The holiday season is in full swing, and while you’ll hear all about my day in full boring detail later, because that’s the next topic, I thought I’d use this “whatever tickles your fancy” to talk about the holiday season in general, and what it means to me.

I’m not religious in any sense that Christmas or any other midwinter festival could possible have any meaning for me. But I do love this time of year. I like that it’s been around in one form or another for thousands of years, like a groove etched in our collective psyche that says “it’s dark and bloody miserable out there. Take a bit of time to remember be good to one another, why don’t you?”

I feel like the days between Christmas and New Year are a time when we hit the collective pause button, and spend a bit of time with our nearest and dearest without any particular obligation to do anything but vegetate collectively. Work can sod off, plans that aren’t “let’s stay in and eat and drink, and maybe watch a bit of telly” can be paused. Everything else is window dressing – the family gatherings, the gift exchanges, the lights and the tinsel they’re all lovely, but really they’re just how we dress up a collective rest period to make it a bit more special. Remind me at some point to talk about the Lancastrian tradition of Wakes weeks in Summer, and why we really ought to make them apply to office work all around the country,

Honestly, by the point in the year, I’m ready for a few days of dead time, and battery re-charging. I’ve been having to fight to sustain a good mood a bit for the last month – November and December always kick the shit out of me a bit at work, and things have otherwise been a bit busy and stressful. One of my resolutions for next year is to have a more relaxed November and December, with less social run-around, because I don’t think I’ve had a week with less than three social engagements since October, and while I love you all, I don’t feel I’ve had much “me” time, and more time off work, because I’ve worked up to the last minute the last two years, and when your major clients are large pub chains, that means there’s a lot to do, and it’s put a crimp in my festive spirit.

So come back later today, to hear all about how I got it back.

Compliments of the season to all of you. May your holidays be filled with cheer.