SORRY, we're going to have to mention the dreaded Ch_______s word. But it's all in a good cause, well lots of good causes actually. We've been leafing through an avalanche of charity catalogues and, as far as present buying is concerned, you needn't go into a shop between now and New Year. Hassle-free shopping plus the rosy glow of virtue - what more could you ask?

The catalogues get more interesting every year. Lots of good basic presents, but a lot more quirky, off-beat gifts, that you'd be hard put to find in the High Street. Everything from remote control whoopee cushions (how did we live without that?) to jewellery, sweet smelling soaps, wines, beers and all sorts of teddy bears.

We liked the mouse mat for golfers that gives you a hole in one every time and a cheer of "Well done" (NSPCC £12.99). Or golfers might like the Golf Tic Tac Toe (£12.99) or the joke golf balls which explode, disappear or put out streamers (£8.99), both from Save the Children.

Gentler pastimes include an Artist's Travel Bag (£29.99 British Heart Foundation), a Wildflower Seed Mat (£7.99 Leukaemia Research) or The Archers board game (£19.99 BHF). Fans of the shipping forecast might like the pint mug with a map of the shipping area (£11.99) or the book of the forecast - Rain Later, Good - includes seascape paintings of such places as Finisterre and Trafalgar (£27.50) both from Watermark, RNLI.

Nostalgia freaks can have a feast. Many of the catalogues, including Mencap and British Red Cross, feature Year to Remember CDs (£9.99, covers years from 1939 to 1989) and videos (£14.99, 1929 to 1995). Or you can have coasters made from old 78s (£14.99 a set) which makes a change from melting them into flowerpots.

NSPCC produce postcards of some of their old posters £3.15 for 12, but you can re-visit your childhood with a whole range of Mabel Lucie Attwell goodies from Barnardos. These include framed prints at £4.99, mugs at £4.99 and books at £9.99.

Modern children might prefer the lovely wrap round pony, a sort of glorified belt for them to gallop round in, (£17.99 from British Red Cross, NSPCC and others); there are monster finger puppets (£9.99), Funny Face darts (£24.99) and a jolly busy bee outfit (£11.99). We also liked the inflatable basketball hoop (£12.99 NSPCC), magic sand (Leukaemia Research £3.45) and the glow in the dark moon mud (£1.99 Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust), or the Pippi Longstocking CD, games, pictures and puzzles in 123 languages (£11.95 from Unicef).

There is plenty of food and drink on offer. Beers of the World (£12.99, most); selection of miniature whiskies (£12.99, most). Chocolate Russian Roulette (£4.99 Arthritis Research); Handmade old fashioned boiled sweets (£8.95, Help the Aged), or a Festive Organic Hamper (£19.50, Friends of the Earth).

Some of the most interesting catalogues are those that concentrate on their own specialities. Help the Aged is full of very practical things, not always glamorous but which will definitely make life easier. We also liked their all in one snuggle suit at £39.95. The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund has all sorts of goodies, ranging from a Biggles Bear (£4.95) to Lancaster sweatshirts (£25.95) and limited edition model planes (from £24.95).

The Army Benevolent Fund has a Curry Kit (£11.99), a great collection of videos about battles and a high quality sleeping bag that packs down really small, £59.99. The Salvation Army can give you masses of brass band recordings; Amnesty offers a World Guide (£29.95 as a book, £39.95 as a CD). Water Aid has a dolphin shower radio (£12.99) and a crab bath pillow (£9.99).

Then there are the animal charities. You would never realise how many gifts and goodies can be covered with dogs, cats, whales, dolphins and robins.

How about an Advent Calendar for your dog (yes really)? £1.99 from Dr Dolittle, a group of animal charities, including RSPCA, Cats Protection and PDSA. Or a present FROM your dog or cat £8.99. Dogalogue (Guide Dogs for the Blind) features a fleece covered in paw prints £39.99 and the RSPB offers an owl-covered microfleece £39.99, a robin sweat shirt £36.95, a puffin bath mat £11.99 and an Avocet paperweight £39.99. And that remote controlled whoopee cushion? £11.99 from the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust. Surely charity catalogues have something for everyone.

ANTHONY NOLAN BONE MARROW TRUST, Long Rock, Penzance, TR93 0TN

ARMY BENEVOLENT FUND, PO Box 1944, Fairford, Gloucestershire GL7 4YJ

ARTHRITIS RESEARCH CAMPAIGN, Brunel Drive,Newark, Notts NG24 2DE

BARNARDOS, Paycocke Road, Basildon, SS143DR. www.barnardos.org.uk/shop

BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION, PO Box 52 Burton Trent, DE143LQ www.bhfcatalgoue.co.uk

GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND, Dogalogue, 1 Apollo Rise, Southwood, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 0GT. www.dogalogue.com

BRITISH RED CROSS, PO Box 28, Burton on Trent, DE14 3LQ. www.charitygifts.com

DR DOLITTLE, PO Box 88, Burton on Trent DE14 3LQ. www.drdolittleshop.co.uk

HELP THE AGED, PO Box 32882, London N1 9GY. www.helptheaged.org.uk

LEUKAEMIA RESEARCH FUND, Yorke Rd, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 3TP

MENCAP, PO Box 77, Burton on Trent, DE14 3LQ. www.mencap-shop.co.uk

NSPCC, PO Box 39, Burton on Trent, DE14 3LQ www.nspcc.org.uk/shop

RAF BENEVOLENT FUND, PO Box 1940, Fairford, Gloucestershire GL7 4NA

RSPB, PO Box 54, Burton on Trent, DE14 3LQ www.rspbshop.co.uk

SAVE THE CHILDREN, PO Box 40, Burton on Trent, DE14 3LQ. www.scfshop.co.uk

UNICEF, 1 Rignals Lane, Chelmsford, CM2 8TU. www.unicef.org.uk/2001

WATER AID, PO Box 34, Burton on Trent DE14 3LQ. www.wateraidshop.co.uk

WATERMARK (RNLI), Slipway, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1JE.

REMEMBER: Most charities will accept Christmas orders into the second week of December, but the sooner you order, the better. Also, these are the trading addresses for charities, not their head offices.

And thanks, as always, to Harry Bilton of Witton Gilbert who collects all the catalogues for us