Decision made!!!

Morning,

Well I am having a weird day, on one hand I am really pleased that I made a decision about my trip next week, and on the other hand I am really annoyed with people at work who made minimal effort to decorate a friends desk this morning for her 50th!

Lets start with the negative...my friend is 50 but luckily for her she doesnt look it...today is her last day at work until her birthday and office tradition is to decorate that persons desk (special ages only).

I first met her eight years ago when I started here and we got along well, we both have the same working style and a silly sense of humour and have no shame in not acting our age! Although I have since moved about the University and have worked in the same department as her on occasion, we have stayed in contact via emails & IM at work. I consider her a really good friend. As an employee she is hard working, conscientious and reliable. She is never off sick, never late, and never takes more than her allotted lunch time. She doesn't go off for multiple coffee breaks or in anyway take advantage. Unlike me she is much friendlier to people. Basically, she is awesome!

I only realised on Wednesday that her last day at work would be today, so I contacted someone in her team about what was happening, if they were doing anything. I was told that there was a card going around (that I could sign if I could find it!) and that because this person didn't work Fridays they didn't really know. I contacted another person who told me that her line manager was going to decorate her desk with some sparklies but that was it. They kept telling me how they weren't mentioning how old she was in case she was sensitive about it....erm....do they even know this woman! Anyhoo, on Wednesday I printed off some stuff and bought a banner just in case. I was thinking I could add my stuff to theirs if there was space....I arrived this morning and this is her "decorated" desk...

I hope you can all see the sparkiles, some streamers and the cards. I have no issue about the cards but the decoration?? I had that much decoration on my birthday and it wasn't even a special one! Yes, yes, my blood is boiling! She is so nice to people and does what she can for charity and I am quite livid. Hurt me = fine, hurt my friends = NO WAY! Nothing makes you feel as unloved as this level of effort when you have seen the parades for your colleagues.

Anyhoo, I did my best with what I had, and this is my effort....

Not perfect, I know, i just expected more from them...and yes she WILL LOVE the candles...hehhehe....because she has a sense of humour!

The bag contains her gifts and cake and card but...I hope I have done enough. Her team mates are going straight on the naughty list or better still in the book!.

Ok, rant over.....

The good news!!! I have made a decision regarding my trip but it has got a little complicated.

I decided that Germany was going to be the place I went this year and it will probably be my last trip until October 2016 when I hope to be going to Canada! So lots of saving will have to take place.

Once I decided where, I thought about what to do and where to go, and Germany is a pretty big country and I often forget that but decided to reach out for advice. Thanks to all those who gave me location suggestions, all brilliant and all are places I would love to go! 

Then there was a twist in my plan....an interloper...yes, you guessed it...one of my naughty nieces is tagging along! This does affect my plans slightly but she is only allowed to come if she follows my schedule. I won't let her know that I will be adding a few excursions just for her! It also influences my choice of accommodation. Cost wise, it has actually worked out less than if we booked a package deal, which is good! Although still relatively expensive due to my last minute booking and it being a two week trip. All that being said I am looking forward to it and also to imparting my travelling wisdom onto my niece (the poor kid!).

The final details aren't yet final and I will regale you with those next week when I will need some kind of plan -but basically we will be starting in Dusseldorf and ending up in Dusseldorf but making a loop to Berlin and back. I should imagine I will need a holiday to recover but my niece will be on her summer holidays so will be able to sleep for a week when she gets back. I guess it will either give her the travel bug or put her off! Only time will tell but it's quite exciting.

This weekend I need to find time during IHSW to fine tune the plan - but I have to stitch - I mentioned I would have to to Ebony and she said....

"yes, you do auntie katy. You have to stitch because you need to finish my frozen picture that I asked for, for my birthday"

No pressure! But she is right, I do need to stitch...like the wind. I hope I can at least get the top third done and hopefully another third done during next week. 

On top of this I promised my eldest niece we could go and see Inside Out on Friday! I am taking the middle one to Germany. I also need to pack! 

I am exhausted just thinking about it! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz