Christmas time is hear again so lets all have some fun....

[Graysalchemy]

NOT

I HATE CHRISTMAS !!

I don't know what it is but I loath it, not just the endless commercialization which will start to appear, but the whole Christmas day thing. I just don't get it at all. I have two young sons who love it but by mid afternoon I am looking at my watch to see how many more hours to go. I vaguely got excited last year when we took the kids on a santa train in the snow but that was the beginning of december and the sparkle had long gone by Christmas day.

I put it down to spending ten years in retail,I always felt that the spark went out as soon as you shut up shop especially if the Christmas rush didn't arrive. I was sick of Christmas decorations by mid november.

Has retail affected anyone else like this?

[philipsheldon]

I have a 6 year old daughter & I had Pneumonia last Christmas. My Christmas starts NOW. Believe me, you don't want Pneumonia & if anyone has had it - particularly over the festive period - you wouldn't mind it being Christmas everyday as you have missed out. I didn't even see her open her pressies last year, coudn't go out with her & my Wife....THIS YEAR though, all being well, PARTY ON !!!!

Merry Christmas one & all

[Framerpicture]

I know what you mean about Christmas - Its a busy time of year for business but does all seem rather forced on us . Every one seems stressed out by it, we all eat to much and you have to be full of the "christmas spirt" whether you feel like it or not. I'm sure its being in retail thats made me feel this way!

I hope to be joining a group of freinds who hire a big house and will gather on Christmas Eve and ignore Christmas by pretending it isn't happening till the day after Boxing Day - A time spent walking, talking, dancing and eating ( But definately not turkey) with friends. No presents must be bought, Oh and kids aren't welcome! I do have kids but its not my turn to have them this year.

If Christmas is for you then have a good one but I'm with Alistair on this.

[Graysalchemy]

I am glad it isn't just me then. A bothy in the middle of nowhere with me a bottle of malt, a crate of beer a stilton and a log fire that would do me for 3 days.

[CanvasChris]

I'm with you Alistair... Christmas's, Birthdays, Anniversary's etc... they're all an effort... Bah Humbug!!

[prospero]

I think they should have Christmas in the Summer like they do in Aus.


The shops wouldn't be so crowded.

[Roboframer]

Christmas = stress!

We've never had a cut-off for Christmas framing orders, instead, with a week or two to go, we establish what is needed for Christmas and what is not and we'll get the Christmas stuff done even if it comes in on the last day we're open, which could of course be Christmas Eve, which is fine, we'll be clear on that day - hopefully it won't be stuff like football shirts though, but I did do one of those that came in about midday one Christmas Eve.

The place goes mad, so mad that I find myself paged to the shop front not to take a framing order, but just to serve, and that madness starts about now.

Amongst it all we organise, well, mostly my wife organises, the village Christmas fair and throughout the year has been collecting and putting aside stuff for the tombola and the raffle, from places like gift clearance dot.com and free stuff we get from people like Viking Direct. No tins of peas in out tombola! Luggage sets, MP3 players etc and Santa's Grotto is free. It's all self-funding from the previous year, a % of takings from stall holders/rides and the takings from the tombola and raffle plus any grants we can blag our way. The biggest pain is the road closure - the whole village centre is closed off and each year we get quite a few irate residents who want the diversions done in such a way that it won't affect them, or want the event on a day that suits them better. A couple of years ago we passed this responsibilty to the Parish Council, but now Pat's the bloody Chairmam, so we still get the grief!

And amongst all that we still have to sort our own Christmas out; I tell myself each year I'll start about July, but I never do and I haven't even thought about it yet this year. As always though, everyone will be catered for somehow and when all we want to do is lick our wounds over the holiday period, we'll also cope with feeding the hoards that descend upon us (I'd like to descend upon them, but my ancient/chairbound MIL lives with us - doesn't want to go to a nursing home; all of her siblings would have her in one though, bar Pat, so the situation is that she actually IS in a care home, a care home for one! Therefore I also live in a bloody care home ...... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 ..... that's better, now, where was I)? Usually we'll have the aid of Pat's son, who is a superb chef, (at one time by trade; in to teaching now) but this year he's going away so I may need a larger microwave!

The main thing that has gone for me, and I doubt if it will ever return, is the atmosphere

[stcstc]

christmas is great, i make a bleeding fortune!!!!

[prospero]

Spare a thought for Tiny Tim.

[stcstc]

not unless tiny tim is gonna come help frame some stuff

[prospero]

I'm sure he would be more than willing if someone could hold his crutch.

[Not your average framer]

Spare a thought for Tiny Tim.

I already have! My main part timer is called Tim.

[misterdiy]

I too am with Alistair. I have become sick and tired of the relentless commercalism that seems to start in August or September. I like the extra business but we no longer have any Parents so its us and the kids. They come and go so its more work but as Robo says there is no atmosphere any more.

I think its because it all starts so early and so there is nothing to build up to. I do like the Christmas lunch though, but not the washing up.

I keep threatening to go away for Christmas but never get round to it.

Boxing day marks the adverts for the summer holidays, and the day after new year its adverts for easter eggs and of course valentine's day.

Roll on summer

[prospero]

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