I spent Christmas and New Year in hospital, thankfully with something less serious than a spinal injury.

Everybody commiserated with me but I have to say it was made more than bearable by the care and kindness of the staff (many of whom were obviously not Christians) who did their very best to instill the spirit of the season into the treatment of their charges.

For that alone they deserve an accolade. Many of them are immigrants and our Health Services would collapse without them.

Dorothy, I hope your mother experienced the same level of care while she was in there, and, of course, a successful recovery without too great a burden on you at home.