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Christmas is now only two weeks away, and I am sure that many of you are terribly busy preparing for the festivities. After all, Christmas is a celebration involving lots of food and drink, and enjoyable times spent with family and friends. However, sometimes don't you feel it requires too much effort, and you would be more than happy to give it a miss this year?

The Spy has lived and worked in London for far longer than he cares to mention. It does, like many other great cities of the world, have its fair share of problems: traffic, noise, pollution and so on. But it offers so much to the people who live there, and to the many millions who visit each year from around the world. Another wonderful aspect of London is that so many of its top attractions are free. So, here is The Spy's top ten list of things to do and see in London for free.

Museums

We all love to sleep, and The Spy likes nothing better than waking up after a superb night's sleep. However, aside from the sheer pleasure which we derive from sleeping, it also extremely beneficial to our health and well-being.

People who, on average, sleep less than six hours a night have a much greater risk of developing disease, and you may be surprised to discover the following:

December is definitely the month of self indulgence and we all tend to eat and drink more than is probably good for us.

The Spy has been known to drink a glass of wine or two, and if you - like me - occasionally wake up the next morning feeling a little worse for wear, you may want to continue reading the following tips for surviving the morning after.

1. Avoid the hangover altogether. Prevention is always better than cure, and if at all possible avoid drinking alcohol. If you must, try to be sensible, know your limits and stick to them.

The Spy remembers his student days at Cambridge with fond memories. The passage of time though, has a habit of softening the edges with regards to how we recall our past experiences. However, I am pretty sure the typical life of a student in the fifties was a fairly happy experience.

On reflection though, the average student back then came from a privileged background, and The Spy is very pleased that we have progressed to the point where education is, at least in theory, available to all.

I recently noticed the number of men and women who are dressed quite conservatively apart from a dash of bright colour supplied by their scarf. At this time of the year, we spend most of our hours clothed in many layers of muted grey, navy and black, and so scarves give us the perfect excuse to show our personality and inject some much needed fun into our often otherwise drab winter wardrobe.

Here is The Spy's guide to help you choose which scarf is best for you.

Flannel or fleece

The Spy feels duty bound to keep his fashion conscious followers out there up to date with all the latest trends in the ever changing world of fashion. So, if you are seeking to put some razzle-dazzle into your Christmas party outfit then try adding a splash of sequins, glitter and sparkle. Think all things metallic and you will be on the right track. However, beware that gold lamé catsuit is not for the faint hearted.

Here are some of the best dresses out there, which can be worn loud and proud on any festive dancefloor.

Christmas is fast approaching and, as ever, The Spy is searching far and wide to give you perfect gift ideas to please your family and friends. Today, I give you my top ten list of great books to buy and treasure this Christmas.

A Journey, by Tony Blair
Depending on your viewpoint, he is one of the most brilliant politicians of the modern era. This is a fascinating personal account of what it is like to be at the centre of power. He compares himself to Diana, Princess of Wales, as a manipulator. It takes one to know one...

The Christmas party season is almost upon us. This usually means having to endure rather sickly looking drinks, offered from well meaning friends and neighbours. So if, like The Spy, you would like to be more original in your festive alcohol creations, I have come up with a dozen alternative drinks, one for each day of Christmas.

Ramos Fizz
Forget eggnog - this New Orlean classic is made with superior quality gin, lemon juice and orange flower water, topped with egg whites and shaken with sugar and cream.

Spiced Old-fashioned

The Spy must confess, it has been many years since I have ventured outside my house on New Year's Eve. Definitely not for me is the scenario of overcrowded restaurants, standing ten-deep at the bar, or waiting forever to catch a taxi. I shall remain at home with the honourable lady spy, eating magnificent home-cooked food and drinking a delightful bottle of red. However, I do appreciate that there are some of you who are younger at heart than myself, so here are some suggestions of where to visit for a fantastic New Year's Eve, to celebrate in style.

Sydney