So Christmas has come and almost gone. It’s New Year’s Eve tomorrow. Am I going out? Yes. Will I be celebrating? No. My eldest will be doing the celebrating and will probably roll-in at some stupid time in the morning with a certain wobble to his gait (I’m assuming that he will be able to walk). I shall be baby-sitting!! I don’t mind that but it does mean I shall be stuck in with whatever New Year’s Eve crap they decide to stick on TV. Now I’m not wanting to criticise Scotland or Scottish people, I happen to like the place, but I would like to know why it is that the BBC thinks we English people want to watch Hogmanay celebrations every year. They are so BORING. Can’t they think of something else or are we just getting the cheap option down here? As for bagpipes I’ve often thought that a chorus of cats slowly being throttled would sound sweeter. Not that I’m condoning violence towards cats you understand and I know there are plenty of people who like the pipes. I’ve just never understood why.

As for Christmas itself it tends to bring out the child inside every adult. I’m not immune. I like to be as young as I can as often as I can and I don’t offer any excuses for my behaviour. I’m too old to give a hoot. Nobody buys me toys any more though. I was watching a family through my window yesterday. They had parked up on the college car park which is only a couple of hundred yards away and easily visible. There was a Dad, Mom, someone else who could have been a friend or something (from a distance they didn’t look old enough to be a grandparent) and a 4 or 5 year old son. The lad had been given a new remote-controlled car for Christmas and Dad had decided to bring him here to try it out. Nice idea. The car park was not being used as the college was shut for the holidays and it made an ideal test-track. So Dad would show his son how to operate the controls whilst Mom looked on from the comfort of the car. Then he’d show him again, and again, and again…... Actually the lad seemed to get the hang of it quite quickly, the problem was that he couldn’t get his hands on the controller. I would say that out of the hour or so that they were there the lad only managed to gain control of the remote for about 10 minutes. I should also mention that even Mom managed to get out of the car to have a go. So it’s not just us men then?!! Maybe women just control the urge better but in truth they are bubbling over inside wanting to be 9 years old again just like us. Ha ha.

As for my presents this year, well I’ve had a few and they are all great but a couple I might mention as they are the archetypal old person’s presents. I’ve received 2 different toiletries gift sets. The first is a triple-blade razor with shaving-foam. Very nice. I used it this morning and now my face is feeling as smooth as a baby’s bottom. So I’m wondering if this is a hint. I normally use an electric shaver and whilst the results are totally presentable you can still feel a certain roughness there. Of course this can be quite devastating if you happen to be rubbing you face against a woman’s sensitive areas. No! I meant their lips and cheeks. NO. Will you drag your mind up above the waist for a moment! I’m talking about the sensitive, delicate skin that they have on their faces (Am I hell). Anyway I thought I’d mention it just so you ladies out there know that I shan’t be causing you these problems in the future.

The other set was a shower gel/deodorant combo. Lynx Africa as it happens. Very nice smell. I only mention it to get me onto the subject of deodorants though. I’ve been using Blogg1 and Blogg2 recently. Excellent and only 99p in Sainsbury’s. Don’t know if that’s an offer or not. Doesn’t say it is. Any how I thought it was appropriate considering what I’m doing at this moment in time. The deodorant comes from the Joe Bloggs stable. They are well known in the UK but I don’t know how international they are. So all you bloggers out there, there is a deodorant just for you. Well, two as it happens!!

Happy New Year to everyone!