Merry Christmas

I confess that I thoroughly enjoy the Christmas period. Having young children means that in our house it is a fairly traditional event with presents, family gatherings and over eating. I admit to a slight feeling of resentment towards those who have completed their Christmas preparations early, particularly when I am still searching for the last presents at Bluewater on Christmas Eve! Each year I vow to be better prepared but alas it never happens.

In our house the conversation after dinner takes on a familiar note of how the television programmes are not as good as they used to be, whether all that preparation for just one day was really worth it and how many mince pies will have to be thrown out because nobody can eat another thing. Christmas has its familiar routines but I wouldn’t want it any other way. It also provides an opportunity to reflect on the past year and all that has taken place and to consider our hopes and aspirations for next year.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading my columns this year. You may have disagreed with some of what I have had to say but hopefully you have found them relatively interesting. We know that next year will bring some contentious issues before Parliament and no doubt many issues we haven’t yet foreseen.  I look forward to covering many of those issues and, as ever, I always like to receive your views on what I have written about. Until then I wish you a very Merry Christmas.