Working over Christmas? [Archive]

hypnotic

24-12-2007, 07:12

Just got a couple of minutes before I have to go into work on Christmas eve and it got me thinking ....

Anyone else working over Xmas? .... Or doing anything special?

steveinspain

24-12-2007, 07:21

I have my first wedding on the 28th, and the groom is a photographer who has done weddings - spent yesterday with him looking a locations, and getting worried....
It all starts with a party on the 27th, another the day after the event itself, so 3 days on duty, and a bumper supply of anti-perspirant has been ordered from Santa..
My eldest daughter is chief bridesmaid, and the little one is flower girls, and Kate is helping out with the organising, so it is a family affair !
Not sure if it is working or doing something special - might be able to let you know after !

A little public Thanks for Rivit, who has made up some Rolo's with special labels with bride and grooms name, wedding date etc for me as a little treat - she is a star !

Canon Bob

24-12-2007, 07:43

It's always a busy period for me. I flew back to the UK last night and I'm flying out again at 09.00am on Boxing Day (will be away until mid-January).
I always get home for Christmas day but have only been home on New Years Eve once in the past 15 or so years.

I've promised the old duchess that this'll be the last year and the laptop and toolbox will be put out to grass in the next 6 months.

Bob

maddog.mark

24-12-2007, 07:44

steveinspain

24-12-2007, 08:54

Cheers Maddog !
By the way, where does your name come from - you old enough to remember the Allman Brothers Band by any chance ??
To add to the stress, Kate(my wife) has spent the night with a sore throat, and after a quick check, she has a pretty major throat infection - swollen uvela(think thats right - the little thing that dangles down your throat) so off to the chemist for antibiotics and I'll be praying it doesn't spread to the rest of us...

maddog.mark

24-12-2007, 09:12

That doesn't sound good, hope she feels better soon :shake:

The name comes from the nickname of Martin Allen, who used to play for West Ham, the team I support for my sins:D

steveinspain

24-12-2007, 09:23

What sins...???
The Allman Brothers Band were a bunch of southern states (georgia, USA) boogie boys, often likened to the Grateful Dead, but much better in my opinion - one of their Roadies was called MadDog, and there are many stories about him and how he got the name....

BRASH

24-12-2007, 09:33

Working Xmas day, Boxing day right through to Hogmonay.:thumbsdown: Double time for the public holidays ***.:thumbs:

Steep

24-12-2007, 09:40

Working boxing day, the 1st and 2nd though I hope the 1st will be a quiet day :)

maddog.mark

24-12-2007, 09:43

What sins...???

Couldn't possibly comment:D

RogDen31

24-12-2007, 09:56

Just been in for a couple of hours of Tea drinking, back in on the 2nd.

but my wife has to work xmas eve and day, boxing day, new years eve and day plus most days/nights in between, The joys of being in the 'Caring' Profession

Forbiddenbiker

24-12-2007, 10:09

Nope, not much, one job at the end of the week ...wish it where more...nearly. :D

Hope you have an easy day Kev.

Steve; Good luck with the wedding, thats quite a stressful few days, hope you find time to enjoy it.

Cobra

24-12-2007, 10:19

Food preperation day, today, as I'll be slaving over a hot stove tomorrow,
I have plucked & gutted the turkey, Will just have to kill it and cook it tomorow. :D

I am on "call out" through Christmas,:( hopefully it wil be quiet though :thumbs:
Don't work too hard Kev :thumbs:

Blue Moon 7

24-12-2007, 10:29

NorthernNikon

24-12-2007, 10:33

I'm working today, and right through from the 27th to the 31st (bar the weekend) and then I'm off until the 7th.

Well, I say I'm working, I work from home so I'll be logged into my email and my mobile will be on but I won't be rushing to answer either one of them. Nothing ever happens between xmas and New Year so I never take the days off unless I really have to.

dod

24-12-2007, 10:38

working today, off 25th and 26th, back in after that and off again on the 1st and 2nd.

