Saturnalia.

A generally merry solstice related possibly secular, possibly religious and possibly part of state official soulless religion festival to you all. I remain alive, and mourning the fact that I am not Russian (have finally taken Dr Short's advice and have russian novels out from the library for Christmas).

Speaking of Russian novels, if anyone actually reads this, Lara from Dr Zhivago is undoubtedly an icon (student, classicist, worries a lot, is ruined but no-one notices this in the rest of the novel, shoots someone). And Dr Zhivago should be used as a GCSE study guide.

Anyway, am off to drink fizzy wine and change for midnight mass.