Winter-weather boffins murmur that this winter ahead may be our coldest and snowiest in years - which, to be honest, isn't saying much. I'm no real fan of frigid dark, but some proper seasonal cold would be welcome. These past few years have been mild, as would be expected from a warming world, and when we don't have a good flinty measure of winter it sometimes feels like the year has no spine. It was cold last night and it's staying cold today.

Our Alice in Wonderland holiday show is taking shape. We just finished our Thanksgiving break, so now we're in the heart of learning lines, getting the blocking down, and getting the sequence of scenes in place. Costumes and props are starting to come together, bit by bit by bit.

This is an old key, newly revealed, and should work like new. If you have trouble with it, please let me know.