Riposte

I HAVE birthday shopping and having done the two February birthdays, I have been getting in early for the one in April, then May, followed by August and it’s good to know I won’t be doing the frantic as those dates approach, because I’ve already got it wrapped up.

I’ve also done Christmas and birthday for daughter (her birthday being New Year’s Day) so I am feeling powerful.

Admittedly, I haven’t tackled Christmas for anyone else yet, but as I seem to be on a roll here, I expect I’ll have my Christmas present shopping done by June.

I know it’s only early March, and I don’t mean to wave my big jump on the presents thingy in the face of those who tend to leave present-shopping until the last minute, but the thought of not having to face the big crush sometime in December is positively wonderful.

I hate last minute things at the best of times, but last minute present-shopping is the worst of last minute things in my opinion.

In my defence though, I did not make a conscious decision to do a birthday/Christmas list and then hit the stores, it’s more a case of seeing something and thinking it would be ideal for one of the family for Chrissie, or for their birthday, and then opting to buy it on the spot.

All I need to worry about then, as the date approaches, is the wrapping paper. Honestly, I can’t tell you how good it feels to have those presents ready.

I realise that this isn’t for everyone however. Some don’t even think of Christmas shopping until the big day is almost upon them, and tend to do birthdays on the fly, but to each their own.

Yes, there are those out there who love the adrenaline rush of knowing they have several people to buy for and only hours to do it before the shops close on Christmas Eve. They look forward to the challenge of negotiating their way through hoards of weary shoppers, teary children and the terrors of the parking lot, just to exit and go home. I cannot for the life of me understand any of them.

But hats off to them, because I break out in sweat of fear just thinking about it. Hence doing Christmas shopping throughout the year and birthdays a couple of months (at least!) in advance, because I don’t need the wild-eyed heart-racing distress of the last minute shop.

I generally don’t skite about my shopping sense either, but I’m just so impressed with having daughter (her birthday present mainly) sorted way before New Year’s Day 2026. Having to think birthday when everything is shouting Christmas at you can be a challenge.

I’ve also learnt that saying I’m present-sorted well before significant events is not always wise either, so I know I’ve taken a bit of a risk saying it here, but there it is.

All the upcoming birthdays for this year have been shopped for and daughter’s New Year’s Day birthday has been sorted so far in advance I’m almost breathless with relief. That leaves only Christmas to think about and I’m on it. I’ll have it done, dusted and all wrapped up in no time, at this rate.

Oh, and I’d better start on Easter.