» Shoddy Presents

Evil parents
The worst present I ever had was a note from Santa on Christmas morning. At 9 years old I'd proclaimed to my parents on Christmas Eve that I no longer believed in Father Christmas (actually, that's quite old for that realisation isn't it? Oh well...). Christmas morning I was woken up by my brother screeching at me and asking what I had as my 'end of the bed' Santa present. Answer? A letter. From Santa. Saying that, as my parents had informed him that I no longer believed in him I was no longer entitled to any presents at Christmas. I may have cried a bit (and I did get my presents about an hour later).
(Fri 24th Sep 2004, 12:33, More)

» Guilty Pleasures

The Wombles
Very occasionally I like to put on my Wombles record (yes, vinyl!), 'Keep on Wombling' and sing along loudly to all the songs. Then, when it gets to 'Hall of the Mountain Womble', I walk round and round in a circle in time with the music until I get dizzy like I used to do with my brother when I was 5 (25 yrs and a bit more ago). You're not allowed to stop walking until the song has ended but then you get to giggle like a loon and enjoy the spinning headedness.

And I love to run through huge piles of leaves or big puddles and see the reaction on people's faces as a sensible looking thirty-something woman goes past at full throttle scattering vegetation or splattering water then slows down to a walk again as though nothing happened - usually only do that when with friends though, I'm not a complete madwoman...
(Wed 13th Apr 2005, 12:03, More)

» Local Nutters

Southend on Sea
The poetry lady, in an electric wheelchair with a 'wonderfully crafted' banner over her head. Will aggressively try to get you to buy a grubby photocopy of some of her poetry. Don't approach her, look her in the eye or acknowledge her in any way or she will pursue you for the full length of the high street.
(Fri 17th Sep 2004, 16:35, More)