No gifts and Christmas cheer this year, Santa's on a budget

By Caroline O'Doherty

Charlie was big on budgets. The day came gift-wrapped in a sense of occasion, every concession presented like it had travelled all night across snowy skies just to be sure it was delivered specially for you.

Every bombshell was an extra surprise at the tippy-toe of your stocking; every cutback an avuncular reminder of what happens when you expect too much and end up temporarily on the naughty list.