For once the elements cooperated as we had the warmest and mildest winter on record (apologies to the global warming theorists), thus allowing training and preparations to proceed uninterrupted through the winter.

Source: https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/new-york-sligo-connacht

Predicted highs of 13 to 14C in London and the south-east of England would make it the mildest Christmas Day since 2016, when temperatures reached 15.1C.

Source: https://jerseyeveningpost.com/morenews/uknews/2023/12/25/parts-of-uk-set-for-warmest-christmas-day-in-almost-a-decade/

Then again, economists currently expect the 2023 recession to be the mildest in U.S. history, with a peak decline of about 0.5% and full-year growth of 0.8% this year.

Source: https://seekingalpha.com/article/4589136-cisco-and-comcast-one-offers-buffett-like-return-potential?source=feed_all_articles