Typecast

Yes, it's that time of year again... an old year out and a new one in.  A time for resolutions (whether we keep to them or not), a time for reflection, a time for new beginnings - everyone does it.  But I have a more burning question: HOW DO YOU OFFICIALLY PRONOUNCE "2010"? Do you say " Twenty Ten " or Do you say " Two Thousand And Ten " Which is right and which is wrong, what will you be saying and will one annoy you more than the other?

She sat on her faded, aged settee, clutching the crumpled lottery ticket, not daring to let it out of her sight.  She’d chosen the numbers carefully – not the usual birthdays and anniversaries but numbers that she thought would be lucky.  It was 7.30pm on a Saturday and the usual rituals of evening meal, washing up and the pouring of a glass of wine had been conducted.  She was trying to stay calm but she always got jittery at the same time, every week.  Her mind was full of ‘What if’s...’ and she almost couldn’t bear the tension but she knew that was part of her enjoyment of the weekly ritual... or torture, whichever way you looked at it. At 8.05pm the familiar theme tune struck up, the blue logo and the red writing to which she had become so accustomed flew into view on the television screen and she could feel the excitement and tension building. As the host of the quiz show (used to pad out the 30-second draw into a hour-long show) appeared she tutted and shuffl...

... so can someone please tell me where the last year went? I mentioned the fact that my daughter had a baby last year in   this blog ; and how proud I am of how she's managed becoming a parent at such a young age.  Today, that baby is 1 year old!!!  Many battles have been fought during the last year - my daughter has flown the nest (again) to live in her own house, moved to another house, found out she is pregnant again (yes, that bit was TOTALLY unexpected) and is building her own little family in her own little world so it seems the war has been won. I sometimes look at her and think "I did that... I helped there" but then I realise that she's doing it all on her own, really and I'm very, very proud of her.

Nativities are both crap and brilliant in equal measures. I've just returned from watching Jake in the Junior Nativity Play.  This was, as the title suggests, a poignant nativity for me because I realised that it was the last time I'd ever see any of my children in a traditional nativity.  I started crying the minute the curtains opened and showed Year 3 singing (I know not one single child in Year 3, 4 or 5) and continued crying until the curtain closed for the final time half an hour later *rolls eyes*.   Yes, I'm pathetic.  It's official. This Nativity play was called "Round The Back" and was the traditional nativity story interspersed with modern day references.   The grumpy innkeeper just wanted some sleep because he'd been busy rehearsing for Strictly Come Dancing, the light from the star was compared to the light from a Nintendo DS in a darkened room, the Angels danced to "The Eve Of The War" from War of the Worlds and the Three ...

... and it's all available from Argos. I found this "Cristmas List" stuffed in between the pages of my Filofax earlier today. This appears to be the next stage along from giving your child a pen and the Argos catalogue and letting them circle the toys on their wish list. I'm very pleased to note that Jake's spelling and handwriting is coming on a treat (he's just received his "pen licence" at school). It's a shame that Father Christmas will not be able to obtain everything on the list but he may replace it with other presents that are just as good, if not better. Please note the inclusion of the Argos catalogue numbers, for our convenience. On the list we have: [ sic ] 1. science museum 400ft stomp Rocket (he won't be getting this - we live in a terraced house with no garden - yes, apparently the rocket will fly up to 400 feet in the air - no mention of the very upset child when the rocket does not come directly down into the arm...

Today it is 27 years since my Nana died. I only remembered after I'd written the date a few times, however I do have vivid memories of the day she died and the week after. I was 10 years old and in top class at primary school. Nana's house was on the route to school so I used to walk to there with my mum and my sister then cross the park to my friend's house and walk to school with her (oh, the grown up responsibility - walking 3 blocks with no adult supervision!). On 2nd December 1982 Mum asked me if I wanted to go and see Nana on the way because I'd not seen her all week. I said that I didn't and skipped off to Tara's house. Later that night, just as I'd gone to bed, the phone rang. I could hear mum's muffled voice then I heard her make another phone call. About 15 minutes later, my aunt and uncle came round and my mum and dad went out. My aunt came upstairs and said that my Nana had called to say she was unwell, could my mum go round and t...