My advent story ends tonight with Santa’s arrival down our chimney. He had to make a quick scoot down to avoid getting his bum scorched as we’ve had the stove on all day. He’s also come really early to our house (after a diversion from Australia where they are already in bed I think) at my special request because I didn’t want to have to wait till gone midnight to get my pic of the debris from the traditional snack that’s left.…. a glass of port and a couple of mince pies. This year, he was lucky enough to get some Cornish Clotted Cream to help down the mince pies. I think they may have been a little too rich even for Santa....or maybe he’s saving his appetite for the calls he will make later.

My year has been a hugely mixed one - hard, hard work but the dreams in my personal life came true when we got the keys to this house. It’s not the ‘ownership’ of it that’s a dream come true, it’s the sanctuary it provides me and the way it so effectively acts as the antithesis to the stress and pace of life in my other more real but less real world. It’s just about the most thrilling thing for me to be here tonight with the prospect of waking up here in the morning with nothing to do but walk the wild hills of the moor (it’s looking like we might get snow) and give my loved ones the best care I can muster.

It’s just as well we’re so happy being here and just mooching around as our car is outside in the street dead after a poorly executed service has left us with no oil and all the associated headaches that a dead car on Christmas Eve brings. So, we won’t be going anywhere that we can’t walk to until at least Wednesday of next week when Cornwall starts to come back to life after the holidays (don’t expect shops to open here if they don’t absolutely have to - and rah rah to shopkeepers with sense I say).

Despite the problems with the car, we’ve had a really exciting day because we have had a table delivered that we can eat our dinner at tomorrow - pure luxury. It’s been hand-made by a chap down the road and it is lovely. I’m sat here typing at it, with Archie at my feet. Our next-door neighbours have been round for mince pies and port (oops, what a give-away!) - unheard-of in Sandhurst.

So, my last posting of advent is to wish a very happy Christmas to all my friends (real and cyber) - I hope Santa brings you all your hearts desire. For my friends who have lost their loved-ones, I think of you tonight and hope you find peace. For Ginny, a very happy birthday (not forgotten!)

For me? Under the tree there are pressies with my name on - cool! BUT I’ve already got what I really want so whatever is in them it is a pure bonus - the cream on the pudding, the icing on the cake.