Driving Home for Christmas? Don’t forget to chuck out the milk!

Love it or loath it, the drive home for Christmas is a necessary tradition for many. But amid the excitement of getting in the car and being able to legitimately sing Jingle Bells at the top of your voice for the next few hours, there’s a chance you might forget some things…

So, here’s a few reminders before you leave your regular residence to travel home for Christmas:

• Get a winter check on your car before you go, particularly if you’ve got a long dark journey ahead. You can then sort out any issues and head off knowing that your tyres are ok and your anti-freeze is topped up


• Don’t forget to pack your presents! You know how you decided to be organised and buy some presents back in November? Well do remember to bring them with you


• Before you leave your house do a quick check that you aren’t leaving any milk or other food to rot away until you return (never a nice homecoming)


• And make sure you turn the lights off before you go so that you don’t waste electricity. You might however want to keep one light on to make it look as if someone is at home


• If you don’t have it already, treat yourself to a Christmas pressie of breakdown cover because as cosy as a car full of Christmas tunes can be, a cold and expensive wait on the side of the motorway, when you should be basking in the warmth of home, will be rubbish


• Sort a music list that you can plug in as you hit the road. You need Driving Home for Christmas and Fairytale of New York at your fingertips!