It is Christmas Eve. I am exhausted. Not because of the preparations for Christmas, it is only my husband, the dog, and me this Christmas. I enjoy buying presents – it’s one of my favourite Christmas activities.

I always get tired this time of year. The nights have drawn in, taking my energy with the dying light of the day.

I am not sure about my mood. I have had many difficult Christmases over the years, but my abiding feelings about Christmas are overwhelmingly positive.

I think its just to do with fighting through the year and Christmas offers a little island of calm – the shops close for two days (except the corner shops), for me there’s not work for a couple of days, and I book a little extra time off as well.

This has been an exceptionally difficult year.

Maybe I am always ready to collapse into a heap and rest in a way that I do no other time of the year. throughout the year, my days are full and busy – even on the weekend – because I feel that every second has to accounted for, every minute used.

I am certainly in a calm yet festive mood – I find that I am drawn to traditional Victorian Christmas carols this year, rather than the poppy-numbers I more usually enjoy.

Just for the fun of it, here are my favourite Christmas tunes:

Tomorrow I hope to be vegging on the sofa, maybe cuddling up, and feeling a peaceful glow.