Another Christmas has arrived and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Pubsters ,contributors and lurkers, a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

I will not be hypocritical and warn you all not to eat or drink to much as I am certain that I will be overindulging in both.

I will however add my usual warning about driving over the holiday period. Be careful there are a lot of stressed, tired, cranky, crazy people out there all trying to get somewhere fast. Be patient and be aware of what is going on around you.I know I don’t have to caution Pubsters against drink/drug driving but plenty of people still do it and unfortunately I can almost guarantee that some peoples Christmas will end in a tragedy.Please don’t let it be your’s.

A special thank you as always goes to Fiona and BB for there valuable assistance in keeping the pub ticking over and of course to BK for his daily dawn patrol which has become the first place many people go to in the mornings.

So on behalf of Ned, Syd and myself  a happy Yuletide and lets look forward to a great year of the Dog.

Here is another great threadstarter from Puffy. Thank you so much, Empress of the Dragons.

Only days  8, 7, 8, 5, 4,, 3, 2, 1, until it’s Boxing Day.

So in the spirit of Xmas 2017 how about pressies for our Pollies and Notable (for various reasons) Others!

To Former PM Julia Gillard.

A Gold Echidna With Bar for having the courage to set up this:

FPM Julia Gillard, The Pub is honoured to present to you:

and a big Thank You on behalf of a grateful nation.

To Bill Shorten, Leader of the Opposition.

So he can kick some more L/NP butts to the kerb in 2018. (Tones, where are you now?)

The Red Vollies. The ALP volunteers whose ground campaign is second to none.

For Joe6Pack, Fiona, Bushfire Bill and all other PUB helpers, esp BK for the Dawn Patrol

For our MSM and Canberra Press Gallery. in honour of your 2017 performance. (Note. Not all of you will fit).

For Peter Dutton MP, so he can find his heart and get the Asylum Seekers out of detention for Christmas. Put some real meaning into Xmas for all of us, Dutton. (yeah, nah, he says.)

For Pride and Perseverance, wedding bells soonest.

For Ned and Syd, who guard The PUB gates from trolls.

Whom have I forgotten? I am sure Pubsters can assist me!.

If Xmas gets you down, there is help.

And so say all of us.

Probably the most important by-election in recent times will occur tomorrow. If John Alexander is returned the coalition hang on to their slim majority in parliament.

if Kristina Keneally wins

Armageddon

will befall Malcolm Turnbull

and his prime-ministership may well be over soon after.

I know at least 2 stalwarts of ” The PUB”

Will be out campaigning for Labor and I wish them the best and can attest that they will not be beaten in a rational argument on policies.

Should be interesting