‘Look at me!'

Jan planned a modest start to 2020. It’s not going well.

- Jan Etherington

The Christmas decorations are still up but I’ve already broken two of my New Year Resolutions. The first is ‘Stop Showing Off!’

I’m afraid it’s been top of the list for as long as I can remember – certainly, since the holiday I spent with my formidable Auntie Hilda, in Worthing, when I was four. As we walked along the seaside promenade I skipped over to the circular, ornamental ponds and started hopping round the edge. “Look at me, Auntie!”, I sang, waving to catch her attention.

The next thing I can remember was seeing dozens of goldfish swim past my eyes, as I floated down and then popped up, gasping. Auntie Hilda swept me up in her capacious Aquascutumn fur coat, with the words, “That’s what you get for showing off.”

I was still showing off for much of my teenage years. A boy I fancied was walking past the long jump pit. As Games Captain, I was pretty good at sport, so as he came closer, I decided to impress him with my agility.