The best way around all festive pitfalls is, of course, not to be around when they occur...

If you can鈥檛 stand the festive season, get out of the country. It鈥檚 a real tonic. The trouble is that with Christmas starting earlier and earlier every year, you鈥檇 have to take a sabbatical to avoid the whole blasted thing.

Getaway
Credit: Gaetan Lee
The getaway

If getting away isn鈥檛 an option, it鈥檚 time to pour yourself a large mulled wine (or non-mulled, if you're really trying to get away from the season), sit back and repeat this mantra: 鈥淚t鈥檒l soon be over. It鈥檒l soon be over鈥. For a few months, at least...