It was indeed a most excellent tale - enjoyed it greatly. The only thing I don't like in the present story-telling arc is the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) denigration of the Doctor. I can understand the modern need to shy away from a deus ex machina type of character but it still grates. Most especially the "the Doctor lies" thread from the Spaceman arc. That really gets my blood pressure up for what sort of message is that to pass on to the kids in the audience? I can only think that it is tied up in the 'weave' of the story that lead his friends to think that he was dead.
The essence of the Doctor is that he encourages us all to be better than we are and, if we fail in that, he is there to nudge things back onto the path they should be.
In this Christmas's story tho', I was pleased to see the hint that he had got his 'soul' back, his ability to feel real emotion once again after the numbness he inflicted on himself after what happened to Rose.