BS: It's almost Christmas!! Secret Santa SOON!

Subject: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Paul Reade
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 07:46 AM

Temperature 25 - 30 in UK

Less than a month since Midsummer Day

And I get an email from a "Corporate Hospitality" company advertising "Cathedral Christmas Carols on the British Pullman"

Time's running out - must get my Chrismas cards, presents etc. sorted!

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 07:57 AM

Christmas Sung Simply

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jul 13 - 01:28 PM

Yikes. That is early. 35-40+ here expected here today with the heat index... but no $mas stuff yet!

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 03:02 AM

weird, eh? but it's Christmas in July in Australia

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 04:06 AM

I'm a tight old skinflint, 'cos I buy my next-year's Crimbo cards in the January sales, ditto wrapping paper, gift tags etc. and also gifts for most of my friends. So I'm ready to roll!

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Andrez
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 08:53 AM

And there I was thinking Christmas had come early only in Canberra!

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 10:04 AM

Christmas cheers to you, too, Andrez.

it's everywhere! Even my favourite Op (Goodwill/charity) shop has a Christmas in July display. My other favourite type of shop - the craft/needlework/knitting shop starts selling Christmas stuff mid-year to give crafty folk time to make presents.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Andrez
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 09:18 PM

Naaaaaaaaahhhhhh! If I'm lucky I'll get away from all that hype when I get to Broome in a couple of weeks. At least there you wont find any reindeers strolling around, they'll all be grabbed for 'bush tucker'.

Oh no! I just realised that going over there means I'm closer to Christmas Island! You cant get away from all that shite can you? Bah, humbug! :-)

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Jul 13 - 09:59 PM

keep away from the Op shops & craft shops, Andrez!

And if the place you're staying offers a Christmas in July dinner, go bush ...

Tho I can't see a tropical place offering a heavy chrissy dinner, so you're probably safe.

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 20 Jul 13 - 06:06 AM

Our Ladies' Group is going to a small glass-blowing factory in Fakenham (Norfolk UK) and in their little shop will be lots of unusual and attracive items. Guess who'll be buying some for Crimbo pressies! The one thing I can't bear to see too early is tinsel. There's something horribly tawdry about it until the magic of the season gives it an exciting sparkle!

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 20 Jul 13 - 05:20 PM

A Broome pearl would make a nice Christmas present for someone, I suppose, Andrez.

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Andrez
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 07:13 AM

Well, its Grand Final eve tonight and soon the Spring Racing Carnival will be up and over too. That leaves a clear run through to Christmas. Apart from the welcome break in the usual routines the question remains: do I buy into the crassness and commerciality once again or just take the basic Bah Humbug tack and do my best to avoid it all?

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 10:03 AM

that's a worry - maybe you could take a tiny step by joining the Mudcat Secret Santa when it comes around & that way you just buy 1 pressie!

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 11:03 AM

"do I buy into the crassness and commerciality once again or just take the basic Bah Humbug tack and do my best to avoid it all?"

There's another option, you know. You could do whatever pleases you personally. If making the beautiful Christmas music pleases you, then can. If giving to good causes or feeding the hungry gratifies you, then you can. If calling long-lost relatives and friends means something to you, go ahead and wish them a Merry Christmas.

If you don't want to shop, then don't. If you don't like tinsel, don't use it.

It's your life. Take control of it. You don't have to choose between being a consumer and being a humbug.

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: selby
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 11:52 AM

Home Bargains has tinsel and baubles for sale Boots are putting out there 3 for 2 range so only 88 days till christmas BAH HUMBUG

if you need a nice little christmas counter there is one here http://www.xmasclock.com/

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: GUEST,CS
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 12:10 PM

I'd love to get organised and make pressies for people I like! I just never do. My father's ex lady friend always used to provide us with a goody bag of jams and chutneys and fruit liquers, so nice to receive!

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 12:18 PM

I wonder if anyone is up for the Secret Santa operation again this year?

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 03:00 PM

No! No! No! Christmas again already? How can that be? I think I will procrastinate this year, too. It's worked for me in the past . . .

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Claire M
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 03:00 PM

Hiya,

Ahh, brilliant. Get to hear me fav song again!
Xmas compilations by me always have the stuff that's ½ – decent. Nice bit of Tull.

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 03:25 PM

The key word in the OP is "corporate". When I worked in retail that's about the time when we were firming up plans for Christmas. Stock has to be manufactured, shipped from the Far East and ready to go on the shelves straight after Halloween.

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Andrez
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 07:34 PM

Thanks for pointing out the third way leenia, I'll probably follow something along those lines as a matter of course particularly as an alternative to the corporate crassness of the season. That aside am interested to learn more re Mudcat Secret Santa. Is there a secret handshake? Do we use the Cone of Silence for meetings? Do I have to have the operation :-) ?

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 07:39 PM

Ho, MF'n ho... Where's the snow???

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Sep 13 - 08:33 PM

Andrez - keep an eye on the BS section - the annual Secret Santa fun usually starts around October/November.

Here's a bit of last year's Secret Santa silliness to tempt you Secret Santa - Santee teasers - 2012

sandra


Stilly - I wouldn't miss it for quids (or dollars in the new money!)

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 28 Sep 13 - 05:00 AM

My early-purchase system has had a bit of a setback. We held a slideshow in our village hall, for the church. It was decided at the last minute to do a raffle as well, and we had hardly any prizes, so (daft woman that I am) I offered to raid my Crimbo store. Six nice little items went on the raffle, and now I'll have to shop like mad to replenish my drawers!

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!!
From: Andrez
Date: 28 Sep 13 - 07:45 AM

So walking into christmas is it too soon to start reflecting on JL's question below?

So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun

I know for me answering this can be tricky while I've been busy over the year doing 'stuff' have I actually done anything?

Hmmmm all too deep for now, I might have to sleep it for now.

Is it easier for anyone else?

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!! Secret Santa SOON
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Sep 13 - 05:26 PM

Jacqui Morse and I have traded the Secret Santa fuzzy red and white hat back and forth the last couple of years, and it's on my head again this year. I'll start a fresh thread in the next day or two with information and links and solicitations to join.

This year, if you know of someone in the Mudcat community who might benefit from this activity but might be shy about joining, please send them a PM and invite them to join us. It doesn't need to be elaborate or expensive - but we do need time to plan and to get things in the mail while the rates are most affordable. Some gifts arrive way early, others within moments of the holiday itself. And if we don't give ourselves enough wiggle room for international shipping, some of them straggle in whenever. People can ship locally (within their own country or continent) or internationally. It is exciting to receive packages from overseas, but it does take planning.

Looking forward to making merry mischief soon!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: It's almost Christmas!! Secret Santa SOON!
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Oct 13 - 03:36 AM

YAH!!!!!!

sandra (doing the happy dance!)