IT IS Christmas! I am single! Go figure! At least, I’m sure that’s what all my friends will be thinking when they hear me talking about how much I’m looking forward to Christmas.

You know: poor girl, all alone, without a Prince Charming in sight... how can she possibly face her work’s Christmas party?

And to a degree I guess, I can understand their sentiments.

When I was happily on the arm of someone I cared about, I too would think: what an awful time of the year to be without a partner.

But, like going to the dentist, it normally works out a lot better than you imagine.

For instance, I don’t have to worry at all about buying his Christmas present.

Plus I don’t have to worry about looking close to ecstatic when I open his present to me. And we all know, don’t we girls, that that really IS what ‘faking it’ refers to... pretending we love the basque and matching peep-hole bra; the new steam iron and Sat Nav for the car.

And trust me, that’s no urban myth. A friend of mine who was very worried about her weight and appearance after the birth of her child was actually given a brand new set of bathroom scales from her ‘understanding’ husband because, as he said, he ‘thought it might help...’.

Being single at Christmas also allows me to enjoy flirting without the fear of being racked with guilt afterwards.

I mean, everyone flirts, right? That’s a given. But if I were ‘going steady’ or married to someone, I don’t think I’d feel so comfortable eyeing the new ‘talent’ in the Post Room while my other half drooled over Becky or Portia or Paris from Payroll.

So being on my own means I can enjoy the ‘frisson’ of the festive period but still go to bed with a totally clear conscience.

As for facing the trip to the parents, doing it by oneself is so much simpler than involving a ‘second party’.

More often than not, your boyfriend or husband can’t stand your family, they can’t stand him and it all adds up to a very stressful turkey dinner.

Fancy free, however, you don’t have to worry about anyone’s feelings being hurt (except perhaps when your mum gives you a truly thick pair of tights for the 27th year running).

Which means I’m really looking forward to the next two weeks.

I’ll save money on prezzies, I won’t find myself tearful at home waiting for the love of my life to return from his Christmas night out with his buddies, and best of all, I’ll be unique.

Yes, unique – the only woman in the world who doesn’t mind waiting for Santa all on her own.