I absolutely love gift shopping, so Christmas shopping is certainly no chore for me! I really enjoy choosing the perfect presents for people and imaging the look on their faces as their open their gifts on Christmas Day. The problem is, often I’m choosing presents for other people that I really quite fancy myself. So, for every three presents I purchase I gifts for other people, somehow I seem to end up with one little ‘treat’ for myself!

Why can’t I just wait until Christmas and see what Santa has for me? I don’t know. I suppose it’s something to do with all the bright lights and twinkling decorations - everything in the shops looks so much more appealing. And then there’s the fancy presentation and packaging. I get annoyed at the amount of packaging tiny products come wrapped or boxed in (it’s not exactly great for the environment), but I have to admit, it often catches my eye - particularly at Christmas. Things just seem to look so much more ‘gift like’ in a big, shiny (totally unnecessary gift box!)

Then there’s the clothes shops. Woe betide me if I have to venture into one of my favourite high street fashion stores to get a gift for someone else! I’m afraid it’s inevitable that I will also emerge with a bag for myself! Who wouldn’t be tempted by all those fabulous sparkly little party dresses? (It might help ease my guilty conscience if I had a Christmas do to wear them to!)

So, I’m happy to say, I’ve also got more than half my Christmas gift shopping all wrapped up, but I also seem to have acquired quite a few little festive treats for myself! Just keep me away from those January sales!

I think this is very sensible advice and a lot of Christmas shopping can be done much more conveniently from the comfort of your home. However, there’s something to be said for the festive buzz of high street shopping!

So, there I was last week, trying to be organised by starting my Christmas shopping early. Armed with a list of who’d like what and with a few glorious hours to myself (My Mum had been drafted in to look after the kids), I set off to get as much done as I could.

Wanting a very specific desk diary from WHSmiths, I went upstairs to the stationary department and browsed the available stock. They had slim diaries, A5 diaries with a week to a page, A5 diaries with 2 days to a page and one silver A5 diary with a day to a page. I was after an A5 diary with a day to a page, but it had to be black (some people are very specific in their gift requirements!)

So, I approached the counter to ask if they could go and find one for me. The guy behind the desk looked as though I’d spoken a foreign language and immediately turned to the colleague on his left who dismissed my question with the response, “we’ve only got what’s out”. Now, having worked in Boots for over 7 years whilst as school and university, I’m wise to this particular tactic of avoiding a trip to the stockroom, so undeterred, I said “Would you mind going to check for me?”. I then waited patiently whilst she served the queuing customers and reluctantly went off to check for me. Well, who would believe it - she came back with a wobbling stack of Black A5 diaries with a page to a day. Obviously I was pleased I’d persisted, as I could cross the first present off my Christmas shopping list. My advice to all you shoppers out there is, if it’s not out, make them check the stock room. Who knows that dream dress for the Christmas party that’s ‘not available’ may be waiting in the stock room with your name on it!