So, here it is ...

But what is it exactly?  A religious festival built around the story of Jesus and Mary - well yes, for practising Christians but not for the rest of us; although something vestigial always stirs when I put on my album of Christmas carols and the Huddersfield Choral Society belts out O come all ye faithful.

An orgy of consumerism, built around the story of Santa Claus - well yes for some people - but not for those of us who would rather give and receive a few well-chosen gifts than spend Christmas morning filling bin bags with a sea of discarded wrapping paper.  A good excuse for a party - well yes for many people, but partying went out of fashion for me when they stopped playing Hi ho silver lining.

Actually for me it's probably all of these things - but expressed in rather different terms.  It's not religious but it is spiritual - taking time to reflect on times gone by and times to come.  It's not consumerist, but it is about giving - gifts will be exchanged and there will be good food and a glass or two. It's not a party but it is about good will - a time for feeling good in the company of family and friends.

And it's a holiday - the only one of the year that we can all share (if we choose to) together.  A chance to set aside the cares of the workaday world and relax for a while.  The twelve days of Christmas take us into the New Year so it's a holiday when we can also lay to rest the tired and battered Old Year and get ready for a bright shining New Year - a rebirth full of aspiration and as yet undamaged by experience.

I'm excited by the prospect of the New Year for CILIP - but I'll write about that in January.  For now, it's about closing down the old year and going home for a holiday.  So this is my last blog entry for 2007.  Enjoy your Christmas - however you choose to spend it - and best wishes for the New Year.  Let's hope it's a good one ....