OK I admit I have been rubbish at blogging recently and I will continue to be rubbish over the festivities. It is just such a busy time of year. Last week passed really quickly even though Ross was away. I met up with my opera pals for lunch at Rogano so had a lovely big bowl of mussels, mmm! On Tuesday I was in Newcastle all day on business so finally managed to finish my book on the train - disappointing ending, I really hate that. On Wednesday night I went to Donna and Neil's for dinner in return for helping her wrap presents for every one of her pupils! I can't remember my teachers ever being that generous! On Thursday we had our team Christmas lunch at Ta'Paellya but I still managed spin class and a sauna after work so was chuffed with that! Ross came back Friday night so we spent a lovely weekend together. We went to the Mussel Inn for lunch on Saturday and I bought a bottle of champagne as I PASSED MY MANAGEMENT COURSE!!! I got the results online so was really pleased with a 75% overall grade. In fact Ross and I ended up drinking 3 bottles of champagne that night plus wine and beers so I can't remember much about the X Factor final!!
This week has been just as busy and I can't believe it's the 21st already! On Tuesday Ross and I went to see another house. We were the first viewers so made the most of the opportunity. We really like it so might think about putting in an offer - very exciting! I won't say too much about it right now because I don't want to jinx anything but watch this space!
On Wednesday it was my work Christmas party. It was a Bond theme night so everyone made a real effort to get glammed up. I went as Xenia Onatopp from Goldeneye although I got changed half way through the night as my catsuit was a bit hot and sticky!! After several cocktails I took to the floor for a karaoke version of Mustang Sally and then my pal Craig and I did a ropey rendition of Fairytale of New York - hilarious!
No more news really. I think I am coming down with a bad cold - typical - so I am going home to bed early tonight whilst Ross is out with his pals for Christmas drinks. I hope everyone is enjoying the festive season and look forward to catching up with you all over Xmas or in the New Year. xx

My blogs have now become weekly blogs - probably just as well considering I had no chat last week whatsoever!
I had my usual hospital appointment on Tuesday - those who know me know what this is about and put it this way, it ain't pleasant! When I arrived the place was mobbed and I had to wait a while because the guy before me had started bleeding internally so had to be admitted, nice.
On Thursday we went to see another house, this one required "substantial modernisation" which didn't scare us because we have plenty of tradesmen contacts and quite liked the idea of doing a place up to our own spec and taste. Plus it was in a lovely area with a huge garden and very close to transport links. However substantial modernisation turned out to mean new walls, new kitchen, new bathroom, new windows, new floors, new wiring and complete redecoration. Plus there were 3 property developers there at the same time as us so we knew we didn't have a chance. Anyhow, we thought we might be cheered up by a performance of 'urban opera' later that night in the ABC. Ross must think I'm crazy sometimes because I drag him along to the most unusual gigs going - but I like being exposed to different cultural experiences - and this was certainly that!
On Friday we met up with Ross's friend Gary and his wife Allison. We went to Cafe Mao for dinner then a few drinks in a lovely new bar in Merchant City called Citation then on to Tiger Tiger to finish the night off. It was lovely catching up with them as we hadn't properly had the chance to do that since our wedding and since they had a little boy earlier this year. However I definitely over-indulged on the alcohol, especially the horrendous shots that Ross bought us.
Not surprisingly Saturday was a sore head day. I thought that a McDonald's strawberry milkshake would save me but they didn't have any left so I had to make do with Irn Bru! It was a rotten day on Saturday - it poured rain all day and was completely miserable. But we forced ourselves to go into town for a bit of Christmas shopping! At night time we went to my friend Annemarie and her husband Jim's for dinner with my pals Alex and John. It was a lovely night (much more civilised than Friday!) - we had italian food, chocolate cake and a delicious dessert wine before I played magic tricks with her daughters!
I felt much better on Sunday so we made the most of the day by putting up our Christmas decorations! We also had a lovely cosy lunch at The Wheatsheaf - our favourite pub grub in the area - which was nice 'us' time because Ross is away to the Phillipines all this week.
So yet again, I have to fill my week with lunches, dinners, shopping and drinking. Hardship!
My sister Carrie is enjoying herself in Mexico at the moment but I want to say a belated Happy Birthday last week, can't wait to see you at New Year xx

Ooooh I'm tired today... My so-called 'quiet' weekend before the festive period didn't quite turn out as planned!
It was a busy week to begin with - opera committee meeting on Monday night, recruitment and selection training on Tuesday and Business Process Re-engineering(!) workshop in Birmingham on Wednesday. We were due to meet up with Ross's pal Gary and his wife Allison on Friday night but they couldn't get a babysitter so Ross and I stayed in and ate burgers instead!
On Saturday we planned a quiet one, a bit of shopping and lunch in town followed by a night on the couch watching TV. However Ross's best man David came to visit with his girlfriend Abby so our civilised lunch turned into a four in the morning extravangaza! After the bedlum of fighting through frantic Christmas shoppers it was nice to relax and have a bite to eat at The Restaurant in Princes Square. It used to be our favourite restaurant Etain but has been renamed and rebranded, although the food was still lovely (pity about the slow service). After that we had a wander round the Christmas market in Merchant Square where I bought a few bits and pieces and Ross bought me a lovely handmade bracelet. More food and drinks were then consumed in Bar Square where we made a group decision to leave the car at home and go out to see my friend George's band The Side play at Capitol on Sauchiehall Street. They were really good as usual and it was nice to see a few folks from Dingwall (even though they were very drunk and picked me up and threw me about!) We should have gone home afterwards but Donna and Neil persuaded us to go for a couple in The Box and of course this is where we ended up dancing and drinking until the wee hours!
Sunday was a bit of a mess trying to recover but we managed a trip to Gourock for lunch at Ross's folks and then viewed a house at night time (nice but didn't set the heather alight). We've seen a house that needs work done in the Shawlands area so we will hopefully get to see it this week sometime.
The only other news is that my dad and I are organising a Hogmanay Ceilidh Dance in the British Legion in Dingwall. It's only £10 a ticket which includes stovies and a dram so let me know if you fancy it! x