1 Christmas dinner:

The most stressful meal of the year. Just don't say the wrong thing to the cook.

2 The TV remote: Control of the remote decides whether it's the Queen's Speech or the Great Escape.

3 A wee sherry: Or two or three or four. Keep uncle George away from the booze until after lunchtime at least.

4 The kids' new video games: They all want to play them at the same time. Cue tears.

5 The in-laws: A perennial disaster. Add some festive spirit into the mix and all the wrong things get said.

6 Board games: One relative is usually too determined to win, another is usually too tired and emotional.

7 The washing-up: It's a massive chore. So who does it? Not Mum obviously.

8 Soap opera Christmas specials: They're at least an hour long and Dad won't be ­interested.

9 Wrapping paper: Tidy it up - or else.

10 And finally: Don't eat the chocolates I gave you, they'll ruin your appetite.