Still going strong? The Christmas party spirit should still be in full swing until at least tomorrow, the Epiphany, and may I just point out we should remain in festive mode, in a modified fashion and a spirit of grim determination, right through to Candlemas? The awful secular thing of “Dry January” – giving up drink for the month – is an abomination. I was mildly appalled on the Friday after Christmas to find a friend who is a model Christian refusing cake on the basis that he fasts on Fridays. “That’s a sin!”, I said, genuinely appalled that he should be flouting the 12 days of feasting. I have rarely seen anyone so pleased to be told they erred.

Anyway, sucks to Dry January. Here is a recipe from Charles Dickens for Christmas punch to help you see it off, from an admirable little book by Pen Vogler, called Christmas with Dickens (Cico Books, £9.99).

“Peel into a very strong common basin the rinds of three lemons, cut very thin … Add a double handful of lump sugar … a pint of good old rum and a large wine glass full of brandy – if it be not a large claret glass, say two. Set this on fire by filling a warm silver spoon with the spirit lighting the contents at a wax taper and pouring them gently in.