It's Christmaaaaaas!

I attended a small-choir, period instruments performance of Monteverdi's 1610 Vespers on Sunday, in the company of my dear old mum, which was sheer delight from start to finish.

The non-musical climax of the day was being presented with my Christmas present. No, not next Christmas, last year's present. This is not a record: my 2003 birthday present is apparently "somewhere safe", which is her euphemism for "lost".

Anyway, what a lovely Christmas present it is too: a Penguin Books deckchair, which is permanently installed in my drawing room as I have no garden. Stylish and comfortable.

Books, sweet, sweet books

The five day book drought's over. Emma presented me with a sports book that even Ewarwoowar won't have read - Michéal O'Muircheartaigh's bilingual memoir of Ireland and being GAA's most famous commentator.

Also, I called into The Works today and accidentally bought five of the six special Bill Amberg designed Penguin Classics special editions, in soft loose leather with a box (The Great Gatsby, A Room With A View, Brideshead Revisited, The Big Sleep and A Picture of Dorian Gray). They're absolutely beautiful and a snip at £6.99 instead of £50. I just need Breakfast at Tiffany's to complete the decadent set.

Thanks Laura

For my 'Carry on Jeeves' teatowel - brilliant.