Don't forget your New Year's resolutions for 2011

Hello boys and girls, HOW are you all and I hope everybody had a great Christmas and is looking forward to the New Year celebrations. I always love the New Year because I feel it's a chance to start over again. You can make up with anyone you might have had a row with and make a list of things to do for the year. These are called New Year Resolutions and can be great fun. You should all try it. The first thing you do is get a pen and paper. Then you make out a big list and whittle that down to your most important goals. For instance, I put down â€ËœClimb Mount Everest', â€ËœParachute from a Plane' and get a â€ËœNew Sportscar'. I was happy enough with that but then along came Aunt Molly and crossed them all out. Nonsense, she said. 'Act your age. You're lucky to be able to climb the stairs, never mind Mount Everest. As for jumping out of a plane, knowing you, you'd forget your parachute. And how would you get your big belly into a sportscar?' Well there was no talking to her so I had to go back and make out a new list. And then I had to make out another one because she said bungee jumping was out as well. Finally I made a list of resolutions  for 2011 that we were both happy with. Here it is: 1.    Visit the Tiger cubs in Dublin Zoo. 2. Learn to fly a kite. 3. Snap a photo of a fox and badger. 4.    Learn to swim (not just splash). 5.    Visit more neighbours (especially anyone on their own). 6. Eat less cake, sweets, biscuits, chocolates and buns. 7. Eat more fruit. 7. Be nicer to everyone (if that's possible). 8. Have even more fun than last year. 9. Let Tiddles sleep in my armchair (only once). 10. See if I can help the boys and girls in Haiti. Naturally boys and girls you will have your own list of things you would like to do. It can be fun to get a diary and write your resolutions in the back. Then when next Christmas comes you can look and see how well you did. Some you will have dropped. Maybe you didn't really want to learn to play the accordion after all. But you might have had some fun with the school choir or got involved in a concert. The important thing is to enjoy yourself and try new things. Include a few things you will enjoy. Don't forget to include one or two that will help others and a few that are a challenge. Aunt Molly, Tiddles and I hope you all have a very good and a happy New Year and that you all keep keeping in touch with us during 2011. Bye for now, Uncle Jasper. HAPPY NEW YEAR POEM We had a lovely Christmas And look forward to New Year, We'll have another party and   We'll be of good cheer. Another year is finishing A new one's about to begin, So make those New Year resolutions And put your bad habits in the bin. Write down a list of things to do Make it exciting and full of fun, There are even more adventures In the year about to come. 2011 will be a great year Of this I've little doubt, We'll do all the things we plan Before this busy year is out. So get busy partying and celebrating And learn off Auld Lang Syne, For Friday at the stroke of midnight Is the signal to have a great time. CROSSWORD I know you're all very busy this week, what with new toys and the like, but I'll just include a crossword in case any of you miss it. Across 1. Tâ€â€Ã¢€â€s very much. 2. The thaw leaves lots of Wâ€â€Ã¢€â€ everywhere. 3. Answer â€â€- or no. 4. A bunch of Gâ€â€Ã¢€â€s. Down 1. You dry yourself with these after a bath. 2. At the top of the church â€â€ Aâ€â€-r. 3. A county beginning with K. 4. These might sting you â€â€ Wâ€â€-s.