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It's only November and my usual supermarket has no delivery slots until New Year. No Christmas dinner, no Christmas presents, no Christmas full stop. Okay, I'll try a different supermarket. Yes, a slot for 22 December. More bad news, my new stove isn't coming until after New Year. Forget the turkey then, that won't fit in my air fryer.

Turkey meat loaf then. Order turkey mince, sausage meat, stuffing mix. Now for the presents. I always struggle for my daughter because she is allergic to almost everything. A hot water bottle, yes. A scented candle as long as it's the right scent. Now what about my stepdaughter?

I don't spend much on her and her partner, spending money on her little girl instead. I'll get them the usual tub of chocolates. Click on toys. Playdoh, a small doll, some glow in the dark stars, that will have to do. Now to cross my fingers that it will all arrive.

On the 22nd there is a knock on the door. It's the delivery guy. "Sorry love, there's a lot that's unavailable. You should've had an email." Not even half the goods I ordered. First the Christmas dinner. No turkey mince or sausage meat. Luckily my local takeaway delivery service also does groceries. No turkey mince but chicken mince, okay. Sausage meat, no, but sausages yes. And they've got some fancy turkey gravy, Food sorted.

I got some Smarties and chocolate coins for the little one. And the stars arrived. Not much of a present. I immediately ordered myself a happy meal with a book. One more present. It was too late to buy toys. Ah, chemist. Kids' toiletries, shampoo, bubble bath. I'll stick a fiver in her card and she'll be happy enough. And I'll bake a cake for her parents.

Now there's just my daughter. Just the hot water bottle wouldn't be much of a gift. I raid my regifting stash. A keyring that I got from a friend several years ago, still wrapped. I realised I had gluten free flour and dairy free spread, I could make her some cookies. Sorted.

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