Know Your Elves #6 - Jude13

Loughc · 28-11-2016 9:00am #1

Here we are week 6, trees are popping up left and right, the toy show is Friday and the first of December is Thursday. We are getting so close to Christmas.

This week we are joined by a forum regular Jude13. Jude is such a part of this forum that we all feel a little bit closer to Christmas when he boards that flight home to Ireland for Christmas.

Let's kick off. Quality street or Roses? White Christmas yay or nay?

Jude13 · 28-11-2016 10:10am

Cheers.

Quality Street all the way. I have been disturbed by the number of Roses people on this board.

Definite yay, I have two in memory, 2009 and 2010. Had a nightmare getting home in 2010 with a 14 hour layover in Abu Dhabi, then landed in Shannon instead of Dublin. Got the train to Hueston, taxi to about 3km from my house as it couldn't get closer. Then trek with a 25+kg roller suitcase in heavy snow. But still a yay (once it falls after I land on the 15th).

28-11-2016 11:02am

Have you put up your Christmas tree yet?

Jude13 · 28-11-2016 11:10am

Yup, put it up on the 19th (I think). Its in the Christmas tree pic thread along with the story of how I only put the actual tree up, no decs as I was worse for wear.

When I move back to Europe it will be a real tree each year.

Hollister11 · 28-11-2016 12:44pm

Why are you not living in Europe now?

Jude13 · 28-11-2016 12:49pm

The firm I was working with flopped in the crash and I have financial responsibilities so had to sadly leave the Emerald Isle. I had previously worked on the continent as a young buck and one of my old clients offered me a job in the middle of no-where. I hung on till all my savings were gone and then had to take him up on the offer.

Not much call for what I do in Ireland sadly.

28-11-2016 12:50pm

Crisps with your Christmas sandwich....yay or nay?

Jude13 · 28-11-2016 12:53pm

Never even thought of doing it, I will give it a go this year and get back to you.

My sandwiches are usually made up of way too much ham and stuffing with a thick layer of Kerrygold. I then take a way to big bite and struggle to get it down with a pain in my chest ala Homer Simpson. Then rinse and repeat.

kitten_k · 28-11-2016 3:00pm

Christmas dinner or leftover sandwiches?

Jude13 · 29-11-2016 4:59am

Christmas dinner. Cheesy potatoes, Ham, Turkey, Ham, Gravy, Ham...you get the gyst.

D0NNELLY · 29-11-2016 5:52am

Eve, Day or Stephens?

Jude13 · 29-11-2016 6:07am

That's a tough one. Defo not Christmas Day. My rankings below:

1. Christmas Eve, town is amazing, everyone is buzzing. Few pints, the thrill of the wait.
2. St Stephens Day, more relaxed than Christmas day, think shorts and t-shirt lounging around the house. Usually spent at home. As a kid you got more time to actually play with stuff.
3. Christmas Day, Stress, my mam going nuts 'such and such is late and we have to get to this house by X o'clock, they do this every year!' then get rushed around loads of houses, as a youth get guilted into attending mass as my Dad wouldnt go. Still a good day but its up against some stiff competition.

Loughc · 29-11-2016 12:08pm

Where will you be spending Christmas this year?

Jude13 · 29-11-2016 12:11pm

15-17th Cork for a wedding, then Limerick then a hotel in Dublin for 21-24th. after that its still up in the air whether I will be in Dublin or Limerick on Christmas day. Like a rolling stone.

Loughc · 29-11-2016 12:15pm

Jude13 wrote: »

15-17th Cork for a wedding, then Limerick then a hotel in Dublin for 21-24th. after that its still up in the air whether I will be in Dublin or Limerick on Christmas day. Like a rolling stone.

Wow you're getting plenty in for Christmas, #judestourofireland

Jude13 · 29-11-2016 12:19pm

I usually come home for a week and let myself get dragged from pillar to post. this year a good pal is getting married on the 16th so straight of the plane on the 15th and into the car to Cork. My OH is from Limerick so hence hitting there up.

We have a few days in the hotel in town (Dublin) to chill and take in the buzz and have a few pints so it should be great craic.

kitten_k · 29-11-2016 12:30pm

If you could have any celebrity (dead or alive) as your Christmas guest who would you pick?

Jude13 · 29-11-2016 12:32pm

Oooh good one.

David Bowie, he could sing a few tunes and tell us some stories of his drug fueled days.

LynnGrace · 29-11-2016 12:35pm

Is there usually a good buzz / atmosphere in the hotel for Christmas?

Jude13 · 29-11-2016 12:39pm

No idea, never stayed in a hotel over Christmas before. It look all christmasy (was there for a drink before going of to propose to the OH).

I have meet my pals for the last decade or more in the same spot in town on the 23rd so we thought it would be cool to have somewhere to sleep within walking distance. Plus town in so good at Christmas

LynnGrace · 29-11-2016 12:41pm

Yes, I just realised after I asked that maybe this was the first time you were going to be staying. Must come up with a better question.

Toto Wolfcastle · 30-11-2016 10:46pm

Have you spent Christmas abroad?

kitten_k · 01-12-2016 12:25am

Favourite Christmas treat?

Loughc · 01-12-2016 12:33am

Favourite Christmas Forum thread?

kitten_k · 01-12-2016 1:14am

Loughc wrote: »

Favourite Christmas Forum thread?

I think we all know that answer :-)

01-12-2016 11:01am

Do you put tinsel on your Christmas tree?

Jude13 · 04-12-2016 5:04am

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

Have you spent Christmas abroad?

Yes I have spent Christmas abroad, only once for the actual day. I have flown home the 23 and left straight after Christmas a few times.

The one time I spent the whole season abroad was good and bad.

A few of us (Christmas orphans, we were feeling sorry for ourselves) went around to older friends of our, Seasoned expats, first thing in the morning. They have a bar outside by their own pool. Exchanged small gifts and all swore that this was a great Christmas. It was actually fun and novelty. After many glasses of bubbly etc we all went back to change out of our swimmers.

I went home and threw the ham in the oven and the turkey on the braai/bbq. The heat made it a bit strange so I banged on the AC as low as it could go, threw won Christmas jumpers and put a log fire app on the tv. then everyone came around mine for lunch/dinner. There was a room set up in mine with the ipad where people headed to skype home depending on on what part of the planet their family lived, a few tears.

Then we floated around the pool on inflatables and drank as much as we could. Then work the next day ....

Jude13 · 04-12-2016 5:08am

kitten_k wrote: »

Favourite Christmas treat?

My Christmas treats are very strange to most as they seem very normal. Until I moved to the UAE last year it was virtually impossible to get Ham or rashers etc so loads of them. Added to that fish and chip and cheap chinese food.

Im drooling now.

Jude13 · 04-12-2016 5:12am

kitten_k wrote: »

I think we all know that answer :-)

Ha, the Christmas eve thread, I have mentioned before my hatred of flying and that I have used it for a couple of years as an aide to take my mind off my walk on to the plane and take off. I must look like a loon with a big grin on my face reading it but also gripping the armrest like my life depended on it.

My flight app says 10 days to go!!!

Jude13 · 04-12-2016 5:13am

BDJW wrote: »

Do you put tinsel on your Christmas tree?

If I had my way I would have tinsel on my tree but somehow my influence in my own house gets over ruled quite regularly, not that it bothers me really.

Jude13 · 06-12-2016 8:01am

Thanks for all the Q's. Merry Christmas to all the elves.

Know Your Elves #6 - Jude13

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