Out with the old...

KfW2 is just off the phone and she sounds terrible. She's been fighting illness since Xmas Eve and has had a worse Xmas than me, socially speaking (but I'm betting in all other ways too). She's said that she won't be able to go to GM and GB's New Year's Eve party tonight, which is a shame, more so because I like NYE. I like the whole New Year, new goals thing and I love spending NYE with my friends.

The problem I have is that GM and GB have been very disorganised IMO about arranging the party - I had to call GM a few minutes ago to see what the details were and he's still unsure. The rough plan was mapped out weeks ago during our big afternoon out with KfW2 etc. but as far as I was concerned, this was all just small talk and needed one of the two of them to email or post a Facebook message with the finalised details.

Poor organisation is just a bugbear of mine though., however I am looking forward to tonight regardless.

Hmmm.

My head's a little fuzzy today due to my unexpected, but fun and late, night out with JB and her friends. There's not a lot to report from that, just that it was nice to get out of the house and do a bit of socialising.

However, JB mentioned something at the end of the night. I can't remember how we got onto the subject, but she suggested that I had less than platonic feelings for KfW2. I appreciate that the blog can seem a little KfW2-centric (and I know that having the feelings themselves is not a crime), but I said that she was incorrect.

JB asked me to say that and look her in the face, so I did which appeared to satisfy her curiosity. I'm not sure if the conversation was going to go any further as their taxi arrived at this stage to take them home.

Less balls

Out of the blue, JB has just text asking if I'd like to meet them in the pub. I think I will. Part of this new attitude I've been trying to cultivate rather than just sitting in all the time once 9PM hits.

New balls.

FP text to say he couldn't come out - his back problems plus lack of sleep have rendered him pretty useless by his own admission. I've tried to see if GM or S were available, but GM's suffering through a wedding-induced hangover and S is saving money for New Year's Eve.

I think that might mean that S isn't coming to GM's NYE party, which is a shame. And I have concerns about5 KfW2 being able to make it - she does appear to be very ill.

Another night in for me though. I think that does make it officially the quietest Christmas ever though.

Balls.

KfW2 text me this morning to say that she couldn't make it. I'd kinda made that assumption anyway because she's not sounded well at all when I've been talking to her over the past few days. I'm disappointed, of course. I've mentioned here that I think our conversations go to more personal places when it's just the two of us. I'm like this with loads of people - KfW2, QC2, FP etc.

So, I've tried to make other plans and will hopefully be hearing from FP about heading out to the pub later. It would be nice to get out of the house and get some fresh air (and a few drinks).

It's looking like this is going to turn out to be the quietest Christmas ever, which would be disappointing in its own right if it weren't for the fact that this was shaping up to be the busiest Christmas I've had in a long time.

As an aside, I've still not heard back from QC2 asking her out for a drink nearly a month ago. Should I try again or should I just give up? Getting her out seems like an awful lot of time and effort, though I do enjoy it when we do get out.

Oh buggery f*ck

Around this time, I was hoping that I would be in the pub with GM and S, having a laugh, catching up and planning New Year's Eve (GM is having a party, but IMO the details need ironed out).

Instead, I'm sitting in front of the telly watching rubbish. Contact has been weird this year. Despite messaging people well before Christmas, replies have been slow in coming. Even a query with E about setting up some time for a Skype chat has not been seen as yet.

Potentially, I was die to be out tonight, tomorrow and Saturday afternoon. Tonight it was GM and S. Tomorrow is was due to be M and FP and Saturday is KfW2. All of these are in danger of not happening. M's already cried off tomorrow as he's getting over a heavy dose of the cold and I've not heard from FP. I got a message off KfW2 earlier saying that she's got the cold as well and is feeling very sorry for herself. Actually, as I sit here and type, she's just text to let me know she's feeling very sorry for herself... and now she's just called  me (and yes, she sounds like she's really ill).

So, I'm expecting KfW2 to have to cancel our afternoon out on Saturday which means the only socialising I'm going to do this holiday is the New Year's Eve party.

KfW2 sounds as if she wants to go out, so fingers crossed that the temptation overrides her illness.

Ten Years Ago.

