Socks and Things ....

Ask me at the end of any given year and the chances of me remembering what my new year resolution was at the start is remote . Not much new there then . But as far as I can remember Ive always had one or two floating around in my head on 31 December . I'm not sure at what point they mostly fly out of the window .

A couple of weeks ago I read an article about a young woman 's attempt to desist from buying any new clothes whatsoever for a year . What a challenge . Now I'm toying with the idea of trying that one out . Other people's reactions have been varied , often according to their age . t
Teenagers look on in amazement ; further evidence of insanity . My sister was aghast at the idea of "no shoes for a year "having something of a shoe fetish herself , and shook her head in disbelief that no new clothes would indeed mean no new shoes . Casting a quizzical eye at my feet clad in the same boots I've been wearing for the past three years , she said thoughtfully " But you possibly could manage it ..... " and the slight stretch of her lips said it all .

D said nothing for a while , assimilating the information possibly , then commented on my proposal's lack of practical application . " You will need socks and things " he said , carefully . " what things ? " I ask but he doesn't elaborate , in company . After all it is New Year's Eve and a serious game of Scrabble is underway and Jools Holland is Hootenannying in the background . Indeed A Baked Alaska is in the offing . A few minutes later , having presumably given the matter some thought , he elaborates . My socks are so low in number that they can be counted on the fingers of one hand , apparently , in addition some of them are in such a state of disrepair that they will not see the Winter out much less last the year . N 's are no less plentiful and he has noted ( a fact which has escaped me ) that she has taken to filching
mine . There is no hope , he says , if my ban on clothes includes socks and things . Things are of more concern to me .
Hence , with a view to considering this resolution , I had paid a visit last Sunday to Bravissimo to stock up so to speak before the ban . However , leaving it until 3 pm was not the best idea and there were no fitters " on the floor " . She rebooked me for this week , thus , I may stretch a point and acquire a few "things" before the ban starts proper .

What was your New Years Resolution ?
No one else in our party would admit to one apart from P who plans to take up a sport .

Happy New Year !

Front of House

Two birds keeping an eye on things and Iggy , keeping an eye on them .....

Let me out of here ....

Gem the Border Collie gets so tired of me and Jane talking on the beach whilst Alice tries to steal her ball , that she digs a big hole and when its big enough , gets into it and lies down , complete with ball .

Nat and I are driving to town . Kate Nash comes on the radio and with half an ear as I weave through the traffic , I stare round at Nat as we come to a halt in a snarl up .
"What's she saying there ? " ( aghast look on face )
Nat ( unplugging her ipod ) "What?"
"What is she singing ? "

" I just want your kiss boy " ....." Like .... obviously .... "

I go quiet .
" What did you think she said ? "
" Mm . I thought she said I just smellt your piss boy "
" Mother !"


Radio 4 News announces a two year wait on the NHS for hearing aids .

3 47 am

I fall asleep with half an ear for my neice letting herself in after a nights clubbing . We have left a note stuck to the inner door welcoming her and advising her which bed to sleep in .
At three am D is restless , I realise I too am awake , and we wonder if F has arrived though we think not . On returning from the bathroom I announce proudly to D that I have unplugged the hair straighteners which were stretched as usual across the landing . We are all used to them and step over , but F may not .
Me ( self important ) " Ive unplugged the hair straighteners "
D " Did you do a risk assessment ? "

For some reason this strikes me as incredibly funny and I am awake for some considerable time longer , recalling past episodes when F came to stay and .... I wont go into details ..... a text arrives . I decide it can wait till morning , too late to drag myself from sleep . then I know I have to do the dragging . She may be in need somewhere .
" Sorry , its F I'm sleeping at J s see you tomorrow " . Message timed at 3 47 am .
Phew , thats that then ..... can plug the straighteners back in then !

Roomba

Does anyone out there have a Roomba ?

I can't believe Ive only just heard about these things with my menagerie full of animals and attendant swathes of pet hair clogging up the Dyson not to mention the cats scattering their wood based kitty litter from here to kingdom come just for fun . ( I know , I see them do it , they climb aboard , turn several times after the performance is done , then scoot , the back legs buck jump and the litter is up the walls , down the cracks of the skirting boards , you name it . ) And although Alice has tiny short greyhound hair which doesnt seem to come out onto the floors or furniture , she s quite capable of spreading Bonio crumbs and Gravy Bones and other tasty morsels about the carpet in her vicinity .

We have or had various Dyson vacuum cleaners standing to attention around the house over the years but they have dwindled now to two , one in the hall cupboard seeing active service most days and the other in the attic awaiting a replacement belt ( don't watch this space ) . By the time I drag the yellow one up to the first floor and try to make it do its duty along the cat hair I am usually so cross I am not speaking to myself , recalling the halcyon days when it( or its predecessor) was first purchased and it glided through a pile of everything making a lovely lawn like stripe and making me feel like a proper person whose carpets would now be clean . These days when I apply myself diligently to the carpet , going over and over the same spot repeatedly and finally getting down on my hands and knees to pick up the crumb I have spotted by hand , tripping over the wire and thinking this is not how its supposed to be , occasionally the thought of throwing in the towel and simply buying a new vacuum cleaner when there's nothing really wrong with this one pops into my head and then brings me out in a cold sweat . The very idea .

And now , someone has brought to my attention , the Roomba . I had no idea what this creature was . But immediately I had an inkling it was something I was going to start to crave . I googled it and Yes , thats right , I want the Discovery version , yesterday if possible , though I am of course prepared to drive considerable distances to view it operating and hand over the cash . Its the paddock boots ( too stiff when I finally sourced them ) all over again .

I spend a happy half hour reading Roomba reports , noting that if it meets a tennis ball it will happily send it on its way , thus providing a friend for the family dog too , ( Alice is not much of a ball dog though , wonder if it does seaweed ? ) And then sending aforementioned reports to my sister and to D , who will no doubt have an opinion . How will he feel when the Roomba starts up cleaning whilst he is working ? Will he feel Put Out , his position usurped ? or is it Tidying after all that is his forte , rather than cleaning . I reassure myself we are on safe ground here , so long as it does not try to indulge in Desk Wars and try to climb onto his desk , though even he is missing Kitty's constant squabblings of late , so maybe a Roomba would constitute a welcome diversion ?

Obviously it would need to have a name . And so far I have not researched the cost , not wanting to spoil my reverie .

And Nat has returned home from the sales having forgotten my pasta sauce ! Major logistical problem here now !

King Edward Bay Tynemouth 9am

Even with the wind blowing a gale as it was this morning I cant resist this walk with Alice . And it pays off . The Bay is sheltered from the wind and the sun is just coming over the cliffs . No other greyhounds this morning for Alice to chase , but she's more than happy with a deflated old football we find .
Only one CatCall today , with two more starting on Saturday .