. I heard one story of a couple who went out left the car in Caherciveen, got a taxi home and drove in to collect their car the following day. Both were supposed to have been breathalysed, one after the other and been over the limit. Of course, alcohol causes incidents but so do drugs, tiredness and speed. People are worried about this over the Christmas and what it might mean for rural isolation and pubs. Nobody thinks you should be allowed to drive drunk, the consensus was that this new law had gone a bit far. The sales of home kit breathalysers will go through the roof. More plastic and carbon emissions getting them to us. Might be an idea to invest in shares.
 His two ovens broke Christmas Eve, fan and regular. We were being fed in relatives houses for a few days so didn't make much difference. I used to see people posting online about this and only ever skimmed the answers. You can survive fine without the oven, you just have to think a bit more what to cook. It works in mine and it's gas so even when the electricity is out, I can still use it. The hobs still work, he has a George Foreman, Slowcooker, Microwave and gas hob thingy his Mom brought for power outages . He'll be fine until the electrition calls. Sure one year my Mother cooked Christmas dinner on an old gas cooker in the garage that still had a couple of hobs and the oven working. I think we just had  less vegetables. Before this kind of thing would have stressed me but I seem to have gotten a little better at weathering events. Thats unless I allow some of my family members to rev me up with worse case scenarios.
One of my brothers new wives was aound( that makes him sound like a poligamist, he only has one). In Venezuela they celebrate on the 24th, stay up or wake up at 12 midnight to open presents the Baby Jesus brings and stay up eating, drinking and dancing. The 25th is for sleeping late and eating leftover pork. Good job I didn't even attempt Passales /Haclates which wikepedia told me was their thing at Chriatmas. I don't I need an oven for them but they are alot of work which would have tipped me over the edge. She's never had them before and though it was some Irish thing.
The Organic Farmer isn't supertitious as such but he does believe in ending the New Year you want to start off. So he pays up all his bills, makes sure he does jobs that day, has food in the house and goes to bed before 12. The last part is more do with not loving New Year though. The rest of his notions I kind of like. Starting the New Year with nothing hanging over you and full bellies. Another privelege not granted to everyone.