Is it taking you 18 minutes to drive from Albury Entertainment Centre to East Albury? I swear.

Have you run out of icing sugar, fresh fruit and good gin?

With exactly one week to go until Christmas Day, here's my Silly Season Survival Kit.

1. Granola. If you can't be good, have a good breakfast. Having had Bircher muesli or granola first thing, it matters far less when the whole day goes pear-shaped from there. Soul'd on Life (Albury-Wodonga Farmers' Market) sells a terrifically-tasty granola otherwise Carman's fruit-free is another go-to. Just add extra hazelnuts and almonds. This time of year there's hardly enough nuts in the world!

2. Cherry Christmas! How good are the cherries this year? Pick up the North East-grown ones at the farmers' market, the orchards themselves or IGA. They are great as a gift, perfect for a picnic or to end any festive meal. They usually come in a neat box, meaning no wrapping required.

3. Brown rice. Donna Hay's Brown Rice Nasi Goreng is the perfect pick-me-up after eating and drinking rich food for what seems like days on end, possibly because it has been days on end. The saltiness of the Kecap Manis and crunch of the roasted cashews is topped off with an egg fried in peanut oil. It's so satisfying, you will hardly notice your second-rate self. Kids also love this combo. Recipe link online or message me on Insta.

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4. Raspberry Vinegar Billson's Cordial. I'm a huge fan of this traditional brew. Mix it with mineral water or soda water for a festive drink. Unlike other reds around the house, all ages can enjoy this drop.

5. Movies, actually. With so many reasons to be out of the house in December-January, a night in with a movie or two is essential. I am yet to tick off Love Actually this month but will get there before Christmas. A Bad Moms Christmas actually made my weekend, just gone. If we haven't got sloshed and crashed Santa's photo shoot, we're going okay. Having said that, there is still enough time! At the Regent Cinemas Albury-Wodonga Last Christmas and Frozen II are worthy contenders for festive viewing. We also watch The Polar Express at home at least once during December.

6. The six o'clock swim, not to be confused with the six o'clock swill. The best time of day to go out for a swim is 6pm. It's not too hot, normal people are heading home in time for dinner and you often get a quarter of the 50-metre Albury pool to yourself. Last Tuesday night, it was just my tribe, some low-flying ducks and a couple of kookaburras. #birdsofafeatherflocktogether

7. Exercise. Somehow. Anyhow. When regular yoga, dance and tennis wind down for the year, it's the exact moment we most need movement. While parking five blocks from the CBD helps promote incidental exercise, it does limit what you can put in your trolley. Your kids are desperate for watermelon but they have to settle for the blueberries this time!

8. I love a good Carols by Candlelight. It's all of my favourite things in one arena: picnic food, candles and crazy word play in some of those songs. Check out Ding Dong Merrily on High. Writer George Ratcliffe Woodward was on something! Steeple bells can't be swungen, just because you need to rhyme with sungen!?

9. Nigella's Christmas Kitchen. Simply Nigella Christmas Special. Nigella Bites Christmas Special. I have seen them all umpteen times but I never tire of Nigella putting together a Christmas dinner party. My husband likes to take the mickey out of her but he never switches the program off, either! When I was late to join him watching one of the specials last week, he was quick to tell me I'd just missed the bit where her cake batter "gloopingly, glistened" - her words! Still, it's not Christmas without Nigella!!

10. Have your kids choose a gift for the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal or other charity for a child similar in age to themselves. There is power in making small gestures of goodwill.

Merry Christmas lovely readers!

Stay well, eat well, be kind to yourself and others and drive safe on the roads.