January

This year, I have had a sudden and startling revelation. I love January. Love it! I know I should be pining for the festive season, just gone, but actually I'm watching all the DVDs we got as gifts, drinking the leftover Christmas wine and generally having a much, much better time than I did last month. This time of year is really great, I think, and it gets a bad press. I'm going to do my bit to set the record straight and share with you all the top ten reasons (off the top of my head) that January beats the pants off December. 

 First, and most obviously:

And a close second: 

On a not-at-all-unrelated note: 

Don't say I'm not the only one. And since the main reason to go to parties is food anyway: 

 And speaking of food - well, the need to eat less of it, and be more organised, and a nicer person and comb the cat more frequently:

 But for me, I guess it's mostly, really, about time. I had to buy twenty six presents for family BEFORE I got anything for Jay and the kids. It makes me hyperventilate. So:

And speaking of time, why is the busiest time of year also the most wet, windy and foul?

And even if you could stay home in December, it's a dangerous proposition. After all: 

Whereas being home in January is wonderful - it's the season of freshly unwrapped DVD box-sets. Which is why:

And of course, the very best reason of all why January beats the pants off December:  

And that, my friends, is why JANUARY WINS. 

Happy New Year, everyone! May we all have a wonderful 2013.