This is the time of year when we all wrack our brains to try to remember what each of our generous friends gave us last year, and almost as importantly, what we gave them.
When you are young there is an endless list of things which are welcome gifts because many of our generation were hard up and all sorts of things were in short supply after the war.
These days, if we are one of the lucky ones, our needs are less demanding and gifts often tend towards little luxuries rather than the practical things we needed when we were young.
That is why gift tokens come in very handy as, instead of yet one more pair of cuddly bed socks or furlined slippers, the recipient can choose something which they really want and will remember you very kindly as someone with excellent taste in presents.
But apparently it doesn't always work out that way, at least not in the city that boasts it is the place to be.
A reader has contacted me to say that she and her husband were sent some vouchers for the theatre for a considerable value, as they are both ardent theatre goers.
They were thrilled with the gift and set about deciding what they would like to see and when they could go. The vouchers were exchangeable at any participating theatres so they started at the Theatre Royal.
To their astonishment the Theatre Royal was not one of the participating theatres, nor when they then tried their second choice, was the Brighton Centre. There was no theatre in this would-be city of culture that took the vouchers.
They were able to spend them in Chichester, which would of course involve a considerable journey, and they could even spend them in Eastbourne which, as far as I am aware, does not figure too prominently on the theatre circuit.
To say they were surprised is an understatement.
It is obviously up to individual venues whether or not they participate but at this time of year when people are looking for gift ideas (and this one is particularly suitable for those of the Third Age) it does seem strange that nowhere in Brighton wants their business.
In London, almost all the theatres will take the vouchers but the train service from Brighton is so bad in the evening that going up town requires a strong will and planning for a major safari.
The net result is that money which would have been spent in Brighton is going to go elsewhere. There, that's my whinge for the festive season, so on to happier things.
We have a new dog, as my son-in-law missed our lovely Freebie so much that my daughter and granddaughter eventually gave way to his pleading.
They went to the rescue home and chose, or the way they tell it were chosen by, a dog by the unlikely name of Dexter. I am told he has pink toe nails and white fur and two large dark patches, one on his rump and a rather raffish one over one eye.
He is now known as Two Scoops. This is because my granddaughter says he has two scoops of chocolate and one of vanilla!
After Christmas he is going to school to learn to be a dog suitable to be introduced to Granny, since I have put an embargo on visits until he is reasonably house trained.
I fear my son-in-law has a long, hard road ahead of him in the new year but the long walks and dog training classes will do wonders for his Christmas avoir du poids!
So from this Third Ager to all those of you who read my column and especially to those who kindly contact me, have a splendid Christmas and Happy New Year.
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