It must be one of the great joys of Christmas: the joy of generosity. Isn’t there a special charge that the gift giver gets? Forget the recipients – it’s the givers who have the most fun at Christmas time.

Knowing they’ve lined up a special array of gewgaws, the anticipation of it, even knowing what order they’ll give the gifts in. Knowing that there are special smiles of delight on the way. Knowing, perhaps, they’ve blown their budget, but what the hell – the thingamajig is worth it, or at least it will be in the eyes (and hopefully, the heart) of the receiver.

Gathering gifts to give is like putting a bottle of champagne in the fridge to chill. You put it in at room temperature, but you know that it’s quietly chilling, soon to burst open in a joy of bubbly. How delicious.