I had the misfortune to be out of doors early this morning and finally realised that it is winter. Thoughts of a long lingering autumn that lasts until april can be banished. It's grim out there. Cold and grim. And I feel it might be time for a pair of gloves. I Could go buy them myself, or could put them on a Christmas list.

Which brings me to the point. Christmas Lists. Whether sent to Santa, or to your wife, I'm not too sure about these things.

Let's say you're the pressie giver. You want to buy a gift for your half brother's wife's first son, so you ask your half-brother for a list. He asks her. She asks the child. The child goes "I don't want that effin wierdo knowin what I want for Christmas. piss off." Mother passes the message to step-dad, who passes it back to you. "He'd really like a nice hat and gloves set". Child is then forced to write a thank-you letter full of lies, finds it easy and turns to more hardcore deception. Before you know it he's a major figure in the underworld who smiles wryly every time someone says "knee-caps".

So here's the thing. If you don't know the person you are buying a gift for well enough to get them something they'd like then either don't buy them anything (and save wee Johnny from a life of crime) or send money (which is a pointless exercise because wee Johnny will just spend it on drugs and join the criminal underworld anyway).

And if anyone wants to know, I need a nice hat and gloves set. please.