Sending cards is such a fuss!

How nice of Charles Spencer to share a photo of his 24-foot Christmas tree at Althorp. I mean it! At this time of year there is nothing nicer than a bit of voyeuristic tree porn — and his is a handsome classic.

It is tall and traditional, hung with simple red baubles and freighted with presents down below — just the way I like my men.

The best thing of all is that Charles — if I may be so familiar — has not over-decorated.

Instead, he has let the natural beauty of his tree shine through, and that is a joy in this overdone, tinselly age.

Anyway, how are your decorations going? I’m usually fully festooned, in every sense of the word, by December 1, but not this year. All I have up is a single string of lights.

I’m just not into the groove yet. And for the first year ever, I am contemplating not writing Christmas cards. It is not just me. The habit of sending posted greetings is falling out of favour, with many of us now shunning Christmas cards in favour of using social media and messaging apps to spread festive cheer.

I’d rather have a card than an almost vowel-less text wishing me a MRRY XMAS — and if that is all that is on offer, I’d rather have nothing at all.

on that note, I’d like to wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas.

I hope that your trees stay green and that all your dreams come true!