R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Yes it's only August. Londons Selfridges is opening its Christmas shop today. They will be selling Christmas Trees, tinsel and all christmas stuff. Apparently in 2009 the store sold 1000 of baubles in the first week.

http://www.selfridges.com/en/Whats-On/Latest-news/News/Christmas-2010-Early_Christmas%202010%20Early/?brdcrmb_trail=

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 8:04 am Post subject:

ColinB · Guest

I don't see what the issue is, Mark. If the demand is there then a retailer is mad not to respond to it. Clearly, based on previous years' trading figures, the demand is there.

Personally, I believe consumers are complete mugs (to steal a description from SFF above!) in the lead up to Christmas and - being an atheist - I will have none of it, but I don't blame the retailers.

That said, it annoys the hell out of me when I hear Jingle Bells or (worst still) that awful Slade song, being played in stores from late September. It's at such times that I think of going into hibernation. It's consumerism gone mad.

Rachel · Guest

Cool beans! There's a huge advantage to doing your Christmas Shopping in the summer: you can wear shorts and sandals: you can chill out sitting outside at a riverside cafe for lunch: you can get all nostaligic and cooey about snow covered streets without actually having to trudge through them: the queues are shorter: the trains are more likely to run: everyone is less stressed: you don't have to worry about staying out all day and then having to walk home from the station in the dark:... it's win win win win win win win win win for me - bring it on- wind up snowscenes that play jingle bells too... Smile

Christmas is all about planning. ( Well if you put all that stuff about Jesus and goodwill to all men to one side it is)

ColinB · Guest

Spot on. You put it so much more eloquently than I can, Rachel! Smile

littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

Rachel Xmas i can handle,it's the stuff leading upto it that does my head in.
Saying that i only have to buy presents for my daughter now but still Twisted Evil

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RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6791

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 5:04 pm Post subject:

I'm sure I've mentioned this before but I'm juuuust about free of any Christmas hassle in terms of worrying about presents and cards! Laughing

I have no family apart from one aunt up Cromer way and Mrs SFF and I agreed a long time ago that we wouldn't bother with presents as we treat ourselves throughout the year to a certain extent! Rolling Eyes

Don't get me wrong, I used to like Christmas day both when I was a kid and, when mum and my big sister were alive.. although to be truthful, the present buying for those two was a real chore most times.. little things were easy but "big" presents?? I mean, there's only so much one can own! Rolling Eyes

(within reason)

Plus, I resent paying all that cash for stupid wrapping paper and, worst of all, Mrs SFF continues to buy those pretty - but expensive, little bags.. the ones in glittery paper with the string handles..
Very nice but usually thrown away after one outing? such a waste!

In the old days, my sister very carefully unwrapped all her presents and saved the paper... and bows. Razz

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Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

ColinB · Guest

Rachel · Guest

Buying cards etc in the post Chrimbo sales is sound financial management. Smile

I like it! We have several of those nice pressy bags that we use over and over and we also save our wrapping paper- it’s fun smoothing it all out then patching it together to make it last another year- it’s all part of the fun- I think a lot of people miss out on the fun of Christmas cos they’re too busy trying to buy the perfect day.

The other thing about shopping in the summer is that you buy much better gifts because you have to think about them so much more: rather than just fight your way around in the plethora of three for two gift aisles at most big stores- throwing things in your basket then deciding who will get what later. Buy something useful-think about how they might use it, a tent for example, you never see those at Christmas, a pair of fishing waders, or maybe a barbeque utensil set, something the recipient can really look forward to using; if you know a young and in love couple, buy them a his and her joint burial plot- or a cremation voucher if you cannot run to a plot, they can look forward to using that their entire lives- gifts that last are so much better than a gone by the end of January matching shower gel and body lotion set for her or a shaving set for him…

Ah yes delivery…Ron ... you can only carry so much per trip hmmmmmm some London Shops deliver outside London though ... Smile

I have a burning desire to go to London now.... although that's nothing new...

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

ColinB · Guest

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 7:42 pm Post subject:

hmmm.. at 58 years old, I'm struggling to think of something I'd really want as a present.. silly things aside.. like a 52 Cadillac convertible..
I just can't think of anything. Confused

That's not to say I wouldn't appreciate a simple gift, of course I would, but something I actually want!
As a kid, there were loads of things I yearned for...
_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

ColinB · Guest

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 8:45 pm Post subject:

Yes and yes! Laughing

I have an Engineers cap ready just in case!

I do collect scale American steam locomotives and have a nice display unit for them.. no layout like Waterman or Rod Stewart - yet! but I've recently acquired three, 3/4" to the foot locomotives made by a fantastic fellow from Sheffield.. he likes to scratch build them over about 9 months but once completed, he doesn't want them.
I think I've managed to twist his arm to make me a model of my favourite Santa Fe steam loco... the one I posted the pictures of recently.. it'll work out to be about 6 feet long! so maybe there is something I'd like for Christmas!! Razz

_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

ColinB · Guest

My late uncle, Huw Richards, used to build working scale models of British steam locos at his engineering workshop, initially in Chester (during the 1960s) and then in Mold. He had his own light engineering business but his locos (many of which were built on commission and even in 1965/66 would sell for £300-400) were his main focus.

At his last house near Mold he had a copse at the back with a real railway track running around it. The locos required real granulated coal to power the steam engines and could pull several trailers with passengers!

Sadly he died about 10 years ago, but he served an apprenticeship with British Railways after being demobbed from the Navy during WW2.

I've got some pictures somewhere, and his son (who has inherited the assets and himself worked as an engineer on the steam railways in South Africa) has many more.