Happy Christmas Eve! 
Mission Accomplished! I am hoping to collect my MC (Mumsnet Cross) from the Queen amongst the New Year's honours. Sadly, I have to report that I was not the only person in the supermarket at 5.30 by a long chalk although I don't think it will be as busy today as it apparently was yesterday (my colleague said it was absolutely heaving at 6.45 am and I didn't leave there until after 7 and it was fine). As I struggled to push my trolley down the booze aisles (not because it was full of booze I hasten to add but due to the dozens and dozens of boxes the staff had laid out in the aisles ready for unpacking) I had to wonder if they were really expecting to sell so much drink today - seen like that it is horrendous. I've also never before walked down the chilled aisles and had the odd sensation that every shelf was completely filled to the top. Slightly weird.
Anyway, I have bought a few last minute presents so I now feel a bit less panicked and I also have a gammon joint cooking in the oven too so feeling a little better. I just need to make a chocolate log, write and deliver cards for the neighbours ..... oh and wrap all the presents I have bought - which will probably take me several hours. (I really should try to write some of the next chapter....but time is a bit pressing and progress has not been good this week... maybe Boxing Day?)
Lovely to hear from you Trish hope you have a super Christmas and probably in much nicer weather than us - we've been promised about 13 degrees of grey, wet and warm - how lovely and seasonal 
. I'm not sure I could get my head round hot weather at Christmas but I wouldn't object to a bit of crisp cold frost, blue sky and sunshine (perfect dog walking weather after a heavy lunch) at least. Greetings to everyone overseas and down under (thinking of you as well Kuia) Let's hope for a better 2017 and no matter who you pray too or don't let's just hope for a peaceful one as well.