Ciean

With Christmas looming and gifts to be bought, I decided it was time to look into getting my presents sorted out early.

When the kids were much smaller, it seemed that Christmas was so much easier. Back in the good old days when Woolworths were still on the high street, it was fantastic as all I had to do was pop in there and grab all their goodies in one hit. Now that the kids are both teenagers, Christmas is a bit of a nightmare and seems to cost far too much money.

Whatever happened to the days of £5 toys being all you had to get for Christmas. This year, on top of one of their lists is Series 1 to 7 of the tv programme 24. Imagine my face, when I saw the other one’s list and saw that she has a laptop heading the list. Of course, being a hormonal teenager, it’s not just any old laptop she wants, I have got the precise model, colour and accessories she wants added.

I sometimes wish I could turn the clock back and have them all little and sweet again.

I absolutely love Christmas, but over the years it all seems to have got a bit out of hand.

My ideal Christmas would be to have all the family around, with a log fire roaring, and us all singing a few songs round the piano.

However, the reality of Christmas will soon sink in and some of the family will arrive already drunk, I won’t be able to light the fire as all the Christmas decorations will be draped over the fireplace and the closest we might get the the piano is singing a few songs on Singstar. Oh my how things have progressed or not!

My nieces have already passed me over their Christmas lists. I have always been honest with them and said I really don’t care what I spend on their presents, but let me know exactly what you want. Having cast a quick glance at their lists, it looks like one of them wants some silver jewellery, the other said could I get her some silver earrings or maybe if I could stretch to it some gemstone jewellery.

Now some people might think their lists a bit cheeky, but me, I’m quite happy. Life is so much simpler when you know what they want, where to buy it from and if I am really clever, I won’t even have to leave the house to get it. The wonders of the Internet are immense and hopefully this year perhaps most of my Christmas shopping can be completed without having to even step out of the house.

Right now I had better get back to my shopping and see what bargains I can grab.