First of all – Merry Christmas! Secondly, it’s Christmas Day, so you’ll forgive me for being a bit rubbish today, won’t you?

I’d planned to whip up a tasty Christmas dessert with Mummy Warren for my new thing today but – you got it! – we’re still out of power and hot water courtesy of Monday’s storm. So there was to be no baking. Instead we entertained ourselves with card games, a ‘Pucket’ tournament (another new thing for me! You have to check out this new game, it’s hours of fun) and present opening by candlelight.

But then we realised it was dark and cold and that we’d quite like dinner actually. Thankfully, Auntie Susie – chef extraordinaire and todaysthedayi’s No. 1 subscriber – came to the rescue and welcomed us to join her family instead.

This meant an alternative Christmas; I’ve celebrated with just my immediate family before (and the last three years I’ve ‘celebrated’ in the office), but never before have I shared it with these guys. And now I wonder why not!

Ryan, my brother Dylan, Mummy Warren and I piled into the car and headed to Surrey to join Auntie Susie, her family and another aunt – known as Auntie Ming – and her family to celebrate. And they came up trumps: perfect roast potatoes (which is the only thing any of us want for Christmas, let’s be honest), sweet carrots, glasses of champagne and card games galore.

This was such a treat – seeing everyone, particularly my baby cousins, was so great, especially as I’m rarely around for family time anymore. So we definitely made the best of an unfortunate situation and a big thank you goes to Auntie Susie, Uncle Trev, Phil, Alex and Grace for saving us!

(Although, after spending a day with all of us and a fair bit of potty humor, I’m not sure Ryan will ever be back…)