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GIVE BLOOD: On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: THREE opportunities to donate blood. Head along to Rye Lane Chapel in Peckham, Hyde Park Chapel in South Ken, or Brewers Hall in the City of London. Free, just turn up, times vary
FILM: Although much of the programme sold out early, tickets are still available for two screenings at the Pop-Up Screen on Dray Walk (off Brick Lane). Catch Home Alone (£4, prebook, noon) or The Grinch (£4, prebook, 4pm).
SHOPPING: It's your last chance to visit the Camden Lock Night Market for gifts and food. And hot toddy. Free, just turn up, 5-10pm
FREE GIG: Head to St Pancras International to catch classical crooners Amore (you might remember them from the Jubilee river pageant) work their harmonious way through some Christmas classics. Free, just turn up, 5.30pm
MUSIC: See the Pogues live at the O2, 25 years after they released the greatest Christmas song of them all. £36.75, prebook, 6.30pm
MURALS: Take a guided walk around the murals of the Elephant & Castle pedestrian underpass, at a time when their future is in doubt. Original artist David Bratby leads the walk. Free, just turn up, 7pm
MUSIC: Have yourself a German Baroque Christmas, with a special concert at Kings Place. From £14.50, prebook, 7.30pm
CAROLS: Today's pick of the carol concerts is the enchanting Tudor Hall of Eltham Palace, where mince pies and drinklets will be served. £20, 7.30pm
COMEDY: Like wordplay? Then get tickets to Pun Run at The Monarch in Camden. Bec Hill is your host, with guest punning from Chris Coltrane, Ben Target, Andrea Hubert, Sophie Johnson, Chris Boyd, Frimston & Rowlett, Barnaby Slater, Juliet Stephens and Joshua Ross. £2.77, prebook, 8pm
Random London Fact Of The Day
Billy Bragg was born in Barking 55 years ago today. Happy birthday, Billy. And also to fellow Londoners born today Joe Cornish (44), Ashley Cole (32) and Dan Leno (152, sadly no longer with us).
Five other famous people born in Barking:
- Bobby Moore, footballer (1941)
- Sir Trevor Brooking, another footballer (1948)
- The Edge out of U2 (1961)
- Ross Kemp, Eastenders actor and often folded man (1964)
- John Terry, yet another footballer, and noted controversy magnet (1980)
London Weather
This being the season, the clouds have a gift for us today; a drizzly, moist nuisance of a gift. The kind of offering only a duck would be happy with. To wit (and to wet), it will rain all day long. But Christmas is about giving as well as receiving, so how can we return the gesture? What do you get the raincloud who has everything? Perhaps the excellent Cloudspotter's Guide by Gavin Pretor-Pinney. It's designed to help humans tell their cumulus from their cirrus, but would also make an improving gift for parochial clouds who think those 'foreign clouds' all look the same. BBC Weather has a less anthropomorphic forecast.
