3 Steps to a Great 'Elevator Speech'

     If you have ever searched for a job, you have probably been advised to create and perfect your elevator speech. In other words, know how to describe who you are and your expertise in a few simple sentences.  That way, if you ever run into someone who can advance your career, (the idea is you'll meet this person on an elevator) you'll be able to explain what you can offer the company in a quick and memorable manner.

     When marketing a product, it's equally important to be able to summarize. It’s imperative that you describe your product without boring your target audience; thus, losing any hope that they'll purchase it. 

Read on to learn how to capture their attention and/or effectively relay your information to a potential customer.

1.   Make a billboard

     Words on a billboard have to be simple and to the point to ensure the message is absorbed by target consumers zooming by at 60 miles per hour.  Create your elevator speech as if it's going to be printed on a billboard with mere seconds to capture your target’s attention.  

     Specifically mention who the product is intended for (e.g. Is it a latest innovation in electrical household appliances or a product for people looking to invest money in greener developments?).  

     Then, think of something memorable that will help a person recall the product at a later date.  This can be done by comparing the product to that of a famous brand or inventor.

(e.g. if you were promoting a book you might say; "written in the style of Harry Potter books or as terrifying as a Stephen King novel")

     Or... by mentioning something that you can bring to the company that no other team-player has previously mentioned. 

(e.g. your unique expertise in a certain area that's rarely been broached by another employee)  

     Be sure not to dwell on the memorable piece.  It should be a hook in order to entice your potential customer to learn more, just like an advertising slogan.  Make sure this part of your description doesn't give anything away and is no longer than two sentences.  Ideally, the person you’re talking to will be so intrigued that they'll want to buy your product right away.

2.   Cut the fat 

 

   If you're still having trouble after trying to write your elevator speech like a billboard ad, make sure that you're leaving out all auxiliary parts of the product.  Leave out everything that isn't essential to the most basic part of your work.  

Narrow it down to something like: 

"Product X saves valuable time and time is money." 

Or... 

"Entrepreneurs will  become more efficient in greener marketing." 






     Specifics are not important in your elevator speech and will make your product less memorable to the person you're talking to. Useless information and minute details will only make them tune you out. You want to excite, not bore, your potential customer.  Sure, your short description may not be all your product has to offer, but it's enough to let the person you're talking to judge whether or not the product's right for them and, hopefully, spark their interest enough to purchase.  

3.   Be enthusiastic

     When you're giving your elevator speech to someone who may be interested in your product,  make sure you're excited and confident in your convictions.  No one will be enthused to buy into a product if the seller lacks visible interest in it.  Use colorful terms when talking about your product and answer questions succinctly and happily.  Don't over promise, but make sure that you convey that you are proud of your product and believe consumers will enjoy it.

Just Keeping Pace

     Someone once said to me, “You work harder when taking respite than I do when doing a day’s work.” I know what they mean, and this year alone my calendar has shown no exception. My diary has been filled in numerous times with meetings and dinners and social events. But I must confess, there are times when I can no longer keep pace with my own frenetic existence.

    The old ‘me’ used to be the party animal, always having to habitually apologise for having too much fun.  However, these days I have been forced to apologise for not being enough fun and generally leaving before midnight.

     In my defense  I am a mother of three, renowned for multitasking ‘til the grey roots arrive, and on this occasion we were guests at the Shoot Master’s Dinner up at Singleton Lodge. Jim is known for his hospitality, something I embraced whole heartedly. 

     “Think of this evening as a drinks party,” he said in his typical deep Lancashire droll. 

     The ‘guns’ were to be seated at one table, the ‘beaters’ at another with a scattering of invited guests from the neighbouring shoots. Also, the farmers had been invited; protocol really, given they provide a large percentage of the land.

     The local GP relayed his eventful day to us. They had been filming a re-enactment of a foretold battle, swords at the ready and water carriers on standby. They’d endured this over and over in the pouring rain until the muskets could no longer be used.

     “Our bones grew weary,” he remarked.

     “And the cuts and scars became too eventful,” his wife ventured to remark.

     “That’s true…” the doctor agreed. “Even the film crew were too sodden for anymore takes.”  

     All the while, his wife eagerly filled in the missing gaps for him as the doctor savoured a few slugs of malt. Meanwhile, a stranger in the crowd came over and made his acquaintance. His dress code didn't fit the ordinary billing. Rather than the usual shirt and tie he’d opted for tweeds and cravat; every bit the toff of the Manor and his apparent résumé soon confirmed our suspicions. The conversation began with a casual remark, in the most charming of upper class voices, about the ungodly weather before he volunteered his preference in fishing to his avid audience; a hobby close to my hubby’s own heart and wallet.

