I'd just trawled round the city centre for what felt like forever, October 2005. This resulted.
The festive time of Yuletide
All the shops cry 'Come Inside'
For everything that you might need
Do we have it? Yes indeed!
You visit every place in town
Traipsing round and round (and round)
To find that gift for your little one
Who smiles sweetly and says 'I want'
Tired and weary, feeling blitzed
But barely touched that shopping list
You agonize over what to get
The kids would love that toy train set
The buying spree just lasts for ages
You wish for much more in your wages
Oh why can't Christmas come in stages?
Pause for breath and look around you
Lots of people all worried too
At least, you think, 'it's not just me'
And recall how easy it used to be
There's progress now, the bags are filling
Some of these stores have made a killing
Maybe you're not doing quite so bad
Bar mission impossible - there's still Dad
There's always one who's a real pain
You really can't buy socks again
Oh what to do, let's take a risk
A DVD and compact disc
It's pointless fretting, so just stop it
Whatever you get, he'll return and swap it
That will do, you're laden down
At last you can get out of town
Your partner will be most impressed
There is no doubt, you are the best
Time to go home and have a rest
Oh no, now isn't that rotten
There had to be one you'd forgotten
Your loved one smiles that knowing smile
Can you hide the truth a while?
Smile back and pretend you're done
Knowing that you've gotta run
Spent so much, there's so little cash
With which to make that late, late dash
Be careful now, buy nothing rash
It's dark and cold, you can't believe
That it's the end of Christmas Eve
Settle back and have a beer
No more of this until next year
It's time for bed, turn out the light
Finally retire for the night
There's a loud knock on the bedroom door
You check the time, it's half past four
'Get up, get up, it's time to wake!'
'Go back to bed, for goodness sake!'
But in they burst, their faces lighted
Aw, look at them, they're so excited
They're racing round, it's not a dream
'Mummy, Daddy, Santa's been!'
He's called alright, you can't deny
(Well, someone's eaten that mince pie)
The whole family goes downstairs
Wrapped packages lay everywhere
Although that shopping drove you insane
Beaten and showing the strain
You know you'd do it all again
A much loved gift, how'd you unearth it?
Their faces tell you -
- IT WAS WORTH IT
