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Plume is officially on vacation!

Aaah, yes. Can you believe it? I actually have one month and ten days of vacation. That’s insane. I haven’t had that much vacation since… well, since I didn’t have a job.

Okay, I’ll still be working at the playground. And I imagine I’ll be called in for a preliminary meeting or two at TMU in January. But nonetheless. Now is the time to vegetate.

So yesterday was my last day at Kulturgyngen. And it was a very nice day actually. We started with breakfast. That wasn’t for my benefit. That was because it was the last day before the christmas vacation. So all of Gyngen’s staff got together for breakfast. Some yummy morning buns. It was pleasant.

Then we went back to work. Although being the last day there wasn’t too much to do. I helped out Poul Martin with some last details of the flyer and poster. Made sure to clean out all my files and junk.

And passed the time until it was time for my farewell lunch. I say “lunch”, but it was more like dinner. It’s tradition that the person who is leaving gets to choose what we have to eat. Of course they had to prod me for a good five minutes before I picked something because I am so unassuming that even deciding what food we should eat is too much for me. But eventually I did manage to say that I would like chicken. And boy, did our kitchen come up with chicken! A big serving plate full of chicken. And it was the most succulent chicken I have ever had. Is succulent the right word? Tender, maybe. But in any case it was sooo good. With lots of different vegetables and some wonderful creamy sauce. It was simply delicious. One of the best meals I have ever had. When we were all done eating I had to poke my head into the kitchen and thank them. I was even thanked by the others from my office, as if I was the genious behind the meal. All I did was choose chicken, hah.

It all went well. Ever since I had experienced farewell lunches for others I have been a bit nervous about when the time would come for me, when I would be the main event. But it was nothing to worry about. There a few people sick so we were only 5 in all. Sanne, my boss. Poul Martin, the new guy. And James and Jonni. I have been bad about keeping the cast list updated and not talked much about work so you probably have no clue who they are. But they’re all nice people. And we were all so delighted by the meal. Smiles all around.

I almost had to kick myself for eating 1½ buns at breakfast. I wanted to keep eating that wonderful chicken, even after I was full.

We only got through half the plate. Sanne made a sort of half-joke about getting a doggy-bag for the rest. And I wish I had taken her up on that. Because uuuuhm. Did I mention the chicken was good?

Then it was time for my present. And they did surprise me. Hah. They got me the Garfield 2 DVD. Teehee. That wasn’t exactly the kind of animal related thing I was expecting. I like Garfield, although I’m not really a fan of the 3D-fying of him. But I’m sure it’ll be fun to watch. I was even more happy with the note that came with it. A sweet picture of a puppy and good wishes for the future, with everyone’s signatures on the bottom. Lovely. I shall treasure that always.

Poor picture, but you get the idea.

They’re a lovely bunch of people. Both the guys from my office and everyone else at Kulturgyngen. It’s been a good place for me. And it was a very odd feeling, walking around there yesterday, knowing that it was almost over. I had been there for two days and two years exactly. Seems like forever.

When the magnificent lunch was over I had about 30 minutes left. I went around and said goodbye to a couple of people. It was very moving actually. I have been there a long time, but I haven’t exactly gotten close to a lot of people, because of my social phobia and all that stuff. But everyone was so sweet and wished me luck with the future and shook my hand and smiled and so on. Mianne, our booker, didn’t know I was stopping so she was all shocked almost. And I ran into Marianne and exchanged a few words and then she said “see you” and started to turn and I said “well, actually you probably won’t”. She tought I was coming to the christmas party. So she was all surprised too. I said that maybe I’d stop by for a glass of cola some time and she said “yes, at 11 o’clock”. Hehe. She knows my habits. The kitchen and bar opens at 11 and I’m usually one of the first ones in to get a glass of cola. I mean… I was usually. I’d often be tired and hungry and take my lunch early.

I was feeling quite emotional when I left. Said goodbye to Sanne. She was saying how weird it was too. That I was leaving. There’s a lot of turnover in the office, people stopping and starting. There aren’t too many people who stay as long as I have. I think Poul has the record. He was there when I started. He was there for three years. And I was there for two. But other than that it’s more like 4-6 months in general.

Anyway. Now it’s done. No more Kulturgyngen for me. Maybe I’ll drop by to say hi sometime. Maybe there will be a concert I’ll want to go to. But no more copy/paste inddesign print/mf20 fiery badutski.

Yes. It’s still an odd feeling.

Tonight my dad comes home. Late tonight. For the christmas holidays. It will be nice to see him again. I also have some news from the playground, kinda big ones I guess. But I’ll leave those for tomorrow. I’m all typed out.

Oh yes, and must remember to thank Belinda. She sent me a wonderful package. With a not-so-christmassy christmas CD. And TimTams! My favourite Australian goodies. I think I need to befriend more Australians and have them all send me TimTams periodically hehe. Thank you darling Belinda!

Exit stage left. With a last picture of Kulturgyngen. My office is on the right there. Was on the right.

Twas a bitterly cold morning this day. Aye. Frost, frost, everywhere frost. But not a snowflake to be seen. Harrumph.

The weather forecast says that we will not be having a white christmas this year. That is disappointing of course, especially for us little kids who love snow. But hopefully January will be full of snowstorms to compensate.

In other christmas news, I finished my christmas shopping today. Also, I started my christmas shopping today. That is the advantage of being completely alone in this world. You don’t have to spend money on silly things like friends and social life. Haha. Hah. Nah, is okay. At least I got to spend money on postage for cards for good people around the world.

My dad is coming home in a few days, from Greenland. He will spend the christmas holiday here. And his brother is coming for a couple of days too to celebrate with us. He went through a divorce this year, so instead of spending the day alone we have invited him to spend it with us. We are nothing if not friendly and jolly.

Having an “outsider” in the house for christmas isn’t exactly the easiest thing for me, but it’s okay. My dad’s brother is a nice guy. And it would be pretty selfish of me to object to his staying with us. It’s only christmas once a year, so I will do unto others etcetera.

Of course he better bring a present for me, or I’ll fill his pockets with raisins and send Mads after him!

Tomorrow is my last day at Kulturgyngen. How odd it will be. I have worked there for more than 2 years. And now it’s almost over. Today my social worker stopped by for a meeting with me and my boss and I. Just an evaluation my stay at Kulturgyngen and talking a little about TMU, where I’ll start in February. No ground-breaking news.

I have also managed to have some tiny conversations with the new guy, Poul Martin. About his World of Warcraft playing. And my love of Brøndby. He is quite nice. I almost wish he had started earlier, he would have been a good guy to practice social skills on. And it has been easy to teach him how to do my things, no worries there. It will all be in capable hands when I am gone.

I will miss making tired Livejournal updates from the office though, haha.

A little playground action:

Some people, with bread. I love how Magnethe is trying to squeeze her head through the gap in the fence.

Mads was sitting next to me on the bench. I could see him staring at the people with the bread, weighing the situation over in his head. “Go to people with bread.. or stay with Plume?”. A dilemma indeed. But he ended up staying on the bench with me. Isn’t that sweet?

I could look into his eyes all day long. Not that I am crazy or anything. I am perfectly sane. Why are you all staring at me?!

Magnethe has lost a bit of colour in her fur.

Sorry, gal. I know it’s inappropriate to take pictures of a girl’s butt.

I guess it’s the winter time and the woolifying. Or maybe she’s just getting old and dignified.

Anyway, that’s all for today. Christmas vacation only one day away! Weet.