Like the wisely frugal Ellie, we have also stopped buying Christmas gifts for adults. Nowadays we restrict our ever-decreasing generosity to their children, the majority of whom are godchildren anyway. Husband and I are (apart from not talking to each other at the moment) not giving each other anything except a crackidoo table present and, the way I feel about him today, might not even stretch to that! In truth, our little spat this morning was over nothing much, but we are both overtired…simply cannot burn candle at both ends any more, especially midweek. Unlike Son, who we enviously note can stay up until the early hours and, after a couple of hours zizz, happily trot into work. I’ve done most of my Xmas shopping on Amazon (is there anything they don’t sell these days – just click on the link on the left of this page) and one of my new favourite websites isAnthropologiewho sell quirky bits and pieces and, because I am currently doing up a couple of bedrooms,Maisons du Mondewho flog all kinds of interesting, attractively-priced stuff for the home. Hopefully by Christmas, we’ll have a more comfortable space for friends to stay, have frittered away less money on festive trappings and, if Husband and I are talking again by then, really enjoy what the Day is all about – being together around a blazing log fire, wrapping up and walking the dogs en famille, receiving small but thoughtful gifts, and eating well but not to the point of bursting and rushing to find Rennies. Actually, I rather think I’m looking forward to Christmas for the first time in many years…bring on the frugality!