One of the reasons that I enjoy the Christmas/New Year period is that it's profitable, baby-sitter wise. There're a lot of calls for sitting jobs, and being temporarily out of work I'm quite willing to put my hand up and earn some extra cash. It's also good training for me. I'm studying to be a teacher, and the more experience I get controlling little monsters the better I'll become.

I've just turned eighteen, and when school starts next year I'll be attending a primary school as a student-teacher, getting a month's on the job experience. I'm looking forward to the resumption of school, which is more than the kids I...