Flippy floppy duvet

It happened again last night. I get into bed. I get all cosy and then realise I have a flappy floppy bit of duvet. You know what I mean. The bit of your duvet cover that isn't filled with lovely soft voluptuous duvet. It's a void and it's really difficult to refill it without going to a lot of trouble.

I usually get it at the side of the duvet; my daughter had it at the top of the duvet the other evening. It's annoying.

You either have to do a lot of shaking of said duvet or get your hand right in there to pull the duvet into the empty space. And it's amazing how you can leave a lovely cosy bed in the morning and then by the evening flippy floppy syndrome has struck seemingly out of nowhere. Be gone with you flappy duvet cover bits.

A big branch painted white with fairy lights wrapped round

Have you noticed how the trend this Christmas is for white painted trees with embedded lights that look very much like a big branch painted white with fairy lights wrapped round but cost a shed load of money? The good ones look very tasteful and I was tempted for 5 minutes before I did indeed realise they are just big synthetic branches painted white with lights wrapped round. So I have rescued a big branch from a tree that next door was having pruned and have spray-painted it white and wrapped lights round. Boom boom. It looks fantastically festive to say it's just a big branch painted white with lights wrapped round. A very big and wonderful British department store eat your heart out.

I'll answer to anything

My son and daughter got a hand-delivered Christmas card from a neighbour's little boy this afternoon. He is in the school year between my two. The little love got my son's name right if spelt slightly wrongly but had rechristened my daughter completely. She will from henceforth be known as her new moniker of Ella. Bless!

I had to giggle as we've all been there. I have a few friends who I haven't seen in years. Thus far I always remember their names on the Christmas card but often struggle with their partner's name or their children's. No doubt I have made a boo-boo in years past or perhaps every year.

My friend told me how she always sends a card to her neighbour called Graham. She has sent one for 6 years to him and his family. This December she found out his name is Paul. She was mortified and apologised profusely. Graham's Paul's family has found this hilarious for 6 years and has insisted she continues to call him Graham. It has become a Christmas tradition to wait for the Christmas card for Graham.