Christmas comes but once this year
One of the rather magical benefits of going away in late November and early December is that when you come back home, Christmas seems to have started in earnest. We've been back from our week in Dubai for seven days now, and all week I have felt the pressure of Christmas. Streetlights, busy shops, and a diary that just doesn't have enough empty days in it before the 25th. The Jo Malone Advent calendar has yielded yet more goodies - individual bottles of cologne, scented candles, moisturisers and the like. Richards gin advent calendar has yielded, yes, gin, lots of varieties, but gin. As a freelancer you don't get invited to many Christmas parties. No office party, unless you give yourself a glass of wine and a bag of salted cashews, but on Friday evening, I went over to a drinks party hosted by the editor of The Stage at his new house in Bermondsey. It was relaxed, low-key, and absolutely delightful. Richard, having arrived back from Birmingham late in the evening, joi