CHRISTMAS Eve at last: As the shops close we can settle down to some peace and calm, and focus on the real meaning of Christmas.

There will be traditional services in all of Hook's churches, starting today with a crib service for all the family at St John's Church at 4pm.

Later in the evening, there will be a service at The Sacred Heart at 10pm and, even later, a Midnight Mass starting at 11.30pm at St John's.

This will definitely be worth staying awake for - especially for Father Neil's chocolate surprise at the end!

Christmas Day starts with Holy Communion at 8am at St John's followed by a Parish Eucharist at 10am.

The Sacred Heart will also be holding a Christmas Day service at 10am.

At the New Covenant Church, there will be a service entitled "Joy to the World" at 10.30am at the Elizabeth Hall, so there's plenty for both early and late-risers.

BOXING Day: There's every chance you will be in need of relief from wrapping paper and relatives.

If so, then there's no better place to unwind than at The Swan in North Warnborough, watching Hook Eagle Morris Men celebrate the rebirth of the sun after the winter solstice.

The dancing starts at 12.30pm and generally ends with a dance that everybody can join in and some music in the pub.

This is excellent for those children who have already broken their Christmas toys and relatives who are getting in the way.

FINALLY: Don't forget to feed the poor hungry birds some of your Christmas scraps.

During the very mild autumn and winter so far, there have been hundreds of worried people phoning the RSPB wondering where all their garden birds had gone to.

They hadn't disappeared, they were just busy foraging in the fields.

But, as the weather has turned colder recently, they are back in our gardens once again.

How about sharing your stale mince pies with them?