Don't try to achieve the impossible. Make sure that all plans are do-able. We'd all like Christmas to be perfect, but it's much better to aim for the achievable by being realistic, rather than being ridiculous and ending up with a disaster.

Even in nuclear families, Christmas varies every year. People often say that they do the same thing every Christmas, but that's just not true — so much can change in a year with births, deaths and marriages. Remember that every Christmas can succeed in its own way.

Our children await Christmas presents like politicians getting in election returns: there's the Uncle Fred precinct and the Aunt Ruth district still to come in

People look at marriage through a romantic haze, but it's actually a business contract. Couples need to look beyond the big day and the meringue dress and the honeymoon in an exotic location. I think arranged marriages have a lot going for them because expectations aren't so high. There isn't the assumption that things will be automatically wonderful.

Our children await Christmas presents like politicians getting in election returns: there's the Uncle Fred precinct and the Aunt Ruth district still to come in.

And so, this Christmas season may our hearts with gladness glow, As we read the blessed story That took place so long ago.