How early for Christmas decorations?

[Govangirl]

Och and while I'm at it, here's something else that gets right on my goat at this time of year! We have 'Secret Santa' in work which I have to say is a great idea. It's set at £5 and you all pick out a name and buy for them. I go to a lot of trouble for my 'person' but do I get the same effort returned? Ha! The person who gets my name out year on year must be the same frickin one and they're trying to better themselves each year trying to find the crappiest present ever! Last year, I got a toothbrush with an unmentionable part of the anatomy at the end of it and some 'reindeer dropping' chocolate nuts! As far as I'm concerned these 2 gifts say more about the giver than me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another year I got a knitted bobble hat!!!!!!!!! Anyone who barely knows me would surely realise it's the last thing I'd be seen in! But no, someone thought it would be an ideal thing to wear when on break duty???????????????????? I'd rather have my head fall off with frostbite than be seen sporting a striped woolly tea cosy!!!!
Secret Santa? Hate it.

[Lossit Lass]

I know, sad isn't it? being anti-Christmas but it was against my will...no really!!! I'm generally a positive person & I fought against succumbing for years, I knew it wasn't right & would only hurt me in the end...........
Actually, My son is 12(!) & we've done all of the things you mentioned (besides putting the letters up the chimney...love that! But we did drop them in the mail). I have done quite well playing jolly Mrs. Claus for his sake & doing that has always changed my holiday disposition for the better. Kids are great aren't they? For helping us stay young......while aging us in the process...... He still gets very excited about it all & I feed on that knowing that I WILL MISS IT TERRIBLY SOMEDAY Therefore, I have lightened up a whole lot by refusing to let the commercial side of Christmas get the better of me!!

How does America do it up better here? Not questioning your opinion, just curious about the differences. Maybe seeing it from an alternate perspective will give me even more ammo against Scrooge
Btw, I used to live in Campbeltown (Lossit Farm, Machrihanish). My dad was stationed there with the Navy in the 80's. A few years back, having found this forum, I began to reconnect with a few friends from there. It's been fun! However, seeing all the pix & hearing the talk has only made me more 'home'sick for the place
I see you're in England, are you originally from C'town?

The little cutie in my avatar is, sadly, no one I know. It's a picture I found online & saved because it's just SO sweet...she throws out some happy energy with her beautiful smile & irresistible offer, doesn't she

We're having Thanksgiving at our home this year & will make Christmas plans with the family (in-laws, my family are in Florida ) at that time. I'm thinking about suggesting we do the Secret Santa thing amongst the adults & focus the bulk of our gift-giving on the kids only. It just makes sense. & I'm confident a lot more thought & care will be put into the gift-giving than was offered by your S.S. at work Geez, those are about as lame as it gets, huh?!? They don't even earn a "Well, it's the thought that counts"! Actually, it took more effort to go that direction than it would've to give you something nice. Talk about a Scrooge!!!! & a bit of a kinky one at that, apparently!!! I wonder if you missed the memo explaining the gifts were to be of the gag variety?!?

Well, better get to cleaning our stye. Don't want to raise any red flags with my in-laws Thanksgiving day

(((dang, sorry about the length of my post I'll try to shut my yap sooner next time!!)))

[Ninja Mania]

I chuckled when I read this topic last night - then I drove into the village tonight and theres a christmas tree in the big window of one of the "posh" houses!!

Ive been to your wee village hunners and hunners oh times Ags, but ive never ever seen those (posh houses) that you mentioned. :L

[Govangirl]

(((dang, sorry about the length of my post I'll try to shut my yap sooner next time!!)))

Lass4Lossit, great post, I loved it! Don't make them shorter! I'm getting fed-up with Christmas at the moment but you can bet your Thanksgiving turkey that come the 20th I'll be right into the swing of it! I go overboard and decorate the whole of my house - even the dog doesn't escape! I'm having an Open House on the 20th and I love it when the place is full of all my friends. Every year I make the whole family sit down and watch 'It's a Wonderful Life' on Christmas Eve but this year I'll need to heavily bribe my teenage son!
How does the USA do it better? Are you joking?????????????????? Everything is just so bigger and brighter. The decorated houses outside are just awesome! The shops have better decorations and they have Christmassy stuff you just can't buy here - I know as I buy it all! My latest acquisition was a Santa potato masher!!!! You can't live without these things!!!!
No, didn't live in Campbeltown (must have been a great place to be a child) but just went on holiday twice a year to Islay and Campbeltown as a youngster - have great memories.

