Saturday 17 October 2009

It’s that time of year

It’s just an ordinary trip to the ordinary supermarket to get my ordinary weekly shopping.

The first thing I see is a big display of boxes of chocolates. I wonder why they’re on Special Offer. I soon find the answer.

I need a birthday card, but there’s very little choice. Three-quarters of the card racks are filled with Christmas cards.

Toothpaste? Shampoo? All the toiletries have been moved around to make space for gift packs.

The household goods aisle has been taken over by toys. There are fancy tins of biscuits, Christmas puddings, Christmas cakes …

One good thing – the Hot Cross Buns have disappeared. They’ve been replaced with Mince Pies.

It can only mean one thing. It’s October!

When I am Rich I will fund a Let’s Have A Real Christmas campaign.

The first two rules will be:
No Christmas Shopping before 1st December.
No Christmas decorations to appear anywhere before 24th December.

I’m not a Scrooge, but would anyone else like to join me in a loud ‘Bah! Humbug!’ ?

15 comments:

Friko said...

Where do I join the queue for bah humbugging?
Massive boxes of half-price chocolates and, yes, mince pies.
We'll have the jingly janglies soon. I HATE it.

Lillian Robinson said...

(Loud applause fills the background) I do agree accept for the decorations. As long as they don't go up before the first weekend in December, and they come down the first weekend of January. When I was a child the Christmas stuff came out AFTER Thanksgiving! ...just as it should be. There used to be a bit of bad luck attached to leaving the tree up past the new year.

Annie said...

Far too much is made of Christmas. Give us back what 'real' Christmas should be all about. Families all together sharing small gifts around an open fire. Smiles, fun and games and laughter...lots of it. It starts far too early and thanks to adverts on the telly and shop windows being full of expensive gifts children expect more and more every year. It's sad. [better get off my orange box now :-)] A x

Jon said...

I love Christmas. However, I'm getting really fed up with the commercialism. It isn't even Halloween yet and some places already have the Xmas decorations up. Not quite bah-humbug. More like bah-pissed off.

Linda D said...

I'm pleased I'm not the only one! I love Christmas, but I hate all the hype retailers try to give it.

Unknown said...

I'd like to agree with you except that I have to start making lists in October and then start buying all the little presents I just love to give. It takes ages to think about each person and decide on something suitable and then find it. This year is important because I'm almost spent out and I'm not sure I'll be able to afford any of it next year. Unless I get unexpectedly rich, of course.

936000 said...

Loved finding your blog this Monday morning and I heartily agree. I couldn't believe it when on this past Friday evening while watching the telly, an advert for a xmas album came on. Jeesh!
Not only is annoying but by the time actual xmas time arrives, I'll be completely sick of it.

Daisy Debs said...

Oh dear ! .... I just put up my Christmas tree ! I have never done" Christmas too early "before , so when I discovered the box of decorations in the garage ,well ,I thought I,d give it a go ! The Tree is up ,gold and silver baubles and even chocolate tree decorations .. I,ll let you all know how this experiment goes . I feel happy and everyone who comes in laughs when they see it ...which cant be a bad thing ! Debbie :)

Fran Hill said...

Came over from Friko, and SO agree with this post. Can't they even wait until all the fireworks are over? I know why it is, though. They remember the year I bought chocolates for Christmas in October and had to buy more. It's all my fault. Sorry.

Twiglet said...

I just ignore all the Christmas hype and agree with Wipso and others. A quiet family, happy time is what I like!

SquirrelQueen said...

Where do I sign up? Add me to the list as well. I was in a store the other day looking for Halloween decor and I had to go through all the Christmas trees and decorations first. It's too early.

prashant said...

agree with this post. Can't they even wait until all the fireworks are over? I know why it is, though. They remember the year I bought chocolates for Christmas in October and had to buy more. It's all my fault. Sorry. Work From Home

Lillian Robinson said...

Um, I kinda like the decorations a little early, but definitely not until it's December! And do have them gone by very early January!

Elizabeth Mahlou said...

I like where you find your gold. Christmas can be a wonderful season if we do not make it about presents and self-centric stuff. My kids, when growing up, were entitled to one special gift; we made our tree decorations from popcorn and cranberries, decorated the house with color-paper rings that the kids made, and -- here is the best -- had time off from work to be with family. So, I'm not going to join the bah humbug queue, but I am not lining up at the mall, either!

kanishk said...

There used to be a bit of bad luck attached to leaving the tree up past the new year.
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