     I was still feeling run down after a long drawn out cold and my day had been uneventful.  If I do go out I would usually put on a smart outfit. Other than that I potter about the place in casuals and a comfy top. The one time I did go out was when I was dropping my daughter off at gymnastics. I never go to the gym. I get my exercise from life as it comes. 

     Anyway, the youngest of the guests were being the loudest. The young girls were dressed in almost nothing and seemingly already quite drunk. Their manners and good graces were somewhat lacking as well. Shame really, but still. I persevered with the high heels until dinner was announced. "7.30 Sharp," they’d said, when in reality we didn't sit down to long gone 8.45.

     At dinner the alcohol conspired against the gentleman to my right. He’d been introduced to me as the new ‘gun’s’ father. I had just poured him a glass of wine when calamity prevailed. The glass tipped and the contents trickled like a waterfall down the lap of his trousers. 

     The poor man blushed as I refilled his glass. Luckily that broke the ice and got everyone around the table talking. A hearty meal was served. Surprisingly game was not on the menu. And when the puddings arrived, gluttony conspired against us.

     The moment of truth finally arrived when the ‘Master’ prepared to make his long-winded speech. I say prepared because the consumption of alcohol had taken its toll on his trusted legs, his ability to speak, and his reflexes. Slurring and slouching combined with jovial banter was inevitable. But that did not stop him from picking on anyone who had blundered that year.

     Anybody who had lost an item of apparel or equipment was targeted. The ‘gun’ with the highest shot was applauded. The man who complained about his choice of wine received an empty bottle for his prize. The men who put feed in the hoppers, no matter what the weather, were awarded. My son, who had apparently turned up for a shoot in freezing temperatures without a jacket, received a gimmick waterproof. I was accused of dressing father and son in matching lilac sweaters (not guilty!) Quite simply, anyone who was anyone received either completely daft gifts or worthy trophies. 

     The finale was placed on the ‘Master’s’ table. A bucket and a bottle of disinfectant were displayed to remind those sporting chaps of the repercussions of too much indulgence. Whispering and murmurs of a recent trip to Edinburgh commenced and bursts of laughter emanated from the other tables. Enough said.

     By this time my body clock was saying, ‘two minutes past my bedtime.’ My hubby on the other hand was disappearing into the crowd and my son was chatting to some people on the table behind us, leaving his girlfriend in the trusted hands of the doctor’s wife. She could always tell a good tale, which was just as well because his girlfriend looked tired of being left out of the conversation. It is never easy going out to functions at the best of times. You never know anybody other than the people who invited you. I did my best to include her as and when, but I did feel sorry for her. I remembered how lovely it was to have a charming and gallant boyfriend. It’s a pity my son wasn't practicing some of those vices. But he is young, and he will learn. 

The Importance of Good Editing

     Many authors are overwhelmed with the abundance of options available for perfecting, publishing, and marketing their work.  But once their manuscripts are complete, the last thing they should overlook is good editing. Silly mistakes lead the reader to believe that you’re an amateur writer or that your story isn't well developed.  And ultimately, your book will be placed back on the shelf.

     After months of researching and crafting a piece, you don’t want your readers preoccupied with errors and inconsistencies. Few readers ever purchase a book without first reading the first few pages.  A good cover and a catchy title will grab their attention, but clear, error-free writing will close the sale.  

     Writers often ask, ‘Why should I buy editing for my book?’ 

     I guess the short answer is, or certainly should be: nothing kills the credibility of your work faster than a book that is filled with mistakes.  

     You might be a renowned expert on your subject or the greatest novelist in your home town, but if your book contains errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, word choice, and usage, readers will quickly doubt your abilities.  

Editing is  a polishing tool...  

     Once you have completed your manuscript you can simply edit it yourself. However, professional editing can dig deeper than simple proofreading.   You already know the story so simple mistakes can be easily overlooked; an irrefutable case of being unable to see the woods for the trees.  And the last thing you want is for your readers to be left guessing what it is that you are trying to say,  so by allowing someone else to edit a piece means you can ensure that your book is clear and flows well. 

