At this time of year I am grateful to be in the UK, where we don't have an extended "holiday" season. The only traditional blow-out is Christmas dinner, an extended late luncheon Christmas day which leads to discomfort and torpor and the Queen's Speech. I never did like Christmas pudding, Christmas cake and mince pies so easy to give those a miss. This year there will not be the buzz of price parties, club dinners at either