I had heard that the Christmas special was going to be a two-parter, but frankly I've heard so many rumours I don't care any more. I'm just waiting for any new episodes and will enjoy them if and when they appear

I love Christmas. At Christmas time.

Until then, I've got plenty of other things to think about. Carved my first ever pumpkin yesterday!

When you have a big family and a limit amount of cash you have to start Xmas shopping early I'm afraid.

We generally start buying little bits in June/July, (sometimes even earlier) and putting them aside until Christmas. small things like DVDs and PS3 Games, which make great stocking fillers.

I've come around to loving Christmas since I got a German fiancée - I've found that it is what you make of it.

So I shall be going to the German market in Manchester for wood-cooked Bratwürst, more than a few Glühweins and a cigarillo or two. Christmas morning might be spent at Blackburn or Manchester Cathedral for a change. I might also make up a load of buffet food so we don't have to cook for a couple of days.

Furthermore I have instructed my family that I won't be annoyed if I don't get presents and will actually be rather pleased if they give it to charity instead. I shan't be buying presents.

Unfortunately I shan't get to see said fiancée until February.

I don't doubt it. No need to go on the Christmas vibe though, is there?

I'm not. I don't. And I won't. My Xmas tree goes up a couple of weeks before and not a day sooner.

Our eldest daughters birthday is on December 13th, and we put up the tree on her birthday, (give or take a day, depending on if we're going out, what day it is, etc)

Yes and the best times are sometimes the January sales. I used to do all my Christmas shopping in January during the sales. It takes a lot of planning. But during any sale is probably best of all.

Three - one next month, one on Xmas Day, and one on New Year’s Day.

Oh - and the animation. You know about the cartoon, right?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/dr ... animation/

Good work.

I know someone who's tree goes up on the first of December. They went through two trees last year, one properly died, so they had to undecorate it, buy new tree, redecorate. The fools.

I put mine up on the first but I have an artificial tree. I have used it for 5 years now.

Holidays are coming, holidays are coming......

I quite agree. That's my usual start point. Unfortunately, last year was so incredibly [LIFTED] that I can't bear to repeat it and I need something different to go down this year. I'm therefore considering a plethora of different options. Not least of which is [LIFTED] off somewhere else. The magic is gone for me.

Heretic! Burn him!