That's it, I've lost the plot!

Usually I leave Christmas preparation to the last minute, but when I've seen suitable gifts in on-line sales, I have snapped them up, particularly for my DGGD who will be 18 months just before Christmas. It's easy to buy for her, but when it comes to teenage DGSs, it gets more difficult.

It's easy to buy for her, but when it comes to teenage DGSs, it gets more difficult.

I tend to ask, order what they want and just buy a small present to open on the day.

I have already booked my Ocado and M&S slot and today went to a food fair and bought a Christmas owl and chocolate for the GC.

I've also booked my M&S and Sainsbury's slots.

Thank you so much Callistemon. It’s very difficult isn’t it, when the family is split and so you can’t all get together, there’s always someone missing.

I’m not sure what we’ll do re Christmas decorations this year. Last year we didn’t put any up as we went to NZ at the end of November and stayed till the beginning of February. This year we are celebrating Christmas with our two sons and their families but leaving for NZ at the end of December. There won’t be much time to take down all the decorations we used to have up, and so I think it will be a scaled back version.

It’s also hard to think about Christmas whilst the weather is so warm and beautiful.

I bought some cards in a charity shop the other day. I don't send many, just a few old friends and a couple of neighbours.

This one of the years we don't "do" Christmas (once every two or three years is plenty imo) so very little other preparations to do, except packing for a week at the coast where we will walk for miles.

For those wondering where to put things they have bought in advance, I used to have a large lockable suitcase which lived under the spare room bed. Everyone except me thought it held spare blankets, nobody ever looked.

I bought the last presents for our twin granddaughters birthday and bought a few presents for Christmas. I shop early for Christmas because I think the weather might be bad or we might be ill so get them while I can.

I ordered a couple of small presents the other day. I’ve been caught out in previous years by thinking it was far too early, only to find that whatever it was, was sold out.

I've got all the family's advent calendars more or less sorted. Just to fill the pockets in those that aren't pre-filled, but I've got most of everything I need for them!