July 2007 Archives

ADDENDUM to the previous blog re Harry Potter.
A suitably spooky thing happened on Tuesday morning when I woke up after a night filled with visions of Harry, Dumbledore and crew following a day spent reading the new book.
As I was lying there with images of the wizarding world still in my fuzzy brain, my daughter came in, sat on top of me and looked at my face.
After a couple of seconds, she said: "Mummy, I can see Harry Potter in your eyes."
I'm not making this up.
When pressed to explain, she could not.
Yes, she knew I had been reading the novel the day before, but the book was out of sight.
Bizarre... and worthy of a JK Rowling storyline, I feel.

SO farewell then, Harry Potter.
Like thousands of people around the globe – children and adults alike – I have spent every spare moment over the last few days devouring the last instalment of J K Rowling’s saga.
Engrossed in the book in a way not experienced for years, I took it everywhere with me.
Newspapers and TV have not featured in my life since Saturday afternoon, when I eagerly picked up a copy from WH Smith’s (yes, I know Asda was selling it cheaper.)
If you’re still reading it, look away now. Go on, I don’t want to spoil the ending!

I’VE decided to start my own religion.
Having looked at many of the existing ones, I’ve come to the conclusion they’re just not for me.
Many of them seem to revolve around a belief in something spiritual, which I don’t buy into.
And if they’re not being downright judgemental, they’re forbidding you to do something pleasant. All those Thou Shalt Nots.

I’M not one of those people who has been moaning about the recent changes in bin collections in Wirral.
In fact, I positively welcomed my grey recycling wheely bin into my home, lovingly creating space for it next to its green and brown brothers, and feeding it daily with empty bottles, cans and cardboard boxes.
So I was more than a little shocked when, more than a month ago now, I got home from work to find it had left home.

APPARENTLY there are currently around 57 million blogs on the world wide web, with the number increasing by 100,000 a day.
So I feel grateful – and somewhat amazed – that you are even reading this.

THERE was a lot of talk in the national press a couple of months ago about calls to reduce the complexities of the English language.
Being a traditionalist at heart, I dismissed all suggestions about simplifying spelling out of hand.
However, although I haven’t changed my mind, I am beginning to think the callers for reform have a point.

AREN'TCHA just sick of the rain?
Yeah, I know we don't have much to complain about, really. We don't live in Yorkshire. We haven't needed a submarine to get to school.
But I'm just FED UP of it raining EVERY SINGLE DAY.