Germany's largest supermarket chain, Edeka, surprised customers with a special treat last year.

It took a coordinated team of cashiers, 13 hidden cameras and some special light effects - but the result was a wonderful treat for shoppers who joined enthusiastically into the spirit of the occasion.

Though Christmas should be a happy time for everyone, for those living with dementia it can be an isolating or lonely experience.

These eight tips from ECH, an aged care provider in Adelaide, are a useful checklist of things that can help make a difference.

Biome has some eco-friendly gift guides to share. It's also an online shop, but delivery times may now be too tight to reach you for Christmas. Still, their guides may still give you some handy ideas for last-minute gifts that you can source locally as well.

And from Earth First comes a list of Christmas gift ideas that won't hurt the planet.

And from yet another website, here are some ideas that are not only planet-friendly but also won't cost you an arm and a leg.

You may already have organised dates for various things in 2016. And often a commercial calendar on the wall is a handy asset. But for those who'd like to combine computer input with pen or pencil, these printable calendars may be useful.

Time and Date allows you to create your own calendar - for any year and country - that will include designated holidays already marked in for you.

Printable 2016 Calendars are available in Word or PDF format - and the site also has links to a huge range of other printables including invoice templates, resumé templates, to do lists and labels.

And finally, Alli of Scattered Squirrel offers her own collection of created printable calendars. Her site also offers other printables covering personal planners, time management, home management, kitchen binders, holiday planners and 'move management' for when you move house

Many Christmas cards and decorations include the deep green and bright red of holly leaves and berries. But why? And where did this tradition originate?

Celtic Holly Origins explains some of the history of this phenomenon. I particularly like the fancy of providing shelter for tree fairies.

And from the New Forest in the UK, comes this articleby Andy Byfield, which provides some fascinating facts about the holly plant - incuding it's capacity to make birds fall intoxicated from their perches!

In spite of its symbolism and beauty though, holly is considered a noxious weed across much of Australia, because it threatens our indigenous flora. In Tasmania and Victoria it's a particularly significant danger. There are community groups dedicated to its eradication - including the Friends of Sherbrooke Forest in my own neighbourhood. They host 'weeding parties' to do battle with 'the enemy' - a list of weeds that includes holly!

But finally let's return to 'Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly'. An oldie but goodie to make you smile. :)