The one where it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

WHILE other youngsters are obsessing about the latest toy or computer game, the Godson has different priorities.

Christmas dinner is one of the things on his mind - the exact details of the menu are things to be thought about carefully.

Forget sweets or cakes. His love of meat is legendary.

I suspect the kid would be perfectly happy with a cooked leg of ham wrapped in Christmas paper.

All of which is galling for his vegetarian godmother, especially when he simply cannot imagine what the heck it is I eat every year.

I describe the ghosts of mushroom filo parcels past, sweet potato and feta pies, nut loaves.

He gives me a pitying look. Wait until he's a teenager trying to impress some veggie girl, I think to myself. Get your own back then.

There is also the the thorny subject of Father Christmas.

Most of his friends no longer believe.

There are serious doubts in the Godson's mind.

How can one overweight man in a red suit defy the laws of physics? How can a limited band of small elves make all those iPads without it turning into a sweat-shop?

"Ah," his mother says with a wink, "This one doesn't believe in Father Christmas any more. He won't be getting Christmas presents this year..."

He looks slightly panicked.

"Now, I didn't say that," he replies.

There have to be some presents under the tree on December 25, after all.

The Godson's Christmas list might not be as packed as some other children's, but he's not so saintly that the idea of having no presents leaves him unfazed.

TIme flies, though, and those doubts will soon overcome anything else.

Give it a year or two, things will have changed beyond all recognition.

Christmas will be all about Facebook messages, parties with mates, and how to survive two weeks off school with the old folk.

Somewhere, a Christmas fairy will announce her retirement.