Hands up everyone who hates the fact that it is dark when you wake up,  only just light when you go to work/school and dark before you even think about going home.

Added to the fact that it has been raining more or less constantly for a few days and (according to the Internet) it is only 49 sleeps until Christmas Eve (can that be right?) it can be very depressing at this time of year.

The autumn colours in the sun seem like a distant memory at present but here they are to cheer you up:

However it seems that barristers’ chambers  still know how to “partay darling” and there are several Christmas “do’s” coming up as well as a Christmas ball/shopping fair (!!).  We also have a wedding to go to in a couple of weeks time so that should be fun.  Any excuse for a boogie.

In fact I love dancing so much that I have foolishly volunteered to take part in a group “Strictly” type dance at the Law Society Ball next year.  Pity anyone who has to be my partner as my gold medals in Latin and Ballroom were over 30 years ago now.  It should be a laugh anyway…

I feel justified in going to all these parties because I am working all the hours available at present in a desperate hope that I may catch up with the work and stop chasing my tail.  A more senior member of staff told me that a backlog is what you should expect if you go on holiday but I think that is pretty unfair as why should I feel guilty about going on holiday?  It hasn’t stopped him from going away to Australia for 3 weeks to see his step-daughter.  Plus he has an assistant/secretary.  I don’t.

I love my job but if one reads the Law Society Gazette or indeed even looks on the internet it is clear that the government is determined to “crush” lawyers and it is also clear that most clients don’t want to pay anything like the level of fees charged.  Criminal solicitors are hanging in the balance (some of those without legal aid contracts may fold) and dispute resolution solicitors like me are also struggling because of the 600% increase in Court fees earlier in the year which has even prevented some businesses from pursuing legitimate cases for recovery of debts.

So let me have my bit of fun at the Parties.  Time enough to worry about Christmas.