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Remember back in July, when Boris Johnson expressed his wild hopes for “a more significant return to normality… possibly in time for Christmas”?
Suffice to say that there is nothing remotely normal about festive offerings in 2020 – unless you consider it normal to be obliged to choose between a full-on family experience that might kill a relative, or a minimalist, quiet affair.
That is the menu of festive specials available at the time of writing; but like everything else this year, the plans look subject to change at least five more times before next Friday.
So while we wait to learn if our Christmas bubbles will be burst, shrunk or merely sternly disapproved of, here are some top tips for pulling it all together at the last minute:
1. Turkey times
Most supermarkets have closed their Christmas pre-ordering service and the majority of delivery slots are fully booked. But the last thing you should do is panic. Marks & Spencer’s fresh Select Farm turkeys will be on sale in store from Friday. Waitrose will stock fresh turkeys in store from Saturday, and Sainsbury’s from Sunday.
Perhaps you ordered a 6.5kg bird for delivery, back when the Government said you could eat it with two other households? You can usually change your order up until the day before delivery. Maybe this is the year you’ll decide to downsize to a duck.
2. Oh! Christmas tree!
Yes, most people put theirs up around August this year, citing the special circumstances of 2020. If you’re not one of those, it’s OK: essential and non-essential retailers remain open in all tiers, including purveyors of Christmas trees (essential). Londoners bemoaning relegation to Tier 3 might be cheered to know they can still attend Selfridges’ open air Christmas market behind the Oxford Street store, where trees and decorations will be on sale. (Open 4–9pm on weekdays and 12–9pm at weekends.)
3. Decking the halls
Boughs of holly don’t know what day it is: go and pick some! It’s easy to spruce up the home you thought you wouldn’t be spending Christmas in with a few sprigs of evergreen something-or-other. Otherwise, make the most of the fact that you’ve left it so late that some retailers are already discounting decorations. John Lewis has 30 per cent off some baubles, decorations and lights. There’s 50 per cent off parts of Habitat’s range, as well as discounted decorations at House of Fraser, The White Company and IKEA, among others.
4. Post haste
In theory you still have until Monday to post your gifts and cards first class, though the sensible sender will do so as quickly as possible, given Royal Mail’s warning that posting is best done early. As in now. Or yesterday, if possible.
5. Gifting
What do you mean you can’t post the gifts before you’ve bought them? Didn’t you buy them back in August, when everyone was putting up their trees? If not, the best option is to order gifts not to your own home but to that of the recipient. Support local independent stores by asking if they can deliver. Failing that, many big chains have ordering cut-off dates for early next week. Standard delivery from John Lewis has a deadline of 7pm tomorrow.
6. Travel plans
Seats remain available on trains if you haven’t already booked. If you have booked but have decided not to risk it, you can apply for a refund on off-peak and anytime tickets, for an admin fee of up to £10.
7. Party’s over?
Perhaps you’ve recently moved tiers and seen your pre-Christmas plans for a freezing-but-fun beer garden get-together ruined? Even in Tier 3, you can still meet up to five other people from different households outside. Make a flask of mulled wine, put on all your jumpers and coats, and take whatever festive cheer you can from this Yuletide mess.
