Yeah, I'm getting this in a bit early since the weather has become a bit more favourable and I'll be travelling to Scotland tomorrow to spend Christmas with my family after all!

Unfortunately half the Christmas presents I ordered are currently sitting in the Royal Mail North West Distribution Centre (who knew Santa had relocated from the North Pole?), so some people are going to have to wait till the New Year for their presents, but that's just a minor issue.

Well, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride this year. My daugher has had a terrible first 19 months of her life - born with a birthmark in her inner ear which she had to receive treatment for at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Finally finished that treatment in September, but she's had repeated ear infections ever since. We thought she'd finally got over it last week, but now she's picked up the flu ... now you know why I get involved in the charity stuff!, which brings me to the highlight of my year - in 2010 my greatest accomplishment was jumping out of a freakin' plane, and thanks to the generous support of people in the GOG community, I raised over £600 for Help A London Child - you guys rock!

As some of you know, my Grandad was rushed to hospital with renal failure a few weeks ago, but I'm happy to report he is back home and will be joining us for Christmas celebrations!

To top it all off, I found out this year that my office is being closed, so I'll be out of work come Spring / Summer time, but I've got a few application in already, so hopefully this'll become more of an opportunity than a disaster.

On a positive note, I've made some very good friends here in this community, and I wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Here's to a superb 2011!

I was going to say "At least it can't get any worse", but I'm not going to jinx you ;)
Merry festivities-that-are-in-no-way-tied-to-any-religion!

Merry Christmas to you, nmillar, and to everyone else in this wonderful community :)

And, of course, Happy 2011 :)

Happy Holidays to you, GOG staff and the GOG community around the world. . . . =)

hey... it worked to keep my fingers crossed for you :)

For me it is snowing the whole day, looks so beautiful :)

Merry Christmas

Good to hear of some of that stuff, man. Hopefully you won't be unemployed too long!

Merry Christmas to you, sir!

Heck, merry Christmas to all!

Have a good christmas in Scotland (Hopefully you wont have trouble getting up here although where i am there is not much snow)

And to everyone else i also wish you a happy xmas and hope you all have a good time and that santa is good to you.

Feliz Navidad a todos!

Just in case I'm too stuffed, too busy giving hugs and making calls to friends and family to forget to post back. Hope next year gets better for you, nmillar, though if you find a job and your daughter is through with her ear problems, then that'll be a great start.

If I can just make it through the rest of my thus far extremely uneventful* work day, I've got a week off to look forward to.

So... bored...

Happy holidays to one and all.

* Jinx.

Gotta get this outta the way so.....

Merry christmas happy new year and all associated stuff like that.

(note im not a christmassy person)

Happy Holidays and a lucky 2011 to everyone! And especially for those without employment: happy job-hunting!

The roads should be pretty clear form what I gather, the 4th bridge supposedly has speed restrictions on it but we dont pay attention to that usually. If your in range I'd tune your radio into 97.3 which is forth 1. heres some roads to avoid though(some might not be relevent as I'll just take them from the website)

