Christmas

Cabbagepatch · Christmas

The last few years i've tried to downsize the commercial side of Christmas and think about what the day should be about. Have felt a little frowned upon by some family and friends at times.

This year I've taken the bull by the horns and made the announcement that no silly cards will be written and sent, only homemade, probably not very good, gifts will be small, mostly home grown or made and if the dinner doesn't come up to peoples' expectations then.......they can call in at McDonalds on their way home.

Jellycat

CP, you're an inspiration!

I find that Christmas is becoming more and more stressful every year - we have a huge family (mostly on HIS side Very Happy

), most of which we don't see from one year's end to the next, and we have tended to give each other presents of the 'Port and glasses set' sort, which have absolutely no thought behind them other than 'Oh, I've got a get something for X - that'll do'.

I hate it. I hate buying those sorts of presents, and I hate getting them. It's difficut though, when you HAVE to give something, even though you haven't seen the person for months and months and have no idea what they're into (e.g. the wife of one of my brothers in law - I see her maybe once every couple of years but I can't not get her a Christmas present or my name would be mud ... again ...)

Homemade has to be the way to go - there's more thought put into it and it's cheaper (sad but true, this is a big, big part of the problem this year). The only thing against me is time, but I'm sure we'll manage somehow.

A thousand thanks CP - you've focussed my mind and made me more determined! In fact, I don't really care if I offend anyone - either they'll understand or they won't and it's not my problem if they're blinded by commercialism - I'm not going to buy into that again.

So there Very Happy

Cabbagepatch

nanny

i remember sunday lunches, we did them for years

i went to church while the roast was in the oven and then after was newspapers etc but i have to say, i would think i had wasted the day now if i did nothing at all

in fact i can't because we never have a sunday off now, it's open day and we are always busy

however christmas is always low key with us and we like it that way

i won't have the christmas draw to do at work and we won't have 2 weeks off but i bet we will enjoy this chistmas more than most even if we do have to muck out

paula

totally agree cp you are so right

redwillowrose

I hate the commercialism of Christmas too, we have to have christmas music playing in the shop now, by order of our head office ! by the time christmas is her, I will have heard "white christmas" 1000,000 times !
I dont want to spend very much this year, I actually haven`t got very much to spnd anyway, so presents will be as cheap as possible.
Lyn

TheGirlsMum

You stick to your guns RWR I admire you for admitting you haven't much to spend and I don't understand why people have to over spend. We have family at school and they buy well above their means, saying "oh, the children want it" but those children don't appreciate anything they are bought and just want more and more. They are not being taught the value of money, and are never said no to. So who is gaining? My girls know that we save up for what we buy and if we can't afford it you can't have it, simple, then if its gone before we can afford it, then it wasn't meant to be.

Sorry, end of lecture!

Kathy

The advertising people are VERY VERY astute, the children watch television, we allow them to do so. We take them to shops that start Christmas in September, even the pet stores tell you to "Make your pets dreams come true" Evil or Very Mad

I've got no time for any of the commercialism, I don't go to these shops, I don't take E to these shops, Santa's grotto, you can stuff it (sorry Embarassed

), cheap grotty toys, and a photo that costs a fortune. We allow other people to press our buttons, do our thinking for us and then feel guilty because we've not done whats expected of us. Whos life is it anyway............

Another apology! Embarassed

redwillowrose

we have the christmas products in the shop I work in at the end of September, I used to love xhristmas, but now it takes too long, I used to love being home on christmas eve with excited children, it was always my favourite day of christmas, but now I have to work every christmas eve.
A lot of the customers are so rude at christmas aswell, I suppose because they are stressed, but there is no need for them to take it out on the shop assistants.
Our job is extremely hard at this time of the year, tryng to keep the shop fully stocked. I had several irate customers yesterday, because we had sold out of advent calenders, the sort you can have a name iced on.
we always get people asking for them halfway through december !!
I have 2 teenagers at home, and they dont ask for much, I aim to buy the items they`ve asked for though
Lyn

nanny

i used to enjoy christmas but i don't like the over commercialism either

trouble is - that's the way businesses make their money

the big tesco in the place we used to live (how lovely it is to be able to type that) had their christmas cards out in september!!! i seem to recall that i almost closed my eyes rather than look

as it will just be him and me this year, i don't know what we will do if anything

the open day on the 10th december may put us both off the real christmas but the kids that come really like it apparently and it gives the trust a chance to get a few more adoptions...some people adopt a pony for their grandchildren etc

it is what keeps the trust alive

Cabbagepatch

The simple things are the best, gathering the holly and ivy and draping the fireplace and bannisters with it, taking the children to the Candlelit carol service on Christmas Eve and coming home to supper, mincepie, carrots and a glass of milk by the fire. Then trying to get them to bed! Creeping into their bedrooms with stockings in the middle of the night.
And everyone gathering for dinner.

redwillowrose

It may just be me and the kids , as my husband may have to work on christmas day ! he`s a security guard, he was told he could have christmas day off, and now he`s just found out that the person who told him this has left the company, and no one else knew anything about it.
I hope he has it off, as he hasn`t been home on christmas day for the past 5 years.
I want to go to a carol service aswell, we always try to, and I love putting the stockings by the bed, even though my youngest 2 are 15 and 14 ! I`ve just wrapped up all the stocking fillers, and found that I`ve just got to get 2 more for my son whos 14. so that they have the same amount each ! My eldest daughter is 35 and the next daughter is 32 so I`ve been filing stockings for a very long time LOL
Lyn

redwillowrose

I`ve just been working out our incomings and outgoings till the end of december, and well, I think I might have just about enough money.
I usually get full time hours the whole of december, but this year I`m not, amd I always relied on the extra hours to cover christmas, the 2 estra staff that have been taken on for christmas are using up the extra hours !!! Lyn

redwillowrose

I had some horrible customers in the shop yesterday, I was working on my own till 12.30 and I work quite fast, but I`m still only able to serve onbe customer at a time ! but some people get so impatient ! They throw the items back at the shelves, mostly missing, before stormimg out, because they have to wait lol . I find it really funny ! and all for the sake of some chocolate !
Shop assistants work extrememly hard at this time of year, and also very long hours standing. and we also have to remember that the customer is always right !! like hell they are. Razz

Lyn

Cabbagepatch

rwr, I really don't envy you one little bit, and if the shop is in the middle of Bristol, then much as I would love to pop in for a natter, I think I'll be giving it a very wide berth.

I really don't understand why people have to be so rude. No. 1 daughter had a part time job in a certain wellknown store when she was at college, and she used to amaze me with tales of customers' bad manners. Evil or Very Mad

redwillowrose

yes, the shop is in the middle of bristol, right next to marks and spencers ! so now, you probably know where I mean ?
Most of the customers are ok, but we do also get a lot of shoplifters at this time of year aswell, so we need eyes in the back of our heads !
Lyn

Becki

I know exactly where you mean! Very Happy

redwillowrose

you`ll have to pop in and say hello, Becki !
Lyn

Becki

Cabbagepatch

I say, a potting shed gathering in a chocolate shop!!!

Haize

What, where, when?! I'll be there Laughing