Stalking in Richmond

Who needs the highlands when we've got Richmond?

Christmas, for so many people I know, means hopping from one side of the country to the other, keeping parents and in-laws happy, young family in tow. If you're smart you avoid this perilous countrywide dash at Christmas (please let me know how you do that) and stay put in the city... just as everyone else is leaving.

Clever you - you get a place at your favourite restaurant, no booking necessary, a seat on the bus and you can walk down Oxford Street without doing the London shuffle - except on Christmas Eve, of course, when last minute shoppers get a desperate look in their eye and the sharpened elbows come out. Season of good will and all that.

Even the week before Christmas I felt the calming effects of the mass exodus, a certain room to breathe sensation flooded over me walking in Ravenscourt Park. For once, I had the place to myself. Where was everyone? A visit to our local gastropub confirmed it - usually tricky to get a table, we walked straight in during the busy lunchtime rush. I love London when it's empty.

Back to London in time for New Year's Eve, we decided on a quiet one and just about made it to midnight. Amazingly we could see the after effects of the fireworks set off from the London Eye in the comfort of our own home - miles away in West London.

OK, so we couldn't see the actual fireworks (without the help of a telly) but we could see the night sky lighting up, and could hear the booming sound of the explosions shortly after. Sure, it may not be in the spirit of things, but we felt smug - and warm - looking on from the cushioned comfort of our sofa.

A hardy bunch of 200,000 people waited patiently for hours for the seven and a half minute display of brilliantly intense explosives. Even though the pyrotechnics were shortened by two minutes - to save £70,000 from Boris's budget - I don't think anyone in the slightly frozen crowd noticed.

The next day - happy 2010! - I did actually manage to make it out of the house. Major achievement. On 1st January everything in London is shut so I headed to Richmond Park - along with to rest of London. The place was busier than Oxford Street and you had to queue to get in the car park but don't let that put you off.

The most famous residents of Richmond Park are, of course, its deer. These free roaming creatures are quite majestic and, coming across one fine specimen separated from the herd, we decided to do some stalking - shooting the buck with a camera (so much more fun than a gun). Occasionally our antlered friend would stop, raise his head and, eyeing us, strike a pose. Who needs stalking in Scotland when you see the wonders of wildlife can right here in the city?

London may appear to be a bit of a concrete jungle when you're in the middle of it but you don't have to venture far to get a taste of the countryside. New year's resolution 2010: get more out of London by doing something I've never done before each month… I'll keep you posted.

Signs of Recession on the High Street?

The "worst recession since the war" saw the demise of several big name companies in 2009, from Lehman Brothers to some well known high street shops - RIP Zavvi (nee Virgin), Borders, Threshers and the well loved Woollies. But as we head into a new year, new decade, with plenty of 'experts' telling us that we're no where near out of the doldrums yet, there are signs of life in the shops. Over the busy Christmas period retailers reported sales were up ten per cent on last year as shoppers apparently ignored the recession. Boxing Day was especially lively with die-hard shoppers queuing outside some Oxford Street stores as early as 2am, and Selfridges alone sold £1m worth of goods by 11am.

2010, Year of the General Election

This year we will get our long-awaited general election which is due to take place on or before Thursday 3rd June 2010, barring exceptional circumstances. The current Parliament was first summoned on Wednesday 11th May 2005, so it will - no matter what Gordon says or does - cease to exist at midnight on Monday 10th May 2010. There are already indications that the Conservatives are in the lead but it's hard to predict who will win - polls are notoriously inaccurate. What we can say with some certainty is that the party political broadcasts proper start here. Let the campaigning begin!

Theatre Stars in New Year's Honours List

Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart, who recently returned to the London stage in Waiting for Godot alongside Sir Ian McKellen, is knighted in the New Year Honours list for service to drama during a career stretching over half a century. Nicholas Hytner, the director of the National Theatre since 2003 and credited with increasing its audience, is also honoured in the list. Mr Hytner's film credits include The Madness of King George, The Crucible and The Object of My Affection, starring Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd. His most recent film was the 2006 film version of The History Boys and in June 2009. Meanwhile Phillida Lloyd, the director of the smash hit musical and film Mamma Mia!, received a CBE.

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