[Ags]

I chuckled when I read this topic last night - then I drove into the village tonight and theres a christmas tree in the big window of one of the "posh" houses!!

Ive been to your wee village hunners and hunners oh times Ags, but ive never ever seen those (posh houses) that you mentioned. :L

HEY?? What do you mean auld fla? Have you not been wearing your spex ????

Great to read the tales GG and L4L - maybe you will come back to visit us soon Chrissy?? Next reunion may just be 5 years away - get saving your cents!!

My worry this year is Santa!! My wee toots is 10 and in a composite primary6/7. I think she still believes - she's not letting on if she doesn't....but I don't want her being made a fool of at school either if everybody "knows" and she doesn't!!
HELP!????!!!!???? I just hope as a mum I get one more year out of it! I will put up - just this once more - with being wakened up at 5am - having only got into bed 4 hours earlier after peeling sprouts for 20ish lovely family to arrive the next day when I am ready to roll into my bed again!! Santa usually has a wee glass of port in our house Govangirl. I always made it clear that the great man really wasn't that keen on sherry!!

[Lossit Lass]

Ok...I give...how do I use the "Quote" thingy, to quote people in my replies??? I looked for help in tech support threads 1st & did a 'search' for any tutorials but alas, it appears no one else needed help with this I guess?!


ANYWAY..............

GGirl - You'd have to tie me up, gag me & hold my eyelids up with toothpicks to keep me there watching 'It's a Wonderful Life"...A G A I N...!!!!!!!! Don't get me wrong, I love it, but just-can't-take-any-more-of-it Now put me in front of 'A Christmas Story' or National Lampoon's 'Christmas Vacation' & I'll sit, & laugh & laugh, time & again, in the same season!!!!!!!
Your take on the American Christmas is true, & pretty much what gags me most We SOOOO over-do it, IMO. But of course that's a (suppressed? oppressed???) Humbug's take who endures it year after year. Now I will say that I do LOVE to drive around & look at all the Christmas lights!!
Your having a 'Santa potato masher' is hilarious I laughed so hard at that!! Very cute

Ags - I am going to start saving now!!! I really am going to work hard to save up for a trip there. I want to bring my son & hubby (if I can drag him...he HATES to fly!!) to see the places I've talked about
As for your daughter, I wouldn't worry about how she finds out...just that it happens on it's own! & if she already knows, surely you would've heard about it (unless she's a real smarty & intends to keep you jumping thru all your hoops ). Casey knows, he found out from kids at school when he was nine. The exact age I was when I was so grudgingly told by a schoolmate!! The problem with kids learning about Santa is they then realize that all the fanciful holiday characters, down to the tooth fairy, are just fiction...nae, parental LIES
Good luck with that

[Govangirl]

You need to login and in the post that you want to quote, click on the QUOTE button in the top right hand corner. You can adjust and delete it accordingly.

I will never never tire of Wonderful life - George Bailey is a hero!
And the Santa masher gave me and my pal a real laugh. I had seen it in T J Maxx but thought it was ridiculous. Yet, sadly, I was strangely drawn to it. I kept thinking about it and when I decided I couldn't let it go for a mere $6.99 I returned to get it and someone else was putting it in their trolley!!!!

I'm not proud of it, I'm really not but I followed her and when she was trying on shoes I took it out her trolley as my need was greater than hers. My friend and I laughed about it all the way back to the hotel and then had wine which made us sillier. When our hubbies got in, mine saw the masher and asked, "What the **** is that!" and my pal and I laughed so much we fell off the sofa and she claimed she had pulled a muscle in her head!!!!!!! which only made me laugh more!

Anyway, now I'm going to get it in the neck by someone moaning at me for being a villainous trolley-stealer and assaulting that poor woman's integrity!

