What I dislike about Christmas (and like)

I dislike

Writing the Christmas cards

The Financial Times is not published for a while (and when it is it looks as if it has been on a diet).

The local swimming pools are closed or their opening times are unpredictable.

Newspapers are filled with end of year quizzes (that you know were written in the silly season and updated later).

Just when you seriously need them dustbin collections are at bizarre times.

The contents of your garage are 98% cardboard by New Year’s Day.

I like

There is more time to go running with friends.

The milkman delivers the bumper delivery of milk in a large plastic milk crate that can be kept and used for other purposes.

The television is such rubbish there is zero temptation to watch any of it.

You harbour the illusion that you can tidy your house (although you never do)

There is finally a reason to drink all the “decent” bottles of wine that you have been keeping for a “special occasion”.

So pretty evenly balanced really....