As Selfridge’s in its customary full-page advert on page 13 notes, there are only 30 full shopping days to Christmas, and certainly there are a noticeable number of Christmas-related adverts through the paper today. Does this show a determination to keep the festival as much as possible despite the wartime conditions? Perhaps the oddest sounding one comes to page 5, where Robinson & Cleaver advertises its “great handkerchief week.” Yes, seriously.