It has been a frosty start to the first week of Epiphany. A full week back at school too - although the boy goes off on three weeks exam leave on Friday.

It was a quiet Christmas and New Year. No surprises, really. I'm sure people would be very surprised if I said we had a crazy raucous time. I know I would.

I'm fine with it, though. I enjoy the season - I like the spirituality of it all. The anticipation - the spiralling towards the light, the stillness - all that.

And here we are again- back into the swing of it all, as they say.

Happy New Year.