This newspaper which dropped through our letterbox today really helps to spread the a seasonal merriment! I shouldn’t joke, though… I know the cuts to Local Government are particularly tough for Newcastle, and there are lots of jobs and services at risk.

Taken during a break in the Christmas shopping expedition Wendy and I embarked on today. It was exceptionally busy in Newcastle, but we did manage to pick up a few presents!

So this photo of Newcastle at night is clearly a bit rubbish, but you can make out the Christmas lights snaking up the monument on the left hand side.

The article I’m recommending this week is totally heart-rending: forgetting a child in the backseat of a car is a surprisingly common cause of childhood mortality. Gene Weingarten’s article in the Washington Post looks at the emotional and differing criminal repercussions.

With both Wendy and me feeling under the weather at the moment, we’ve been through a fair few over the counter medications in the past week or so… although I have to admit that, in line with gender stereotypes, I’m more often sighted rummaging through the medicine cabinet!

Brrr…….!

This is another review of a celebrity autobiography. As with all celebrity autobiographies, if you’re a fan of the celebrity, there’s a high probability that you’ll enjoy the book. If not, you’re unlikely to read it anyway. That’s a point that’s made often, but that probably bears repeating.

The structure of this book is slightly novel, in that it follows Mitchell on a walk around London, with reminisces and comic riffs inspired by things he sees along the way. The idea isn’t half hammered home, though, particularly given the weakly punning title. And I think it’s fair to say that little of the content is deeply insightful: it’s mildly embarrassing to buy underwear; membership of Footlights provides a firm footing for launching one’s career in comedy; most ideas pitched to television companies don’t get commissioned; and having the same name as a popular author sometimes causes confusion.

That said, I like David Mitchell, so I enjoyed the book. The content isn’t groundbreaking, but it is at least communicated with warmth and a degree of endearing self-deprecation. And I found the last chapter, in which Mitchell discusses his relationship with Victoria Coren, genuinely heartwarming. Others have described it as overly syrupy, but I disagree – I thought it was lovely.

It’s hard to know what else to say, really. Mitchell comes across as a thoroughly likeable guy, and this is a highly readable but equally forgettable walk through a life that has been lived without all that much trauma, distress or heartache. It’s a light read that, as a fan of Mitchell, I find it hard not to recommend. But it’s hardly life-changing stuff.

Back Story is available now from amazon.co.uk in hardback and on Kindle.

Wendy first discovered this flavour of Shloer at her graduation, and has been on the lookout for it again ever since! Finally spotted it in Asda tonight!

This extra photo makes up for me forgetting to post one on Thursday. It shows the thin layer of ice on the roof of my car as it catches the light this evening, and looks far prettier than it will seem in the morning when I’m scraping the windows!

Spotted this TV star in John Lewis today…!