Merry Christmas?

Ok so not everyone celebrates Christmas and not everyone likes Christmas. Some people are completely indifferent to it and some are utterly over-the-top enthusiastic about it. I sit somewhere between these poles. I don’t celebrate Christmas for any religious reason but I do enjoy this time of year, particularly taking time off working to spend with my family and I love giving presents.

Unfortunately something about this year doesn’t feel quite Christmassy; I have something of the bah humbug about me. It could be the dreary grey miserable weather that has swept across my hometown over the last couple of days. A grey Christmas? Yes it looks like it. No romantic snow this year.

I’m not sure what is missing. What do I need to get me in a more Christmassy mood? I have wrapped presents and lined them up in their beribboned splendour. I have a decorated tree and fairy lights. I have four days without work and still I don’t feel quite right. I think this is only something that can be cured by watching the ‘What’s This?’ section of Tim Burton’s A Nightmare Before Christmas. That ought to do it. And to everyone who is feeling more festive than me – Merry Christmas! See you on the other side.

Elloise Hopkins.