EVEN though our daughter is only four-years-old, we have joined the club of all those parents and grandparents who need to get their hands on a certain item for Christmas.

We haven’t previously gone through this experience, as she didn’t request anything in particular last year.

And, in fact, I think I remember writing a column saying how lucky we were that we were spared any expense or hassle, and that we intended to appreciate that while it lasted.

We’re still fortunate, as we have only really been asked for one thing. Trouble is, it’s a thing which has had huge national media coverage this year because of its scarcity. Yes, it’s the official Elsa from Frozen Disney dress.

I am sure most people know what this means but, for the uninitiated, Frozen is a phenomenally popular animated film about two sisters.

It won Oscars and was well reviewed after its initial release, but then it seemed to take on a life of its own and become absolutely beloved of young girls all over the world.

As a result, there has been an unbelievable demand for the proper Elsa outfit. A young lady can don this blue and silver dress and its accompanying gloves and spin around her own home singing the film’s big numbers, including the ubiquitous Let It Go.

Our own little miss hasn’t been that interested in the franchise up until now. She’s always been a tomboy, happier getting filthy in trousers and climbing furniture rather than calmly playing princesses.

But its omnipresence amongst her peers has meant than some form of Frozen osmosis has taken place and now, she’d like the dress please.

At least she hasn’t requested the Frozen Snow Glow Elsa, which has been named in the Top 12 of the 72 predicted bestselling toys for Christmas 2014, and already seems to have sold out everywhere.

Thankfully, Santa has managed to get his hands on the proper Elsa dress (now back in stock and £10 more expensive than it was previously) for our daughter, thanks to some constant monitoring of the Disney Store website, so we won’t be forced to do what my dad once did, and wait outside a shop at ridiculous o’clock in the morning.

Come to think of it, Dad did that more than once, as, when my brother was young during the 1990s, the Christmas toy craze seemed to have everyone in its annual grip.

There were the years that it was all about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers or Pokemon, and the really, really stressful year that he absolutely had to track down a Thunderbird Tracy Island.

Things calmed down, but became a little less interesting – and a little more expensive - when bro became computer-obsessed and simply had to have the next Nintendo or PlayStation console.

To be honest, that’s still what he would ask Santa for to this day – if he’d been nice and not naughty, of course.