THERE'S SO MUCH I HATE ABOUT CHRISTMAS!

Got you didn't I? Made you look and think, perhaps Fiona is a real 'Grinch' as the truth is I love Christmas, it's my favourite time of year and our home is a testament to it as I'm sure it can be seen from space. Our Swindon neighbours seem to think so! And guess what - I don't care!

There are some people who might claim Christmas is not inclusive - but no one is forced to celebrate or mark it. It's not compulsory. We have neighbours with particular religious beliefs which mean they don't mark it in any way. Good luck to them. That's their choice. Equally there are other cultures which mark other festivals or moments akin to their belief systems and that's fantastic. Good luck to them.

For me Christmas is not religious though it was when I was growing up. My mum is very religious and Christianity was strong in my childhood. As I grew, I knew it wasn't going to be for me. There are many things about religious beliefs which are good and powerful and I totally recognise that. I've met some wonderful people who are kind, generous and good human beings who live a very religious life and hold on to religious beliefs. Good luck to them.

I'm more spiritual and tend to 'believe' in the power of nature, the power of spirit, the universe and in the good in human nature - while at the same time acknowledging that there is light and shade in all things.

There are some things I don't like about Christmas though and I thought I'd share a few of those with you to balance out my rather overwhelming need to wear Christmas jumpers and switch on Christmas lights at home.

*I detest and loathe fish - so having a Christmas dish which involves fish other than prawns is something which would utterly ruin my idea of festive food. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Sadly my husband does not agree so compromise is needed.

*I also detest dates. I think they are utterly disgusting and I do remember my mother in law once dishing them up as alternatives to 'pigs in blankets'. It didn't go down well. Luckily, as a family, we now always agree on this.

*I don't like any kind of truffle chocolates. My mother in law gave me a certain brand every year for ten years until I plucked up the courage to tell her I didn't like them.

*Buying me a box of biscuits for Christmas (I don't eat or buy biscuits) is not my idea of a great present. Instead of this donate a tenner to charity as you are wasting your money. It's highly likely the dog will end up eating them.

*Putting the names of pets on Christmas cards or buying pets presents. I know some people will grimace at this as they always do it. I don't. We have our dog Jess who we love and who more or less rules the house. But I feel no need to put her name on cards or buy her presents. I once had a relative who forgot a present for our children but sent one for our dog. Not impressed.

*Sending a round robin generic letter sharing your news from the year. I know this is ironic as in business I send many newsletters but I do find these impersonal letters, often printed off, in a Christmas card somehow rude - I didn't sign up for them. For me, it says 'here's all of our news and I'm not really interested in your's and couldn't be bothered to talk to you all year'. I never read them and I never send them.

*Playing games over Zoom or similar. Since lockdown I've found some people want to do this instead of actually making the effort to see you or vice versa. It simply doesn't feel the same. I get it if you've got family living overseas but otherwise, it's a no no for me.

*Wrapping paper - I'm increasingly angry about wrapping paper because it's so environmentally unfriendly. I try to choose recycle versions now and this last year, I've re-used present bags over and over rather than buy anything new.

Now you may think reading this that I don't love Christmas but I absolutely do. The list of things I love is much longer but here are just a few:

*The feel of celebration with family, food and fun.

*The twinkling lights and the way streets are brightened up by those lights for one month a year.

*The opportunities to say 'thank you' wear silly jumpers, suits or whatever and just mingle with friends of business buddies.

*Presents - it's great to get a present and it's great to receive a present. And when some thought had gone into it, it's even better.

*Christmas dinner - for us it's just a big roast with a couple of extras such as 'pigs in blankets', parsnips roasted, sprouts chopped up and fried in butter with bacon, Bucks Fizz and perhaps some bubbly. Then Bailey's with ice. I'm not a big drinker but I do have a drink or two at this time of year.

*Food all day - our Christmas dinner last all day. We have a starter, break for an hour or two, eat the main course and then have a break for an hour or four and then have dessert. It just works.

*Opening stockings. Our children are grown up but we still do stockings and the rule is that this will continue until you have your own home and your own family when you develop your own 'way'. Steve and I don't have them but we love creating stockings for our children.

*The time to do a little less and think a little more and just 'be'. I've found some of my best ideas have come during this period as I take my foot of the gas a bit.

*A New Year's Eve party with silly games and good friends. We do this every year and sometimes we all dress up like proper idiots and play a murder mystery game. This really marks the end of a year and a sense of looking forward.

What about you?