Well, my ancient Sony – so very recently featured – or so it seems – in a James Bond film has finally crashed and burned, taking with it my iPod library – Yes, I know there are all sorts of clever ways of getting these things back – not least of which is taking them in to a specialist to sort out. Time enough to do these things, anyone?

Hey – feel good – I haven’t even started Christmas yet – except, yes, I have hung my Cath Kidston robin ‘teddies’ as minimus calls them, from all the lights – and they do look cute, I have to say.

What is life without a bit of kitsch, ladies?

I watched that compulsive dining programme – you know the one- where they all compete for a £ 1000 prize – and yes, there were better cooks and smoother hosts, but the dinner party I really wanted to go to was held by a cuddly Yorkshire chap who could cook and who thought Christmas should be a celebration of all things twinkly. Yay, say I. Don’t stint yourself because you fear it might not be ‘cool’ or er, ’stylish’. There is nothing stylish about a Christmas promoted by Coca Cola – so just run with it and be as twinkly as you like. One thing is sure, your family will love it.

I’m sure there are a lot of professional things I should be telling you – but basically today my message is a Christmas message – without the bubbles: be kind to each other – and in the words of Alexander Pope -
Teach me how to feel another’s woe
To hide the fault I see
That mercy I to others show
That mercy shows to me

Love to all across this complex world of ours,

Susan xx