This last column of the year is being written in a slightly alcoholic haze. We are swamped with invitations in December and I regularly find myself attending three drinks parties a night. I move between them by hiring a Mercedes S class and avoid having to wear a coat and slow the procedure by checking in at the cloakroom.

One such evening started with the Société Générale press party and ended with the launch of the new Alex cartoon book. The proprietor of Financial News managed to talk his way into each party I attended that night and travel in my car as well.