Almost ten years ago to the very minute, I stepped off a plane, setting foot back in the UK after my first stint of living abroad. I'd come from a warm, sunny, dry place to near zero temperatures and driving rain. Yet I wasn't that unhappy. I was home for my sister's wedding and that I still had plans about returning after a few months, just needing a job to gather some cash together.

Little did I know that I wouldn't be going back after a few months, as planned, but would be unemployed for a few months.

I don't do regrets and while I was unhappy for the next 18 months or so, I eventually ended up with a job, working with people I liked which has then gotten me where I am today, happy enough professionally speaking.

Bah Humbug!

It used to be that I didn't like Christmas. It just seemed to be a huge waste of time, energy and money to me. It wasn't about family or anything as I didn't think I was that close to my family - certainly not my parents, but less so my sister and brother-in-law.

That all changed with the arrival of nephews and nieces and it's become a better time of the year for me (though I do still get a bit down about my relationship status at this time of year more than others).

More accurately, it's the time between the last present being bought to the swapping of presents and Christmas dinner on the big day itself. Nearly as soon as that's over, I kinda fall into "meh" territory again. The same thing happened this year. I'm already plotting my return home and hopefully getting out with S, GM, M, KfW2 and FP, among others, but I've not heard anything as yet from anyone.

Things that are unsurprising...

The two housemates have fucked off for Xmas. Amount of cleaning up done before they left? None. Did I specifically make a point of saying to UF yesterday that it needed done? Yes. Did I do my bit? Definitely. Am I annoyed? You fucking betcha.

The housemate rap.

Most of the following points have been made before, but I've recently vented to USHW and my brother-in-law and it's on my mind, so you might as well see it too.

Our bin hasn't been emptied in a week and is pretty much at the point of overflowing, the floors haven't been mopped or swept since we cleaned up for the landlord about 5 weeks ago (FFS) because I'm waiting to see how long they can actually go without doing anything (admittedly, MfW does empty the dishwasher and take out the recycle box, but that's his limit).

We had a notice from the apartment's handyman who asked us to get in contact ASAP cos our shower is leaking into downstairs, which was picked up by MfW and left on the table in the hallway and I can guarantee you that he's not called him. The tap in the kitchen needs a new washer... the guys won't take responsibility for it. I'm the only person to have cleaned the oven or the microwave or the fridge or the main bathroom since we've moved in. They're both due to go home in two days, so the bin will be like that until they fuck off and I will cave in and empty it, but there's going to be an argument about it soon enough, I think.

The housework needs done, not just because this place is a fucking pig sty (although it is), but because the landlords are coming to do some work over the Xmas period.

MfW is always looking to make a good impression, especially on women and that's one of the reasons why we had the argument over the really flash apartment before we moved in here (despite the fact it was well over our budget). I dunno how he thinks that women are impressed by a flash apartment that hasn't been fucking cleaned in a month and a half. He obviously knows that appearance is important, given the amount of labels he wears, but he can't seem to grasp that a clean apartment will help his chances as well.

UF is essentially taking the piss out of us (me, specifically, seeing as MfW does fuck all) because you have to chase him up for everything, again this is weird because his own room is spotless. Spartan almost.

I'm going to have to have words, but I shouldn't - they're professionals in the fucking 30s, not lazy student wankers who can't afford an hour every couple of weeks to clean up.

Upcoming events

I guilted KfW2 into doing something between Xmas and the New Year as "payment" for pulling out of the Xmas Party at the last minute, so we've made tentative arrangements to meet for lunch and an afternoon of chat a day or so before New Year's Eve.

I'm also meeting DSC this weekend for a late lunch (or early tea, whatever floats your boat). I haven't seen or spoken to her in what seems like ages, so I am looking forward to that.

Other nights I must arrange (or put in motion) in a night out with S, GM etc. and a night out with M and FP and maybe their better halves. I shall do that tomorrow.

One step closer?

CH knows a couple of people who work for the same company as we do, but I'm reluctant to call them friends as she doesn't seem to hold them in particularly high esteem and certainly doesn't trust them.

Regardless, I requested their friendship on Facebook earlier today, partly because I took a few snaps of them at the Xmas Party and partly because I know one of them is friends with CB, a girl that I think I would very much like to meet. Sadly though, this is based on seeing her profile on an online dating site a few years ago and one or two fleeting glimpses in bars.

