Vladimir McTavish: Thank goodness for post Xmas week – best time of the year

First of all, I have still managed to stay alcohol-free and get through the whole three days of festivities.

Everyone in Edinburgh has a good time when the bells ring in for the New Year, especially the tourists on Princes Street

I definitely won’t be trying that experiment again. It was my first sober Christmas since I was a teenager and I now realise just how tedious the entire day can be without the soothing balm of booze.

Second, we are now entering my favourite week of the year. The five days between Boxing Day and Hogmanay is what many of us view as the proper festive season. After seventy-two hours cooped up with our families, we are demob happy.

Also, in the aftermath of having to socialise with work colleagues, we finally have the chance to spend time with people we actually like.

One can sense the release of tension on the streets and in the bars on the twenty-seventh. People are having fun because they want to, not because of domestic obligation or workplace commitments.

From today onwards there’s a lot more interesting things to do. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay kicks off in two days and brings a new batch of fun-loving visitors into town.

From this weekend there is a plethora of entertainment on offer in town, from music gigs and ceilidhs to pantomime and stand- up comedy.

There is a whole week of special shows at both The Stand and the Monkey Barrel, with some very strong line-ups to help us laugh out the old year and chuckle in the new.

There is also a full programme of sporting events. This afternoon, rugby fans will be flocking to Murrayfield in their thousands for the second leg of Edinburgh v Glasgow in the 1872 Cup.

The atmosphere at these games is always fun and there is a lot of (usually) jovial banter between the local fans and the visiting Weegies.

Before that, at lunchtime, Hearts visit Easter Road for the traditional festive derby. Plenty of banter there too, but more of the hungover variety due to the early kick-off.

But if you opt to stay in the house, that’s fine too. It’s actually safe to turn your telly back on again.

The mindless tedium of Yuletide viewing is now in the rear-view mirror. After giving it a go this year, I would definitely warn you all to never attempt to watch Christmas TV sober.

I had forgotten exactly how boring it can be at this time of year. We may even be able to watch the news again, as that seems to take a back seat for several days, other than reporting on the King’s speech.

Let’s enjoy this final week of the year, as we count down the days to the dark month of January.

And, with a landmark birthday coming up, that represents the unstoppable onset of old age. If I needed reminding of this, an encounter in my local supermarket jolted me.

I was browsing in the cheese aisle, standing next to a young couple who were doing likewise. Appearing to be pointing in my direction, one remarked to their partner: “Look, extra mature!” I was relieved to find out he was talking about the cheddar, not me. Happy New Year.