Christmas Gems

Christmas shopping can either be a real headache or a real joy.  The secret of Christmas shopping is to start early and be organized.  Make a list of the presents you need to buy and then go to work.  These days you have two choices - you can either hit the city centre or the indoor shopping centre and mingle with the crowds and enter into the whole festive hurly burly or you can take it easy and do your Christmas shopping online.  There are merits in both and it can be great fun to hit town and experience all the pushing and shoving, the carol singers out in the streets, the Christmas street markets, the smell of roasting chestnuts and freshly baked donuts.  The downside of Christmas shopping in the city centre is being pushed around, having your feet trodden on and long queues everywhere.

I would suggest go with a friend and make a day of it – start early and get all the serious shopping done by midday.  Treat yourself to a nice lunch and a glass of mulled wine and then spend the afternoon browsing for the stocking fillers, getting the Christmas Crackers and the handmade chocolates for that after dinner treat.  Get a nice bottle of something for your man – he will probably need to be sedated when he sees the credit card bill.  Leave town in good time, before the rush hour starts, and the whole thing will have been an enjoyable experience.

The alternative way is to make a pot of tea or coffee, grab a plate of fancy biscuits and your Christmas shopping list and hit the internet.  You will note that I do not recommend a glass or two of wine while doing this - alcohol and your credit card on the internet are to be mixed with caution.

Nowadays you could do all your Christmas shopping on the internet - you name it and you can get it on the net.  From the kid's toys, to books, to CDs and DVDs, an entire new wardrobe for you and the entire family, it's all there.  You can order flowers for mothers, mother in laws, wives and sweethearts, chocolate and champagne, the entire Christmas selection of booze from fine wines to real ale, the Christmas turkey and the pudding to finish it all off.  How on earth did we cope before the advent of the internet?