24th December

This verges on schmaltz, but I truly hope you all have a Christmas that is 

even a tiny fraction as happy as this.

Until next year - sending peace x

23rd December

From someone's private collection, here is Terry enjoying Christmas in his own special way. 

22nd December

'Angela has sadly not been well this year...'

21st December

Some effective and economical re-using of Halloween witches hats going on at Denise and Ray's. 

20th December

Probably a cult - one that Nana refused to join.

19th December

'Are you sure they said it was fancy dress, Janice?'

18th December

Margaret knew there was only one way to get through another Christmas with Keith's brother.

17th December

Blanche forgot to pick up the phone, ruining the whole joke. 

16th December

Something tells me this wasn't Figaro's idea.

He's probably still annoyed about the outcome of the election. Presumably, he'd already got the measure of new VP Nixon. 

14th December

Wrestling with neighbours. It is what Christmas is all about. Loser has to walk Eileen home.

13th December

The inevitable post-sherry brawl was declared a draw when it couldn't be determined

whether Eileen or the tree had come off worst. 

12th December

I'm sure it seemed like a great idea at the time.

Oh, and you missed a bit of upper thigh there, mate.

11th December

It takes a special kind of passive-aggressive parenting to guilt your childless 

offspring via the medium of a Christmas card offering like this.

"Hey, look kids, we've have to put these hand-knitted bonnets on the 

bloody dogs as you've failed to reproduce."

10th December

Saturday night with the girls. 

They all despise each other but share a passion for smoking and 

slagging off that Diane's crappy quiche. 

9th December

A photo almost certainly taken to send to a Nana to demonstrate how well 

the unwelcome Christmas gift fits. Nice use of a haunted tree there. 

8th December

Diane just heard that bitch Maureen slagging off her quiche. 

Terry has been here before - he knows the shit that is about to go down. 

7th December

Now that is a genius idea from Dad - wall the kids in with presents so you are assured of a few minutes peace whilst they unwrap their way out. 

6th December

A collection of Mum's arses, through the decades. 

A vision no doubt accompanied by a heavy sigh and the phrase 

'Well - I suppose I'd better do it myself then...'

5th December

You're right to look worried, kid.

4th December

It's not a party until Ken's got on the pole. 

Lorraine and Alf's basement parties were legendary on The Close. 

3rd December

It'll be lonely this Christmas... 

2nd December

"Dad, that tree is well too big for our living room" 

"No, no, its absolutely not - now shut up and look dour..."

1st December

In what looks like the desperate scrawl of a man trapped in a bottle of cognac, 

this chap is very keen for you to know that he is with you in Christmas spurts.