Evenings are busy meeting up friends, going to work drinks and Christmas parties. The cold doesn’t deter the Christmas spirit – wrapped tight in jackets and

scarfs, huddled under a hat, we venture out in the biting cold to be welcomed by the warmth of friends and mulled wine.

Days and weekends are filled with finishing up work, wrapping presents, sending out cards, buying groceries for the Christmas day and the don’t forget the tree.

Hauling of the tree, the search for decorations and the lighting up.

There is so much to do and in all that does your

writing get away? Or do you find time?

This is the first Christmas for me, with trees and gifts and all. It’s been a new experience. Desperately trying to find a tree place. Like any self-respecting social-media addict, I tweeted the world asking about suggestions. Finally found a tree in Bermondsey street. The boyfriend was nice – he hauled it up on his shoulder and brought it home. Wish I had taken a photograph of that. Then came the decorations – the silver and pink balls, the candy cane upside down. Oh the tinsel, I forgot. Then the lights – 40 or 50? 100 or 200? We settled

on 40. I bought a box the next day with 40 lights. And we realise it is not enough. So another 40 should be brought from the shops again.

We’ve been wrapping and hiding presents all fortnight. Cards to be sent out, dinners to be planned, drinks to be attended.

And I realise it is hard to find the time to write. I’ve been writing – on something that suddenly has turned into a special project. But not a lot as I would normally write. I keep telling myself the week between Christmas and New Year would be quiet and I can write more. I really hope so.

Are you writing through the holidays? Are you on a break? Tell me about your Christmas distractions?