Most of my present buying is now done. I reached a point at which I surrendered myself to the pleasure of spending money (that I havn't got) as a way of releasing myself from the anxiety and stress of Xmas shopping. If you're to enjoy it one iota, you cannot be held back by money worries . . .

I note that the Taliban are not entirely routed . . .
War is a messy business, and this afghan stuff is just a bigger and more public battle in a long list of others. The first involving direct external assault.