What’s your perfect evening?

One question people ask is that about going out. Or not going out. Either as a couple or by ourselves. Because, you see, it is sometimes deemed odd to actually enjoy being with your children and to, dare I say it, stay indoors rather than be out wining and dining with friends… or something.

There’s nothing wrong with any of that, if that’s what you like. But we actually like staying home with our family. Or if we do go out it’s as a family. Together. But to some it’s quite unreal that we honestly, truly do feel that way.

“Don’t you feel you’re missing out?”. Erm, not at all. In fact, if you want to come and visit and stay for dinner you’re more than welcome. We’ll even have a games night on the Wii if we’re really feeling sociable! But missing out on what exactly? Is it so completely unfathomable that we may really, truly, actually enjoy being with our family?

Last night was a great night. Do you know what we did? After dinner, when everything was tidied and the two youngest were in bed, I popped corn in the biggest pan we have (and that pan is pretty big!). I put on my pyjamas and the rest of us settled down to watch “Fiddler on the Roof” on DVD. How can you not love a good old musical, with popcorn, surrounded by your family, on the sofa in your pyjamas on a cold , autumn night?

OK, admittedly we only got through the first two hours of it because my eyes refused to stay open any longer, but we’re picking up where we left off tonight (more popcorn!). We couldn’t have done that if we went to the cinema. And we’d have paid a small fortune for the privilege too.

I know that to some it sounds boring, and there are a fair few people who can’t believe we’re possibly being serious. But to us, it was a perfect evening.

Now to line some more films up for popcorn nights and winter won’t feel so bad after all! Any recommendations?