But in amongst all the frivolity, there are some dark individuals out there. Castlereagh has been called many things but this week, for the first time, he was called a “complete tool” and a “pompous git” in the very same sentence.

This was not delivered verbally, face to face, but through the cowardly medium of email from a person who was also timidly hiding behind their own nom de plum, Lovedrugged.

Lovedrugged went on to express the very un-Christmaslike sentiment that he wished I had been “lynched” by anti BHP protestors.

As I charge from party to party, floating on a river of free booze all the way to Christmas, I wonder whether all the people I meet could be this Lovedrugged, in much the same way as people must wonder if that charming and urbane man taking another champagne from the tray could be Castlereagh.

Because isn’t there something of the Castlereagh in us all? So when you see me, come up and say hello, even if you are Lovedrugged.

Follow me on twitter: @1castlereagh