There’s not much more fun to be had than when your gift list opens...

We chose the never knowingly undersold gift list stalwart John Lewis and spent a collectively tense, thrilling and tiring afternoon zapping bar codes from the basement right up to electricals before cashing in our tea token for cake and lubrication.

You begin by carefully analysing whether Le Creuset pans will be too heavy when filled with water – definitely need two hands - before realising that if you’re ever going to leave this store, you must speed up. Cue wine fridge, three types of china (everyday, entertaining and well, just plain white in case extra people come round) and an inordinate amount of pretty glass vessels.

When guests start buying it’s like all your Christmases come at once. It’s staggering how generous friends and family are, lovely to read their notes and with each notice, I become increasingly more excited about our box fresh new life. It’s superficial but I challenge anyone not to feel the same. Plus our toaster is really old...