While we were in the UK, I read a newspaper article which mentioned that you couldn't avoid knowing that Christmas was coming up as all the radio stations started playing Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody".

I don't know why - call me what you will, even a tasteless twerp - but that's what I've always missed about English Christmases.

That aside, it's 8 AM, it's a bright, sunny day, and Vickie and I were up at midnight last night opening our prezzies. (We have a good excuse; we thought we'd be busy making food this morning for our trip to the zoo, and I'd just picked Vickie up from work.)

So a Merry Christmas to all of you! Here's hoping your day is fun and relaxing.