Christmas Shopping

Hi everyone,

So I love Christmas just as much as the next person but honestly without my careful planning, organisation and military style operation I would either end up forgetting something or going stir crazy.

It all kicks off in October when I dig out my Excel spreadsheet from the year before to copy addresses, budget plans but also to ensure I don't get the same gift for someone twice over. Once I've done that, I plan all the presents. From family to friends, I scour the shops online and make a list in my Excel spreadsheet (this is so when we physically go to the shops to buy presents, I know exactly what I'm buying, where I'm buying it and the order of shops I go in.)

Then it's figuring out a Saturday that both Duncan and I are free (Nov-Dec is super busy!!!) so that we can do the shopping together (he carries the bags and makes sure I have all the coffee I need- ha ha!) We usually go to Westfield in Stratford, London as our local shopping centre isn't too big plus we go for lunch in the midst of the shopping day.

Here's where the military style operation begins. With my list of presents and my list of stores in the order of the most busiest/furthest back to the least busiest/closest to the train station in hand and hubby beside me I am ready to roll. Being this organised does help when you are in one of the busiest shopping centres in London. Also Duncan doesn't really like shopping so it helps to be organised to make it go faster and smoother.

This year was our best year ever in accomplishing this. We managed almost all of the stores before lunch! I'm glad I had Duncan with me as sometimes the amount of people and noise heightens the sensitivity in my ears and I can sometimes get annoyed when people push and shove to get what they want. But hey ho, that's what Christmas does to some people.

• How do you do your Christmas shopping? Online? In store? A mixture of both?

• Do you plan ahead or leave everything to Christmas Eve?

• Do you do the Christmas shopping together or does one of you do it all (including the wrapping) yourself?

I write all the Christmas cards and do all the wrapping but only because I enjoy it and I do it with great proficiency. Duncan also works full time and with Brass Band commitments doesn't always get time to relax let alone help me all the time but he helps heavily with getting the presents and making sure I have all the supplies I need.

Lily xxx