SEASONAL newspaper columns must surely rank as one of the most benighted tasks in your correspondent's year.

Because let's face it, any humbug who can muster enough bile to be outraged around this time of year might not make it to the new year.

The distressing implications of the fall of Aleppo, the inauguration of King Capitalist as US president on January 20 and the impending sense of dread that Brexit will have a half-life resembling a Bob Dylan tour, can be suspended for a week and a bit.

I'll even overlook a rare mention of 'Warrington' in my favourite fortnightly read, Private Eye.

(In short, faint kudos for shedding our unwanted ranking as the least cultured corner of the British Isles coupled with scathing sarcasm for the libraries cull.) So following a late-night stroll through Golden Square, inspired by the giant reindeer and calf in the Old Fish Market, which makes Podium feel inexplicably merry every time it hoves into view, here's some reasons to be cheerful over the past few weeks.

Cutting back to the Magill meander, what Guardian reader's blood could fail to be stirred at the sight of the new Bank Street buildings and multi-storey car park taking shape?

Here's to the prospect of these towering edifices casting a golden light over the likes of Bridge Street and Rylands Street in 2017 and beyond.

Another successful staging of Strictly St Rocco's has demonstrated the extraordinary rehabilitative powers of ballroom, suitably swelling the coffers of the Bewsey organisation.

And if the town centre masterplan, detailed here last week, is to be believed, Church Street will be the beating heart of a new St Elphin's urban village and Arpley Meadows will be a cross between Dubai and Manhattan come 2040.

The launch of a renewal around the parish church is at least a positive start, so fare-thee-well to the fine ambassadors of Fairfield and Howley.

Whatever the naysayers may holler, I'm going to stick the arrival of Kevin Brown at the HJ in this basket. He's already been urging fans to 'spend, spend, spend' for the World Club Challenge as part of his promotional duties, thus beginning his naturalisation process.

Hopefully with all the ongoing fundraising (and ignoring the strange financial reckonings of a former colleague) Warrington YMCA will have a rosier new year.

Conducting the annual reckoning, it's going to be a wonderful day when Warrington Wolves Foundation people deliver on their pledge to tidy up the former St Paul's graveyard.

Following a recent column it's also heartening to know that Aldon Ferguson and the Burtonwood Association, through various reunions and memorials, will continue to stoke the memories of all associated with the historic former airbase.

Wherever I turn the one citizen who definitely appears to be having a whale of a yuletide is the Mayor of Warrington. Leading from the front, festive hats off to Cllr Faisal Rashid Legendary Warrington Town (or is that Stockton Heath FC) player 'Sir' Roger Hunt receiving the freedom of the borough ensured Podium's civic pride goblet ranneth over.

And an online pic of the World Cup winner in a grip and grin with Yellows fanatic Rob Wood later raised a chuckle too.

Donald Trump, David Davies and Basshar al-Assad will still be waiting to haunt your waking dreams in January.

For now, raise a glass of cheer in 9Gallon, fill your boots in the food hall at Warrington Market, be dazzled by Silcock's funfair on the old Mr Smith's site, slip a fiver into the collecting tin of the Salvation Army stalwart at Market Gate, it's Christmas after all.