James Mills is a web developer in the North East of England and founder of Refresh Teesside »
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Karen McLauchlan is the Evening Gazette's deputy business and features editor - with special interest in all things industry, property and arts related » 
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Deloitte, which has 23 offices across the UK including Newcastle, is among the country's leading professional services firms » 
ClimateNE & Climate Change Schools Project support the move to a low-carbon, resilient economy and help businesses avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities. Posts by Jen Atkinson, Krista McKinzey and Harriet Thew » The festive prelude to the festive break saw press releases going out about the number of workers turning in to do a shift on Christmas Day - the number was 140,000, double that of the previous year. Now coming from a group of 160,000 full time farmers and 190,000 part timers I wonder where these figures come from since I know most land managers will have some duties to carry out, accepting that arable farmers are on standby during most of the winter break.
I had a good family Cristmas and even got caught up with that pile of papers (to be read when I get 5 minutes) lurking near my armchair, but for many like me who have downsized their farming what do Christmas futures look like??
I was more relaxed this Christmas than ever before, the kids are at the right age (7,10,12 and 14) and I did not need to go and do any work on the the big day, Boxing day we host the wider family which means cooking for 16 covers - as I say in our food business - which is fine in a farmhouse designed for large numbers. Moving from farming to catering though is not the way to keep the Christmas holidays sacred, even more so when you consider we are active around the gastropub concept; but then I was not called in this year. This is especially lucky when I am absent during my daughters Caitlin's elevnth birthday because of The Oxford Farming Conference. next week; missing the sleepover is a mixed blessing as I know the word sleepover is an oxymoron, they will chat the night away....
So in conclusion I think we should think of self employed people during holiday breaks, they tend to take very little time off and work nearly twice as many hours as the standard working week. At a time that the north east needs many thousands of people to become self employed I think we citizens should be more grateful. Three cheers for anyone who served this christmas - home or abroad.
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