25th December:

A merry Christmas to one and all.

There is a lot to be said for attempting to set a new world record for champagne drinking.

In a break with tradition this year, your congenial host watched Her Maj's Christmas message to the peasants. She talked about the wonderful work that is done in the community. Which she presumably sees all the time. From a plush seat, behind triple-glazed windows.

More to the point, we mourn the passing of the self-proclaimed 'Godfather of Soul', Mr. James Brown. Life is not about finding ourselves, it is about creating ourselves, and Mr. Brown was indeed a prime illustration of this maxim. He was also proof positive that a little touch of genius frequently goes hand-in-hand with a little touch of madness.

Whatever you do over the holidays, make it funky.