FAIL - SAFE GIFTING: A GUIDE TO GETTING IT RIGHT THIS CHRISTMAS

A new species has been spotted terrorising Christmas shoppers. It's smug, cheerful and instantly recognisable by a distinct mating call. " I did all my shopping back in August", The Stress Inducing Christmas Spoiler - or SICP - trills as red-faced shoppers stumble, like lambs to the slaughter, in to it's path. Eughh, the sight of one is enough to make you want to gouge out your eye-ball with a fairy light. 

I mean, it's bad enough that we have to spend every waking hour fretting over what polo-shirt size Uncle J will need and preying that The Beginners Guide to Japanese Whiskey - bought for Dad - is set free from US customs in enough time to be wrapped and put under the tree ready for Christmas morning, without having to listen to some mulled-wine-intoxicated do-gooder tell you how brilliant it feels to be "ahead of things". 

This pain and suffering in mind, it is with delight that I stumbled upon a new Christmas shopping technique (well, I say technique it's more of a half-hashed method, concocted out of sheer desperation, but there you go). The idea, put most simply, is that you bestow on your friends and loved ones, gifts you know they actually want. Sheer genius, dontcha think? Having spent years desperately trying to think out the box when it comes to present buying, this year, I'm all about safe-bets. Your sister will love a pretty pair of cable-knit mittens - which is more than you can say for the bread-maker you gave her last year. Similarly, your mum has told you she needs an umbrella so why not buy her one?  Think less about being clever, surprising, and original and more about giving the people you love something they'll love and you'll have this festive season will be a wrap in no time. Simples.