It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I spotted my first advent calendar this week. Which confirms that the rediculously early Christmas preparation period has started even sooner this year.

It was in M&S (who, as one of the more sensible retailers, really should have known better), and what was possibly more bizzare than than seeing advent calendars in September, were the numerous variations in style, including a Santa scene worthy of the Coca Cola adverts, and a reindeer that looked neither cute nor sane. Then later on in the day, what did I find in Somerfield but Christmas hats, Christmas tree chocolates…..and tinsel. Who buys tinsel in September!? I mean really, how long can it take to decorate a tree? Are people stocking up on red felt hats and chocolate now, on the off chance that nobody will think to produce them in December?

Don’t get me wrong, I am an avid promoter of Christmas cheer, and the sooner the better is my motto (I have even been known to play Christmas songs as early as September, risking the most serious threat of being evicted by my flatmates). But we all know what stale chocolate tastes like, and nobody wants to wake up to that on Christmas Eve.