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Yes, it’s Festivus, the holiday for the rest-of-us. The iron pole is up, the feats of strength are on the schedule, and now is the time for the airing of the grievances. You have free space in the comments — my gift to you this holiday season — or you can always go to the official site. But truly, it would be more fun if you did it here. At least for me.

Boy, am I full of grievances this year. I’m going to have to limit myself or I’ll be here all night:

• Okay, okay already. I believe in The Secret and the Law of Attraction in that the chaos in my life attracts more chaos. Now MAKE IT STOP! Thank you.
  
  
• Teachers should want to teach and perhaps even actually like kids. They should not give impossible and vague assignments - like writing a sequel to a two hundred page book - or two hours of homework a night to fifth graders. They should also be somewhat open to hearing the problems from parents, instead of defensive and antagonistic.
  
  
• My dad desperately needs a hobby that doesn’t involve calling to tell me to sell my Apple stock.
  
  
• Why oh why can’t we win? We did a great film in May, but didn’t win anything other than an audience award. My daughter did a great video for a contest, but didn’t place. I can’t even get retweets for our Snowpocalypse design, while I sift through the third version of Ten Reasons Why Your Blog Might Suck, which only serves to flame my insecurities. Three times.
  
  
• I like our little hamster, but it drives me crazy that she constantly loads up her wheel with food and then runs, making herself into a rodent maraca.
  
  
• My political grievances for the year are way too much for this post, but right now I am angry at the entire Congress for holding up and/or messing up health care legislation. As far as I’m concerned, they can’t leave for Christmas until they get this puppy passed. No sympathy.
  
  
• Copy and pasted from last year: My kids are brilliant, loving, and kind, but can’t manage to put away their own stuff or comprehend that failure to do so is making it twice as hard for me to tackle the house clutter which makes me unhappy. Ditto on the husband. (Happy Birthday, Honey. Love you!)
  

Despite the fact I feel like I could fall asleep at my keyboard, I thought I'd do my write up on the "Write Fantastic" book signing now whilst it's still fresh in my head (plus, I want to spend most of my free time tomorrow in typing up chapter one of my new Doctor Who novella !).

Sadly, neither Diana Wynne Jones nor Mark Chadbourn could make it as both were poorly - which was a disappointment as I'd heard nice things about both of them and was looking forward to meeting them (especially Diana as I've read so many of her books).

However, I met Jessica Rydill, Stan Nicholls and Stephen Hunt (whose debut novel, The Court of the Air (out April 2) I'm really eager to read). And I got to have a very fangirly conversation with Jessica about "Doctor Who", as well as talking about writing and books too.

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Talking of Doctor Who, fans of David Tennant might like to check out this very funny sketch (via YouTube) from yesterday's "Comic Relief" charity TV marathon on the BBC. He and Catherine Tate (who played Donna Noble in the Doctor Who Christmas Special "The Runaway Bride") are fantastic together, and he's such a star to allow her to send him up so much. Oh and it features Shakespeare (his poetry, not the man) - definitely not to be missed !