Christmas

This story originally appeared on the Gents Cafe Newsletter. You can subscribe here. Generally speaking, I dread the…

Christmas is perhaps the brightest marker that we pass on our annual circuit around the sun. Whilst our lap time doesn’t vary with the years, our performance often does, and so consider it that last order’s bell reminding you to make the most of the days remaining.

During a heated conversation the past week, a question was posed about where the best place to spend Christmas was. New York, Vienna, Hawaii, were all put forward. These are fine answers, and have good merit, but for me, there’s no need to board a flight anywhere during the festive season when you are in London.

While I would like to think that I am not totally susceptible to the sway of the New Year, I know that this is false. For one, I recently re-upped my gym membership. For another, I have scheduled appointments with a dermatologist, dentist, and nutritionist for the upcoming weeks. No, this is not because I favor Quasimodo in looks, but rather so that I can start 2022 on good footing.

As I am writing this article, it is the day after the worst snowstorm that I can remember for the past 10 years. The kids’ school and kindergarten are closed, I am working from home and my wife has taken the day off because it is impossible for her to reach her workplace. Outside, the snow lies in high dunes, the driveway is no way near cleared and it is cold as hell.