Maurice Predergast, Grand Beaver of the Society of Fawning Sycophants, has assured his boss that this year's Christmas do will be better than last year's.

Which is not to say, he insists, that last year's party was anything other than utterly excellent, you understand, just that, oh great one, as you are another year wiser, your choices have become much more profound and brilliant than could possibly ever be expected...