And powercuts. Lots and lots of powercuts, which made the whole “switching the lights on” thing a thrill packed, Russian roulette of an experience. Will the lights go on? Will the power to the merry-go-round pack in again? And then, finally: “Those lights are rubbish. They cost HOW much???!?!”

Just so you know, Orthodox Christmas (also known as little Christmas) IS on Nic’s birthday usually.

I don’t understand the scathing rants you guys are putting forth. You’re not original, this has been going on for some time now. Bash Nicholas here, bash him there, for a few years now. But the fact that you’d do this right after his Dad dropped dead of a massive heart attack and can’t let a guy grieve without bashing is sicko stuff. You and your free association thinking is waaaaayyyyy out of line. How ’bout some silence during the grieving period over these holidays. I can’t believe you’d write this crap right after the first Thanksgiving without his Dad.