The cactus that thinks it's Christmas

I know the feeling. Let's forget the endless anticipation and get it over with. The highlight of my day was a chatty phone call from my daughter. She is running a book shop while the owner is on maternity leave, and is feeling wiped out. She is also in a standoff with the landlord of her flat. Amazingly she was very chirper and has all her strategies worked out. She didn't get that from me; must be her mum.

Extra: "Does anyone know which way is south?"