THE mercury had dropped through the floor and Jack Frost was doing more than nipping.

In Tec Towers it felt like the polar bears might feel at home.

Heat, of the gas and electrical kind were in short supply, although heat from my beloved was making me hot around the collar.

The season of goodwill had still to arrive, although from this down at heel gumshoe the local goodwill store was looking more and more attractive.

But would Blondie go for a hand-me-down, hand-me-down as her New Year gift.

The grumbling from my stomach was echoed by that from my beloved who was advancing into the room at a fair rate of knots.