Shop til you drop – or until the price of veg does, at any rate

It's Christmas Eve!

- Kate Wobschall

And for your sanity, I seriously hope that you've finished your festive shopping and are sitting in front of the fire, feet up and sipping an enormous vat of Bailey's. Even if it is only breakfast time - it's Christmas, after all.And it's difficult to be of good cheer when you have to elbow your way through the assembled throngs to engage in an undignified tug of war over the last pot of cream or tub of brandy butter.

After taking last week off, I should be able to tell you quite smugly that my shopping is finished, gifts are wrapped, cards are delivered and the Champagne is on ice.

Sadly, the reality is that another Amazon delivery is due, the bottle of Baileys is three-quarters gone and I can't remember my cousin's address so her card is yet to be posted.