When house-hunting in a city of which you’re already a resident, you’re not sizing up different neighbourhoods, you’re trying on different versions of the life you already lead — deciding if you’d enjoy the city more or less from the homes you see.

My dear boy, apple of my eye, thief of my sleep, tester of my patience, questioner of my decisions: what a life you lead. 

Australian Christmases are as airy as the British ones are cosy and I think this year might just have tipped me over into perhaps, maybe, almost, in some ways preferring a more outdoorsy festive period.