      Good editing is an investment that can turn a mediocre book into a good book. It makes perfect sense when you have already  invested a great deal of time, emotion, and money into your manuscript.  After all you've put into it, why release your work to the world with errors that could have easily been avoided with the help of an editor?  Plus, deciding to hire an editor could help you with pieces you write in the future.

     You need to look at editing as an investment in your writing career.  With support like this, you will also receive lots of feedback in regards to your own writing style, character build-up, and the overall flow of your book.  This will be instrumental information for you and your growth as a writer.

     Remember, an editor’s suggestions are not to be misconstrued as insults. Even the most seasoned writers submit to editing to ensure that their work is as clean as it can be when it reaches their audiences, so you  should never doubt your writing because of it.  

The golden rule: 

     Always polish your book before sending it to market. You've nurtured it for so long, lived it, breathed it, laughed with your characters, cried with them, or even hated one or two of them, so whatever level of editing you need, just make sure your book is ready to be presented to your readers. That way your readers can enjoy it as much as you did when creating it. 

Happy writing! 

10 Healthy reasons for using Lavender

      My enthusiasm for growing and drying lavender has been a topic of conversation a number of times now, and has clearly been a cause of curiosity for some of my followers. All too often it is presumed that it is just going to be used for homemade pot pourri. This couldn't be further from the truth. Just brushing against it or running your fingers through it can automatically give you a sense of wellbeing. Besides, its scent is incredibly beautiful. Bringing the outdoors indoors isn't just about drying herbs and flowers for pot pourri. It has many uses…

     Lavender took its name from the Latin word ‘lavo’ which means ‘to wash’ and not too surprisingly the Romans used lavender scented water to bathe in. Centuries ago, our monarchy used lavender for perfume and conserves, and in the First World War it was used to bathe the wounded soldiers.

     Herbs, flowers, seeds and even mushrooms have been used in medicinal preparations for thousands of years. Old wives tales are also packed with helpful titbits. Admittedly some are quite useless and some border on the bizarre. And when it came to claims of miraculous cures from lotions and potions, being conjured up in village cauldrons, the great witch hunt began.

     The fine line between homespun medicinal cures and medically prescribed drugs is very thin. However the accusation of witchcraft alone culminated in many women being subjected to brutal punishment. The most memorable was the ducking stool whereby the accused ‘witch’ would be ducked in the local lake or river for a few minutes. If she drowned she was presumed innocent of all charges. If she survived, she was accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death by hanging or burned alive at the stake. Now there’s justice for you. Fortunately we have come a long way since then…

     So, before I board my lavender broomstick, fly over to smother your child’s cuts and bruises with a knob of butter and attempt to fix your ailments with the eye of bat and ribbet of frog, I shall now give you my top ten favourite benefits of Lavender and uses of Lavender Oil... 

1.   A relaxant

     Small pocket bags (sachets) made from fabric, filled with lavender and tucked under the pillow aid for restful sleep

2.   Laundry Freshener

     Lavender sachets can also be used in cupboards and drawers to scent the linen, towels and any laundry that it is being aired in a particular closet.

3.   Moth repellent

     Make up a batch of lavender flowers combined with a handful of thyme, rosemary, basil, orris root and a few drops of lavender oil. Leave this mixture for approximately a week, in a tightly sealed plastic bag. Fill small ribbon tied fabric sachets with the mixture and hang or place in wardrobes and drawers.

4.   Luxury Bath Oil for Respiratory problems

     Pour some essential drops of almond, lavender, geranium, and bergamot oils with 7 drops of allspice oil into a jar. Screw on the lid and shake well. Use a few drops of this mixture in a hot bath. 

5.   Tudor Bath Bags for aching joints

     Fill a small hessian, muslin or calico sack with a handful of lavender flowers and sage leaves. Add to this approximately 6 pieces of ginger root. Thread a long length of ribbon through the top and then sew the openings down firmly. Hang over the tap so that the running water flows through the bag. You can let the bag infuse in the hot water as you bathe.

6.   Lavender Tea or Tisane for Headaches and Migraine

     Put 3 tbsp. Of flower heads or dried lavender in a teapot with boiling water and allow it to steep for five minutes. Strain and serve with honey and/or sliced lemon.

7.   Room Freshener or pot pourri

     Start with a mix of dried herbs, lavender and rosebuds with orris root powder. Add the lavender oil (or an essential oil of your choosing,) and place in a glass/ornate bowl. As the seasons change you can add cinnamon or died orange peel, cloves or dried cones.

