Toby Atkin-Wright

Up until today, I’d never tried vapour chest rub as a cold remedy. But Kate took a trip into town today to pick up some medication, and now I am the proud owner of a jar of pungent Vaseline-like goo, with a strong smell of camphor, eucalyptus, and menthol.

I am now in a household of well-greased chests. It make a change from my usual liberal application of Olbas Oil.

Over the last couple of days I’ve done most of my Christmas shopping. As has become a habit in recent years, it has been fuelled by Amazon.

Just as I don’t like Christmas decorations or Christmas music to creep through the year, I don’t approve of Christmas present purchasing being anything other than a December activity. I despair at those who have all their present organised before the end of September.

Back in the days of physical shopping, I used to take delight in buying many of my Christmas presents on Christmas Eve; now I like to start looking at Amazon a week before Christmas. The proximity concentrates the mind, and makes decision making more satisfying.