Back when I was at school there was a day that was to change the course of my life quite significantly. Each year we did a 'fun' run in aid of charity at a local park/woods type place. The name of which escapes me now. We all hated it.

This particular year we had all been to the twin's house for lunch and John was to drive us all down the the park/woods ready for the start. We all packed into his car and, if I remember correctly it took three trips to get us there. Anyway, we were squeezed in the back of his car and he had music on. It may now be considered a cheesy song, but it was the first time I heard 'Sweet Child O' Mine'. Prior to this I had been a bit of pop princess to be honest. On hearing this song for the first time, I was amazed. It was very new and very loud and I loved it. I took home 'Appetite for Destruction' that day and it did not leave my stereo for some time.

From that, I changed the places I went, the music I listened to, my opinions of people, the way I dressed, the magazines I bought. It all changed in that one moment. (So we have Gun's N Roses to blame!) ...and Richard Nicholls the lad I had a huge crush on liked them, which always helps ;)

I wonder, had I continued on the pop princess path how different things would be. I would certainly know different people, have had different friends. I would not have been so scary certainly!

The point of this is that I was sitting in class, listening to the radio whilst the children revised for their test this morning, trying to create a calm and relaxed pre-exam atmosphere and that song came on the radio. The kids were humming along whilst discussing the inference in Haydn Richards 'The Faithful Collie' and I was transported back to that day in the car. It made me smile.

Things could have been so different. Things could also have been a lot worse.

..oh and welcome back Nik, thanks for the goat's cheese :)