Alfie is rocking his Christmas bow tie to help me wish you all a very Merry Christmas – hoping you all have a peaceful, fun and loving time.

This year has been busy with redecorating, exploring our beautiful county – Suffolk – and neighbouring Norfolk, attending four gym classes a week and completing a writing course. I’ve written and rewritten a novel and commenced another one, and I plan to take another writing course next year – there’s always something more to learn and improve on in the writing arena.

I have much to be grateful for and am mindful of those with ill-health, bereavement, floods, fires and poverty to contend with over this festive season. So, however you spend this time, I hope it will add to your reserve of treasured memories for the years to come.