For the eleventh successive year, this is Christmas on my own. For three days, I see no-one else - but I try to maintain the standards of 36 years when my partner was alive. I decorate the house, and give our dining table its annual 'airing' with the best cutlery and crystal. I am not used to preparing a full three course meal (one course is almost beyond my talents!), but I always make the effort with Christmas Day lunch. Smoked Salmon terrine, followed by roast turkey, chestnut & apricot stuffing, cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon, potato croquettes, baby carrots, thick onion gravy, Oh! and delicious SPROUTS! This was accompanied by a delicious 1999 Barolo from Italy. Christmas pudding (large enough for a family of six!) with brandy butter and a couple of glasses of 2001 French Chateau Guithem de Rey Sauternes concluded the meal.

Here I am preparing the meal in the kitchen:

Glass of champagne? What glass of champagne?

...... and here I am, just about to tuck into those spouts:


The meal was finished just in time to toast Her Majesty as she gave us her annual Christmas Day speech:


...... and then to enjoy an hour or two of top-notch Christmas Day television: