NOTHING was very Christmassy this year for me for some reason.

Maybe it was the weather – the endless dark clouds and sodden rain meant every time I took the dog for a walk, we both ended up wringing wet. Even the Christmas tree lights flickering couldn’t twinkle the gloom from me.

Neither could the unsullied excitement of the children.

I was told on numerous occasions to cheer up by Fionnuala (she was unaware of the pun) but I couldn’t, and my recent trip to Belfast only made things worse.

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I was going there to see my ma (just a quick in-and-out – she was coming to ours on Christmas Day) and I had arranged a haircut in a barber’s........

© The Irish News