Clare's "All I want for Christmas is..."

Useful things
Chocolate
Absinthe from www.lafeeabsinthe.com
Hair bobbles from Accessorize -- I like little clips and hairpins best
A mesh sponge bag for when I go away
Almost anything from www.greenpeople-organic-health.co.uk
Blended incense from www.starchild.co.uk (I like the airy ones best)
Hat, scarf and gloves set
A brown or black silky petticoat -- knee length would be most useful

House Things
A tray that you can put photos in like Fenella has
A fleecy underblanket for the bed I don't have yet
A bed
A decent Thermos cup that doesn't leak
A new apron -- washable and with a pocket
Good candles
A couple more string bags
A case of wine -- English if poss
Hot chocolate (I like Green and Blacks)

Writing Things
Lunch sponsorship: £3 pays for a sandwich so I don't have to make my own lunch, which means I can write in the morning.
A ready meal pack from Cook
Books on my Amazon wishlist
Subscriptions to the National Geographic, London Magazine, London Review of Books, Times Literary Supplement, Mslexia, Interzone

Clare's 'Some things you may not know about me...'

'Some things you may not know about me'

I am convinced I'm unloveable
I can't always remember how to spell acommodation, committee, recommend and liaison
I feel uncomfortable being awake and not wearing a bra
Thinking too much about babies makes me cry
I love it when market stallholders know me, and yet feel intimidated because they ask where I've been when I miss a week
I like it when huge things happen in my life and I don't tell anyone about them
I always have a proper handkerchief about my person
I like the taste of aniseed but not mint
When I answer the phone, I've probably just said 'Oh bugger off' to it

Clare's 'i don't understand...'

Rechargeable batteries
Most of the functions on my phone
Why everyone is in such a hurry
Golf
Competitiveness at table tennis
How the designers, manufacturers and peddlers of not-fit-for-purpose shoes sleep at night
Where my weekend went
Quantum mechanics
How I can lose things in my tiny flat
Where dust comes from