ONE of the problems about Christmas is that there's so much of it.

Everything is geared to massive family gatherings - turkeys the size of ostriches, puddings like cannon balls, party food to feed the five thousand plus any extra who happen to drop by.

But what if you're on your own?

Well yes, you could of course just drink a crate of champagne and eat your way through turkey and garnish for ten, but there is probably a better way.

In among all this massive mass-catering, there are still some sensible size treats for those on their own for all or part of Christmas. Big enough to enjoy, but small enough so that you're not eating the same thing from Christmas Eve until next year. From Christmas dinners to post prandial indulgences - just because you're on your own is no reason not to treat yourself.

TINY TURKEYS

YES, there are complete Turkey Meals for One (Marks & Spencer £3.49) but they're not very festive, are they? And there's nothing left over for lunch the next day or a sandwich for supper. However, lots of supermarkets this year are doing mini turkey joints at around 500g.

Marks & Spencer have a variety - free range, or with cranberry and orange glaze for £4.49. The Co-op have butter basted stuffed joints at £3.99 or a whopping great turkey drumstick for £1.19.

ASDA have basted turkey breast joints for £3.48, plus slightly bigger (600g) stuffed and basted breast joints at £3.98.

MINI MEATS

YOUR local butchers are your best bet for small joints of ham and pork. Or you could be different and try game. Definitely different - and you won't be battling with leftovers for days. M&S have some pork joints with special crackling at £4.49 for 510g. They also have chicken breast with pork, sage and onion stuffing on special offer for £3.49.

Safeway and the Co-op both have a decent selection of small ham joints - as well as those big enough to feed a couple of football teams.

When serving duck, so the saying goes, there should be just two of you there - you and the duck. But if a whole duck is too much, try some duck fillets at £4.79 for two.

And to go with your meat, Morrisons have a range of mini condiments, 35g jars - like the little ones you get in hotels - of seafood, mint, cranberry, horseradish and tartare sauces at 23p each. Just enough for one so the jar doesn't stand in the cupboard all year getting mouldy.

FEELING FISHY

BEST buy is smoked salmon: 98p for 100g from ASDA or from Aldi: 200g for £1.99. And if you add a jar of their dill and mustard sauce at 69p, you make it perfect.

Plenty of individual prawn cocktails available. And if you're feeling really extravagant - and hungry - Sainsbury s have fresh cooked lobster at £9.99.

VEGETABLES

MOST veg seem to be on the feeding the five thousand side. Even the small packs are a bit big, if you have to get that size of everything. BUT there are bags of mixed veg available, all ready peeled and chopped that you just pop into the microwave. Extravagant yes, but it is Christmas.

PUDS AND CAKES

GOOD news is that most stores do their full range of Christmas puds in small, 100g, sizes. From 75p to 99p at Morrisons, £1.49 to £2.19 at M&S.

There are lots of Christmas cake iced bars, generally about 454g or 1lb. Aldi does one at £1.49. M&S has a small properly decorated Christmas cake at £4.99. And we liked some of the festive cakes in the Co-op - there's a Christmas tree-shaped cake at £3.99 and one featuring Rudolph at £3.49. Nicely special.

To follow, Safeway do a cheeseboard selection for one at £6.49, but if you don't want that much, M&S do a mini selection of cheeses at 30p each. Or you could treat yourself to a mini Port and Stilton from the Co-op at £3.49. Or the Abergavenny speciality Cheddars, such as one with apricots and orange liqueur, 99p for 100g.

DRINK A TOAST

HALF bottles of wine seem a bit thin on the ground this year. So, what a shame, you'll have to have a whole bottle. Aldi do a Chardonnay at £2.49 which won't break the bank.

M&S have half bottles of champagne at £7.99, and small bottles of wine at £2.25. Then put your feet up and finish off with port at £5 or Napoleon brandy at £4.49. Or Irish cream liqueur at £2.

Time, in fact, to concentrate on yourself and some serious self-indulgence, because, as the shampoo ad says, you're worth it.

Buylines

NOW in among all the gimmicks for Christmas, here's a solid idea... an exquisitely wrapped lump of wood. It is, of course, a lot more than that.

Treske, the furniture makers in Thirsk, suggest commissioning a piece of furniture - a chair or table, or anything from a turned bowl to a full kitchen. It won't be ready for Christmas, of course, but Treske will provide a wrapped piece of the chosen hardwood to open on Christmas Day. A sort of furniture voucher.

Then the designers will be in touch with the recipients over the holidays to confirm the commission and sort out the finer points.

For more details tel: Treske, The Old Maltings Thirsk (over the bridge from the railway station) on (01845) 522770.