December is a month of birthdays for many of us but me in particular.

On 6 December it is the birthday of St Nicholas, the patron saint of children and giving. A kind man born in Myra, Greece born around the third century. It is a day when some people in Europe exchange presents. The Dutch name for St Nicholas is Sinterklaas, which is how we get the name, Santa Claus.

It is also my niece’s birthday, another occasion for giving.

16 December is Jane Austen’s birthday and also mine.

I think the one on the left has the looks! I also won’t say how old I am, suffice it to say that I have sons of 29 and 31 – I’ll leave you to do the maths!

25 December is the most special of all the birthdays. It is the birthday of Jesus Christ (well probably not the real one, birthday that is, but that’s another story), otherwise known as Christmas Day. A time to celebrate even in these strange times, God coming into the world as a human being. A figure in history, like St Nicholas/Santa Claus, Jane Austen and me.

Wishing all of my followers and their families a very Happy Christmas and a better 2021.