Is it me or are New Year’s Eves coming around with more frequency these days? Surely they’ve sneakily put in one or two extras in the year when I wasn’t looking?

We’re going for our traditional non-event evening. I could give you the “babysitters impossible to get/too expensive” excuse, but we’d all know that really it’s because Akra and I just fancy a night in without any fuss.

This is the part where I’m supposed to look back over the year, moan at how bad it was and express hope that at least 2005 is BOUND to be better because it couldn’t possibly get worse. At least that seems to be my usual run of things. However, this year is going to be the exception – sorry.

2004, all things considered, was bloody good. No, it wasn’t easy – we had some tough times in there (notably when I wasn’t very well in my pregnancy with Li’l Bhaji) but mostly we had a fabulous time. So far, I can catagorically state I like my thirties. I have two gorgeous children, a husband who I’m looking forward to spending many more decades with and I’m even learning to like myself a lot more. This has been the year where I’ve got a lot more organised, my life seems to be coming together more with some sort of purpose. I’m just hoping that 2005 continues the trend.

Resolutions? I don’t really do resolutions. Not because I’m jaded and cynical. Well, okay… not only because I’m jaded and cynical, but because I tend to be Mrs Self-Help Guru throughout the year anyway. After all, why wait all the way until January for a personal makeover? Generally though, I want to be able to focus on the kids a bit more. I’m not very good at full-on, sit on the floor, neck deep in toys, playing. I find excuses and other things to do. I’ve tackled the chore procrastination in my life, it’s time to put an end to the kid procrastination too before they get to the age where it’s not cool to play with mum anymore.

Let’s see how it goes, shall we?