Christmas Bonus

I'm a few days behind with news, but I thought I'd share some good news that I had recently. As you may know I worked through Christmas, not by choice but because that is how my shift pattern fell.
I worked 4 days shifts starting on Christmas Day. I had to get a lift in from the mobile supervisor on Christmas Day, as we have no public transport in England on this day, which meant that I had to get up at 04:30, as I was told that I would be picked up at 05:00. I was in fact picked up at 06:15, so you can imagine that I wasn't best pleased.
On Boxing Day the Tube workers were on strike, how convenient for them, and the buses didn't start until 08:30, so I had to get an early lift in again. This time I was indeed picked up at 05:00 (well, a little earlier in fact, luckily I was ready). The following day was also a Bank Holiday, but I was able to get the Tube in, so "only" had to get up at 05:30, which is usual time for me.
None of the managers were back to work until the Tuesday, my last shift of the year, and I was pleasantly surprised when mine came into the security office and handed me an envelope. Initially I expected bad news and thought it would be a suspension letter for some infraction that they had imagined I had committed. I was almost in shock when I saw that it was a gift of Marks & Spencer gift vouchers as an apology for the mess they made of my wages at the beginning of December. I saw it was £25 and was even more shocked, then I pulled it out to take a closer look and saw that there were 2 of them. £50 in vouchers is the highest bonus I have had for almost a decade, and the only bonus in the last 6 years. I was almost speechless.
It didn't last long, as I spent them today on a pair of work shoes. But, hopefully, these new shoes will help to create the right impression with the first interview I get in the New Year. January is all about getting an interview (the first step towards getting a new job). I've already re-re-jigged my CV, with tips from a friend of mine, Bonnie. So, fingers crossed, 2012 will be the year of my new career, as 2011 was the year of my new home (though hopefully the change this time will come sooner than August this time!).
I guess I'll just have to wait until 2013 for the year of my new boyfriend!!