It seems to be fashionable nowadays to start everything too early.
Hallowe’en paraphernalia appears in the shops in September. Christmas decorations go up before the end of November and come down before New Year. One company advertised the start of its Boxing Day sale on 23rd December this year. I expect to see Valentine’s cards in the shops by the end of next week.
Now the TV is full of programmes looking back over “the decade” when there is still a year to go. Sure, look back over the years from 2010 to 2019 if you will, which is a decade, but is not the decade as used in the western (Christian) calendar.One might as well look back over the decade from 2004 to 2013.
We had the same issue with the so-called “new millennium” at the start of 2000.
The first year was 1 AD. The tenth year was 10 AD. That was the first decade. The second decade was from 11 to 20. The two hundred and second decade is from 2011 to 2020.
Simples! Now can we please be patient? My life is speeding past too fast without any more pressure.
General Whiskers' semi-historical wanderings 
My Dear General Whiskers,
I’m thinking of doing a retrospective of my working life – only six or possibly more years to go. Am I peaking too soon, or is this just prudent planning?
Regards, Chris.
Well Chris, if it like most projects, you could make a start now and we will be patient over the six years until it is finished.
It appears that I was premature in reporting the plumbing as fixed before Christmas. I was dripped on again last night and we await a plumber once again.