I actually saw her in a bar last New Year's Eve when I was out with GB and GM, but when I was going to try and initiate a conversation with her on my way back from the little boys' room, she had gone.

So, I'm potentially a step closer and I'm sorta wondering how to bring this up in conversation. I don't have a particularly good barometer in deciding that something is brave or stupid or would make a good impression. I remember thinking that calling RB at work was a stupid move but A and AM both told me to just do it regardless of that seeing as it was my only method of contact, and RB subsequently said on the date that she was tremendously impressed by it. Somehow I can't see that me mentioning CB to the mutual friend based on a bit of Facebook stalking has the same ring to it.

Surprise, surprise.

The Xmas Party was not brilliant. There were last minute changes made which meant that the company would need to spread the party across two nights, with supposedly half the company going on each night. I get along with my immediate work colleagues (which includes KfW2, though she didn't go to the party this year), but the other people I know around the company who I'd loved to have had a drink with, all were going on the other night - CH, MF, GB, JB etc.

I made a decision to pop over and see the others on the second night for a quiet drink or two - it wasn't a huge inconvenience as the chosen venue this year is really close to where I live. I only told MF and GB, so when I showed my face, CH was delighted. We ended up chatting for pretty much the rest of the night and it was well after 2AM by the time I got into bed. Work today was not fun - I wasn't hungover or owt, but two nights partying in a row is starting to get beyond me these days!

Most of the chats were just the usual banter between us, but we did briefly touch upon my relationship status and her vocal pondering about why I am (still) single. While it's a conversation I don't mind having with CH, the Xmas Party is not the time nor the place, so I kinda deflected it, but I would like to revisit the topic at some point.

CH also got into a conversation with the stunning blonde from this post so I got to stand alongside and just have a good perv. I think the stunning blonde now has a good grasp of who I am what with the recent meeting, plus we got introduced a couple of times at the Xmas Party by various people. She is married, but this is strictly professional "networking" with a view to a payrise next year.

Need coffee...

Oh deary me. Yesterday was the big day out with KfW2, CC and a pile of others. Suffice to say, the day generally went the way I'd hoped, with the exception of everyone's timekeeping (the next arrival after mine was half an hour late), but we all had a laugh and a good time was had by all.

I always like when a group of people get together who don't normally and turn out to have a good time and while I am very dehydrated and tired from a lack of sleep (UF was his usual considerate self this morning, clumping around the house and putting a full wash in the washing machine at half eight in the fucking morning).

This is the start of it... a couple of potential nights out this week and possibly this coming weekend, then Xmas, then New Year.

I'm really looking forward to it!

Go me (update 3).

The meeting didn't last long. Essentially, the stunning blonde girl told me that any review was pretty much impossible at the moment because it's year end and there are a lot of performance reviews and the like going on that will have an impact on my salary.

She made some mention of others who might be peeved if I got a payrise, but I said that that wasn't my concern. I was concerned about the reward I was being given for the work I currently do, not the work done by others.

It was left that I should wait until the end of the whole administration thing (probably the end of January) and get back in contact, with a profile of myself and what I do to deserve a payrise. I already have one of these sitting on my PC, written ages ago and refined as advice came in, which if you're being truly dispassionate, paints a good argument in my favour. The issue is that I don't get a say in what the final amount would be should a review prove to be successful, whereas I do have a certain amount in mind.

*sigh*

Today was the day KfW2 and myself were due to head out for lunch and drinks... it never happened for reasons that I have previously posted here on BN, but while I was sat in work earlier, she sent a text and asked me to go round. I called in as I was planning on going that way anyway for some Xmas shopping, despite the onset of the dreaded man flu and I met KfW2 and one of her old team-mates. He left after a while to go off for his own Xmas shopping and myself and KfW2 spent a pleasant hour chatting away.

We chat all the time, but it's usually all small talk and rubbish, but when we get away from colleagues and out on our own, we start talking about other stuff... more personal stuff and stuff that we simply don't go near in work.

That's why I was so disappointed when today fell through, but it's also why I enjoyed the hour's worth of conversation that we had...

Go me (update 2)

Meeting cancelled today... rescheduled for tomorrow. Probably.

However, having talked to my boss, I am less optimistic. What he was saying to me was not what KfW was saying to me and her advice matched the course of action I had already decided upon.

We'll just have to see what happens tomorrow.

