debxena

So, I've been working on this fantastically long and detailed post about my birthday. Which was three weeks ago. I'm still working on it - there are descriptions, and photos, and delighted squeeing - thanks to Ben, my brother Al, my dear lovers, and my wonderful friends, I had a very memorable and fantastic 30 hours of turning 30. So that's still to come.

In the meantime, bullet points:

~ I love being thirty. It love it very much.

~ Giftmas eve Ben and I had dinner with his dad and his dad's partner. A lovely time was had by all. Unfortunately, Ben had not reminded them that I don't eat meat (other than fish), and they'd forgotten. Shonagh had cooked a lovely lamb roast for us all! Brief ethical dilemma when I realised this, about whether it was better to apologise and stick to the couscous and salad - and embarrass her - or to suck it up and eat as little as I could politely get away with. I went with the latter in the end, eating about 150g worth (for the record, if it had been chicken or pork, I would have not eaten it - but lamb and beef I can make small concessions for, as generally they're treated better in this country). It was very nice, for lamb. Even before I went vege I tended to avoid it, as it does horrible things to my internals, so it's been a looooooooong time since I had any. Still, was okay. Explained to Ben later why I'd eaten it, and we now have a new policy - always remind the relatives.

~ Giftmas went well, despite my migraine being worse than it has in ages. I sucked down painkillers for the day and got through (six pills over the day - usually I have less than that in six weeks). We spent the afternoon/evening with Aria's family up in Orewa - Grandma was there, along with me and Al and Ben. There were only 4 chilluns, Aria being the oldest at nine, but it felt like there was 7 or so. Madness. Was subjected to 'Elf', 'Shrek Christmas', and 'National Tresaure' on the television, ate lots of great food (prawns yay!) but not as much as the meat-eaters, and managed the drive there and back without crashing and killing anyone, despite rain and head-soreness and crazy drivers.

~ Waifs and Strays the next day was excellent. Not as many people as we often have, but nice numbers, and nice people! There was one unpleasant person, a guest, but he went soon enough. Lots of geekery, food, and some lovely hugs and presents. We ended the day watching Pixar short films and eating pizza, which is really a good way to finish.

~ Two weeks off work went astonishingly fast, and felt like ages. Paradox ahoy.

~ Clearing out folders and files at work and throwing out old and irrelevant stuff feels great! And not really like work at all. Plus I've nearly filled a paper-box with paper for recycling in the printer. I did, however, damage myself with the staple remover. As you do.

~ Complicated money-stuff: Ben and I need a new car - we love Selkie and she's done well, but the cost to repair her rust is now well over what she's worth. The lovely growler_south found a potential car for us, which we liked. And the price was good. So after a test-drive the other week I did some research with bank loans, then applied. And after an hour on the phone with them yesterday, WE WERE APPROVED. This pleases me. For those curious, we're with ASB - a tabled flat-interest rate of 14.5%, which we'll pay over two years. So now we've signed the papers, I drop them back at the bank this afternoon, and I should be able to draw down a bank cheque tomorrow. Hooray!

~ The car is a Toyota Caldina stationwagon. White, with a licence plate starting EGS. I think a name like Egghead or Chickychick is in order. Thoughts?

~ Anyone want a lovely Toyota Corona '89, as non-lemony as they get but with some rust in the front panels, currently unwarrented and with an expired rego? She'll treat you well, once she's repaired and legal again.



Hmm. This post wasn't that short after all, was it? Oh well.