Wait until next year

I hope if you’re Christmas shopping today you find a place of refuge amid the noise and hustle and bustle and stress.

Maybe you know of a coffee shop tucked away that always has a smile and a seat on offer. Perhaps there is that pub that hasn’t yet been overtaken by the seasonal drunks, or that is still a place that offers a quiet drink rather than a three-course meal, where you can find a place to rest, rather than a raft of RESERVED signs.

Perhaps it is bright and dry enough that you know a park bench to take a breather. Or maybe a quiet churchyard to wander through and take stock.

I do enjoy Christmas shopping. But what really makes it are those pauses, when you take the weight of your feet, drop your bags to the floor and ready yourself for going back into battle. That pause when you can actually think about what Christmas means to you. So, take that pause. Have that pint, or slice of cake, or just that five minutes without shopping. You’ve earned it.