Mark Murphy: Don't be Scrooge about Christmas starting early

I’m getting fed up with all the Scrooge-type people moaning that it’s too early. Stop grizzling and embrace it. After all, it is the season to be jolly and, frankly, we need cheering up.

If you don’t like it, you don’t have to participate but please stop spoiling it for others. As my mum would say don’t a misery guts.

Don't be a misery guts about Christmas, says Mark (Image: Charlotte Bond) There’s no stopping it anyway so don’t waste your breath! You know it’s getting close when Channel 5 start putting on Christmas movies every afternoon and the sofa companies start saying: if you buy it now, you can get it for Christmas.

I read a thing on Facebook the other day (so it must be true) that people who trim up early have a more happy and contented life in the run up to the big day.

I think there’s something in that. We all complain about the days getting shorter and darker at this time of year, so let’s do something about it and get the decorations out of the loft.

It's the time of the year for hunkering down in front of the fire and the addition of a tree, some twinkly lights and decorations can only enhance that.

The Scandinavians have a thing called Hugr where they embrace the time of the year and sit around at home with candles and rugs, just like their ancestors did.

We’ll be getting our decorations down in the next couple of days from the loft ready to trim up. It’s always an emotional time as so many of the trimmings are full of memories from Christmases past.

They remind me of when I was young and we’d trim up at home, a fake Woolies Christmas tree with lovely warm coloured lights adorning it. Paper chains strung from one side of the living room to the other. Balloons stuck up in the corner of the room with drawing pins and a box of dates on the hearth.

None of it matched, unlike today in this Instagram world where many people theme their decorations to display online. Ours were just garish and it didn’t matter one jot.

Time to trim up, says Mark It’s great to see our town centres coming alive now with decorations, lights and trees.

I can’t wait for tomorrow. I along with my colleagues from Suffolk Sound will be assisting the mayor of Ipswich in switching on the town's Christmas lights.

Mark loves the new tree in Ipswich (Image: Liz Nice) The tree is up already and looks magnificent, I’m so glad the old plastic one with a load of balls on it has finally been scrapped, what a monstrosity that was.

We’ll also be joined on stage by the panto cast from the Regent in Ipswich plus Ipswich Town defender Leif Davis and Chairman Mark Ashton.

I’ve helped switch the lights on in many Suffolk locations in my old job at the BBC and I’m thrilled to be replicating that with Suffolk Sound. Check us out if you haven’t tuned in.

It should be great fun, so why not come on down the town and say hi, we’d love to see you.

This kind of event will be replicated in towns and villages across Suffolk and it’s great to see the locals come together. Smiling faces and community spirit, is what we need in this country, more than ever.

Let’s look at the positives in life, look out for each other, enjoy each other’s company and stop moaning.

Life is short and precious, this can still be a magical time of the year, let’s go out and embrace the season and when we’re home hunker down like the Scandinavians.

Merry Christmas