THE FUSE

There comes a point every winter when the great British weather seems determined to test our resilience. When the novelty of cosy evenings and hot chocolate has well and truly worn off, the Christmas decorations are more of an annoyance than a celebratory feel good, and sunset arrives no sooner than you finish your afternoon coffee. Your umbrella has become a permanent accessory, and the phrase “it’s a bit miserable out there” is repeated so often it almost qualifies as a greeting. Sigh.