Same applies to Goes Wrong Show and Detectorists! #doodleaday

Both so much more impossibly cool than I ever was! #doodleaday #parentofteens

Wishing you all a peaceful and loving 2026. #doodleaday

We are so lucky having all these beautiful places to visit - and doubly lucky with the weather. I love winter sunshine. #doodleaday

A complex list of who is where and when, who likes what, what last until when… honestly, after all that I could do with some time off… oh, wait… #doodleaday

She doesn’t travel light, my good lady wife!!! #doodleaday

The stream of consciousness remains (long-time followers will be familiar) but some of the content has changed… a bit… Never a dull moment! #doodleaday

No one is quite sure why it’s called Boxing Day - some say is because the Christmas boxes were re-used to give presents to the servants or the poor & needy. It’s a good a reason as any, I suppose! #hotsanta #christmastraditions

Nothing wrong with a bit of reflection from time to time I guess. Hopefully it leads to positive thinking for the year ahead. #doodeaday

Christmas Day swim - For those who don’t find December cold enough for their liking, there’s always the option of a bracing sea swim - and the 100-yard swim in Hyde Park’s Serpentine Lake on Christmas morning dates back to 1864. #hotsanta #doodleaday #christmastraditions

… and for a bit of contrast, followed by Peaky Blinders. #doodleaday

I do love the complex history of our favourite seasonal figure. #doodleaday #hotsanta #christmastraditions

I love being Santa but it’s always nice to get the big beard off for a few months!!! #doodleaday

I’m so lucky to get to do this. To meet such lovely kids and spread a little magic. Feeling very fuzzy and warm after all that!! #doodleaday

 In 1822 when Clement C Moore drew in the legends of St Nick in his poem T’was The Night Before Christmas, he described him as a fur clad, chubby little imp. It was this poem that led to the creation of the modern Santa Claus. #hotsanta #doodleaday #christmastraditions

The figure of Father Christmas first appeared during the 1650s, when the Puritans banned the festive season. The wise old man appeared on pamphlets praising the revels of the past above the gloom of the present day. #hotsanta #doodleaday #christmastraditions

Just occasionally… #doodleaday

The wheel turns again #doodleaday #wheeloftheyear

YULE features the Holly King (also blended as King Winter) a traditional figure, often with helpers like Jack Frost who brings snow, ice, and holiday treats. #doodleady #hotsanta #Christmastraditions

Have a great one, everyone.

St Nicholas was a 4th C archbishop in what is now Turkey, and is the patron saint of children. His legend merged with European folklore, evolving through Dutch “Sinterklaas,” English “Father Christmas,” and American poets and illustrators into the figure we know today. #hotsanta

At least I still do need to add SOME! #doodleaday

Dec 19th 1843 - publication of A Christmas Carol. The first edition sold out by Christmas Eve. In 1849 he began public readings of the story, which proved so successful he undertook 127 further performances until 1870, the year of his death. #doodesday #hotsanta

Sorting the paints into their colour groups at the theatre. Way too much fun! (I give it a month before it’s chaos again…) #doodleaday

Mari Lwyd is the name given to a wassailing folk custom that involves a giant horse’s skull carried from house to house in parts of Wales during the festive season. #doodleaday #hotsanta #christmastraditions

…and I passed!! It’s a good feeling knowing you might actually be able to make a difference in an emergency. #doodleaday

In the Victorian era, turkeys raised in East Anglia were often herded along Drovers’ roads to London to be sold fresh in time for Christmas - a journey that took 3months to complete. To protect their feet, turkeys were fitted with leather or sacking boots. #doodleaday #hotsanta

It’s a glorious combination of cheesy and charming… and another piece in the ‘Christmas is almost here’ puzzle. #doodleaday

Wassailing: Visiting homes or orchards with drink and songs for good fortune. The word ‘wassail’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon phrase ‘waes hael’, which means ‘good health’. #doodleaday #hotsanta #christmastraditions

The earliest form of Christmas plum pudding was plum porridge. In the Middle Ages this was made of a shin of beef, stewed with dried fruit. By the 1800s there was a tradition of stirring a sweeter plum pudding on the Sunday before Advent.#doodleaday #hotsanta #christmastraditions

Not serious thankfully but certainly uncomfortable!!! What a muppet… #doodleaday

We all know the ‘big 8’ - although these only first appeared in 1823. But for centuries reindeer have been part of winter festivities, particularly in Scandinavia and across Eastern Europe. During the Middle the ancient customs became a part of Christmas celebrations. #hotsanta #christmastraditions

You never know what they are going to throw at you next… and the toughest part is keeping your responses ‘family friendly! #doodleaday

Mince Pies were originally filled with meat and fruit, eaten daily for good luck over the 12 days. Tradition states that anyone who refuses one of their twelve pies will suffer a year of misfortune. Better get stuck in! #doodleaday #hotsanta #christmastraditions

Got the elves to distract them while I scurried over to the toilets! #doodleaday

The Christmas tree blends pagan winter solstice traditions with German Christian customs from the 16th century; notably Martin Luther adding candles, which spread via German royalty (like Queen Charlotte & Prince Albert) to become the worldwide phenomenon it is today. #hotsanta

Welcoming your wife home from her work Christmas party… #doodleaday

Before the mistletoe there was the kissing ball: made from pine, evergreen and mistletoe, wound through a wooden frame. Georgian Christmas was all about gathering with loved ones & celebrating. Kissing balls were hung in entrances & doorways to the home. #hotsanta #doodleaday

The earliest documented references to Yule logs date back to the Tudor period. It would be brought into the home on Christmas Eve, placed on the fire and expected to burn from Christmas Eve until Christmas night – so it had to be big! #hotsanta #doodleaday #christmastraditions

Yup. It’s so annoying that as you get older, healing takes sooooo much longer and is so easy to set back as well. Hey ho… back to the recovery exercises I guess… #doodleaday

Early days of a long and illustrious career! #doodleaday #hotsanta #christmascoutdown #xmastraditions

Actually really good fun - and the audience reaction reinforced my belief in the essential good nature of the majority of today’s teenagers. #doodleaday

Christmas was officially recognised in 336CE, and into the early Middle Ages was a continuation of existing midwinter celebrations. #hotsanta #christmascountdown #doodleaday

Been a busy few months but hopefully we’ll get a few more of these when things quieten down a bit in the new year! #doodleaday

And we’re off! I’m looking forward to sharing some fascinating old traditions and stories… #doodleaday #hotsanta

Sometimes it’s worth remembering how things used to be, to appreciate what we have… #doodleaday #hotsanta

…although I quite like the grey (and to be honest, it takes less ‘help’ than last year!) #doodleaday

It’s such a delight - the little faces as they walk in. It warms the heart… #doodleaday

They are so funny. Hope the kids all love it. Shame I’m stuck in my grotto so won’t get to see it in front of an audience. Anyway, let’s bring on the fun - “It’s Chriiiiiiiiistmaaaaaaaaas!” #doodleady

I do love a bit of a mash-up. Let’s see where this goes!!! #doodleaday #hotsanta #christmascountdown