8.   General Disinfectant

     Boil a mixture of 2 tbsp. of white vinegar, 1 tsp. of borax and enough water to fill a hand held spray bottle, making sure the borax is thoroughly dissolved. Add to this ¼ cup of liquid soap and approximately 12 drops of lavender oil and a few drops of lemons juice.

9.   Ingredient for cooking

     The best tip I was ever given was that less is more. Too much lavender and your food will taste like the perfume. The second and equally important tip was to never use shop bought lavender flowers or dried lavender as it will most definitely have been sprayed with pesticides. An additional good  tip would be to always choose a good quality essence of lavender oil.

10.  Decorative displays

     Simple bundles or bouquets of lavender not only look elegant they freshen and fragrance any room. It lasts for ages and is a cheaper solution to that of shop bought air fresheners. More importantly it is much kinder to the environment. 

     The best time for me is when the Children's Festival is on or when I am helping out with a wedding or the church retinue. Understandably, the children involved in these processions are usually quite anxious, so I make a small lavender sachet for each of them so they can get a good nights sleep before the big day. Other than that Lavender oil can also serve as a great gift idea, presented in a quaint bottle perhaps, and sealed with wax. Additional trimmings and/or labeling on the outside completes the look.

~~I hope this have been a useful source of information and inspiration~~

Is there ever such a thing as too much information?

Descriptive information - Does this deny the readers the ability to work things out for themselves?     

     Well. I have just had a very productive weekend reading through an old manuscript. All my wondrous memories came flooding back, of how I created the story line in the first place, and how I had to change the plot here and there to accommodate one unsavoury character. 

     

     At first it was a slow progressive read, but then, low and behold a sentence did not ring true. I had introduced a new character into a chapter by his first name without first initiating him into the story line.  

How could I have missed such an obvious mistake? 

     And then I remembered a piece of advice I’d been given about editing...

     “Once you've written a book,  put it down and walk away. You already know the story line  and you already know the characters within the pages, therefore you cannot necessarily see the mistakes you may or may not have made. But if you go back to it at a later date, in say three months’ time, and start a second or even third draft, then you can not only correct any spellings and poor grammar, but you can also add to it something you may have overlooked, or condense a sentence here and there where the need arise.” 

I was beginning to think she was right... 

     As luck would have it the house was eerily quiet. 

     Under normal circumstances my home is a reasonably busy place, weekends especially. The boys stroll in and out like they own the place, usually accompanied by their friends, which generally means a huge pile culminates in the middle of the hall where they haphazardly dump all their belongings. 

     Then there is the compulsory headcount, so I have a rough idea as to how many mouths I will be expected to feed. Our daughter on the other hand usually has a schedule an arm’s length, consisting of trampoline classes, gymnastics, swimming, shopping, and anything else she can apply her energy to, just so long as it results in us digging deep into our pockets.

     However, this weekend it was surprisingly different. My hubby had gone off to the cottage for a spot of shooting, even though the roads were treacherous with all this bad weather we’d been having of late. My eldest son was back at University whilst my other son had been conveniently given a lift to Oxford so he could stay with some friends. That just left my daughter and me to have some girly time. Perfect.

     A quiet house meant I could settle down and concentrate. Editing takes lots of concentration, but it is a necessity none the less. And sometimes a fresh pair of ears may be needed. So, after one round of backgammon, three rounds of dominoes and one viewing of a pre-recorded suspense thriller of her choosing, I started to read out loud an excerpt from one of my manuscripts.

     But then she said, “Mummy,” in a quizzical tone. “Why have you put all the details in about your characters when I already know who they are from the first book?”

     “Well,” I thoughtfully responded, “Some people may have not read the first book.”

     “Oh,” she replied. 

     But still, she wasn't satisfied. “But doesn't that mean you have to repeat yourself all over again?”     Hmm... this definitely called for a rethink... 

Did I have to introduce the characters all over again? 

   Maybe she was right... 

     Part of me was trying to help the reader by providing some background information. Part of me wanted to almost recapture those significant details because I had enjoyed introducing them into the story line the first time round. But now, part of me was also saying that my daughter’s observations were equally biased.

“Am I really helping the reader, or am I inadvertently insulting their intelligence?

NEWS! "Read all about it!"

“Read all about it!”

     That was the familiar call of yesteryear’s newsboy…

     It really makes little difference how long it takes to print a book. It is, after all, the quality of the work that counts. But it is a very different matter if the subject happens to be news that the maximum of people want to read with a minimum delay in time.

     But the public demand was there. Strangely enough, it always has been.

