Moving on up

Every October at work there is an appraisal for each and every person and that feeds into the pay review system. Yesterday I found out about the results of my appraisal. The variation of employment agreement mentioned my "developing competence and performance in [my] role" and my "rapid and successful integration" into the company and the team. Sounds good, eh? It's nice to hear my work is going well and even nicer when it's rewarded. A payrise is always nice. Also, as it was only for a part year, I have been promised a further formal performance and salary review before June next year. Nice, eh?

More good news is that I have found a butcher in Chch that sells pork sausages. They're not called Lincolnshire sausages but they've "a pepper and sage taste." They have to be worth a blast, eh? Hopefully they'll satisfy my craving. Watch this space.

We got out flights up to Auckland for Christmas booked this weekend. Not cheap at all but at least they're booked now.

Tonight our bible study group had a Christmas social. Part of the evening was a present-giving game. We had all bought something for around five dollars and wrapped it. All the presents sat in the middle of the floor. Then the first person picked a present and opened it. The next person in the ring could then choose whether to claim the first present opened or pick another one to open. And so it goes, with each person in turn choosing to claim an open gift from someone else or open a new one. If someone had a present taken off them they could then nick someone else's present (although not the one that had just been taken from them) or open a new present. And so it went one until finally the last present was opened. At various times I had a quacking duck keyring torch a black and silver Santa Claus Christmas tree decoration and a 400g bar of Dairy Milk, before ending up with a Mr Bump floating soap. It was a fun game and much better than just picking presents out of the middle and keeping what you first get.

We've got another busy week this week. Tomorrow the garden designer woman is finally coming round to see us and discuss the plan she's drawn up for us. On Thursday and Friday I have a Crystal Reports training course. It's a database querying tool some people use at work. Thursday evening the Sales and Marketing teams have a social event at Adrenalin Forest, a team-building up in the trees rope bridge and commando slide type place, before heading out for dinner. Friday evening is Joanne's work Christmas do at the AMI stadium and then on Saturday is our work Christmas function at some yet-to-be-disclosed venue. Somewhere in there we have to fit in some Christmas shopping, and buying some sausages.

Christmas in the summer. Pfff! What's that all about then, eh?