Neil Ayres

Neil is the editor of Brand Perfect, an initiative by Monotype, the global type company.

how much of the alleged £222,222 of customer spending that takes place every minute during the UK's Cyber Monday, are the traditional retailers actually getting a share of?

Gizzi Erskine

Gizzi Erskine is a top female chef, TV presenter and author of three cook books

I recently hosted a star-studded private dinner party at Boy George's house which was incredible, if not slightly overwhelming! I was rather star struck on the night but thoroughly enjoyed being back in the kitchen cooking delicious, healthy food.

Andrew Chidgey

Director of External Affairs, Alzheimer's Society

Christmas can also be the time when early signs of dementia first become apparent. Here at Alzheimer's Society, we often see a spike in the number of calls our Helpline receives just after Christmas, so we really do appreciate how difficult a time of year this can be.

Richard Brownlie-Marshall

Renowned British designer and creative

I think I see a pattern developing here; I do no Christmas shopping, remember on the 20th that I need to, enter Oxford Street in a state of complete chaos, only to end up with the same old rubbish. Well thankfully that's not the story this year, as I'm going online shopping.

Thomas Church

Public relations, media, technology

After buying Champagne for breakfast, salmon bininies for whenever no one's looking, more sides than your table is physically capable of and so many p...

Joe Mott

Tabloid bloke, music manager and dog-lover who you recognise, but don't know why

I'm quite sure that by the strict letter of the law, Hackney Council are perfectly entitled to take my car and charge me that money because - despite being an Olympic Park away (almost) from where I was parked - they had put up a sign.

John Rentoul

Chief Political Commentator, The Independent on Sunday

One of my early favourites was "Is the Turin Shroud Genuine After All?" a lovely question in the Mail on Sunday in April 2009, especially for that highly-collectable "After All" at the end, which brilliantly implies that the Mail on Sunday knows perfectly well that the shroud is a fake, but that some startling new evidence has come to light that suggests that the fruitcakes had been right "all along".

Kat Jackman

Music Media Entrepreneur

don't despair! You may end up with no presents in your stocking on Christmas morn, but there are plenty of amazing gigs for you to head out to in the coming weeks! In fact, there were so many great shows for this particular one that our decision-making process proved to be quite a brainache. It's been really hard choosing just five, but here they are.

Carrie Armstrong

TV Presenter, Blogger, Geordie

Chronic illness can last months, years or even decades. Most people struggle to remember what life was like before. And we learn to put blinkers on our vision of other people fairly early on. We use it as a coping mechanism to dealing with how crappy our own life has gotten.

Mette Poynton

Founder of www.TheOnlineMagazines.co.uk

My husband and I have decided to let our children believe in Santa Claus. We entertain the idea by leaving out milk and cookies on Christmas Eve, by suggesting they could go on the Naughty List if they misbehave and on Christmas morning, one of the presents for them is from Santa.

Mark Perryman

Co-founder of the self-styled 'sporting outfitters of intellectual distinction' aka Philosophy Football

Christmas time, not much peace in large parts of the world, precious little goodwill for the 99% either. A time for turbo-driven commercialism to drive up retail's footfall. Bah Humbug? Or if you prefer just put the Historical Materialism for the season and embrace the Hopeful Materialism of looking forard to what might be wrapped up and waiting under the tree for 25 December.

Soila Sindiyo

Supporting Families Going Through Changes and Transitions

If you, like them are trying to decide what gift to give your children, if you like Anna and Stefan are constantly fighting or arguing then consider, for your children's sake, to pull a ceasefire for as long as possible.

Caragh Little

English teacher, book-lover, @TweeterofWit, blogger, lifelong learner

Christmas isn't supposed to be just about the presents. But somehow it always is. Somehow the refrain of Goodwill to all Men seems to ring very hollow when that present you've chosen carefully ends up being thrown aside because it didn't cost enough or you got the colour wrong or they already had one.

Olivia Chapman

Olivia Chapman, 52, founder of Oleo Bodycare and professional aromatherapist

This Christmas, I am urging everyone to try to have a 'local' Christmas. Is it possible to find all of the presents, food, drink and decorations you will need from producers and craftsmen in the local area? I imagine it is and you could be surprised about what exists just around the corner.

Tamsin Crimmens

Freelance writer and journalist

Advertisers know that selling fantasy works and if Christmas is nothing else, it's most definitely a fantasy (I'm thinking the fat, bearded man who lives in the North Pole and has flying reindeer rather than the Jesus stuff here). But in selling the fantasy, advertisers perpetuate some truly awful stereotypes.

Christine de Leon

Christine is a content strategist and blogs about sustainable fashion at www.verynicethreads.com

It's safe to say that the festive season has begun. The office Christmas party is booked and New Year's Eve party invitations have been RSVP'd, so now the 'What will I wear?' question looms in the air, somewhere between your wardrobe as it is now and your bank account.