It's beginning to look a lot like chaos

This past week hasn't been the best.  Firstly, my boiler broke down at the start of the week.  As if that wasn't bad enough, my insomnia made a comeback and my sleep routine was seriously disrupted.  So then I sat down to write my Christmas cards for posting, only to discover that my address book has been misplaced, and still not found, causing a great deal of stress. Although I'm beginning to wonder if a lot of people have lost my address as well, as there has been a very minimal amount of cards dropping through the letterbox...!

Then yesterday, right on cue, I took my annual festive season cold which usually makes an appearance every year, either before/during/after Christmas.  My throat is on fire and I'm feeling decidedly under par today.  Bad timing, as there is still so much to do.  I still need to find that address book, and I want to start wrapping presents before the end of the day.

Last week wasn't all bad though.  I went to the office Christmas lunch for the first time in about 3 or 4 years and ended up not only enjoying it very much, but also staying on for a little while afterwards for a nice relaxing chat afterwards with a smaller group of friends/colleagues.

When you don't go to anything, people often misinterpret this as being "anti-social".  It is hard to explain social anxiety and introversion to people who don't understand it.  For some people, party nights are the highlight of the year.  For me, they are a danger zone of noise, anxiety, fear and over-stimulation, and that's why I avoid them.  My ideal social environment is spending time with a small group in a more relaxed situation where you can hear yourself talk and think.

When faced with living on my own, I never thought I would enjoy sitting in silence.  I thought I'd always have to fill they days and nights with background noise, to fill the void of mum not being there.  What I didn't imagine was that I would end up treasuring peace and quiet.  Particularly at this time of year, when the stresses of day-to-day life seem to soar.  Talking of which, I'm off to search for that address book...

Time to give 'cold shoulder'....the cold shoulder

As I said before on this blog, probably a few years ago now, I'm no fan of following current fashion trends and prefer to buy more timeless items of clothing which will not just see me through this year, but the next, and the next, and...ok you get the idea.

What I do object to though is retailers' obsession with pushing a trend at us long after it's past its sell-by date.  The other day, I went into a local clothes shop and was confronted with rows and rows of everything from party tops and dresses to polo-neck jumpers.  All very appropriately seasonal, you might think, but look again.  With no exception, each and every one of these had great big holes cut out of the shoulders.  Even the jumpers.  Really!  Jumpers with holes in the shoulders.  At this time of year.  I completely despair.

The exclusive piece of art at the top of this post is my Microsoft Paint reconstruction of the abomination known as the "cold shoulder".

Yes folks, the cold shoulder trend, which along with the off-the-shoulder "Bardot tops" is arguably the worst fashion trend forced on us since the "colour blocking" which we had to endure about 4 or 5 years ago.  Sadly it looks as if it's not going away just yet.

A few months ago I decided to try one of these tops on, but it just looked stupid so I gave up.  This is not sour grapes as I've seen many other people wearing them and every time it's been an unflattering fashion concept.  I get angry when we are dictated to by clothes retailers who foist these idiotic garments on to us.  We don't all want to buy a garment with two great gaping holes where the shoulders/sleeves used to be.

By all means, give us sleeveless tops - a must-have in the summertime - but either give us sleeves or no sleeves at all.  Just give us our shoulders back.