Thing To Be Today: busy.

Have you written your cards, bought your presents, made the pudding, fed the cake, cleared the spare room, checked the bed linen, remembered the spare towels are worn out, got in the booze, looked for recipes for a gluten-free vegan, thought of three party games that the drunk and confused can mange, despaired at the offerings on the TV, wondered where on earth you're going to put the turkey, tried to convince yourself that bread sauce isn't essential even though it's your favourite bit of Christmas, told yourself it's all for the children, really, remembered that the children have all long grown up, had an existential crisis, and pulled yourself together?

Really? Well, good for you. Then you'd better start counting the cutlery, finding the napkins, practising your what-a-lovely-present face, finding the instructions for how to turn the sofa into a bed, and wondering if a novelty Christmas jumper is now obligatory.

Just try not to snarl too obviously when people start singing about Peace on Earth, okay?

Thing To Be Today: busy. This word comes from the Old English bisig, and is perhaps from the Latin festināre, to hurry.