I had arranged to drop by Leeds with my sister's christmas present and to show her and her boyfriend our wedding pictures.

I had my sister's gift in a small gift bag just a thought of a sparkly beaded bracelet and her Christmas card was a Happy Christmas Sister card from Deckchair and I, with a smaller Happy Christmas Aunty card from Bert inside the first card.

Sadly her boyfriend went out when we got there, as he had to dash for some stamps for christmas cards !!!

I couldn't wait any longer and gave my sister her gift and card, whilst she sat on her own on the floor by her coffee table.

She opened the first card and then the second card with a puzzled expression on her face.

Deckchair suggested that she read the front of the card ? She read it out loud "Happy Christmas Auntie". Now read the inside of the card my husband prompted. "Happy Christmas Aunty *****" she read.

Then slowly it dawned on her and she said 'Your not !?!' She was happy and very excited for us and is looking forward to being an Auntie to our baby

Her boyfirend was equally confused when my sister showed him the card when he returned back to the house and when he got it said 'But you always said your sister is not having kids !?!'

Then I rang my brother from my sister's house phone. Although I wanted to tell him in person too, I didn't for two reasons.

One it would be weeks if not months before we would have the time to go and see him.

Two my mum wanted me to tell my brother sooner rather then later as he had gone home for the Christmas holidays and if my mum couldn't talk about Bert she said she would burst. OK a bit unlikely but who am I to risk my mum in this way.

I couldn't think of how to break the news to my brother and in the end the phone conversation went like this. "**** are you alright...brief pause...**** I'm pregnant."

Everyone at my sister's flat just burst out laughing and my poor brother seemed a bit overwhelmed on the other end of the phone. "Ermm does mum know he stammered". I explained that both parents already knew and why I was breaking the news to him over the phone instead of in person. He relaxed and explained he was out with mum and dad shopping and was worried he had to keep this a secret and he would have struggled to do so. He sounded happy that he will be an uncle soon.

My sister and her boyfriend took us out for tea at a lovely pub, Deckchair had a couple of beers and so I drove home. I supect I'll be doing a lot more of the driving over the next eight months or so.