Happy New Year, welcome to 2007. OK, let’s be honest – we’ll still be writing 2006 for a while yet, it never kicks in straight away.

The party is over, I’m wide awake and actually still fairly sober – I must need more practise. We spent a lovely evening with family and friends – the kids turned up, left with friends, returned with even more friends, all in all a very pleasant evening. Steve & Lu spent it with their friends and we got a phone call at 10.30 wishing us a Happy New Year, before the phone lines jammed or chutneyed. What time was New Years Day lunch they asked? Was I doing the full works? Right they'd be round about 2.00pm then. So I'm quite looking forward to that - a second Christmas dinner with just my family.

OK, first funny for 2007, start as you mean to go on. Christmas Day friend rang to ask if it would be OK to bring son and his friend for the evening. No problem, open house – all welcome. She came bearing a gift of a bottle of wine, this time a very nice vintage, gave it to me and wished me a very Happy New Year, she hoped I’d enjoy it. Very nice – it would make up for my Christmas present that they drank – I shouldn’t have thought those evil thoughts. I’m a very bad person, I should be a shamed of myself.

The evening kicked off, the recycling bottle box filled up and all had a very jolly time. Alcohol flowed and Delia’s cooking went down a treat. Eventually time for people to go home – friend and her family well oiled and well fed. Thanked me for a very nice evening they had enjoyed it. She then turned to her son and asked him to pass the bottle of wine she had brought, which hadn’t as yet been opened. She then said to me, as it hadn’t been opened she’d take it back home, it would do for another day.

I was a little gob smacked – another present whisked from under my nose. Unfortunately the little devil that has been known to sit on my shoulder whispered in my ear. I picked up the half empty bottle of hock that was sitting on the side and passed that over to her as well, saying it was what was left from what she brought along for Christmas, she should take that home too. Was there anything else she’d like? There was some sausage rolls left if she wanted then.

Tracy shot into my Dad’s room – she couldn’t keep a straight face. Thank God she didn’t laugh out loud and yes, said friend did take the hock with her. After she’d gone, Trace came back in and asked me where I’d put the George Clooney belly bar she’s given me as a Christmas present – because if I hadn’t opened it, she’d take it back – save her buying me a present next year. Cheeky cow.