[Ileach B]

My worry this year is Santa!! My wee toots is 10 and in a composite primary6/7. I think she still believes - she's not letting on if she doesn't....but I don't want her being made a fool of at school either if everybody "knows" and she doesn't!!
HELP!????!!!!???? I just hope as a mum I get one more year out of it! I will put up - just this once more - with being wakened up at 5am - having only got into bed 4 hours earlier after peeling sprouts for 20ish lovely family to arrive the next day when I am ready to roll into my bed again!! Santa usually has a wee glass of port in our house Govangirl. I always made it clear that the great man really wasn't that keen on sherry!! [/quote]

Ags, my mini hasn't mentioned Santa this year, not yet! As you know they are the same age. So I think the doubt maybe there but so is the want to believe in the magic of it!( toothfairy is the same) But having the other mad mini will make up for it as this year is the best, 3 years old 4 days before Santa arrives!


I think one more year is what we are going to get out of that pair! And as for getting up at 5am that happens in our house with mad mini every day!

Also put the decorations up next weekend! Can't wait for Erin to try and be the Fairy on top of the tree!

[Ags]

And the Santa masher gave me and my pal a real laugh. I had seen it in T J Maxx but thought it was ridiculous. Yet, sadly, I was strangely drawn to it. I kept thinking about it and when I decided I couldn't let it go for a mere $6.99 I returned to get it and someone else was putting it in their trolley!!!!

I'm not proud of it, I'm really not but I followed her and when she was trying on shoes I took it out her trolley as my need was greater than hers. My friend and I laughed about it all the way back to the hotel and then had wine which made us sillier. When our hubbies got in, mine saw the masher and asked, "What the **** is that!" and my pal and I laughed so much we fell off the sofa and she claimed she had pulled a muscle in her head!!!!!!! which only made me laugh more!

Anyway, now I'm going to get it in the neck by someone moaning at me for being a villainous trolley-stealer and assaulting that poor woman's integrity!

You mad wummin!!

[quote="Ileach B"
I think one more year is what we are going to get out of that pair! [/quote] I agree - what a horrible thought though!

[Govangirl]

Santa usually has a wee glass of port in our house Govangirl. I always made it clear that the great man really wasn't that keen on sherry!!

Never thought of that. I like a wee glass of Harvey's myself but I'm thinking of taking a leaf out of Ag's book and leaving a nice big chilled Baileys this year!

[Govangirl]

[ You mad wummin!!

Aye, but my friend and I are scared now because we've seen that advert with all the women laughing and it seems we won't be able to do it much longer without Tena Lady!!!!!!

[Ileach B]

It is a horrible thought our babies are growing up! wasn't that long ago they were in Meadows!

But hey ho I go thro it again,but this one has I'm sure was born about 10 years old!

And as for Santa in our house he gets a big glass of Chardonney! Or I think it is more for his missus who wraps it all!

[Govangirl]

My wee one is 12 now and last year she was in two minds as to whether or not she believed. I think it was going to 'big school' that did it. But she loves Christmas and is still wanting to write her letter to Santa and leaving the carrot and drink. We've got all our Christmas films lined up to watch in our jammies and her favourite is 'A Miracle on 34th Street' although last year we watched 'The Christmas Shoes' with Rob Lowe and were both ill for hours with all the crying!!!!!!!!!!

Have any of you read 'The Christmas Box' by Richard Paul Evans? I'm sure you have Lass as it was in the States I was introduced to it. I've read the trilogy and there is nothing sadder and more inspirational than The first. Really recommended for a Christmas treat and a Christmas greet!

[Lossit Lass]

[quote="Govangirl"]
I'm not proud of it, I'm really not but I followed her and when she was trying on shoes I took it out her trolley as my need was greater than hers. My friend and I laughed about it all the way back to the hotel and then had wine which made us sillier. When our hubbies got in, mine saw the masher and asked, "What the **** is that!" and my pal and I laughed so much we fell off the sofa and she claimed she had pulled a muscle in her head!!!!!!! which only made me laugh more!


OMG, I'm ROFLMAO!!!!!! (Ha! I always wanted to use that whole acrynom at once ) You are a naughty girl...makes me wonder what else you're capable of

[Lossit Lass]

[quote="Govangirl"]You need to login and in the post that you want to quote, click on the QUOTE button in the top right hand corner. You can adjust and delete it accordingly.

Thank you
Now, bear with me....plz look at my last response to you (in this thread), where's the pretty little box/frame that should be around it? I clicked 'Quote' & when my reply box came up I deleted what I didn't want to quote but as you can see from my resulting post, it didn't do right