It's Christmas.

It's Christmas. After all the planning, shopping and stress it's finally arrived.

We hosted a family party yesterday and guzzled on a massive Greek meze feast. Special request of the kids, who didn't want anything Christmassy. About eight hours in the preparation, 10 minutes in the guzzling. But never mind, they enjoyed it. Similarly with the pressies - weeks worth of planning, shopping and wrapping ripped apart in two minutes flat.

The highlight had to be my granddaughter excitedly attempting to carry a massive unwrapped box of Playmobil across the lounge (the playmobil zoo, which frankly I can't wait to build and play with), and then playing with one plastic lion all afternoon.

For the first time in many years, I went to the children's carol service at the local church, which was magical. I've never seen so many children dressed as shepherds (an abundance of Ikea tea towels as head dresses), angels (excessive amounts of tinsel) Kings (old curtains with gold embroidery) and sheep (wearing the fireside sheepskin rug) with entranced faces, singing away at carols they had learned at school and totally immersed in it all. It really takes you back to what Christmas is all about, away from the food, alcohol and commercialism.

It also made you spare a thought for those on their own, lonely, or without anything this Christmas, something so easily forgotten in the busyness and excitement.

I had meant to go to midnight service last night, but was too exhausted. I've made up for it this morning by listening to carols from Kings - how traditional and middle class is that!

Merry Christmas everyone, and a happy and prosperous new year. Let's hope it brings you what you want, and its an improvement on 2011!