Christmas Dinner

[WILF 51,859]

First time in years I decided to buy a turkey on the spare of the moment, I have avoided it for 25 year but i always follow random ideas that pop in my head so I seen it and bought it, half a pound of butter stuffed strategically under the skin prior to roast should do the trick. 
Just us and my boys, girls are grown up and off doing their thing.

Im due to be a grandad for the first time at the end of Jan so that’s what is exciting about things this year for me. 

[TRUEBRIT66 2,339]

We're lucky still have both sets of parents and they've been coming to ours since we moved 4 years ago. Cancer, heart attacks, and two have early stage dementia its hard word but so blessed to have them as I have a nasty feeling it may be the last we are all together. Youngest sons marriage finished a few months back and he moved in so also a bit sad as we wont be having the grandchildren with us for the first time. 5ltrs of farmhouse cider should get me through all the dramas though  

[mel b 4,602]

1 hour ago, TOMO said:

f**k me that's bad making you work two Saturdays to make up the time......surely that can't be legal....what industry do you work in

I'm a binman tomo.

Back in the old days , when it was bin bags , you could have a week off at Christmas,  and take two weeks worth of bags the following week , but now that it's wheelie bins , you can't do it.  Once the bin is full , it's full , so it has to be done the same week .

[Councilestatekid 2,222]

29 minutes ago, mel b said:

I'm a binman tomo.

Back in the old days , when it was bin bags , you could have a week off at Christmas,  and take two weeks worth of bags the following week , but now that it's wheelie bins , you can't do it.  Once the bin is full , it's full , so it has to be done the same week .

We only get our bins emptied once every 2 weeks any way 1 week it's recycling then the rubbish then the cardboard then the rubbish again that's why u go down some streets and there's rubbish all over usually where a usual ethnic live 

[waltjnr 8,384]

38 minutes ago, mel b said:

I'm a binman tomo.

Back in the old days , when it was bin bags , you could have a week off at Christmas,  and take two weeks worth of bags the following week , but now that it's wheelie bins , you can't do it.  Once the bin is full , it's full , so it has to be done the same week .

dont under sell yourself Mel ,your a Waste management and disposal technician !

[waltjnr 8,384]

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Edited December 10, 2025 by waltjnr

[TRUEBRIT66 2,339]

2 hours ago, TOMO said:

f**k me that's bad making you work two Saturdays to make up the time......surely that can't be legal....what industry do you work in

Its starting to hit retail as more companies intend to open over the xmas period. Its the Working Time Directive cant work more than 48hrs a week unless you opt out then in can be increased to 60hrs (48hrs needs to be averaged over a 13 or 26 week period) brought in to stop the workforce being abused but can also be used in a negative way. You cant work more than 6 days on the trot either but having the xmas and boxing day off in between act as a 48hr break his employers knows that so can use it to their advantage, Its a minefield.    

[poxon 5,989]

We normally go to my mum&dads or my misses mum and dads we sort of rotate or we’re go to wherevers for Boxing Day it always seems a rush about to get to places my kids don’t get to play with there new gear till the day after Boxing Day this year my misses ain’t gotta work so we’re staying home we’re going to brake tradition of the dry ass American turkey and go for a large chicken we’ve decided to have a super chilled out Christmas this year with all the trimmings just spend it with me my misses and kids I’m gunna be honest I haven’t felt proper festive for years I normally brake up from work last minute then go back the minute sites open so this year I decided I’ll take from the 29th of November off and go back to work the 6th of January it’s been brilliant so far I’ve enjoyed not rushing about I feel pretty festive already even got a advent calendar

[mel b 4,602]

33 minutes ago, Councilestatekid said:

We only get our bins emptied once every 2 weeks any way 1 week it's recycling then the rubbish then the cardboard then the rubbish again that's why u go down some streets and there's rubbish all over usually where a usual ethnic live 

You can bet your life on ethnic minorities making a mess mate. They live very differently to the rest of us.

[mel b 4,602]

27 minutes ago, waltjnr said:

dont under sell yourself Mel ,your a Waste management and disposal technician !

That's exactly what I tell myself every day , as I'm throwing my work clothes in the washing machine because they stink of shit .

[TRUEBRIT66 2,339]

3 minutes ago, mel b said:

That's exactly what I tell myself every day , as I'm throwing my work clothes in the washing machine because they stink of shit .

Not sure if your aware but if they are not being washed in work you can claim a tax break for it as its classed as a specialist industry, its only £60 but better in your pocket ?    

[mel b 4,602]

6 minutes ago, TRUEBRIT66 said:

Not sure if your aware but if they are not being washed in work you can claim a tax break for it as its classed as a specialist industry, its only £60 but better in your pocket ?    

I've been claiming it for years mate . It was something that the union rep clicked on to years ago .

You'd think that the council might have washers and driers , because of it being such a dirty job ( disease rather than dirt), but we don't even have showers , and we regularly have no usable toilets , or hand washing facilities.  The union rep does his best , but management just ignore him , and the higher ups in the union are in bed with the management. Most of the workforce are agency , so they only have to glance at the management sideways , and they're out of a job.

[waltjnr 8,384]

21 minutes ago, mel b said:

That's exactly what I tell myself every day , as I'm throwing my work clothes in the washing machine because they stink of shit .

Dont drink that cheap 8% cider then !! 

[mackem 30,991]

6 hours ago, mel b said:

That looks fantastic mack ......for Christmas to feel like Christmas again.

We have snow all day,it feels incredibly christmassy to be honest,get some tinsel up in your cab,put a santy hat on,your an invaluable asset to the community.

[TRUEBRIT66 2,339]

19 minutes ago, mel b said:

I've been claiming it for years mate . It was something that the union rep clicked on to years ago .

You'd think that the council might have washers and driers , because of it being such a dirty job ( disease rather than dirt), but we don't even have showers , and we regularly have no usable toilets , or hand washing facilities.  The union rep does his best , but management just ignore him , and the higher ups in the union are in bed with the management. Most of the workforce are agency , so they only have to glance at the management sideways , and they're out of a job.

Have a quiet word with the HSE mate. I work in waste management we have to provide PPE, wash and drying facilities, clean and dirty areas in the locker room, anti bacterial wipes in the vehicles etc etc, hot water and toilets are a must.  We have all that stuff and its very clean and tidy and I even issue Weils disease info cards out at the staff inductions and instructions on how to wash your hands above the sinks, but our recent HSE visit saw us with a £100 fine because our nail brushes were dirty ! I get what your saying about the agency side of things though been there myself.  

PS: Also if they are industry standard they should be offering inoculations for things like TB and Hep B&C to maintain the accreditation, in my experience they would not want to lose an accreditation. 

Edited December 10, 2025 by TRUEBRIT66