     The Ancient World was not a very large place, but even its early inhabitants had a thoroughly modern curiosity about what went on in it. People wanted to know, therefore efforts were made to tell them. In those days travelling was so slow and hazardous, so most of the news had to stay local. Nevertheless the early news writers had a skill in writing up an event that would have looked professional even by today’s standard.

     Here is an on-the-spot report of two parties of tunnellers approaching each other deep in the earth…

'… The workmen were swinging their pickaxes, shoulder to shoulder, and there were still six feet to go when they heard the voice of a workman calling to his companions, for there was a crack in the rock to the right…'

     It seems up-to-date enough, but would it surprise you to learn that it was actually a contemporary account of the building of an aqueduct near Jerusalem, some 2,500 years ago?

     Even more surprising is that it was in fact chipped into solid rock. The only drawback for this type of journalist reporting, for the public to actually read of it, was first they had to travel some distance to the cliff face where the words were inscribed. Clearly it was going to be a very long time before a newspaper would come to them.

     The discovery of printing happened in the 17^th century, and from that point on newspapers grew steadily from Venetian news sheets, price one gazetta (which accounts for our numerous “gazettes”) via news books sold at German fairs, the official London Gazette, and eventually, in 1785, to the Times - a real newspaper with a circulation that had already risen to 5,000 copies a day by the year of  Waterloo.

     However, The Times wanted much, much more. They wanted a machine that would print papers quickly and continuously, and without waiting for each sheet to be laboriously folded by hand. And by 1870 they finally got it - a revolutionary printing press that was to be the direct ancestor of those in use today. A press that was tireless, because it was power driven. Fast, because it used curve type, mounted on rollers over which were threaded endless reels of paper. Continuous, because it cut and folded its own sheets without help of human hand. For them this modern newspaper press was a long, long way from Gutenberg’s hand press at Mainz.

     Magazines are a kind of half-way house between books and newspapers. Early examples were usually literary reviews, but before the end of the last century they were appealing to a much wider audience. It seems almost compulsory these days for the lavish use of colour illustrations in modern periodicals; a possible reason for the very complicated and expensive printing processes that produces them.

     Newsagents appeared in almost every village, in towns and cities. Comics were invented. They became hugely popular and soon children of all ages were  spending their pocket money on this new source of reading material with its memorable characters and colourful illustrations.

. 

       Yes, quite... thank you, Batman...

     But nowadays, with the new age of technology at our disposal such as fax machines, emails, and the internet,  there has been a sharp decline in sales.

     Newspapers were not just formatted columns providing educational pieces of script, they were a source of general knowledge, local gripes and snipes or political agendas, all of which culminating into historical facts, (albeit written in the the present tense when going to print.) Inventories and accoutrements appertaining to births, deaths and future events were all categorized and logged in reams upon reams of  small print, and still are. The one thing newspapers have taught us is the correct use of the English language. Using proper sentences without the need for abbreviations, or illegible jargon, appears to be a thing of the past. With the growing use of spell checks and trends in abbreviated jargon, a supposed compulsory albeit habit forming use of the English language, are we now about to see a new language emerge with the next generation?

      

               "Is this the final nail in the coffin for the age old Newspaper?"

Mrs Scrooge wants to show you how!

Ho! Ho! Ho!  It’s that time of year again...

     If you are anything like me you will be busy hiding all those ‘must haves,’ or, ‘I’ve been really good this year,’ Christmas presents on your children’s wish lists, crossing your fingers while hoping that your darling little rascals haven’t discovered them yet. In my house they are usually stashed away in the bottom of the wardrobe or in the window seats, and sometimes at the back of the study cupboards disguised inside company boxes. 

     I remember when my sister and I were growing up. Every Christmas my parents would get dressed up and go off to the annual Christmas Party. Likewise, every time my parents went off to the party, my sister would raid our mother’s wardrobe, searching for those not too well hidden presents. She had a cunning knack of carefully pealing back the seals, and ever so slightly, opened the wrapping to reveal the mystery content. Needless to say she knew every single thing she would be getting before the big day. It wouldn’t have been so bad if she’d only opened her own presents, but no, my dear elder sister just had to tell me what was inside mine as well. 

     And I especially remember asking for a kitchen. I’d seen the perfect one in a shop window in St Annes-on-Sea. With wanton glazed eyes I placed the palms of both hands on the pane, eagerly straining to get a closer look. Much to my dismay when I opened my present only to find they’d bought me a much smaller plastic version, and not even an oven or a fridge to play with. Shame; you never know what goes on in the minds of little ones. 

