A Christmas Carol: sales shopping

The big two days are over. You may be back to work – or equally, off to shop. If Britain is truly a nation of shopkeepers (and yes, I know the actual quotation is only about England), surely this should be our finest hour? I don’t know about you, but there’s a reason I’m at …

A Christmas Carol: Boxing Day

Boxing Day. The detritus from The Big Day is still about (even if you’ve been very particular about clearing up the wrapping paper). The fridge: the leftovers. The paper hats and bits of crackers. The little drifts of new items that don’t yet have homes (particularly if you’ve been staying at someone else’s house). You’re …

A Christmas Carol: Christmas Day

If you are sneaking off from general mayhem…hello. If you are looking for a quiet corner for a few minutes – me too. If you’ve been heralded as champion cook for the day – or (more likely) if people have looked up as you passed them plates of food, maybe smiled, certainly tucked in and …