Or at least the date is...

Unlike the rest of the population I don't feel Christmassy at the moment.

It takes a supreme act of will to feel even remotely Christmassy. I see the lights go up, see everyone getting excited but Christmas sort of passes me by a little. I'm more of a fan of Easter.

Every day on the way to and from work I listen to lots of Christmas carols on my mp3 player in an effort to force myself into feeling a little ready for Christmas.

I've got three or four CD's of Christmas songs loaded on my player. Rosie Thomas' "a very Rosie Christmas", Sufjan Stevens' "Songs for Christmas", The McGarrigal Christmas Hour (one of the greatest Christmas albums ever made!) and The Carpenter's Christmas Collection.

I really like Sufjan Steven's "Sister Winter". It's beautiful, slightly chilly and wonderful. It's an antidote to the schmultzy songs that don't actually say anything that links to the season. This is a wintery song, perfect for listening to on wintery days walking to work.