From the Roberts London archive: published on Christmas Day, 25 December 2015, with footage filmed on Christmas Eve.

Christmas in London 2015 brought a pub catch-up, an unusually photogenic Boston terrier and a pair of handmade presents finished just in time. For day 25 of Vlogmas, I began the evening with my friend Ben and his dog Boris, then headed home to deliver my annual Christmas message beside the tree.

Although this episode went live on Christmas Day, the preparations happened the day before. There was also an announcement: Vlogmas would continue for one more day, with the actual Christmas Day celebrations appearing in day 26.

A Christmas Eve drink with Ben and Boris

Meeting Ben for a few early-evening drinks on Christmas Eve was a long-standing tradition. This time Boris the Boston terrier came too. While we caught up over a pint, we also had a small photographic assignment: a few festive pictures for Boris’s Instagram account.

The pub welcomed dogs, and Boris enjoyed meeting the other regulars, particularly the pugs. For him, the outing meant a walk, a bit of play and time with Ben. The photographs were our idea, so I made a point in the film of saying that his comfort came first.

We tried a festive collar for a few pictures. It was colourful, slightly ridiculous and rather fabulous. Boris supplied the expressions. Once the photographs were done, the collar could come off before he went back to playing with the other dogs.

It was a cheerful way to begin the evening: a familiar pub, a good catch-up and some photographs to remember it by. The original video links to Boris the Boston UK on Instagram, where those adventures had their own audience.

Home for a little Christmas nostalgia

Back at home, I swapped my woolly hat for a Santa hat and settled in beside the Christmas tree. On the way back I had picked up a magnum of prosecco for the evening and, on impulse, a copy of the Christmas Radio Times.

I could not remember buying one myself before. It took me straight back to being a child and circling the programmes I wanted to watch. There was already a guide built into the television, of course, but that was hardly the point. The paper version brought a little Christmas nostalgia with it.

Handmade rings, finished on Christmas Eve

Earlier that morning, before meeting Ben, I had been making Chloe’s Christmas presents. Leaving handmade gifts until Christmas Eve was not the most relaxed plan. I had also considered filming the process, but there simply was not enough time to make the rings and record everything properly.

There were two rings, made to designs Chloe had chosen. One combined 18-carat yellow gold with a platinum mount and an old-cut diamond. The other used 18-carat red gold, again with a platinum mount, this time holding a London blue topaz.

The old-cut diamond was the detail I lingered over. Chloe wanted that older look, and I liked the character of the stone. In the video I speculated about its age, while acknowledging that I had not researched it. What mattered here was using an older diamond in a newly made ring, with a look she had helped choose.

The rings were still waiting to be hallmarked. With the assay office closed for Christmas, that was a job for the New Year. For the evening itself, the making was done and the presents were ready.

A Christmas in London 2015 message from home

My original idea was to record the Christmas message somewhere with a spectacular London backdrop. The holiday transport changes and engineering works I was discussing at the time made that seem less appealing. Instead, the Christmas tree at home became the backdrop.

It suited the evening. After all the trips out during Vlogmas, we were staying in with prosecco, festive canapés and a couple of films. Chloe chose Die Hard; I chose National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. An action film and a comedy seemed a good combination.

I had made a Christmas message each year for the previous three years, even when hardly anyone was watching. This time, after a month of sharing London at Christmas, there were more people to wish well.

I hoped everyone celebrating had spent time with the people they loved, eaten well and found something good to watch. I also thanked those working through Christmas, including the emergency services and armed forces.

For viewers who did not celebrate, I hoped Vlogmas had offered an entertaining glimpse of my Christmas in London. It was a personal view of the season: the places I visited, the food I tried and the small traditions that made it feel festive.

Watch Vlogmas day 25

This was the Christmas message, but it was not quite the end of Vlogmas. The next episode would show the day itself. For now, there was one last appearance from Boris before the sign-off.

Watch the original Christmas Day Part 1 video on YouTube. Published on 25 December 2015.