'I'm finally getting into the Christmas spirit'

Have you bought your Secret Santa yet? My place of work has actually given up on it. It’s not the cost per se. Although what used to be a fiver now drifts closer to a tenner – we’ll manage without that half-day’s heating tomorrow to pay for it. No, it’s the fact it’s one more gift to buy that pushes me over the edge. It’s a real headache, finding a gift for a colleague you spend more time with than the wife but know nothing about. Running round North Laine with 10 minutes left befo