More is the pity - Christmas is gone, and it was my friend, which makes it worse. Christmas was often personified - shades of its pagan origins, I supose.

Seeks for a friend in a corner - when you are cornered you are basically trapped, and need assistance to escape.

Souse is a liquid preservative - soused herring is the common one I know myself, though if you were to fall, splash, over your head into a body of water you would also be thoroughly soused - likewise if you were to drink quantities of beer etc you would 'roll home soused' and doubtless find yourself 'in a pickle' with the missis (her indoors) next morning, for having caroused - indulged in drunken revellry.

Anne