It's what-on-earth-shall-we-get-them? time again! Buying for the family is so much more difficult than buying for friends, but salespeople in Bermuda are ever so gracious and can usually help...

You don't want to be scouring Front Street on Christmas Eve for the perfect present for Dad or Nana - but that's what so many of us seem to end up doing.

The one advantage to this procrastination madness is that on the last day you may run across unexpected sales on things such as wrapping paper and gifts.

The disadvantage is that you will not have fresh choices on most merchandise and will have to settle for what's left.

Taking action now frees you to celebrate the festive season rather than spend every spare minute in the shops - so that's extra time for Christmas drinks and nibbles! Here are some of the best family gift ideas around -some Reid and Front Street buys, plants from Paget, some internet orders, and some super suggestions you can customise for your family members, with prices to suit all purses.

First, Mom. She'd probably love to relax with her favourite magazine, so a gift subscription would go down well perhaps `Travel Magazine or Homes and Gardens for the year.

One of these usually cost about $20 per year and can be found in the Phoenix Stores .

As you are there, check out the Bookmart upstairs in the Phoenix for the New York Times' best seller list and a super assortment of books for every family member.

While reading in the bath there's lots of English bathing products at The Phoenix Stores, Smith's and Trimingham's which will soothe and relax the body.

After the bath it is always nice to slip into a comfortable, new pair of silky pajamas from Trimingham's or Smith's.

Another idea is a voucher for a maid for a day! Look in your local Yellow Pages. If you are short on cash you could make Mom a voucher and clean the house yourself whenever it suits Mom.

A set of exquisitely, pretty wine glasses or Christmas ornaments from A.S.

Cooper's might be just the right touch to beautify the Christmas dinner table.

Mom always holds those had made gifts from the children as her dearest ones so why not draw a self portrait of yourself and colour it nicely? Later she can fram it in her kitchen or some other special place.

Dad always gets socks and hankies, poor thing, and many see him as the most difficult person to buy for.

Does he want to kick the smoking habit? Allen Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking (Penguin) might go down surprisingly well - Allen used to smoke 100 fags a day, so he speaks from experience.

Alternatively, treat Dad to a bottle of luxury champagne or claret - most of the supermarkets have first-class wine departments.

Or to make the old boy feel important, how about an executive leather portfolio -from the Harbourmaster .

Most every man shaves so how about the Brawn electric shaver for $159 from Stuart's on Reid Street? A teenager to buy for? How about a wind surfing day course or private tuition in a sport he's always wanted to try? Also Sunfish sailing can be fun! The gift of tennis/golf lessons, or gymnastics will give your child an outdoor activity he can practice during school break.

One can get mesmerised by all the choices at PJ's Warehouse at all the electronic items such as radios, televisions and VCRs. Also they have a great selection of bicycles for any member of the family.

Cameras are always desirable at any aged child from five years up.

What better way to capture family memories of this Christmas? It is a great time of the year to give one to your child as he can learn to use it while school is out.

Cameras are fun, get the teens outdoors, and learning to take lovely photographs gives your child a skill. By next year's summer vacation you may have a budding photo journalist like the Royal Gazette's , David Skinner, who started as a school boy.

If the youth is lucky enough to have a CD player, and if you're buying CDs this Christmas, try shopping on the internet for the best deals at www.jungle.com a site offering substantial savings online.

A practical gift is the Braun clock from Stuart's which is a great clock to travel with and is compact.

It has an alarm to awake the sleeping beauties and beasts when on holidays abroad or at home to go to school.

A fragrant room candle for a sitting room is a long-lasting gift - perhaps for Grandma? The Metaphysical Book Shop , on 61 Reid Street, offers many selections of aroma therapy candles.

Master's Homeworks also has a host of scented candles.

Grandmothers of all ages will enjoy a lovely bouquet of fresh flowers or a plant.

If you start nurturing a small plant now you could have it ready by Christmas.

Mr. Tatum from Aberfeldy's , Paget, gives great advice on such matters and has a plentiful supply of various plants most of the time.

Continued on page 23 Shopping for the family Continued from page 22 Also Sally Godet has an assortment of plants, trees and tasty homemade jams and you can shop directly from her at her lovely Paget home. Just give her a call at 236-5586.

If Grandpa is always losing papers, buy him some amusing peg magnets for essential notes - you just clip in the paper and stick on the fridge. He might enjoy a new watering can to give the plants a drink and a few garden tools.

Assuming that Grandpa is the dog-walker of the family, a flexible dog lead with and a new flashlight will make life easier and maybe a new cotton sweater from The English Sports shop would be very nice.

For a small child,nice back packs are always appreciated. A toy chest might encourage him or her to put their junk away.

Artcetera, on Burnaby Street, offers a complete line of art and craft supplies and the kids will have nothing but fun with the items that Crayola has to offer.

The Reid Street Phoenix Annex is loaded with lots of fun games such as Twister, The Crocodile Hunter, Mr. Potato Head, You Just Became a Millionaire, and many more ranging from $15 to $40.

And don't forget your family pet. Noah's Ark on Marsh Lane, Middle Road, has Jittery Christmas toys for cats at $5 and signature Jacquard sweaters for doggies on blustery, cool days from $14 to $18.

Zipxmas allows you to shop without leaving home until December 12 to guarantee delivery for Christmas.

They provide you with a Zipx US address so you can access your favourite dot.com stores or catalogues that don't ship outside the US from your home and you can get all that you want for Christmas. Visit their website at www.zipx.bm However, shopping in Bermuda is very visually pleasing as the stores are spruced up, well stocked, and inviting.

The salespeople are smiling, helpful with suggestions and ready to serve the season's shoppers.

If you tire from shopping you can always stop for tea and a nibble at one of Bermuda's many eateries.

Another plus is the fact that you can eyeball your item, smell it, touch it too, which you can't do over the web! Harbourmaster carries the best selection in leather goods.

It's hard to beat the classic present of a new bicycle from PJ's.

"Dad, I am just going out for a loaf of bread and some milk. I need to stop by Trimingham's, Paget too for the mail carrier's present. Just watch the kids for about 20 minutes,'' Mom said.