THE television bursts with ads for toys and diet-busting food, the children are composing letters for dispatch to the North Pole and in-store PA systems have Slade and Wizzard on heavy rotation.

All of this can mean only one thing: Christmas is on its way.

The festive season is a highlight of the year for all but the most curmudgeonly of us. It’s the period when we welcome loved ones and are welcomed by them.

It’s also the period when many of us, especially those of us who are organising the celebrations, face a bit of a logistical nightmare.

What should we buy for that friend or relation who has everything?

Where should we go to buy a turkey? What if we or a guest prefers their Christmas Dinner meat-free?

Which restaurants have the best festive meal deals? Where should we take the kids to meet Father Christmas and negotiate the finer points of that letter to the North Pole?

This year’s Christmas Countdown aims to answer all of these questions and a few more besides.

We’ve gathered together information about decorating your home in the most up-to-date way, cooking for the clan, making yourself look sparkle for the season, where Father Christmas can be spotted over the festive season, the best meals out, how to wrap those presents with panache, plus plenty of other information to help make your Christmas preparations as stress free as possible.

We can’t guarantee the season will pass without a hitch. But we can offer hints and tips for making your life as simple as possible.

Oh, and a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.