Counting each day

Who can remember the Advent crown from Blue Peter when they were kids? Made out of wire coat hangers, tinsel and long wick candles and lit each week in December, it was cheap, tacky and a bit dangerous in the wrong hands - all the things a Blue Peter make should be.

I have only one year not had an advent

calender - I think I must have been having a 'grown up' moment, foolish girl - and 2 years ago I ditched the chocolate for a beautiful calendar illustrated by Matthew Rice but this year I'm back to the traditional, marvelous Cadbury's chocolate advent calender.

I can recall pilfering chocolate from my calendar as a kid (when I was young enough to think my mum wouldn't notice or that I wouldn't notice when December 19th rolled round and I'd already scoffed the day's treat) but I show more restraint these years, sometimes even forgetting for a day!

I can remember having a plain advent calendar with no chocolate when 5 or 6 but I think as soon as I discovered the version with confectionery I was a true convert. The first Christmas I can properly remember was when I was 6 too - so maybe the counting really makes a big difference to the build up.

And anyway, I'm all for anything that gives me an excuse to have a bit of chocolate with breakfast.