Doldrums time
I am not at my happiest this week.
Now you know me – I never complain about anything and am the epitome of the happy-go-lucky chap.
But there is something about the week between Christmas and the New Year. There is a lot going on, yet there is a feeling that the country has come to a standstill and there is nothing going on. I suppose it’s an attitude that developed through my working years when there was a massive hype coming up to Christmas and then the dread of returning to the office after the New Year and having to face into dumping all the tatty decorations and empty bottles that littered the place. I hated that return after the winter break.
It’s the time of year where I am never sure whether a place is open or not. And if a place is open, it’s staffed by the reluctant losers who were last in the queue to book the week off. Also if a place is open then it tends to be over busy dealing with sales or queries from people who had a problem in the previous days when the place was closed.
As I said, a lot went on during the week but nothing really remarkable happened [in the literal sense of the word – not worth remarking on]. The only noteworthy event happened this morning when I set my alarm for the crack of dawn [half nine] as I was meeting a good friend whom I hadn’t seen in years since he moved the the UK. A very pleasant couple of mugs of coffee in the village.
And it made a change from getting up at midday or later.
That explains why I couldn't find my way home this afternoon!
You should have gone straight ahead at the Kish Lighthouse.
Back in my working days I always valued the Christmas/New year closedown. It was the only holiday of the year when I was away and could forget work because nobody was left behind at work to create a massive pile of work awaiting my return. Even more importantly nobody could 'fix things' in my absence so that on my return I had to undo their efforts and fix it properly.
Sadly, RTE doesn't close down for Christmas so there was always a scramble for leave [usually starting mid-summer] Those of us who were on the Permanent Payroll [as distinct from Casual or Contract] also had a Privilege Day – one of two a year, the other at Easter – which was a tradition dating back to the days when the
culchiescountry folk were given extra time to travel home. That used to piss off a lot of the staff!Back in my corporate working days, I valued Christmas/New Year the other way – I always went into work, as it was an annual opportunity to tackle a lot of those background 'housekeeping' jobs which were difficult/impossible to do when constantly interrupted by real-time crises. Also a good time for covertly rifling through unoccupied offices and desks to discover what was really going on . . . . . .
These days I really don't mind the week between
Winter Solstice CelebrationChristmas and New Years' since it means the stores where we buy our groceries are pretty much empty of customers. The 2 weeks before Christmas however, is horrid when it comes to getting our weekly victuals. It's the 3 months after New Years' day that I dread. Nothing but ice, snow and frigid temperatures.I call it, The Long Haul.