It’s Christmas! Lots of festive fun to unwrap including our fab gift guide

Holidays are coming, holidays are coming, holidays are coming... When I was growing up, the Coca-Cola Christmas Truck TV adverts heralded the beginning of the festive season. Whatever your views on the soft drinks giant’s commercial exploitation of this once-holy festival, you can’t deny the genius behind its marketing campaign.

The iconic red truck rolled into Scotland last week although fans were disappointed when it only made one stop-off, in a retail park near Paisley. It usually makes a few stops, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, apparently. Perhaps the diesel price hike has reached Lapland?

Of course, we will all be feeling the pinch this Christmas as the cost of living crisis squeezes our finances. So this week the P.S. elves have put together a gift guide (pages 10-15) filled with beautiful presents to suit all the family and all budgets.

If, like me, you are putting up your tree this weekend you’ll be dragging your decorations out of the loft. Tangled fairy lights aside, it’s always a special moment when we open the box of tinsel and baubles with our excited son. If your home needs a festive refresh, turn to pages 42 and 43 for interior expert Claire Gray’s tips on making your space feel extra warm and inviting over the holiday season.

And if you are still in need of a festive injection? On pages 34 and 35, we have a round-up of the best family days out across Scotland, from Christmas markets and Santa’s grottos to light displays and sledging. Who needs the Coca-Cola truck?