Toothie

24-12-2007, 10:52

im working now (honest) tomorrow and boxing day, hoping for a quite time not sure ill get one though:(

NathanJT

24-12-2007, 10:56

Yup, I'm in the office today and I'm on 24 hour call until the 2nd January (joy of joys).

mattyh

24-12-2007, 11:03

my sympathy to everyone that has to work over xmas :(

I'm off for 11 days this year :woot: but in the past I've worked every day right through (apart from xmas day), so I know what it's like :(

Joel

24-12-2007, 11:06

my sympathy to everyone that has to work over xmas :(

Yeah same here.:)

I get the rest of this year off. :thumbs: But when i do go back to work ill be working twice as hard. :thumbsdown::lol:

pxl8

24-12-2007, 11:20

I'm covering a race on Boxing Day, portrait shoot on the 29th and a New Years Bash on er, New Years Eve ;)

Christmas Day I'm coooking whilst the whiff tries to break her choccy eating record (again) ;)

taxi

24-12-2007, 11:31

Likewise I have 11 days off and not back in until the 2nd, and even better 2 days in the new year in my existing job :'( and I start a new job on the 7th :lol:

I'm devastated I have to do 2 days in the new year, but I'd rather work them to keep my options open, in case some thing goes wrong with the new job.

Can I give my sympathy to everyone that has to work over xmas, been there, done that, and hated it.

Good luck with the wedding Steve.

steveinspain

24-12-2007, 11:57

thanks for the good wishes - I am sure it'll be great, but anyone who has done one wedding is likely to remember the first time nerves - checked the camera 4 times already...!
As for those working in 'caring' professions or helping others - Kate is a paediatric Nurse at Great Ormond street, as used to work most Christmas's, so I would go into her ward christmas morning and it was so rewarding to be a part of such a different 'celebration' - made me feel rather lucky to have my 'lot', rather than what some people have as their 'norm'....

minimeeze

24-12-2007, 12:02

Yep, as always I'm working. I worked a 20 hr :eek: shift yesterday/this morning, finally getting into bed at 4am. I'm meant to be working today, but as I didn't get in until 4, I'm hoping they won't need me :)
I'm working Xmas day on-call (lots of babies due), boxing day, then I have some annual leave until I return to work on New Year's day. Don't even get double time :( I think I've had one Christmas off in the last 11 years.

Canon Bob

24-12-2007, 12:07

I work over Christmas but it's voluntary work. I work with children as my main job throughout the year but at Christmas I spend time working with the homeless and young homeless people. Gives me a perspective on the world during what is a crazy time of year. Can be heartbreaking but is always rewarding.
Have a good one.
Chris :)

Chris
I good a small but meaningful dose of that perspective yesterday... http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=42568
It's certainly changed my view of the next few days.
Bob

Les McLean

24-12-2007, 12:15

I retired last year (at an early age I hasten to add ), from a long and undistinguished career in the Health Service , so life is pure bliss, but a lot of the above brings back painful memories of working over the festive season, particularly remember being the PCT manager on-call at the turn of the millenium, where I sat in a police control room with representatives from all the emergency services, waiting for the millenium bug to explode, it was a bit of an anti-climax when it didn't, but still not the best way to see in a new century :(

Blue Moon 7

24-12-2007, 13:28

Chris
I good a small but meaningful dose of that perspective yesterday... http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=42568
It's certainly changed my view of the next few days.
Bob

Absolutely Bob. Well written and very touching. Sometimes we see people but we don't really meet them. When we do it can be surprising to hear someones history / story no matter how brief. When you do this work, and especially when trying to make some kind of contact between a young homeless person and their family, you realise that some people have made a choice to 'opt out'. Others have had no option but to 'opt out' sometimes for their own safety.

All the best.

Chris :)

gibbo

24-12-2007, 13:40

:) My first christmas off for some years, usually have to work Christmas or New year some times even both nights or days and for flat rate (shift work NHS) :cuckoo:

BUT this year Im off for both :clap:
START nights on BOXING day finish new years eve for 5 days YAHOO :lol: :clap: :woot:

digitalfailure

24-12-2007, 14:24

I finished at 12:30 today until the new year, :)

^^Gord^^

24-12-2007, 14:31

I've finished for today and i'm looking forward to a few drinks tonight! Back in work on Thu / Fri but little real work will be done (Xbox 360 is getting set up :D).

Chuckurbarla

24-12-2007, 14:58

Officially I'm retired but that just gives me more time to work. Christmas isn't celebrated here except by the ex-pats and a few other Christians so you wouldn't notice it, particularly in my village.

