The highlight today – outside of my work itself – was the Parliamentary Carol Service held in St Mary’s Church, Westminster Abbey. I didn’t go last year – but this year I decided to attend (with one of my daughters) as there are just some things that you want to experience and one day when I am not an MP again (it comes to us all) I won’t have the chance.

I do not follow any faith – but like many others, enjoy much of the celebratory traditions of Christmas (tree, food, sherry and presents) and carols and carol services. Even if you don’t follow a faith – you can recognise that there is something compelling about worship, ceremony and commitment.

Anyway – the choir was beautiful. I love the sopranos when they soar out above all the other voices. The lessons were read by a rainbow coalition of Ming Campbell, David Cameron and Hilary Armstrong. The charity being supported was Westminster Medical Research to buy a particular rare and expensive piece of equipment. By a strange stroke of co-incidence and without going into personal detail – the very piece of equipment that my daughter had needed some years earlier. Strange – hey?