Don't know about you, but from where I sit the time between now and Christmas seems to be evaporating at an alarming rate.

With seven weeks to go it's time to start seriously thinking about requisites. Fortunately I can probably avoid a visit the 'shining death star of consumerism' that is my local shopping metropolis, aka Westfield.

Rather, I can do pretty much all of the legwork from the comfort of my own living room thanks to the wonder of the flick-to-click shopping model. Behold, the towering pile of Christmas-related catalogues that have arrived over recent weeks at Francis Towers. It should be bigger: due to poor organisation on my part this doesn't yet include such essentials as M&S, John Lewis, or Boots. But it will do soon.

Clever old Lakeland has come up with two variants on the Christmas theme: one 'a sparkling home for Christmas' pushing their standard product range but with a seasonal twist (I found myself curiously desirous of a steam cleaner); and a separate 'magical Christmas' catalogue full of gift ideas. For the very lazy and/or wealthy, they'll even wrap it all up for you. Like it.

As evidenced in the picture, one of the beauties of a catalogue is that it emerges relatively unscathed and still functioning after being perused in the bath by a clumsy person, too.

My highly unscientific measuring of the seasonal catalogue arrivals to date indicates more activity, and from more brands, this year than last. I do hope this means Christmas has come early for some PrintWeek readers at least.