Christmas Shopping Hell

Why do we do it to ourselves every year?
Christmas has definitely lost its meaning for me (and it signifies that I am another year older) but like everyone else I get caught up in the madness of it all and end up pushing with the best of them to grab the last Buzz Lightyear or must have item off the shelf (even though I don't need it).
I am trying to get my shopping done extra early this year, purely because I hate the mad rush in November and December, and at least this way you do get a little more time in the shops to look at stuff.
Walking along Oxford Street today you certainly wouldn't think we were a country in recession. Despite every Tom, Dick and Gordon using the dreaded 'R' word now.
I did start shopping online, but while it is convenient, I prefer to examine items before I buy them - you never know how you will feel once they have arrived if you have only seen them on a screen before.
And you certainly can't buy new perfume on the internet because it might smell like cats pee and until the lucky recipient opens it, you will never know.
However saying that, for stuff such as toys, books, dvds, games etc - online shopping is a godsend.
In a very smug tone I am going to say that I am more than half way through my shopping now - very soon it will all be over for another year.
Phew!