Christmas Shopping...

This time every year I travel down south to hit Milton Keynes on a Christmas Shopping weekend with my mother. I go with a large wad of dosh saved up during the year and try to get as many presents as possible.

This year I got precisely... none.

Nothing.

Niente.

Yikes!! I had NO inspiration! This means I will have to fight my way round the Trafford Centre, Cheshire Oaks or Manchester sometime around December and I will probably still have NO inspiration then, either.

There is a strong case this year for going to PresentAid or Oxfam Unwrapped for the family presents. Sadly, although I think this is an amazing gesture and would be more than happy to receive a gift like this from people, I suspect that some of them would be rather non-plussed... and some might think I was trying to say something in particular if I got them a goat or a bag of fertiliser. Hey ho...

On a much happier note, L had her baby yesterday. Hurrah! Welcome to the world, Anna!

April Fool

I like it when April Fool's Day is at the weekend - lots of time to browse the papers to spot the hoaxes. My favourites this year are Cherie Blair getting the door to Number 10 painted red (to match the pillar box mouth, perhaps?) and the Chip and Sing - by 2009, all tills, telesales and secure internet sites will have microphones fitted so instead of entering a PIN when paying by card, customers sing a line of a well-known song and voice recognition software confirms the identity. In a way, it's a shame it won't come true , as it would save me a lot of money. My singing voice is so awful, I would never go shopping!

Talking of shopping, today I dropped A off at the airport and then found myself at the Trafford Centre (oops, how did I manage that wrong turn?) I finally succumbed to the Siren call of a Radley Bag although having perused the website, mine must be (shock horror!!!) autumn/winter 05/06! Passé already (that is so me...) It is lovely though, and I love the way it comes with the leather cream to keep it in good condition. My friends will never believe it, but I'm turning girlie!