SO JUST just a few more sleeps to the big day, and everything that makes up a modern day Christmas is coming together.

Our X-Factor champions have been crowned, the January sales have started and the Christmas tree has already shed half its needles.

The next few days are made in no small part of those things that on the face of it might annoy, but somehow at this time of year simply add to the joy.

While it is a religious festival, where giving and not receiving is championed, it is also a celebration of food.

I have picked up the turkey. I’ve also decided a hundred times over that it’s not big enough.

Occasionally I realise that it’s way too big and could probably feed the whole of RAF Benson.

I braved the supermarket, and although I made a real effort to figure out exactly when it would be at its quietest, it was still rammed to the rafters with people grappling over jars of cranberry sauce and ‘pigs in blankets’.

I’ve already eaten more mince pies than is normal for any human over the course of a year, let alone a week, and the big day hasn’t even arrived.

It brings out the excess and extravagance that for the rest of the year we wouldn’t even consider for our dinner table.

When else do you buy a cheese board? And I love cheese.

My mantlepiece is a swathe of Santa, snow and sentimental scenes of the season.

So far I’ve only received one card from someone who didn’t make my sending list, but that’s fine, I never really liked them that much anyway.

However, lurking at the back of my mind is the card I have failed to send to the person I really should have done.

The real kick in the teeth is that theirs won’t arrive till Christmas Eve, and by then it will be way too late.

I am experiencing a mixture of excitement and no small amount of dread as I wrack my brain as to what members of which part of the family have fallen out over the last year, and whether it was wise to invite all or any of them over at the same time on the same day.

Yet a little bit of me is quite looking forward to a decent argument.

There will be some, who weeks ago had all their presents bought, wrapped and cards written and sent.

Many more, and by that I mean men, will be scampering around desperately trying to find the time, effort and energy to head to a near apocalyptic high street. Good Luck to you all On the big day itself, I’ll settle down to the other great modern tradition debating what Christmas TV to enjoy.

The Queen’s Speech is a must!

Me? I’ll be on air on Christmas Day from 10am. I’ll be hearing from all of those people who can’t share in our traditions modern or otherwise. They are the ones who enable us to do so; the soldiers, the emergency services the volunteers looking after those less fortunate.

I’ll be wishing them all a wonderful Christmas as indeed do I to you!

Merry Christmas!