I had to 'google' him which is a sign he doesn't travel well! To the best of my knowledge, he has not graced our screens so I can't offer an opinion.

Cod cheeks?   If only.  It seems that they are now sent off to the cat-food processing factory and can't be had for love or money.  People now seem to prefer buying their fish in frozen, bread-crumbed packets and wouldn't know where to start with this delicacy.  It's a sad world

Can't sleep Michael.  Feeling pretty depressed that I haven't done the usual mountain of baking for all and sundry and I just can't be bothered to do it.  There's nothing 'Christmassy' about this Christmas.  I haven't done any of the preparation and to be honest, will just be glad when it's all over.  I'm waiting for it to get light enough to get out to the shops, although I'm very nervous about the condition of the roads which are like sheet glass.  I'm also taking a carload of warm coats to our Homeless Shelter who put out an appeal yesterday.  I can't bear the thought of those without warm clothing or a roof over their heads at this time of year – or any time of year to be honest.  In the UK these people are called 'Rough Sleepers' and it's enough to cause me sleepless nights without the rest of the problems.

It's being so cheerful that keeps me going

I've got a 44 leather jacket that doesn't fit, (never did actually) I'm going to donate it to the local 'op shop'. They do some good stuff around here.We've been good- we left 5 cans of fruit salad and some soft toys at the local Christmas tree for distribution.

I feel for all who've lost loved ones at this time of year, even more so than at other times of year. There is often so many memories around the biggest festival of the year,(and I'm not even a Christian!) that it brings back poignant memories.

Today is the first round of extended festivities. I must organise myself!

Happy Christmas all.

The first year is the worst, Lucy – all those anniversaries.  While you never stop missing the person you have lost you do find it becomes easier to cope.  It is only natural that this first Christmas is proving to be so difficult so don't berate yourself for not doing as much as you usually do

I couldn't sleep for a long time after Bernie died so I bought a pile of books and read myself to sleep every night – much better than becoming addicted to sleeping pills.  The trouble is – I now have thousands of books many of them old and dear friends which are read over and over again.   (at the last count I had close to 300 ft of book shelving).  One of my daughters gave me Dan Brown's latest book, The Lost Symbol, for Christmas – I finished it in a day …….

Lucy said:

I haven't drunk much alcohol at all over the past 4 years because I have needed to have my wits about me, but I was led astray and drank far too much last week (about 4 glasses of wine).  I got a full nights sleep alright, but it wasn't worth putting up with the room spinning and that old friend 'the bucket' beside the bed and feeling dreadful the whole of the next day.  Never again!

From my vast experience in winemaking might I suggest drinking an equal quantity of water even if your not thirsty? Most of the problems associated with alcohol derive from dehydration, especially headaches. Of course, you have to run off to the loo more often but that's a small price to pay!

I enjoy a drink. It's knowing when to stop that's the secret.

It's usually best to stop while you can still string a sentence together, not necessarily in the right order, but joined up speech helps.

That always makes me think of the late Freddie Frinton and Jimmie James, both famous for playing broken down drunks and both were completely teetotal.

Hic.

If it's now time for honesty and openness then I must be frank. I do have an alcohol problem, one that sometimes finds me ill at ease and not the best to be with: occasionally  I have been known to run out.

I have never had any inclination to drink water, damn it all fish make love in water, it can't be good for you. I like most drinks but top of the list by far comes gin, a long gin and tonic with a twist of lime or lemon is a brilliant drink on a hot, sunny afternoon as it is at present. A short, stronger gin and tonic with the usual fruit serves the very useful purpose of imposing premature sleep, much to my good lady's relief. 

Hazel, do you mean it's rare for you to go out, or rare for you to have a gin and tonic?

Me. said:

Hazel, do you mean it's rare for you to go out, or rare for you to have a gin and tonic?

Both, Me.

I go to the Members' night at the Arts Theatre for their new production four times a year and although they can't be counted as a 'night out' I also attend the School of Arts management and building committee meetings once a month.  There is also the Committee Annual Dinner. When my daughters are both in Sydney we usually go out for dinner, too.

As for gin and tonics, I don't like drinking alone so I restrict these to when I am out or when friends come to visit.