     One special trick I used to play each year was I would wrap a single Hamlet cigar for my Dad. I would bind the whole present from top to bottom in sellotape. The look on his face as he tried desperately hard to carefully and painstakingly unwrap the thing, without snapping it in the process, was certainly a picture I will never forget.

     When my three angels were really small all their stocking fillers were really big. Giant plastic toys and games and battery operated gizmos were always at the top of their wish lists, and of course, always missing those important batteries. They nearly always came in massive boxes, which ultimately spilled out onto the floor. It looked a magnificent sight and my children shrieked with obvious delight. Oh yes, and Tilly Flops, my youngest, would always beg us not build a fire on Christmas Eve. Well, we couldn’t have a singed Father Christmas, now could we? 

     But as the years went by my children got bigger and not too surprisingly their presents decreased in size. It seemed the more expensive the gift, the smaller the packaging. Even so that never stopped my children from snooping. Just like my sister, they too would search the house for clues like sniffer dogs on the scent. And even after the presents had been placed under the tree, they would annoyingly shake and rattle the contents, ultimately guessing what’s inside.

     One year I came up with a brilliant idea. I placed three small gift wrapped boxes on the tree branches. I told them it was a magic Christmas tree and if they asked the tree a little ditty they could make a wish and the tree would grant them one treat. But I also strongly advised them against asking it twice. My excuse was equally cunning. I told them that the magic tree would need time to generate more energy to supply treats for them all and would need no less than 24 hours to complete. What I really meant was I needed to get more supplies from the shop, but they didn’t need to know that. 

     And so, the family tradition of asking the Christmas tree for a special treat was put in place...

“Please, please, please…

Christmas Tree…

Make some chocolate…

Just for me!”

     They each in turn chanted this small, somewhat silly ditty, and surprise, surprise… the tree obliged. It also kept their minds off the pressies beneath. And before long we were placing more and more gift wrapped boxes on the Christmas tree in order to accommodate other little children who came to visit. Some were a bit too shy, some were a bit too cheeky, but all in all the family tradition has stood the test of time. Nowadays the boys are old enough to go and fetch the treats from my stash in the study, usually when I have forgotten to fill up the little boxes. It’s nice to think they still hold with tradition and want to keep sharing it with the next generation.

     So this year I have intentionally made things a little more interesting. Just to keep them all guessing I have deliberately disguised everyone’s pressies already neatly gift wrapped and hidden inside even more deviously larger sized boxes. My hubby will be getting his traditional lambswool sweater cleverly disguised in a computer box this year; my eldest son will find his expensive treat gift wrapped inside a very large box filled with lots of shredded invoices and bills, (nothing goes to waste in our house,) after already being wrapped in its actual box thus having to effectively open it twice. My other son already thinks he knows what he’s getting so he will be very surprised when he unwraps what he thinks is his pressy only to find it has been disguised inside a Nintendo box, and a pink one at that. And then there’s my daughter - waste not want not, Tilly Flops will be unwrapping her presents only to find they have been hidden inside cat food boxes, Dad’s old wellington boot box, and bubble wrapped, buried in even more shredded paper and all topped off with tons of trimmings such as recycled ribbons and bows and tinsel and old pretty picture cards and glitter, all looking stunningly festive. If that doesn’t confuse her nothing will.

     You see, it’s not necessarily the lengths we have go to for them to get their desired presents, it’s the lengths we then have to go to in order to slow things down and stop them from guessing. I truly believe I have excelled this year. My mission is complete, even if I do have to find somewhere else to put the cat sachets.

     On a more serious note, just remember that Christmas isn’t about filling the packaging company’s pockets with our hard earned cash. In any case, it isn’t the packaging that puts the smiles on our children’s faces. Wasteful packaging is all around us and too often it is simply discarded, so put it to good use, recycle it, and feel you’ve actually got your monies worth out of it for a change. Above all else, the fun is in the giving and receiving. The opening of presents can be as long or as short as you want it to be. Just make it fun and keep the spirit alive for everyone this year. Times have been hard for the past few years and is showing no signs of getting easier, which is all too globally recognised. And maybe you would like to try one of our family traditions with your children. If so, remember to tell them that the magic only happens once a day. 

     Oh, and one more thing. the pets like a bit of fuss too at Christmas...

~~~ Have yourselves a Very Merry Christmas Everyone ~~~