Tuesday

[sobrique]

9 working days to go.
I'm really starting to get a bit excited about the new job. Apprehensive a bit, but excited too.

However I've realised that I can't really 'not think' about christmas until the new job starts. Because then I'll have a couple of weeks of mayhem where I won't want to be thinking about christmas shopping either.

For the record. I HATE christmas shopping. The time of year just ... I don't know, irritates me a lot. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind christmas per-se. I mean, religious festival, fair enough, I'm not such a grumpy git that I'll go and shout "bah humbug" at the celebrations. It's just the shopping part. The incessant media messages of 'buy this stuff, because it's christmas' that really starts to get my goat. Combined with having to contend with the puling spawn to actually get into any shops to buy stuff, all the while tripping over hyperactive kiddies.

Ugh.

That's even leaving aside the inevitable question (and subsequent answer) "So, what would you like for christmas?". I think in many ways, I'm handicapped. I don't have a TV, so I have not been told what I should be wanting and desiring.

Seriously, think about the things you're aware of wanting. How many of those can be traced to advertising and marketing. Of that subset, how many are from the TV.

Oh well, at least Amazon has some suggestions.

Comments

[forest-rose.livejournal.com]

Are you a making-things kind of person? I find this gets away from the whole commercial thing a bit more and is fun to do - and can be done in front of a good film! Last year I made jewellery for a lot of my girlie friends, with leather, crocheted wire and semi-precious stones. Sadly, this year I have both far less time and far less money, so I will have to come up with creative ideas that don't take long to do, or just give in and shop.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

Sadly not. My 'making things' ability is only slightly better than that of a dead squirrel.

[csi-ellie.livejournal.com]

I am good at making food and drink disappear. As i recall so are you!!
Bah (mint) Humbugs

[(Anonymous)]

How about a TV ?

[crashbarrier.livejournal.com]

Have you considered the art of subtle interrogation?... i find it most usefull for the aining of insight into the uying of presents...

or just buy everyone a rubber chicken.. you can't go wrong with that:D

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

I've tried the 'so what do you want then' angle, but ... well that similarly difficult :)

[sebbo.livejournal.com]

rubber chicken??? oddly tempting :)

Christmas Presents

[(Anonymous)]

You can buy some excellent russian dolls in the format of past communist leaders. Ebay :)

N Peksa

Christmas

[(Anonymous)]

Hi the original gifts were allegedly gold, frankincense and myrhh.
Still useful?
Today any gift that is slightly thought provoking or original is a bonus.
And I still have the Xmas craft decoration you made at school so you are Blue Peter trained!!!!!!!

[elrohana.livejournal.com]

Why do it if you hate it?

Last year most people got an ethical gift from us from Oxfam Unwrapped. This year, they'll likely get home-made stuff (food and so on) as I am skint and Beloved is apathetic. I have no idea what to get Beloved and as we have never done 'what do you want' but have always bought surprises, I have as little idea as you do. And we do have a TV but we don't watch it. So you're not the only one handicapped by lack of comsumerist knowledge. Frankly, if its such a chore to you, then you aren't in the spirit of Xmas, and I would suggest sending ALL the cash you would have spent to your favourite charity and just sending everyone you would have bought for, a card telling them that you've done that. Chances are, some will take the hump and not bother with you next year, and the ones that matter will get the idea and do something similar for you next time. You never know, it might even make a few people think about the true spirit of Xmas. I'm not even a Christian, and I can see there's something wrong with this whole consumer madness.