I just adore playing the national lottery for a variety of reasons. I love the chance to win such astronomical sums of cash doing very little work, and taking very small financial risks. It is the only game that allows normal, working people to obtain banker-level returns on their money without doing any work for it. It is appealing to some of the most intrinsic forces within human consciousness; the desire for growth and a better life. Many of my friends think I’m mad, but i spend at least ten pounds every week on the various lottery games on offer, because i love the excitement of it all.
On top of the lottery, i also like to gamble at the various bookmakers scattered around Stevenage. I like to bet on the horses because it gives me a real sense of the history of the British empire. I also like to bet on football, because it is such a privilege to be able to watch some of the greatest football on the planet week-in, week-out. It is worth more than any financial sum, at least it is to me.
We've just started holding Christmas workshops for kids and they've been making Christmas cards, though most were more interested in writing their Christmas lists!
What's great is how many kids are asking for things other than computer games! In the past few years pretty much all the kids were asking for Nintendo DS's, PSP games and Mario Kart for Wii and whatever else. This year though, we've had kids saying they're asking Santa for real toys: Action Men, Doctor Who figurines, lego star wars sets, even a Spirograph - I had one of those when I was a kid!
Yes a lot of the gift requests are heavily influenced by TV, film and other media - probably clever and excessive TV advertising - but they are for real toys, so we can bust that myth that kids want to spend all their time in front of the TV, computer or games consoles!
Photo: crumpart (Flickr)
The weather's been heading down the chillier, wetter, windier road for a while now, and as much as we've been trying to stay in denial and hold feebly onto the remains of summer, I think it's safe to say it's on it's way out.
So, away go the summer dresses and strappy tops, and out come the long-sleeves, jeans, tights and boots. Then at the rate our weather seems to be going over here, it'll be full-on winter by October and we'll be taking out our thick winter coats and snow boots! Let's hope not...
I've just dug out my trusty old Firetrap jeans that I pretty much lived in until the sun came out for our early summer in April, but now seems the time to have them out again. Farewell cute denim shorts, until next summer!
Photo: frostis (Flickr)
Don't let your kids spend their whole summer holidays in front of the telly or playing endless games on their R4i cards, keep their bodies active and mind stimulated with these simple free activities.
Go to the park. It might sound obvious but when we're busy we may not take them as much as we think. Don't just go to the playground, walk around the greenery, feed the squirrels, engage with your surroundings.
Play outdoor games. Bring a football, frisbee or bat and ball to the park and play with your kids. They'll love it if you get involved, invite some others along to join you for a bigger game!
Most kids enjoy art, no matter what age, so set up some painting, drawing, or even colouring in - everyone loves to colour in! It can be calming and is definitely a better form of mental stimulation than video games.
Photo: ehavir (Flickr)
I'll be setting off on my travels soon so there's loads of preparation going on over here!
It's hard to make sure you have everything, and do it on a budget, I know how much it's going to cost once I'm actually out there trekking around! I need to think about travel costs, food, and I'm really low on clothes. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I need decent clothes for warm weather, and I don't really have that in my British weather wardrobe!
I might have to start drawing on the Rowan Dartington investment my parents set up for me. I'm joking, I couldn't possibly, it's for a deposit on a house or something huge, not a few knickers or something silly! Very tempting though, knowing that all that money is sitting there...
They'll be drawing me some of it for my travels to help with flights and stuff, I'm so lucky and so eternally grateful to them for setting it up for me.
Photo: josemanuelerre (Flickr)