What can be better than an evening where you get to:

Play with LOTS of Duplo

Play with a small child that laughs at everything you do

Get to eat the most amazing homemade curry

Try to influence the small child to eat his tea properly

Have a popodom eating war with the small child

Get rid of husband to the pub

Have girly gossip about everyone else

Play with more Duplo

Get husband back

Take husband back to pub and leave him there

Go home

Put on Charlie Sheeen in Two and a Half Men

Curl up on the sofa with Frozen Christmas Yogurt

Cheers Jo for a fab tea, it was amazing x x x

It is with great sadness that over the next 2 weeks we have to attend the funerals of two wonderful people.

There is so much about Grandad that I didn't know, but what I do know is that he was a kind, generous and very funny gentleman that I wish I had more time to get to know him.

Uncle Peter was in a class of his own, what I love about my family is that everyone is so different, individual and is never (or at least not frequently) influenced by others around them (which is not always the best for harmonious gatherings) and Peter was not an exception to that rule. He will be missed by us.

For all of us still on this earth make everyday count and be grateful for the little things as you never know what is right around the corner.

Love to all x x x

It is with great sadness that I have to inform you of the passing of Harry Heald our ickle Robo hamster.

Harry was a very happy hamster and is now at rest in our back garden

We will miss you Harry, you were a very special hamster

As we have not had much time in this house with hamsters we have now aquired 3 new ones. We were only going to get 2, but there was a really cute albino one so we got 3 and they are all living happily together with the occasional brotherly scrap.

They are yet to get names, but hopefully that should be resolved soon any suggestions are welcome :)

So what will 2012 bring?

World Peace - I would like to think, but I doubt it

Removal of homelessness and poverty - again, I would like to think, but I doubt it

The list is endless of the things we all wish for on a large scale, but what about the differences we can all make.

Lets go back to the old saying "watch the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves"

Ok so World Peace is a little out of an individuals reach, as is world happiness, but what about personal happiness? that would not be inconcievable!

So what about "A smile to a stranger can bring happiness to the world!"

Try it, next time you are out walking to the shop, waiting at traffic lights, jogging in the park, going out for lunch, how many people do you pass? 10, 20, 100..... making eye contact and smiling at a stranger could make their day.

If you are having a bad day, think of the others that are worse off than you:

Do you go to bed at night? Did you eat today? if the answers to those questions is yes, then you are better off than 50% of the worlds population and better off than 15% of the UK population

Life is what you make it and it is never as bad as it seems, if you are reading this now, smile to yourself, go on smile, a real genuine smile.

Are you still smiling? Ok so nothing has changed in the world, but I know i feel better.

So if you make one resolution this year, make it to smile at least once a day and bonus points for smiling at others and passing the smile on.

Happy New Year and all the Best for 2012