The nettle grasped...

A big weekend, starting with welcoming back friends on a break from their posting abroad, then a non-stop shopping session on Saturday to cover the family and godchildren, with only a couple of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and a large hot chocolate with cream to sustain me through the massed throngs on Guildford High Street.

Buying presents for kiddies is the best bit; going into the toy shops and trying to pick out the things most appropriate for the age, personality and educational needs of each child. With the added fun factor of getting to try out the demonstration versions first. It's even more fun to watch them being opened. The look of wonder on the face of a small child with a new toy is a joy to behold. We should find more excuses to do it, or even none at all. Giving joy should not specifically have conditions or a fixed timescale attached.

I have noticed more and more toys for adults, or rather grown-ups, because adult toys are an entirely different matter and probably inappropriate for this blog. Having thought about it, "grown-ups" is also a misnomer, as if we look forward to getting gadgets and gizmos for presents, then we're just overgrown kids ourselves. I'm trying to think of an appropriate label with which to taxonomise those of us who still like to play with toys once we are well into our mortgage-paying and pension-scheme-watching years. All suggestions welcome. My sister will love the one I bought for her, although her husband and the kids will want to have a go as well.

I noticed that one of this year's fashionable presents is a miniature radio-controlled helicopter with twin coaxial rotors. My parents bought me one a few months ago for my 40th birthday, and, to my shame, I haven't even taken it out of the box yet, I've been too busy to get outdoors with it. The potential for flying one indoors hasn't escaped me though, and I'm tempted to take it for a trial run in a big open plan office at work (cackles evilly!).

So, I'm down to the last few little bits and pieces to get. Panto on Wednesday. Office party on Friday, on the road up north for two weeks visiting family from next Saturday. I still have to write and post my Christmas cards, but I'm feeling a great deal of relief that things are finally falling into place.