A number of readers have emailed in to ask why December 26th is called

“Boxing Day” in England. Easy one: when you wake up the morning after

Christmas Day, the hangover makes you wish you were in your box. Recalling

all those news stories about middle-aged sedentary guys dropping from heart

attacks while shoveling snow, I went out and attacked my driveway in a

frenzy, but no luck. At such times I recall Basil Fawlty, when Polly

suggests that some horrible situation he’s got them into may be just a

nightmare. Basil smacks his head on the counter a few times, shakes

himself, says: “No, it’s real. We’re stuck with it.” Now, on the 27th, I

am glad to report that all is well. Although, on the subject of driveways,

I could not help but notice, while walking Boris yesterday, that the median

age of the men shoveling driveways along our route was around 48. This, in

a neighborhood thick with teenagers. Something wring here