CHRISTMAS is great isn't it?

The overbearing number of festive songs on the radio and the tasteless takeover of town centres around the country with budget light decorations.

It's exactly what Jesus would have envisaged 2014 years after his death.

Anyway, I'll stop channelling our chief reporter James Connell for a second and put that cynical reporter's viewpoint aside.

I must admit to feeling slightly more Christmassy this year than the past couple.

In 2012 and 2013 I was living in my own in a one-bed flat and couldn't be bothered to put up any decorations.

It was quite sad to be honest, as it meant that it didn't really seem like Christmas at all.

Obviously I had no-one to blame than myself - so don't feel too sympathetic.

Heading home to my flat after work last December it could have been any month of the year.

Other than the fact that it was freezing cold and dark at 4pm.

On the flip side, not decorating the flat meant I avoided having to clean up the carnage left behind by a Christmas tree.

And it also meant I didn't have the post-Christmas lull, when packing away all the baubles and bits and pieces for another 12 months.

It definitely feels more festive in 2014.

One real downside this year was my other half's seemingly overwhelming need to play Christmas songs as soon as December started.

I'm fine with the tunes in small doses.

But as soon as it was December 1 she filled our flat with Wizzard, Mariah Carey and the like.

Far from making me feel festive, it actually made me slightly resentful of Yuletide.

I've heard all these songs what seems like a million times already and didn't need them saturating my life.

Especially not for 25 days straight.

She seems to have stopped now, but that might have something to do with me having confiscated her iPod...

Anyway, we've got a tree up, some tacky lights (bought in Home Bargains) draped around and tinsel dangling in our flat so it ticks a lot of the Crimbo boxes.

Unfortunately, my newfound goodwill for Christmas might not last.

I haven't actually bought any presents yet so I've still got to go festive shopping, which will be a nightmare.

Thinking about it, I might just buy everything online from the comfort of my sofa.

It will save having to brave the baying crowds at The Bullring.

Merry Christmas everyone.