I’m ready to be Little Miss Sunshine

WHEN I’m stuck with a day That’s grey, And lonely, I just stick out my chin And grin, And say …

“Chuck on the Netflix, Dad!”

So that’s what we did on Saturday.

What else to do on a grey and lonely day that put a dampener on our plans to herald in the school holidays with a fun family round of minigolf? Board games? More like bored games. Plus, they always end in either tears, fisticuffs or both.

Cleaning my room like Dad suggested?

Well, I’ll clean mine when you clean yours, old man!

A movie it was then. And you can probably guess what we eventually settled on: Annie (the 2014 reboot; Netflix didn’t have the original).

Now, I love getting outdoors as much as the next four-year-old, but there’s something to be said for a lazy day inside every now and then. Especially in the depths of winter. Hot chocolates. Woolly socks. The sound of rain hitting the tin roof while you’re snuggled up on the couch, the roaring fire melting away the stresses of the Monday to Friday hard-knock life. It really can be good for the soul. Add to that the restorative powers of an uplifting story about an little orphan girl, complete with show tunes that even crusty old ‘Daddy No-bucks’ next to me on the couch can’t stop singing, and the batteries are recharged in no time.

So I’m pleased to report that I’m feeling refreshed, revitalised and ready to tackle these school holidays head-on — rain, hail or shine.

Quite frankly I’d prefer more shine like yesterday and I’m hoping for the sake of all kids and their parents that the next two weeks gets plenty of it so we all don’t go stir crazy.

At least the Bureau of Meteorology seems to be getting on-board.

Its forecast: The sun’ll come out tomorrow … and the next day and the next and the next.

Although I think I’ll keep the Netflix remote handy just in case, because I sure wouldn’t bet my bottom dollar on it.