In case you missed it, I've worn a silly red hat as a reminder that it's Christmas Eve, that deadline so many of us have had our eyes on in the past few frantic weeks.
Some will now be putting their feet up after a tough week's shopping, others will be coming down with the inevitable 'lurgy that strikes as soon as you go on holiday, while the rest won't be reading this because they're braving the crowds at the Warehouse in a last mad dash for presents.
This hectic time is reflected in some way in the news we've reported this week.
Tragedy and horror, whether in Rotorua, Turangi, Christchurch or anywhere else, aren't unique to the festive season but somehow their effects seem magnified when the rest of us are enjoying time of love, family, friends and celebration.
The nature of these stories, and the extreme interest in them, mean they can dominate the headlines - and quite rightly so.