"Ooh, I've no money, it never stops raining, the water in the taps is too hot, neugh, neugh, neugh" - oh, up yours, moaners.

Look. I don't mean to minimise how truly miserable many people feel in January. It's just that talk of January being depressing is self-fulfilling. Because it usually involves words like 'loom', as if January is a zeppelin, and people are Wembley stadium in 1930.

It's no wonder we enter it with such dread.

So instead of concentrating on negatives, let's look for positives. Here's one for starters. How long ago does Christmas seem? See? Aeons is the answer.

That's what's great about January. Time slows to an ooze. And you have a whole year ahead of you. It's the only time of year in which time is on your side. And in these time-poor times, that's a bonus.

What else has January got going for it? Hm. You know? it's more constructive to look at what the rest of the year doesn't have going for it. So in the spirit of negativity that January brings - and with a nod to election season - let's negative-campaign about other times instead. Take the spring. Ever get that awful nagging feeling around March-going-into-April that you're not doing something you should be doing?

That's that hangover from your school years kicking in, regular as the solstice, telling you you should be brushing up on your calculus ahead of the exams.

Then there's that period when Christmas starts getting hyped, but before you catch the Christmas spirit - basically September right through to Christmas week. It's almost hard to enjoy the summer knowing that's all in front of you. And when it arrives, it's like a train going by the time moves so fast. Still - at least January comes around quicker.