Shaun has just been out to buy the Christmas goose and turkey.

Yesterday I bought a whole deer for the freezer, so excited was I at my family’s coming home.

Months ago, I turned down a booking of our house for Christmas – money that we desperately, desperately need this year – because I judged we needed each other even more…

And London and Bedford have just been put in lockdown, minutes ago, so no Christmas together after all.

LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!

None of us has Covid-19 (yet) and we’re not at war.

And… um… I haven’t just lost a leg. Er… or a million pounds. The dog hasn’t died. I haven’t been sick today. Nor has anyone else in the family.

I expect I could keep this up for quite a long time and bore everyone a lot.

Anything you don’t thank God for today, you should be willing to lose tomorrow.

And if you’re free at 6 o’clock this evening, or any time hereafter, you are most welcome to join the choir I sing with for a compilation put together by our brilliant son Ben.

Who, incidentally, was recently commended in the Royal Philharmonic Inspiration Awards for one of his earlier compilations.