Christmas time, hangovers and whine

Well no, really, that was last week. This week is all about boredom. We're at work - some of us anyway - and occasionally we have something to do. But not often, since there won't be another magazine out for three weeks. So we're twiddling thumbs, and surfing, and eating mince pies. Mmmm. Seems to me that this is truly the essence of Christmas: food and boredom. Come the day, everywhere is closed, you're closeted with a greater or lesser sample of people you spend the rest of the year avoiding, pressies are all opened at a fairly early stage and the entire afternoon is a big yawn. Unless you've gotten the Lord of the Rings special edition for Christmas - as we have the past two years running - which will keep you entertained for a very, very long time. Peter Jackson bless us one and all.