Gifting at this time of year can be one of two things. Either an absolute breeze – you go round the supermarkets buying up all the cheap seasonal imports, regardless of who they’re for. Or . . . you reach the other extreme which is panic and doom because the shops that you prefer to use do not yet stock the ideal gift that you have in mind. I tend to panic and instead of holding out for the right gift, I do indeed end up buying random items and just hope that the recipient doesn’t mind having an odd array of stationery items or crafting tools and accessories – I do tend to veer towards things I know I would love to receive, but never do. No one has yet moaned about my choice of offerings but we’ve been pretty close a few times.
For my money, I would love to have the money to hire a store shopper who would take my basic list and in a day or two, seek out their version of each one and ensure that I have a complete list of exsquisitely packed before the end of October. Because buying gifts for say, Christmas, is obviously meant to be a kind, personal activity, buying anything from a cheap end multi national chain store is probably not going to endear you to the recipient. They will know that you have not bought particularly for them, but in fact, as one of a whole list on the Santa shopping list! Better luck next year!
