Is it only me that thinks Spooks is almost a documentary?

Do you believe? Do you believe in Santa Claus?
Although I am with Mr. Scrooge in his early beliefs about Christmas, the season does have certain redeeming features. There’s nothing like it when a true believer meets the real Father Christmas – It’s why I still believe.

However you pass the time, with or without family, at home or away, sober or otherwise – bring as much cheer to others as you can (sometimes that means staying away) and give something to The Salvation Army to help them do the same.

The season’s greetings to the reader of my little blog (I think that means me).

Will you remember? Will you remember where you were and what you were doing? World leaders will remember (when they were failing to agree on how to save the planet); they will remember they were in Copenhagen, but where were you? Where were you when Terry did his final breakfast broadcast?

I had the day off (not because of it) to take part in the final stage of the Tour de Shops; to grapple with the crowds and queues – to spread a little Xmas cheer (Bah! Humbug!). As it turns out there weren’t any queues. I don’t remember a quieter day in the shops at any time of the year (although my experience is a bit limited). The stores were obviously expecting better things – shop assistants sometimes outnumbered shoppers.

Before that I tuned into Terry Wogan’s final breakfast show. I suspect it contributed to, at least, a slight rise in sea levels. It was the end of an era. The producer’s choice of music for the final show was so very appropriate and added to the pathos of the occasion. Terry had become an institution (some people thought he should be in one), not just a radio presenter. Much of his script and material was provided by his TOGs, but it is too easy to underestimate the skill of presenting the humour and encouraging the listeners’ participation. ‘Thank you. Thank you for being my friend’ he said as part of his signing off. His ‘listener’ knew he was talking to them.

Some people are very special for lots of different reasons. They have an ability to sometimes inspire, to amaze, to entertain and to contribute to our lives in a way that most of us cannot. Like the Major who lost both legs (I call that careless) serving in Iraq and who completed the London marathon only a year after being told he would never walk again. ‘I am lucky’ he said at the Sports Personality awards. Lucky because of the support he has had, from family, friends and others. How many of us would respond so well, whatever support we might have had? The young marine who lost an arm and a leg serving in Afghanistan, who ran the London Marathon. ‘I haven’t changed; I just lost a couple of limbs’. Nothing to worry about there then.

Terry Wogan hasn’t lost any limbs or fought for his country (that I am aware of) but he has provided a wealth of good humour and stability to many people for a long time. I think he will be sadly missed, and, in the morning, I will remember him.

Is anyone else encouraged that Mr Darling has his finger on the pulse. In these times of uncertainty, massive public borrowing (that must be repaid by public spending cuts and/or higher taxes), substantial unemployment and the prospect of falling living standards – the answer is to reduce the tax on Bingo. (I would not have known there was any tax on Bingo).

It could be there is more to this than meets the eye. Have you wondered where the prospective growth in our economy lies? Perhaps the Chancellor has given us a clue and that the answer is Bingo. There is some logic – from a population increasingly old or unemployed to replace shipbuilding, manufacturing, mining, steel making, fishing ……….. Gambling generally fits in well with the other major pastime, and something that we appear to be renowned for, – excessive drinking, both of which contribute significantly to the country’s coffers.

Perhaps Mr Darling does know his two fat ladies from his elbow after all and has taken very clear steps to keep his housey-housey in order.

Tony Blair has said that he would have invaded Iraq even if he knew there had been no weapons of mass destruction. Is it only me who thinks he did exactly that?