"Why don't you just Amazon it?" asks my mum.

Because I walked up to the local shopping centre and I bought Christmas cards and actual gifts from a little gift shop. I get to handwrite the cards and wrap the gifts myself and it feels personal. I touched these soft toys and wrapped them and wrote the little card.

Then I went to the post office and bought the box and packaging I'd need to post them tomorrow. There was an old lady with a frame delivering mince pies to the staff. At the checkout counter I saw some gift label stickers and I'd just run out, so I bought them too.

Then I went via the local cafe for a takeaway tea and laughed at a small boy (2ish) determined to pay for his ice cream by himself, thereby holding up the whole queue in an adorable way.

As I walked home I smiled at the random guy walking past me and he smiled back.

Sure, this way of gift-giving is much longer and takes much more effort. But I've given my friend the gift of time and energy and that makes it much more special.

And I got to feel like part of a community for a moment.