Well, a Very Happy New Year to all of you from all of us. I hope it is filled with Health and Happiness for everyone.
As I get older I can't believe how fast the seasons come and go, it only seems like a few weeks ago I was panicking how I was going to get 3 peoples Scout-camp holiday clothes washed and dry in 24 hours, ready for a trip to Spain.
The Christmas season has come and gone in a blast, we spent a brilliant time with family and friends, played lots of games (board and video - well done whoever invented Buzz jungle) and enjoyed everyone's company. To me that is the true spirit of Christmas, being with the ones you love and care about.
Mr Fink and I went to my work's Christmas do. Neither of us knew many people and one of the men at our table told us his job, "I'm in packaging." Mr Fink came back with the snappy line, "What are you? An elf!" Luckily the man had a sense of humour and we all had a brilliant night.
As part of our New Year's Traditions, The Finks (including Mrs Fink's mum - "Nanny") and The Glums made their annual New Year's Day pilgrimage to the seaside. Mr Fink and I had to laugh at Nanny's spoonerisms, she has a tendancy to get two common phrases mixed up - much to the confusion and amusment of those nearby. 3 crackers she came up with were...When describing the wood a table was made of she said it was "Mahogmanay" (could this be a special Christmastime Yule log?) next...as we went over the QEII bridge and observed the low tide exposing the banks of the Thames she said, "Oo I could get me metal detecter out on them MUDFLAPS." Gawd bless 'er. Last but not least, as we were discussing the arctic weather and high winds that are expected any day, she advised us to, "Button down the hatches." Priceless.
We set off in convoy, through the mist to Dymchurch, Kent near Hythe. We ate sausage and chips by the beach (Mr Glum has a bit of a penchant for chips at the beach), the girls made sandcastles and drew dogs in the sand. The men played catch and football on the beach, Mrs Glum walked 'Pongo' the family dog and Nanny got to work playing with her new metal detector. Armed with spare batteries and a trowel she made off up the beach, clicking and beeping (the detector, not Nanny). After a couple of hours she made it back with various items. Several bits of wire, a bolt, a flat disc (not a coin) and a "Victorian, Metal, Hat Pin" - I thought it bore a remarkable resemblance to a four inch nail - but what do I know?
I took Pongo for a stroll up the beach to see if he would like the sea (he didn't) as we walked back a family approached with a black labrador puppy with a view to letting the dogs sniff each other (to socialise the puppy I guess?). The man of the family said, "Is your dog friendly with other dogs?" To which I (in the manner of Peter Sellers) truthfully replied, "I don't know, It is not my dog." He must of thought I was a bit of a nutter, what with me being on me own. He then gave me a searching look and said, "I'm sure I recognise you, you look very familiar." I said, "It happens to me a lot, I think I must have one of those faces." He said, "Do you live over in the sheltered housing?" I, shocked replied, "NO. I'm from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire!" Pongo growled at the little black lab and we stomped off.
When I got back to the others and retold my tale, (after they had stopped laughing) they decided the man must have either mistaken me for a pikey, a wino or one of the 'gently bewildered'. Bloomin' cheek, I hope this is not the way 2008 is going to continue, I was hoping for a grown-up, sensible year!
