It's certainly a sign of the times! I read the following report on AFP, under the heading 'Debenhams offers post-Christmas divorce gift lists'. How sad.
A chain of high-street shops on Monday launched a divorce gift list service amid a surge of married couples saying "I don't" after the festive season.
In a twist on the popular wedding list, through which newlyweds receive presents to help them into married life, retailer Debenhams came up with a new list to help divorcees stock up after leaving their ex-partner's home.
"Divorcing can be an expensive time and registering for a Divorce Gift List means that family and friends can help the newly separated begin their new life," said Peter Moore, head of retail services at the chain.
A "divorce means that one partner will be leaving the marital home and therefore be left without any essentials in their new house," he said.
The list includes a range of items from bed linen and towels to microwaves and plasma screen televisions.
Debenhams said they took the decision at a time when "congratulations on your divorce" greeting cards and divorce parties were growing in popularity.
It is just the latest present for married couples heading towards a festive breakup in Britain after a law firm reportedly started offering divorce gift vouchers in the run-up to Christmas.
The vouchers offered half-hour or hour-long advice sessions with a lawyer, according to the Daily Telegraph.
A senior partner from Lloyd Platt & Company in London, which launched the service in November, told the newspaper there was always a huge increase in couples seeking advice in January.
