Happy New Year to one and all!
I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year break and the nasty bug that has been flying around Hillingdon didn't get you. It seemed that all the families we know had at least one family member down with the lurgy at some point over the past two weeks - Alex came home from school with it last month and has passed it on to everyone in the family one by one!
It hit me and my other half on Christmas Day evening and we had to skip Boxing Day due to feeling dreadful. We were meant to have 11 guests for lunch and tea and had to call the inlaws to take charge - fortunately I'd cooked and prepared most things the day before, so it was just a case of collecting the food and a change of venue for everyone. They kindly took Alex back with them, too, so he didn't miss out on the celebrations.
And now the arduous task of writing the 'thank you's' begins. If anyone has any tips on how to get a seven-year-old to sit down and write thank you letters can they please pass it on!
Every year it's a battle and, as each thank you letter to the Ransons drops through the letter box from more organised mummies, it's another reminder that Alex hasn't done his.
I think I'm going to have to cop-out again and do them on the computer! I did notice a few printed thank-you's in the sales that the child just has to sign their name - maybe I should have bought them and be done with it!
Talking of sales, have you been surprised like me that the shops all seem to be heaving? With the credit crunch biting I'd expected the shops to be quiet in Uxbridge when I popped in yesterday to return something to M&S.
To my surprise everywhere was heaving and all the cash desks had long queues. Maybe everyone is having one last spending spree with money or vouchers they got for Christmas?
I've not hit the sales at all apart from spending the Christmas vouchers we received. The advice seems to be to spend your vouchers quickly because more high street stores are bound to fall victim to the credit crunch and any vouchers you have for those stores could become worthless overnight.
So my first New Year's resolution this year is to spend any vouchers I can find around the house (I have to find them first!) and then I just need to think of a few more taxing ones!
Watch this space!
Cathy recommends
THERE'S a great new free parenting event just for Dads in Hillingdon happening in February. It's open to all Dads including step-dads, granddads and foster dads, too. It's the Triple P Positive Parenting Seminar being held at the Civic Centre in Uxbridge on Saturday, February 7, from 10am-2pm. It's free and includes lunch. To book your place call parent support services on 01895 277 877 or email afraser@hillingdon.gov.uk
