I THINK there is a certain amount of irony in the world at any one time, and right now the God of Irony is finding me and my little life rather hysterical.
Last week I had a lovely weekend in Bath on a mate's hen party; despite all my fears about swimsuits, strange people and shoestring spending, it went very well. Until it was time to travel home.
It turns out I wasn't making things up (see previous postings), my car was making noises and 45 minutes from home, it made about £600-worth of noise before dying at the side of the road, in the middle of nowhere, just as it was getting dark.
Two hours later, after many tears, one-too-many useless breakdown people and an organised loan from the Bank of Dad, I was traveling home in a tow truck.
The cam belt has gone on my car, for those of you who don't know what that is, I have no idea either, except it provokes a sharp intake of breath and a grimace from those in the know. It's bad news. My trusty mechanic has reassured me he can fix it, but it'll take at least two weeks and will serve as a painful reminder
to my father that children are an expensive lifelong commitment (so, so sorry dad). In the meanwhile finding a way to travel the nine miles into work in a rural area has been a constant source of worry for me, colleagues have really rallied round and I'm humbled by their kindness.
But it does amuse me that in the time I'm trying to avoid hitchhiking at any cost, publishing giant Penguin has announced that there will be a sixth book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy trilogy, and it is to be written by Eoin Colfer - the writer behind popular kids' book Artemis Fowl.
Called And Another Thing, I'm approaching this news with caution. I first read Douglas Adams' inspired stories nearly 20 years ago and I'm not just sure anyone could even come close to the way he managed to combine humour, science and story-telling. It's mind-boggling.
I'VE started selling CDs on Amazon. They belong to my other half - and before you ask, yes he does know. It's a good way to make cash and free up some space in our little wallpaper-frenzied house. In less than a month we've sold 12 CDs. Despite being in the middle of a supposed credit crunch it seems people are still keen to buy music. And through doing that I am developing a smug glow, knowing that I am supporting my local post office.
In fact I've been to mine so often in the past week to post these CDs I'm sure they must think I'm only popping in for company. I'm almost expecting to receive an invite to their Christmas party this year.
IT'S that time of year again when my shameful knitting habit goes into hyperdrive as I attempt to make hundreds of little woolly hats. Why? Because a, I like knitting, b, it helps me clear my yarn stash (a collection of literally hundreds of half-used balls of wool which normally resides down the back of my couch under the optimistic belief that one day they'll be transformed into an afghan blanket) and c, it is for a good cause.
Two days ago I could be heard squealing as I opened my post to find my information pack for the big knit; an annual fundraising event in aid of Age Concern.
Organised by Innocent Smoothies, the little hand-knitted (or crocheted) hats will don the tops of the drink bottles when they are sold in Sainsburys.
The two companies will donate 50p to Age Concern for every hat-wearing smoothie sold.
Over 25,000 older people die from cold related illnesses every winter, and in a society in which fuel costs are growing, that number could increase.
So until 17 October I will be making as many little hats as I can, and older people aren't the only ones to benefit from this. Whilst my needles will be occupied with the big knit, assorted friends and family can sigh with relief that I won't have time to create "useful" (read "unwanted") or "warm and practical" ("itchy and mis-shapen") items for them. Who says charity doesn't begin at home?
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