Christmas already feels a million miles past, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. After weeks gearing up for what is essentially handing out a few gifts followed by an excessively big dinner it’s all over in a matter of hours. Let’s face it, by 6 o’clock on Christmas evening most of us are knackered, bloated, and have hit a sugar rush peak not just from too much Christmas pudding, but from an excess of bubble-gum sweetness that oozes out of every pore of the occasion. The comforting glow from watching ET for the 153rd time on Christmas Eve turns to irritation when the television is still dishing up technicoloured Disney schmaltz on New Year’s Eve. I’m not suffering from a sort of delayed Ebenezer Scrooge syndrome, but there is only so much saccharine I can take. So it’s good I had a few whinges up my sleeves to contribute to the festive viewing. Namely a couple of shows where journos, celebs and various pundits vent their spleen about the things that irri...

Happy Christmas one and all! Many thanks for your support in keeping up with my rantings over the last year. Time to enjoy a day off before it all starts again.

There are several things I am looking forward to over the next few days -  repeats on the telly, Christmas dinner, everybody being in a good mood, a few days of R and R.... That is of course if we all make it to Christmas, because as most of us know, tomorrow is the end of the world. If you believe the ancient Mayan prophecy, the universe will grind to a sudden and abrupt halt on December 21. According to Reuters, one in 10 of us are a  bit jittery at the prospect of the world ceasing to turn at the stroke of midnight. The Russian Minister of Emergency Situations has been forced to issue a denial that the world is going to end. Authorities in the village of Bugarach in the South of France have barred access to a mountain where some believe a UFO will rescue them. And in America, survival experts have been getting ready to meet catastrophe head on, making preparations for any disaster which may befall the planet in the next 24 hours. It might not b...

It’s almost time!  Yes, that time of the year when it is customary to be merry, spread good will to all and live in peace - well, something like that. It ’s also the season apparently guaranteed to send hundreds of people into a fit of panic. Panic? On Christmas Day? The most joyous time known to man? A study by hotel chain hotel chain Travelodge claims 42 per cent of women find hosting Christmas dinner the most stressful job of the year. Defrosting turkeys, chopping sprouts, refereeing family rows, keeping children occupied - sound familiar? From the comfort of my armchair with a glass of vino in hand, I am usually oblivious to it all, but come to think of it, I can qu ite see why it can be a nail-biting time of year. The most taxing job of all is making sure the bird is well-stuffed, and that there are enough roast potatoes to go around. It just so happens then, that  clever inventors have come up with what could be the answer - at least to...

I t was Oscar Wilde who wrote “the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about”. I have nothing more to add other than to share the following, posted on Tabloid Watch - the website which purports to blog about “bad journalism”. It is in response to Friday's report in the Express putting our money where our mouths are when it comes to reporting the weather. Predictably it follows their usual style of pointless drivel. Point the critical finger guys, be my guest, it does make me chuckle - but while you are doing so, be very careful someone doesn’t have cause to point it firmly back at you.

I am forced to offer another weather related entry today, but only because this one carries a degree of merriment. Unsurprisingly I am in regular contact with the Met Office, usually speaking to them on a daily basis. Today, however, I had to stifle a chuckle as I picked up the phone to make my routine morning call. The reason, and I know it is very childish and unbecoming of anyone nearing the grand old age of 40, ...but...... I had looked at their weekly UK weather map showing the latest warnings for inclement conditions. I mentioned to forecaster Dan Williams that the Met Office had raised a bit of a giggle in the office. And as I explained why, I heard the press office descend into mirth in the background. Now the Met Office are always very reliable, but at first glance this looks like a bit of a cock up.

It is cold – Wednesday is probably going to be the chilliest day of the year so far, a fact which has not gone unnoticed by the team at This Morning. Well, it might have done until they saw the report in the Express today. Phil and Holly are once again enamoured by our weather coverage, and rightly so, clearly they know The Express leads the way on all things meteorological. Phillip, I’ll let you off  getting my name wrong initially, but I must take issue with the sense of scorn with which you spoke about me today. I jest of course, and on a serious note tomorrow is being mooted as a contender for the coldest day of the year so far – we have to beat 15.8C  in Lincolnshire, in February. Forecasters do say that with wind chill in the mountains we could do that, during the  day however will probably hover around freezing. And it is due to turn milder by the end of the week with a repeat of the rain in the way. Anyhow, I have posted the clip belo...

Japan, probably the most seismically-active country in the world, was rocked by another earthquake today. I say “another” because it has only been a year since the devastating magnitude-9 quake  which struck Sendai triggering a catastrophic tsunami. But anyone who has spent any amount of time in the country will know that “another” is the right word, they happen much more frequently than twice in 18 months. Although big, the 7.3 tremor which shuddered the coast of Japan and made international news this morning is not that much larger than what you should expect to get used to if you ever decide to pay a lengthy visit. Reading about the quake reminded me of my time in Japan, and how I arrived there at the age of 23 with one main worry on my mind – I have touched down in a major earthquake zone. I landed in Tokyo in 1997 armed with a Tefl qualification, a job at an English language school, and my eager, curious self. I had an obsession with the Far East,...