Tis the season to be...........

what?  How will you end that sentence:- jolly, excited, depressed, knackered, nervous, joyful?

The Christmas season offers plenty of opportunities to "spot the difference" between Life After Law and life before the Great Escape.  Or, actually, perhaps that should be "plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose"??

The feverish hunt for a funny "Secret Santa" gift for a colleague who's reaction to a mug saying "you don't have to be mad to work here but it helps" is unpredictable (with a price limit of £5 per head) translates to the search for the perfect gift for teachers whose commitment and support brings tears to your eyes (or is that just me) - again limited by the severe lack of cash that "not working" (!) involves.

The terrible desperation involved in trying to get that tricky document drafted for the demanding client who wants to sign on 24th December translates to the scramble to get the stocking fillers organised and wrapped (and then remember where they are).

The silent bloodless battles, of Machiavellian cunning and ruthlessness and the tactical skill of an ancient Chinese warlord, to get the coveted time off in between Christmas and New Year (before the colleague who always books it first. In July!) translates to the "whose turn is it" grandparent dilemma, actually I'm lying - I'm blessed with almost suspiciously wonderful parents and parents-in-law and have never had to employ any Machiavellian cunning in this area!

So it sounds like actually what I am comparing is life with kids versus life in the law however there was a time when I tried to do both - and then, eventually, the Wheels truly and in every sense Came Off The Bus - they did not go round and round! (Don't worry, reader, no straight-jacket involved, but quite a lot of chocolate).

I think the truth is that the festive season carries its own extra work for all of you out there whatever you are doing - and I hope that we all manage to actually enjoy it! Of course that's where Life After Law for me is great - Mr Life After Law doesn't work over the holiday season so we all get to spend a whole two weeks at home together when the working world doesn't carry on without us with post piling up til we get back and we can really relax together.  And I am thankful every year for that - second year of Life After Law for me (seventh for Mr LAL) and it's great.

Now, has anyone got any sherry? (What, it's Christmassy)