The second half of December is always a non-stop round of carol concerts, Christmas celebrations and an attempt to get everything done before work grinds to a halt. This year the whole country seems to have ground to a halt two weeks early as councils, train companies and airlines are taken by surprise by bad weather - for the third year running.

What I like about Christmas is the sense of togetherness and goodwill that you get not just from friends and family but from the whole community. And I love dropping in to parties and services across the constituency, helped by an insatiable fondness for mince pies.

Everyone needs a break form the daily routine, though I know that many carry on working. I always visit the pensioners' lunch on Christmas Day and the Crisis centre for those without food or shelter, and I am amazed by the hundreds of people working there, who choose to give up their Christmas to help those in need.

It's a time to relax and not think about problems and stresses for a few days. But I fear this will be more difficult than usual. The last few weeks have seen some stark announcements about jobs losses, service closures and cuts in funding, and there will be many more to come in the new year.

The period since the election in May has been largely a 'phoney war', with sound bites and grandstanding by ministers replacing serious analysis of where the country is going. In 2011 that will change as we all realise and experience the effect of the biggest ever cuts in the services on which we all rely.

My fear is that the swingeing cutbacks of schools, libraries, the voluntary sector, and support for those on the low and average incomes will do permanent damage both locally and nationally. I hope you will have a merry Christmas, I'm less confident of a happy new year.