At this time of year we should remember those people who feel isolated and vulnerable: the elderly, the poor, and the leader of a country that has voted to leave a political project but still has to go to their dreadful meetings.
A video clip of Theresa May at the European Council summit in Brussels yesterday, awkwardly fiddling with her cuffs and shuffling her papers while other EU leaders greeted each other warmly, appeared to symbolise Britain’s new isolation.
More awkward was the warning that Britain will have to pay a £50 billion bill to “divorce” the EU.
David Cameron didn’t like going to these things, and he was at least part of the club. May doesn’t know many of the European counterparts, and they all view Britain as the cuckoo in the nest.
In reality there are other pictures of May chatting warmly to the leaders of Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium.
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And she did manage to raise the issue of Brexit — although you wouldn’t know if we relied on Downing Street to tell us.
Luckily Enda Kenny, the Irish PM, was on hand to provide a running commentary, revealing May had made clear she wants the question of Brits living in the EU and vice versa “dealt with in the early part of discussions that take place”.
Those discussions could last for much longer than thought. Sir Ivan Rogers, Britain’s most senior diplomat in Brussels, and Lord O’Donnell have both said negotiations could last a decade.
After yesterday’s awkward images, May could be forgiven for wanting to get it over with as soon as possible.