Go me (update).

I got an email from a girl in HR today requesting a meeting later this week regarding my proposed salary review (and hopefully a subsequent increase). This is good for two reasons: first of all, it looks as if I might actually get a resolution by the end of this week which might then have an influence when it comes to annual bonus time and secondly, the girl doing the review is a stunningly attractive blonde with a great figure. I don't know if she's been mentioned on here before, but I do remember showing a picture of her and KfW2 to USHW a while back.

I've got about four or five reasons/points I want to raise that I hope will swing things in my favour and I have them typed up, ready to go. If nothing else, I'll be able to spend a while just having a good old fashioned perv.

Awww...

Looks like there won't be any Facebook messages from cute foreign girls looking for a good time tonight. Shame that... junk food and TV for me then!

The waiting game.

About a week ago, I was out with S and GM. I don't know what it is., but things tend to get interesting when the three if us get together.

 Suffice to say, we ended up chatting to two travellers, a blonde and brunette girl, both late-20s or early 30s - strangers to the city. S managed to pull one of the girls, not quite beating my record of 15 with RB, though like the RB thing, I'm not entirely sure I had anything to do with it.

Regardless, GM and I were chatting to the (in my opinion  cuter of the two girls, though there was never any vibe that GM or I were either attempting to get into her pants or that it was ever going to happen.

At the end of the night, there was talk about the rest of their travel plans and the cute brunette mentioned that they would be back in our city again, though she would be spending time on her own. I suggested that if she wanted company for a drink then to give me a call and we'd meet up with her. She refused my number and added me on Facebook instead. GM insisted in getting in on the action and added her as a friend himself. I don't know if it was jealousy or what... there didn't appear to be a reason for him to add her, though he is the kind of person who has over 600 Facebook friends.

Anyway, tonight is that night. There's no contact as yet, and I'm as happy sitting in tonight as I am heading out, but it's a waiting game and I'd be a liar if I said my ego wouldn't like a cute, athletic brunette to make contact to go out for a drink, even if it is strictly platonic.

Go me.

It's not procrastination because I was never putting it off... it was more a case of getting side-tracked, I have finally sent off my email to arrange a meeting with an HR representative about a salary review. It was only sent late this afternoon, so I don't expect to hear anything until Monday (obviously, because I'm not in work).

I've done it slightly too late. I had hoped to have it wrapped up and (fingers crossed), approved by now which would have also fed into my annual bonus, but proper work kept getting in the way. Hopefully though, by this time next week, I should be better off, hopefully by about 8%, but no less than 4%. That's what I'm aiming for.

Gah 2

Today was meant to be the original day/night out with KfW2, FP etc. until KfW2 re-arranged it. It's been a while since I last saw FP, so last week I suggested that we still went out and tried to confirm the details this morning, after yesterday's shenanigans with DSC.

Of course, with FP, it's never that simple and he promised he'd get back to me, which he did to be fair, but too late in the day to make other arrangements. Suffice to say, he cried off and while that's not necessarily a bad thing because I have a lot of stuff to do for my sister, I was in the mood for a catch up and a couple of drinks.

With DSC yesterday, I'd only been looking forward to seeing her for 24 hours, with FP, the (more than) tentative arrangements were made over a week ago.

Gah.

Somewhat randomly, DSC text last night to say that she'd be dropping her partner to his Xmas party and if it was alright with me, could she pop round as she'd be in the area? Of course, I replied in the positive - I don't see her enough these days and especially now that she's pretty much moved in with her man, her time is even more limited. So, it was left that I'd confirm, because there was a very slight possibility that I'd be heading out with FP tonight.

I text DSC at about half past six to enquire of she was still coming round, only for her to say that she'd literally just made plans with another friend of hers, then we ended up in a light-hearted discussion about who was in the wrong.

I think it's her cos it was pretty much left that it was 90% nailed on I'd be staying in tonight and the text was really just meant to be confirmation. At least, that's my perspective. She says it was left too late and that I should have text earlier this afternoon.

In my mind, DSC was always coming up for a cup of tea and a chat and it's annoyed me that I'd gotten into that mindset, but she says we could have done something - gone out for something to eat, gone to the pub for an hour. If she was thinking along those lines, I'm surprised that she never got in contact herself for clarification.