M80, Falkirk Speed restriction of 40 mph due to contraflow and major roadworks on M80 both ways between J5 M876 and J3 (Mollinsburn). Expect delays. Expected to be clear by
31/08/2011 23:59:00
M90, Fife All lanes open, accident cleared on M90 Southbound between J1 A921 / A985 (Admiralty) and A90. Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 16:26:19
M90, Fife Very slow traffic due to earlier accident on M90 Southbound between J2 A823 (Pitreavie) and J1 A921 / A985 (Admiralty). All lanes have been re-opened. Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 17:06:30
A703, Leadburn A703 both ways closed, slow traffic due to serious accident between A6094 / A701 (Leadburn) and A72 Innerleithen Road (Peebles). Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 17:10:39
A9, Perth A9 both ways closed, queueing traffic due to recovery work and serious accident, three lorries involved between A85 (Perth) and A924 (Pitlochry), congestion on A9 to M90 (Broxden Roundabout). Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 17:09:04
A1, Broxburn Roadworks, contraflow and carriageway repairs on A1 Northbound between A1087 and Spott Road. Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 23:59:00
A1 Willowbrae Road, Duddingston Temporary traffic lights and electricity work on A1 Willowbrae Road both ways at Duddingston Road West / Duddingston Road. Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 23:59:00
A6095 Niddrie Mains Road, Craigmillar Queueing traffic and traffic heavier than normal on A6095 Niddrie Mains Road Eastbound between Craigmillar Castle Avenue / Wauchope Avenue and A1. Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 17:02:16
A701 Liberton Gardens, Liberton Water main work on A701 Liberton Gardens both ways at Longformacus Road. Expected to be clear by
07/01/2011 23:59:00
A702 Biggar Road, City Of Edinburgh Lane closed due to water main work on A702 Biggar Road both ways at B701 Frogston Road West. Expected to be clear by
14/01/2011 23:59:00
A702 Comiston Road, City Of Edinburgh Water main work and contraflow on A702 Comiston Road both ways at B701 Oxgangs Road. Expected to be clear by
24/12/2010 23:59:00
A8 Corstorphine Road, Corstorphine Roadworks, temporary traffic lights and gas main work on A8 Corstorphine Road Westbound near Saughtonhall Drive / Ellersly Road. Expected to be clear by
31/12/2010 23:59:00
A8 Glasgow Road, City Of Edinburgh Gas main work on A8 Glasgow Road Eastbound between Dechmont Road and North Gyle Road. Expected to be clear by
17/01/2011 23:59:00
A9, Stirling Very slow traffic and traffic heavier than normal on A9 Southbound at A84 Drip Road / B8052 Union Street (Customs Roundabout), congestion on A9 Causewayhead Road to Castle Road. Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 17:03:03
A9, Dunblane Slow traffic due to earlier accident on A9 Southbound before M9 J11 (Dunblane). Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 17:22:57
A90 Forth Road Bridge, Forth Road Bridge Speed restriction of 30 mph due to skid risk on A90 Forth Road Bridge between A8000 (Echline Roundabout) and B981 (Inverkeithing). Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 17:21:59
A902 Telford Road, City Of Edinburgh Lane closed due to telecoms work on A902 Telford Road both ways near Grigor Drive. Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 23:59:00
A904 Carriden Brae, Bo'ness Temporary traffic lights and roadworks on A904 Carriden Brae both ways between A993 Grahamsdyke Road and Bridgeness Lane. Expected to be clear by
24/12/2010 23:59:00
A905 Beancross Road, Grangemouth Roadworks and temporary traffic lights on A905 Beancross Road both ways between M9 J5 / A9 (Cadgers Brae) and M9 J6 / A904 (Earlsgate). Expected to be clear by
24/12/2010 23:59:00
A91, Carnbo Roadworks, temporary traffic lights and bridge maintenance work on A91 both ways near Carnbo. Expected to be clear by
24/12/2010 23:59:00
A911, Kinnesswood Roadworks and temporary traffic lights on A911 both ways between Gamekeepers Road (Kinnesswood) and B920 Main Street (Scotlandwell). Expected to be clear by
27/12/2010 23:59:00
A92 Tay Road Bridge, Dundee Speed restriction of 30 mph due to skid risk on A92 Tay Road Bridge between A92 South Marketgait and B946 (Newport-on-Tay). Expected to be clear by
23/12/2010 17:17:45



Shit didnt look that long.

Have a good holiday. Yeah, sometimes you don't get the "easy" route with kids, hang in there:)

Also, make sure you relax a bit, it sounds like you could use it!

Cheers - much appreciated; I think the M90 is the only one on that list that's going to affect us.
Yeah, that's my plan - been so tired lately it's just going to be nice to have family around to help out and get some much needed rest!

Just got back from the Doctor - Bella's got a chest infection and tonsillitis, but we'll be able to dose her up on drugs, so hopefully she'll start feeling better soon. :)