Have you ever had lucid (清醒的) dreams? Recent studies suggest that the number of people having them is on the rise. Someone having a lucid dream realizes they are dreaming and may from then on" direct" the action, or they may simply " watch" the dream unfold. The sense of awareness (知道) makes it different from a dream that is simply very lively and true to life. And although the description may seem strange, the process is far from alien to many of us.

Studies suggest that the number of people in the Western world experiencing lucid dreams, which happen once in a while, has risen by between 10 and 40 per cent since the 1980s. Today, they are so common that about one in eight of us will have one in our lives. But still, little is known about what causes them or what is behind the rise.

Research carried out at the respected Harvard University in the US shows that the brain is working hard during lucid dreams. In fact, the level of the mental (精神

的) activity in some parts of the brain is similar to that of a person who is awake. Lucid dreamers seem to share certain personal characters. For example, in general they are quite creative. They are also good at digging deep into problems and going out of their way to solve them. Furthermore, they always believe in personal responsibility rather than letting society carry the can.

Our nightmares (噩梦) may show our waking worries, with the five most common ones-- falling, being run after, feeling disabled, being late and the death of a loved one. Men are more likely to have nightmares about fights or being fired while hair and tooth loss appear more in women's nightmares-perhaps showing worries about losing their looks. Research has also found that women have more nightmares than men. Their dreams are also scarier and more unforgettable.

One of my earliest memories is playing "shops" with my granddad when I was 5 years old. After 1 school at 15, I worked in a fruit shop, but I had no 2 of how to run my own shop back then. 

Several years later, I got married. My husband Eric and I heard about a shop for sale in the nearby village. We had a look and decided to have a shop of our own. That was January 1973. Shopkeeping was 3 to us, so we often didn't know what the 4 were asking for. But we soon learned. 

We can tell by the weather how 5 the shop is going to be. On wet days there are very few people around, and when it's 6 people want bread and milk, as they're worried about being snowed in. When it's hot, everyone buys cold drinks and ice cream. 

More people shop online nowadays, but they still come here for things 7 from their order. I've kept up with technology and have a card reader, but the shop itself hasn't changed much. 

Now, as I'm getting older, it's open from 7 a. m. to 6 p. m. on weekdays 8 closing at 8: 30 p. m. However, I keep it open until 2 p. m. at weekends. 

Eric passed away 16 years ago, but I am 9 getting rid of (处理掉) the shop. I love it all—talking to the customers and getting 10 they want. There are customers who come in two or three times a day, and we see several generations of families. Customers often tell me their 11 and I offer advice if I can. 

It was the 50th anniversary (周年纪念) of the shop on January 13 this year. I wanted to do something 12 , so I held a party and had drinks and nibbles with customers. I also 13 a book about my memories in the shop. It's called Just Ask Jenny, as I'm always the first port of call when anyone wants to know 14 .

This shop has been my life. I never 15 I'd still be here after 50 years, but I love it and the people. It's what keeps me going, and I've got no plan of retiring (退休).

I stood by the window, Looking at the gray sky and snowy ground. A woman crossed the street, with a thick scarf, looking cold and unhappy.

 The morning was ideal for reading, so I turned on the light and lay in bed with a book. The phone rang, and I heard my mum agree to something, mentioning my name. Curious,I wondered what was happening.

 Mum entered and told me Uncle Sam was taking me to Sparrow Hills. Unwilling to leave on such a cold day,I hesitated(犹豫) but didn't want to disappoint Mum, so I put on my blue sweater. The doorbell rang, and Uncle Sam asked if I was ready.

"I suppose," I replied, grabbing a warm wool hat. We headed to the station, catching the train to Sparrow Hills. The train is warm, and my body started to relax.

"Can we just stay on the train?" I said as the train stopped. Uncle Sam softly pulled me up and said, "You will miss all the fun."

 Outside, the wind was blowing strongly. The trees were shining and they swung in the wind.

"I don't know how long I can stay out here," I said as we started to walk uphill. He pulled me closer to the trees and said, "Listen!"

 At first, I heard only the wind. Then came a jingling and chiming(叮叮当当). "That's the music in winter," My uncle said. I pulled my hat up to free my cars. The branches(树枝) sounded like hundreds of bells ringing, jingling and chiming. I was surprised and I stood still, looking at the icy branches hitting each other and leaves swinging in the wind. Then we climbed to the top of Sparrow Hills and looked down. The snow-covered trees made buildings appear brighter. Then the sun broke through the clouds.

"The sun is shining!" I shouted. Uncle Sam smiled and said, "The sun is always shining. You just need to climb high enough to see it."

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