[susie123]

This is an email I have just received from a company I bought some cushion covers from a few months ago

Here at xxxx, we can't wait for Christmas! We're definitely getting into the festive spirit, and we're sure your kids are too!

If you're desperately looking for a truly unique gift or fun stocking fillers for your little ones, check out our range of kids' gifts. From magnificent sawdust dragons to fun purses and pencils, we're sure you'll find something that your children will be thrilled to find on Christmas morning.

As Christmas is the season for giving (who says?), we've decided to give a little something back to our customers. Until the 31st December, every order over £20 will recieve a free packet of incense sticks or cones, as well as a holder in which to burn them. All you have to do is order as normal and your free gift will be automatically added to your order if you've spent over £20.

After all, we know just how stressful Christmas shopping can be (companies like yours only add to it), so whether you give your incense as a gift or use it to chill out after a long day wrapping presents (don't bother), we're sure that our free gift will help put a smile on someone's face! (I can do that in lots of other ways)

This is the sort of thing that really turns me off Christmas, the constant exhortation to buy buy buy and eat and drink our selves silly. I don't need to give a present to show love and why we should give presents just because it's Christmas escapes me. I'm an atheist so perhaps that has something to do with it.

Twenty years ago we stopped giving presents as we were very hard up, and it was a relief. Nobody complained and there still one or two who give us gifts despite our protests. A phrase that really strikes despair into my heart is "Are you ready for/looking forward to Christmas?" Nooooooooooo! Christmas is a day not a season and on the 26th we'll all be at the sales!!

OK so I'm a hardhearted curmudgeonly old bird but that's my inborn cynicism coming to the fore. So be it.