Well, that’s it for another year.

Maybe you think I’m being a bit previous? I should probably explain that Christmas/Saturnalia/Solstice was celebrated yesterday here at the Manor.

Daughter came for the day bringing only Big Dog. She has two dogs – Big Dog who is, well, big. She’s a very large black hairy lump of pure affection who seems to have a thing for me and I have to spend the visit stroking her head or tickling her tummy. Little Dog just scutters around the place farting a lot but he was left at home for the day.

I was barred from the kitchen. Daughter pointed out that I have to do the cooking every day and she was determined that I was to do nothing but relax. I couldn’t find any points to argue there. So I sat and dozed as Daughter had a fine time clattering around with my pots and pans cooking up a fine roast dinner. She washed up and cleared out the kitchen after which was brilliant.

The one weird moment was when we were exchanging gifts. I must point out that I hadn’t talked about gifts with daughter so neither of us knew what the other was up to. Her present to her mother – a stained glass pendant to hand in the window. My gift to the Missus – a stained glass picture to hang in the window. Weird or what?

So it was a lovely quiet peaceful day. I even abstained from the alcohol for the day as Daughter is On The Dry now for three years [or is it four?]. Not to worry: I made up for it after she left.

Today I’m back to normality, while the rest of the world goes into a frenzy and panic trying to cook a turkey while stopping family members from killing each other.

So I wish you all luck and survival.

And the days are getting longer.