It's nearly been a month, how did that happen?

Quite a lot has been happening - I'm sure I'll not post about it all so I won't promise I will.

Graduated a few weekends ago, it was nice. Parents & Joanna came over which was lovely - this flat may be big but it sure isn't big enough for 5 people... Bittersweet feeling as always when they left, I miss them. But should get to see Dad in March and all of them for Dad's 60th at Easter. Which reminds me, I've not booked my flight yet, oops!

The actual graduation was great, with good speeches from both the chancellor and the honorary doctorate. I'd never heard about him but I enjoyed his speech. May tell you more about it another day. Oh look, I'm doing it again - promising you things I'll probably never do...

After the ceremony we took loads of photos, Dad tried on my robe & hat (and they really suited him!) and then we went for lunch at Ask. Nice place, so busy on a Sat lunch though... And we were all pretty tired from getting up early + late night the night before. Then we went to the pub with some people off my course + their families which was really nice. Crazy warm though.

Was also elected as secretary for the charity I work with - not that anyone else stood for the role at the AGM, but still... Am quite excited but am still trying to get my head around it.

I shall tell you more about work another time - too tired right now!

Cleveland Show is on TV and it's so ridiculously bad. I expected it to be bad but not quite like this. I wouldn't recommend it.

Christmas.

We went to Sweden for Christmas - was wonderful. Loads of snow (but I'm told there's been nearly as much in the UK anyway so not much to brag about!) but not all that cold. No less than minus 10 I don't think.

The flight back was terrible. We cheaped out and got a connection in Amsterdam. The one inch of snow in Newcastle as we were leaving did however close the airport for three hours. So of course we missed our connection... Got to Schiphol, and queued for two hours or so to get booked on a transfer flight - and then the transfer desk closed. Fun fun. So, we had to go down to baggage claim and queue for another two hours to get a pass to a hotel room. It was now well past 2am. We then waited half an hour to get a coach to said hotel - before boredom, frustration and cigarette cravings got the better of us and we left. The next flight to Stockholm was at 7am and not knowing whether we'd be able to get on it we thought it better to wait by the ticket desk which would open again at 5.30am than to go to a hotel, sleep two hours (or, oversleep...) and then come back.

Mike dozed on the floor for a bit while we waited for the desk to open. We were second in line when they did - and they told us we'd already been transferred onto the first flight! It was a relief obviously, but still frustrating to not be told anything and having to worry all night.

That plane, too, was late setting off. About an hour. But we finally made it to Stockholm (12 hours late?)!

Just one more problem... you guessed it! Our bag was lost. So, another queue to report that. And then home - baking & socialising, 20+ people over in the evening and then - SLEEP! And the bag arrived the next day. Lucky, all the Christmas presents were in there!

That's all for now, folks.