I never give presents at Christmas although I do send send cards - charity christmas cards of course. Nobody thinks any the worse of me because I have done this as I have done it for most of my life.

Personally I neither expect nor wish for expensive gifts. I have a dressing table crammed full of expensive stuff and think it in insane to expect someone else to add to my pile.

I love receiving flowers and books or on a more personal level, the odd scarf or bottle of perfume. I really do believe it's the thought that counts. One of my all-time favourite birthday presents was a gift of plastic multi-coloured earrings from a four-year old boy.

If I need anything expensive (got a beautiful mother-of-pearl and garnet pendant at the weekend by the way) I prefer the ritual of choosing it myself. And having a chat and cup of tea with the nice lady that runs the shop.

Charity Gifts - Give A Goat

I have been intrigued recently about the concept of giving charity gifts and highly amused to see that one of the most popular gift ideas was to give a goat!

I would love a goat for Christmas, they're great.  But rather than buy one in someone else's name I'll make the gift to myself - after all charity begins at home.