YESTERDAY was really great. Why? Well, we had lots of visitors - some were on a visit from Ireland and others from Greater Manchester and Scotland; so our build-up to Christmas got off to a great start.

But now I must really concentrate and look at the rather long list of things that I have to do, or to buy, or to even make before the ‘big day ‘.

The problem of the Christmas cake is solved, as it always is, by my friend Edith, baking me a ‘better than Mother used to make’ cake.

I’m resisting the urge to have a slice, though, by nibbling the bits of ‘offcuts’ that Edith has thoughtfully brought for me.

Oh, she knows me so well!

Long ago, in the days when we were children and we desperately wanted special things and were quite sick with the anticipation.

Broad hints were given, notes were written and prayers were even said.

But now, I think that a lot of the fun has been lost, because many of us are in the position where we have basically most of the things that we really need.

So what to buy for people is now a much more complicated problem.

Giving money is a little insulting, as it suggest that you just can’t be bothered to consider what they would like.

Really it’s another way of saying you don’t know them very well.

But for those among us - and, believe me, there are many - who will be completely on their own, there is a company called ‘Home Instead’ which looks after those who are alone.

It is going to hold a four-day event, starting tomorrow and running until Saturday, at Blackburn Market, gathering gifts which they will distribute to those of the older generation who are facing a Christmas alone.

Now what is it about markets that makes me so fascinated by them.

If we are driving through a town and it’s their market day, I have to stop.

It’s not that I need anything or really want anything, but I just can’t resist the urge to have a look. Andrew, my son, says I must have developed a ‘compulsive buyer complex’ of some sort.

I’ve a feeling that he might be right.

But if I enjoy it and I don’t actually spend all the family fortune, what the heck?