I'm a December birthday and my son is the last day of November, and I so agree about the card selection dwindling, but also the birthday cakes! I usually make my own, but on a couple of occasions, my son had a themed party where I wanted to get a cake that would fit in, and you can't beat the shops for a Scooby Doo birthday cake (as my rather hilariously bad Bob the Builder home made cake amply demonstrated). But one year there was nothing but a couple of girlie pink cakes and a lot of Christmas cake in the supermarket. I think the thing about Christmas decorations and displays is that they trigger an emotional response in us, and we realise that it is a special feeling, and don't want to feel it too early because it will spoil it for us later.
I have 11 birthdays in December to sort out (fortunately 5 involve just a card) including my OH (21st). Worse thing is trying to book a special non-festive dinner out for him - everywhere seems to have 'special menus' on and we often get caught up with office parties - dire if you're not part of it! Usually end up with me cooking beef wellington(or similar) or visiting our favourite curry house.
Was in GC yesterday - nearly driven mad by a particularly poor, tinny version of Jingle Bells on permanent loop emanating from some plastic decoration - interspersed every 30 secs by "Ho Ho Ho" from a plastic Santa. Who the heck has these bl***y things in their home!!???
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
obelixx, they must go home ready to strangle someone. Actually Topbird, , I have to confess that one year I wanted some clear, plain fairy lights, and the only ones I could find which weren't multicoloured or star shaped, were some jingle lights. When you switch them on, the tinny music starts, but there is a box with a button, and you have to press it about three times to convince the darned things that you want silence. The one thing the shops always seem to have run out of by mid November seems to be plain fairy lights, so I guess they are worth buying early. And the chestnuts are out early this year, so I have to confess to having already made and frozen some chestnut puree for the stuffing.
yes BB2 & Obelixx, we do go home ready to strangle somebody... Or did. I'm hoping that by this Christmas, having been retired for 18 months, the effect of the xmas rubbish will have worn off and I'll be able to enjoy it again.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I went to Morrisons to get raisins for Bramley Apple wine (local farmer said take as many apples as you want - so it would be rude not to). But they had sold out of the cheap ones! C... puds and cakes I suppose
The one thing the shops always seem to have run out of by mid November seems to be plain fairy lights, so I guess they are worth buying early.
Now you would think (wouldn't you?) that manufacturers & retailers might, therefore, realise that more than a few of us prefer a few tasteful pure white non-flashing non-'musical' lights and put a few more in the shops. Or perhaps, because they're cheaper, they would prefer us to buy the more expensive stuff instead!! (Am I a cynic or what????)
But am I the only one who gets wound up when I ask for something in a shop & am told "we've had a couple of people asking for those - but we don't stock them because there's no demand!!!"
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Topbird, it is a bit weird, isn't it? Or you would think they would learn their lesson, but for the last few years it has always been hard to get them here. The other thing I couldn't source last year at the last minute was a tin of Roses or Quality Street. Probably just as well.
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I'm a December birthday and my son is the last day of November, and I so agree about the card selection dwindling, but also the birthday cakes! I usually make my own, but on a couple of occasions, my son had a themed party where I wanted to get a cake that would fit in, and you can't beat the shops for a Scooby Doo birthday cake (as my rather hilariously bad Bob the Builder home made cake amply demonstrated). But one year there was nothing but a couple of girlie pink cakes and a lot of Christmas cake in the supermarket. I think the thing about Christmas decorations and displays is that they trigger an emotional response in us, and we realise that it is a special feeling, and don't want to feel it too early because it will spoil it for us later.
I have 11 birthdays in December to sort out (fortunately 5 involve just a card) including my OH (21st). Worse thing is trying to book a special non-festive dinner out for him - everywhere seems to have 'special menus' on and we often get caught up with office parties - dire if you're not part of it! Usually end up with me cooking beef wellington(or similar) or visiting our favourite curry house.
Was in GC yesterday - nearly driven mad by a particularly poor, tinny version of Jingle Bells on permanent loop emanating from some plastic decoration - interspersed every 30 secs by "Ho Ho Ho" from a plastic Santa. Who the heck has these bl***y things in their home!!???
Not me and pity the poor staff who have to put up with it all day for weeks one end.
obelixx, they must go home ready to strangle someone. Actually Topbird,
, I have to confess that one year I wanted some clear, plain fairy lights, and the only ones I could find which weren't multicoloured or star shaped, were some jingle lights. When you switch them on, the tinny music starts, but there is a box with a button, and you have to press it about three times to convince the darned things that you want silence. The one thing the shops always seem to have run out of by mid November seems to be plain fairy lights, so I guess they are worth buying early. And the chestnuts are out early this year, so I have to confess to having already made and frozen some chestnut puree for the stuffing.
yes BB2 & Obelixx, we do go home ready to strangle somebody... Or did.
I'm hoping that by this Christmas, having been retired for 18 months, the effect of the xmas rubbish will have worn off and I'll be able to enjoy it again.
I went to Morrisons to get raisins for Bramley Apple wine (local farmer said take as many apples as you want - so it would be rude not to
). But they had sold out of the cheap ones! C... puds and cakes I suppose
Great British Bake off as well Artjak! I was in Tesco a couple of weeks ago and I've never seen so many people in the home-baking aisle.
Now you would think (wouldn't you?) that manufacturers & retailers might, therefore, realise that more than a few of us prefer a few tasteful pure white non-flashing non-'musical' lights and put a few more in the shops. Or perhaps, because they're cheaper, they would prefer us to buy the more expensive stuff instead!! (Am I a cynic or what????)
But am I the only one who gets wound up when I ask for something in a shop & am told "we've had a couple of people asking for those - but we don't stock them because there's no demand!!!"
Topbird, it is a bit weird, isn't it? Or you would think they would learn their lesson, but for the last few years it has always been hard to get them here. The other thing I couldn't source last year at the last minute was a tin of Roses or Quality Street. Probably just as well.
Busy Bee - you can buy them online (& replacement bulbs for older sets) - got the address somewhere if anybody wants it.
Feel better for having the little rant above....