We ate at 5pm so we could fit the cooking in around the chores, did a lot in advance and then I did everything at the run (kitchen, croft, kitchen, croft, boys, kitchen, croft, croft, boys, kitchen etc).

Amazingly, everything was ready on time, with all animals fed, watered, mucked out and bedded down, two clean boys, and a smashing meal on the table.

I also think the boys and the Other Half are trying to tell me something. They bought me a computer game for Christmas. It’s called Republic, it’s based on becoming ruler of a former Soviet republic, and it has the tag line “The time for change has come. Change led by you.”

There are only two downsides. One is a lack of time to play it and the other is that they didn’t check the specification. My computer is too slow and too out of date by some years to run it. Still, it made me laugh to read that tag line!

Now, though, I’m ready for a hot buttered rum and a chance to listen to my other Christmas pressie - Croftwork by the Peatbog Faeries.