My festive break was one of many highlights, starting with seeing a woman in St Pancras station walking an albino ferret on a lead, and ending with Leeds United spanking Man U in the FA Cup's third round.

In between these remarkable moments were many, many drinks (with friends, relatives and Mark Shaw, lead singer of '80s one-hit-wonders Then Jerico [sic]), trips to the cinema and the theatre (Sherlock Holmes is a surprisingly good romp; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is majestic), some adorable children, and a very good joint of ham.

The holiday's nadir was, of course, the reported accusation that the TaxPayers' Alliance, which boldly campaigns for people's right to complain about almost everything, runs a charitable arm for the main purpose of earning tax relief on donations from wealthy supporters of the rightwing pressure group.

Yes, that news was a distasteful yellow blot on the pure white snow of my enjoyment. It almost distracted me from making my new year resolutions, the first of which is not to be so sarcastic.

• Blog