WRAPPING SERVICE
Sellotape? Check. Wrapping paper? Check. Scissors? Check. What can possibly go wrong?
Anyone who has had to wrap up a pile of kids’ presents while enjoying a mulled wine will know the answer is just about anything.
Not only do we mums risk being rumbled by kids who can’t sleep, but by Christmas Eve, it’s become all too much for the majority of us, and the fear of running out of paper is ever present, excuse the pun.
Exhausted and crouched by the TV, it’s a real struggle to finish a job the elves should have quite frankly got their little bottoms into gear for days ago.
Expert wrapper Alison Westwood says trying to wrap in front of the TV is the first
mistake. “You’re best wrapping standing up with a clear kitchen surface and everything to hand. It’s so much easier,” she tells me.
Alison, who runs Eclipse Gift Wrapping (eclipsegiftwrapping. co.uk) in Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan, says it’s easy when you get the hang of it.
“Part of getting it right is the material you use,” she says. “Tissue and cellophane are good for tricky presents, and doublesided sticky tape gives a nice finish. A lot of men come to us to wrap presents for their partners, especially at Christmas and on special birthdays. If you’re giving a beautiful gift, it’s nice to make the effort to wrap it properly.”
But if you’re struggling to get to grips with tissue paper, bows and odd-shaped pressies, hire Alison and co to do it for you.
Cost: Alison charges around £300 a day.