We all love Christmas. It’s a time for getting together with friends and family, eating delicious food, and giving and receiving gifts. If you are throwing a party or making Christmas lunch for your family, relatives and friends then you will need to be well prepared and plan well ahead.

It is so easy to get caught up in the frenzy of Christmas – rushing around the shops buying presents, being enticed by the special Christmas food on display on the supermarket shelves, and then to top it all, there are the parties and get-togethers that are in abundance at this time of year.

To smooth the path and to make sure your Christmas party, lunch or dinner goes without a hitch Anthea Turner has written The Perfect Christmas.

Last year, a friend followed her advice and said she felt a lot calmer as the big day approached and the minor Christmas ‘catastrophes’ that usually happen did not, thankfully, materialise.

In her book, Anthea insists that having a successful Christmas is all down to planning. And that means planning now.

So what should you be thinking of doing with Christmas ten weeks away. Here are Anthea’s suggestions: We all love Christmas. It’s a time for getting together with friends and family, eating delicious food, and giving and receiving gifts. If you are throwing a party or making Christmas lunch for your family, relatives and friends then you will need to be well prepared and plan well ahead.

It is so easy to get caught up in the frenzy of Christmas – rushing around the shops buying presents, being enticed by the special Christmas food on display on the supermarket shelves, and then to top it all, there are the parties and get-togethers that are in abundance at this time of year.

To smooth the path and to make sure your Christmas party, lunch or dinner goes without a hitch Anthea Turner has written The Perfect Christmas.

Last year, a friend followed her advice and said she felt a lot calmer as the big day approached and the minor Christmas ‘catastrophes’ that usually happen did not, thankfully, materialise.

In her book, Anthea insists that having a successful Christmas is all down to planning. And that means planning now.

So what should you be thinking of doing with Christmas ten weeks away. Here are Anthea’s suggestions:

  • Plan your Christmas meals - make lists of all the food and drink you will need.
  • Send out invitations.
  • Place orders for drinks and food.
  • Check you've got enough cutlery, china and glasses. If you're short of large serving dishes and bowls, try to borrow them from friends.
  • n Write out your gift list. Set a budget and try to stick to it.
  • If you are making your own Christmas cards, start now.
  • Plan the theme for your Christmas decorations.
  • Buy Christmas wrapping paper, ribbons and trimmings.
  • Start adding a few Christmas items to your weekly shop.
  • If you are making them, now is the time to make your Christmas cake and pudding.
  • Check last posting dates and write them on your calendar.
  • Book Christmas and New Year taxis.
  • Arrange a baby-sitter if you are going to need one at any time in December.
  • Clean out the freezer – try to use up as much food as you can to make room for your Christmas foods.Plan your Christmas meals - make lists of all the food and drink you will need.
  • Send out invitations.
  • Place orders for drinks and food.
  • Check you've got enough cutlery, china and glasses. If you're short of large serving dishes and bowls, try to borrow them from friends.
  • Write out your gift list. Set a budget and try to stick to it.
  • If you are making your own Christmas cards, start now.
  • Plan the theme for your Christmas decorations.
  • Buy Christmas wrapping paper, ribbons and trimmings.
  • Start adding a few Christmas items to your weekly shop.
  • If you are making them, now is the time to make your Christmas cake and pudding.
  • Check last posting dates and write them on your calendar.
  • Book Christmas and New Year taxis.
  • Arrange a baby-sitter if you are going to need one at any time in December.
  • Clean out the freezer – try to use up as much food as you can to make room for your Christmas foods.