Someone's got to finish concreting my drive and as I can't afford to pay someone else to do it I'll be doing some groundwork over the next few days and then laying self mixed concrete, I will try and have a day off at New Year though. My wife is in UK and will have an operation for breast cancer on 3rd Jan so I'm not really in much of a mood for celebrations, I'm doing a spot of praying too.

hypnotic

24-12-2007, 15:02

Chuckurbaria .... Hope everything works out well for you .... ;)

alex1

24-12-2007, 15:21

Working tonight, Xmas Eve and Xmas Day Night, 17.30 - 05.30, Groan.:'( Have worked the last two years Xmas days:'(

But on the bright side..at least I can spend the day time with the kids, first time in two years.:)

On the not so bright side...don't get any extra money...flat time:(

Shift work s*cks:thumbsdown:

Hope everyone has a great Xmas though:)

steveinspain

24-12-2007, 15:22

Chuckubarla - I don't pray, but will be thinking of you and your wife..

Chuckurbarla

24-12-2007, 15:33

Thanks guys, I don't usually pray either Steve but this time I think we'll take any help we can get. Hope your wife's throat is better soon too.

kelack

24-12-2007, 16:33

I've been at work this morning, finished at one. Popped to rugby club for a drink but as hubby had the car, we've come home. He's just finishing tomorrow's gammon and we're walking back up the club for a few drinks. I'm back to work Thursday and Friday and NYE.

My thoughts and prayers are with you Chuckurbarla. Hope it all goes well.

wez130

24-12-2007, 17:23

working today on a split shift, was really, really busy today and got out at 3.30pm, got to go back in at 6pm till about 10.30pm

antc

24-12-2007, 18:00

Well im quite lucky this year. I finished or christmas at midday on the 14th december and dont go back till Jan 2nd. This is the first time in my short working career that I have had christmas off.(Only 24 :))

I do feel for the people that have to work over chrsitmas though as I know when i had to I didnt enjoy it all that much.

Hope everyone has a great christmas and a happy new year :thumbs:

HanC

24-12-2007, 18:10

I'm a student so off uni but always working when poss for the money! been working solidly the last 2 weeks and today, then boxing day, 27th, 28th, 29th, 31st, luckily not new years day but then the 2nd, then back to uni! hmmm..at least i will have christmas day off for family stuff, cant complain really! :)
merry christmas to everyone!

digitalfailure

24-12-2007, 18:20

I'm a student so off uni but always working when poss for the money! been working solidly the last 2 weeks and today

A student working.........:eek:

I don't believe it......I demand photographic proof !!!!!

HanC

24-12-2007, 18:35

Haha! i'll have u know i work very hard!! at the mo its to pay my mum half of the Canon 350D she got me for christmas!! :P

Magellan

24-12-2007, 18:47

Just finished todays shift; and I’m on an 11-9 tomorrow. Only emergencies though, so if your in the greater Manchester area I don’t want you doing this :bang: or this :bonk: tonight or tomorrow; any emergencies tomorrow will almost certainly be head related at our place.

All the best

Mike

digitalfailure

24-12-2007, 18:53

Haha! i'll have u know i work very hard!!

And what line of work would that be then?

donutagain

25-12-2007, 11:27

steve , some fantastic people at GOSH , but then i would say that as they saved my daughter's life 15 years ago .. she's now hoping to get into kings uni ( near to gosh ) to train to do the same job as kate . hope her throat gets better quickly ,,

MrCraigBerry

25-12-2007, 12:16

I have worked every day for the last 3 weeks.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are my two days off, before I am back in for another week. 12 hour shifts aswell! I just can't wait for pay day! :P

Toothie

25-12-2007, 12:40

OK am at work and i have to say its been a very boring morning, oh well finish for the day at 1400.

steveinspain

25-12-2007, 13:51

donutagain - I know - my youngest had to spend some time getting sorted there too - not by Kate though !!
As for her throat - well, at least she can't tell me to stop drinking beer today, as I can't hear her ! - no, she is slightly better, and is enjoying herself a little.
happy Christmas all - we jusy went for a walk in the sun, in shorts - Cool or what...!