Back in work, and access to the net again. I’m not what one would call a great fan of the Silly Season. Too long a story to go into, but suffice to say it’s safer for me (and the world) if I can lock myself away all Rapunzel-like for those couple of weeks.

Anyway for those interested here’s a quick recap of some of the more bloggable things from the Christmas break :

Firstly, I don’t do ‘Happy Xmas’ or ‘Happy NY’ text messages so if you sent me one and I didn’t respond it’s cos I don’t.

Secondly, it’s good to see that Bray is still a shithole. I found myself there last Friday morning, with a bit of time before the train back down to Walton’s Mountain. It’s still as depressing a place as ever. I passed by the KFC where a woman was sitting by herself in the window eating popcorn chicken. Outside a young wan pushed a pram with a squalling child she took no notice of. The bakery was full of old raggedy looking people forlornly drinking cooling tea. Then it started to rain.
I felt like slitting my wrists by the time I got down to the train station. I thought Dun Laoghaire was a bad place, but Bray is 10 times worse.

Thirdly, if you ever get the chance do NOT play Monopoly with my little sister. She is one of life’s Bad Winners. Smugness does not become you lady. Also props to my poor BIL who spent the last of his cash putting multiple apartment complexes on all his properties and then watched as the dice conspired to allow us to miss out on his squares and not have to pay the exhorbitant rent.

Fourthly, if you ever get the chance, do not play ‘Buzz’ with my little sister either. Especially not on the ‘recent music’ option.

Fifthly, there is a new dog in the house. A tiny little husky pup called ‘Cassie.’ It’s starting to feel like living in a dog pound these days. At night the dogs drop where they are and we have to step over them or work around them. Pain in the ass trying to make dinner last night with Bobby flopped out in front of the cooker.

Sixthly, ‘Singstar 80’s’ should only be played at 3 in the morning when you are really drunk, so that when you wake up the next morning, hungover with no voice you can drive home wondering exactly why you thought it would be a good idea to try singing ‘Wuthering Heights.’ Also Playstation people, you could do with a few more songs in the game.

Seventhly, if (like me) you drive a 1.3L car, remember that Wicklow is full of hills. Second gear is your friend. The Lidl parking lot is not.