The Christmas Countdown Beginneth!

Pinch punch first of the month!

It's December, people! No doubt all of you have fallen into that mental advent-calender mode of repeating to everyone how many days until your living room becomes strewn with wrapping paper and you can add a singing tie and "festive" pants to your already ample collection. More importantly, you've probably been counting the days until work breaks up for Christmas. Go on, admit it, you've also worked out the hours, and the minutes, and the seconds, haven't you.

Now, I have developed a habit as of late to croon on about being organised and making plans, and it is all good advice, but I have to confess something to you all: I have not planned my Christmas shopping this year! I know, right? How have I managed to miss this one? Well, for one I am extremely lucky to have a partner who enjoys making lists (I know, I know...) and will happily take that task from me, but if I'm honest, I am not really a fan of Christmas shopping. Don't get me wrong, I love the festivities part, and the family part, and the celebrations part, and watching relatives drink more in the space of an hour than they did in the first half of the year is always a fun game. It's just the Christmas shopping part. It seems to have descended into a game of "tick the name from the list" rather than actually seeing something and thinking "Ooh, I know Dave will just love that " and meaning it, rather than thinking "Dave drinks wine sometimes, so a corkscrew will do. Right, who's next....". See what I mean?

This year, I will be spending little in terms of money on people, and lots in terms of thought instead. Last year, I set people a maximum budget of £2 if they wanted to get me something. That way, they can't just get me anything and must actually think about it. Even if it's a Crunchie bar, I'd be a happy camper. In return, you will get something from me that I would have stopped and actually thought about. I may even make you something from scratch; last year I make cookies and home-made chocolates. Most went down a treat, some were not so well received but hey, it's thought and care that you are supposed to give, not a cash value.

So as we all suddenly enter the mind frame of "Oh crap, I've forgotten to do any Christmas shopping", put less money into the presents, more thought, and concentrate on enjoying the company of friends, family and all others.

And in case you're wondering, at the time of writing this, there are 24 days, 564 hours, 33,840 minutes and 2,115,466 seconds until Santa arrives!

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