This turn of the year marks the begining of the 'Consumer Durable' season or as George Carlin used say 'stuff' that we buy! I myself have never been a great Xmas person as the magic faded out when I was about 17. I had discovered that Santa was a seasonally employed individual of non- Mexican background who after visiting every house and delivering 'stuff' would consume (a) mince pie (b) glass of sherry. If one estrapilates the numbers out from that amount of booze and sugar it is little wonder he only works one day a year! I mean I really feel for the fellow whose only realistic pick up line would be something like..."Hey baby do you want to see my 12 ' elf" or something along those lines. The other thing I hate about 'Consumer Fest' is that whenever I am flying anywhere at this time of year I get sick! I just returned from the UK with a wonderful non stop cough and cold that was caused by some ghastly 'Yummy Mummy' bringing their little bacterial bundle of joy on the airplane so that everyone else can appreciate their misery. I personally would have stuff the kid in the over head storage locker suitably duct tapped to ensure not only peace and quiet but to reduce bacterial discharges from the nose or any other orifice for that matter. To top it all I had a rather fun projectile vomiting 6 year old on my flight from the Indian Sub Continent. His party trick was to go up and smile and then toss his cookies all over you. I have experienced one of these before on an Air India flight many years ago when I was engaged to my wife. This one was a sub species of the Air India one and just threw up looking very sullen. As he approached me I managed to catch him right on the forehead with an empty vodka bottle which sent him running off to Mummy and Daddy. The fellow wandered over to me with said bottle in his hand and I pointed out that Kuwait Air was a dry service and unlikely to sell him any vodka. He wobbled his head around a little and sat back down with the child and said nothing further. If I sound like a grump it is because I hate to be compelled to do anything and that especially include forceable enjoyment and frivolity. Happy Xmas to one and all and may your particular god go with you!