So this is Christmas and what have you done, the old year is over, the new one just begun! Note for Mr Lennon, buy a new calendar mate.

It's been the usual sort of Christmas festivities, I collected Charis from University earlier this month in what proved to be a fairly strenuous exercise in transport and the national rail system.

Preparations for Christmas were pretty much of a muchness and consisted of buying more food and drink than two people could hope to consume, while at the same time failing to have food for basic meals (unless you have somehow come to decide that dinner can be had from a handful of peanuts a bottle of brandy and cheese - which is silly because that is what I had for breakfast!)

I had Ruth and her boyfriend over for boxing along with their mother and James and a fairly pleasant time was had by all. Unfortunately Debbie and James had to head home before Ruth and Chris left which was a shame. But the munchkin seemed to like the presents he had from us and Charis's remote control cyberman went down very well indeed. The trouble and at the same time the wonderful thing about Chrimbo is that days flow gently into one another and all seem the same long long period of relaxation.