I’ve discovered, thanks to my housemate Mick, the old softy, there’s a channel on our TV filled entirely with romantic movies set at Christmas time. I caught him watching with a large glass of beer and an enormous bag of tortilla chips. I must mention the channel to Kitty, she’d love it.

What is it about romance at Christmas? Can’t we stick to gifts, a dash of religion if that’s your thing, and meeting friends and families? Alex bent over backwards on the phone the other night to explain that he wouldn’t be able to see me this Christmas because his family are going down to Kerry. His eldest sister had his nephew baby James in the spring and the entire family are agog to spend Christmas with the first grandchild even though a nine-month old won’t have a clue what’s...

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