What is it about this time of year that makes perfectly ordinary people take complete leave of their senses and buy gifts online for their loved friends?

Let's face it, I would not go out and buy them a birthday present or a valentines card and yet we think it is perfectly normal to go out and spend loads of cash on a prezzie for our loved ones.

So what do we buy online? Although what they would probably actually prefer for us to buy them some pretty fancy jewels or Paris souvenirs, no, we go and buy them something that has a picture of a Christmas tree or dog in a Santa hat, and then we even wrap it up and put it under the tree!

We buy French treats which look like Christmas cakes, we buy chocolate that is not really chocolate but is safe for all to eat. We buy toys which look like Rudolf and bones which are made to look like Yule logs.

In fact, we buy anything that makes us feel Christmassy and yes, I admit, we pay through the nose for it and will happily pay two or three times for the Christmas French gift than one which is not shaped like a mince pie or has a picture of a snowman on it.