A number of people I see and people in the media are groaning about it still being October yet the Christmas decorations are up in some places, Christmas ads in magazines and shops etc, and it’s true, it’s all a bit much.

But the other day, whilst in Sainsbury’s, I saw Hot Cross Buns! 

That’s like half a year too early

Nice buns though

Today, I was planning to visit my older brother. He lives in a smallish town in London’s south-west suburbia. My other brother, who lives on the south coast, would also be there, so it would be a good opportunity to catch up with siblings, deliver Christmas presents, and generally be merry.

However, my plans are thwarted because apparently, on Boxing Day, there are no trains, and I have no car.

Yet.

This is ironic because in the 23 years that I haven’t had a car, I’ve never felt particularly immobile; there was always a reasonable alternative to the private car. Now I’ve decided to buy one, I found myself stuck.

It’s also strange that in 23 years, I never realised that you can’t get a train on Boxing Day. I suppose subconsciously I always knew this, and travelled at other times around the Christmas period.

So why do we not have a train service on one of the few days of the year when people have the time to go and visit people? Seems odd to me. Perhaps all the train crews are busy shopping in the post-Christmas sales.

But sadly, not in London.

It’s 8.30am on Christmas morning and it’s 9ºC (48º in old money) and a bit damp.

I’m fairly sure it always snowed when I was a kid… or maybe my imagination has been impaired by the constant bombardment from the media of Christmas scenes with snow. I don’t remember the last time I saw a Christmas card depicting light drizzle.

Still this sort of disappointment could happen anywhere. I was in Anchorage, Alaska on Christmas morning in 1999. The sort of place you pretty much expect snow in the winter. But was there any? No. It was about the same temperature it is here today in London and any snow around was just stuff that hadn’t melted yet from the previous days.

Maybe it’s just me then? Wherever I go, it doesn’t snow at Christmas?

Actually, I don’t mind. Snow in cities, especially ones in England, is rubbish. Wet and slushy, mixed with salt that the local council put out two days too late.

Still, it would be nice if we could have a frost fair again.

Just wanted to wish everyone a merry Christmas.

I’ve had a couple of days off work last week, today also, and have been catching up with old friends and colleagues and generally drinking too much.

I’ve also been watching lots of Columbo (even found an episode I hadn’t seen before!) and improving my skills at Mario Strikers. 

Tomorrow, I shall try very hard not to give myself nor my wife food poisoning, as this will be the first time I’ve prepared a proper Christmas lunch entirely by myself

Not looking forward to going back to work on Thursday, but hey, gotta make a living.   

* clearly, not everyone celebrates Christmas, but merriness is wished regardless