The FastDay Forum

Thought I'd start this thread because I saw my first three Christmas and Thanksgiving TV ads tonight. OMG it is early November for goodness sake and still mid 20's C here in California! I'm not ready....

Please post anything you feel outraged about or even excited by the upcoming holiday season

The only good thing to come of it is that Dancing with the Stars is really hotting up!

[Debs]

First Xmas ad for me on Aussie tv last night, which compared to Britain is quite restrained I feel!!!
I shall be working on the mine site from the 16th until the 5th this year so Xmas will be passing me by. Not a bad thing imho as I can focus on being healthy, and look forward to my tropical holiday in January.
It will be interesting to see what Xmas on a mine is like, I am not too optimistic about the food but I shall bring a few goodies back with me!!

Hi Karen, I'm getting used to the shops starting to sell Christmas things but in my neighborhood I just saw giant Christmas candy canes on someone's lawn and I thought ' really??'
Maybe there's a local prize given out for the first person to decorate their house?
Great attitude @Debs, where are you going for your January holidays?

I'm looking forward to seeing the house decorations over here compared to Newcastle Upon Tyne. If Halloween is anything to go by, I'm in for a treat!

[Debs]

New Caledonia @Julianna, my big birthday is on the 29th December and we were going then, but because of work we've had to postpone it until the 7th Jan instead. Not happy about working but hey, I have a job!
I do quite miss those dark, decorated days in England leading up to Christmas, but I don't miss the over consumption, feral shops and queuing miles to get into a shopping centre!!!

How wonderful @Debs, you will have a wonderful well deserved holiday without the Christmas stall/ gain that the rest of us may have. You're holiday begins a day before my dad and Elvis' 80th birthday which is on the 80th Jan!

Saw Holidays and thought holidays, not Christmas. Christmas here means yet another review at work, with a new regime, as all of the last lot (who did last year's review) have either left suddenly, or retired, or moved to 'pursue other interests' Oddly, am not as worried by this as last year. The 'new regime' have no direct experience of the services in question, and will need the experience and expertise of the few of us who are left to be able to 'move forward' in any viable shape or form that is sustainable.

And Christmas? It does seem over-rated to me, and a time of too much excess, and extremes of either good or bad, so I will take it as it comes, but with no great expectation or anticipation. I will just get on with planning my next real 'Holiday' next year ...

christmas ..at risk of sounding bah humbug,i can take it or leave it
It should be magical but its become a materialistic commercialised event. My major gripe about it is the hype goes on from september,but by Christmas night i hear people say to each other,'how was your Christmas'
and 'Well thats it for another year!'
Like @debssaid, i love to see the dark wintry streets brightened by the twinkly lights of december ( but no sooner)...winter wd be so dark without all that ..
i've given up doing pressies or cards except pressies for children and for DD and SI L..i must be getting old coz i think kids should receive traditional games ( this year ive bought snakes n ladders,snap,and dominoes ..and books of course) and i love to give shiny pound coins ...but why all the massive prezzys for small children?
I prefer to give most of my card and gift money to children and animal charities
Remember those who are in need all year round but especially at Christmas x

I've made a start on presents, they have to be practical, like clothes or a cookbook or bike parts to make it worth while. Though 3 year old grandson wants a Buzz Lightyear so who am I to disagree :0)
We only put up a Xmas tree with a train running round the base in the front room a week or so before the day, it's enough.

Anyone slow cooked duck legs? I'm considering trying it though OH says they're very fatty?

Sorry folk I enjoy Christmas as we get to see the whole family.
I ignore Christmas ads so they don't bother me and I don't mind indulging the grandchildren-so there!

[Tracieknits]

I'm so sick of the overcommercialization myself, all of the pressure to get gifts for everyone you've ever met, and the INYOURFACE stress of the season. I think it's ridiculous and even though I'm not a religious person, I can't help but wonder what all of this consumer culture mayhem has to do with Jesus, a miracle of light or the rebirth of the sun.

I started seeing Christmas crap in the stores in October - infringing on the Halloween stuff in the seasonal aisle.

I'm so over it all. Christmas is great, for about a week. I'd love it if the stuff only started 12 days before Christmas. But by Christmas eve, I'm so ready to not hear another stupid song or see anything red or green for a while.

While it's nice to see family, we have some unreasonable family on both sides and we get pressure from both sides to spend the day with them and ignore the other spouse's family. But all we really want to do is tell them all to grow up and go away, because we're staying home without any of them! LOL

Oh well. My son is 14, so I won't have to deal with this stuff much longer Bruce and I have been saying we really just want to escape and spend Christmas in Paris.

[carorees]

I'm so sick of the overcommercialization myself, all of the pressure to get gifts for everyone you've ever met, and the INYOURFACE stress of the season. I think it's ridiculous and even though I'm not a religious person, I can't help but wonder what all of this consumer culture mayhem has to do with Jesus, a miracle of light or the rebirth of the sun.

I started seeing Christmas crap in the stores in October - infringing on the Halloween stuff in the seasonal aisle.

I'm so over it all. Christmas is great, for about a week. I'd love it if the stuff only started 12 days before Christmas. But by Christmas eve, I'm so ready to not hear another stupid song or see anything red or green for a while.

While it's nice to see family, we have some unreasonable family on both sides and we get pressure from both sides to spend the day with them and ignore the other spouse's family. But all we really want to do is tell them all to grow up and go away, because we're staying home without any of them! LOL

Oh well. My son is 14, so I won't have to deal with this stuff much longer Bruce and I have been saying we really just want to escape and spend Christmas in Paris.

You just get it all off your chest @tracieknits! No need to be reticent!

I agree completely however...bah humbug!

Something like this used to be my only holiday decoration until I made a new decorative cover to have out all the time. I think I need a new one: http://www.amazon.com/CafePress-Bah-Hum ... bug+pillow

I'll do my cards to let old friends know that I'm still alive and I'll get gifts for grandchildren (children just get a check or gift card) and look forward to seeing them all on the day at my son's house where I don't have to lift a finger.

Someone in Strength Class said that Halloween was her favorite holiday because, "there's no cooking and no church!"

Good topic thanks @rawkaren - I was in our small local shopping centre yesterday and standing outside of the supermarket Coles, was a decorated Christmas Tree! You have got to be kidding I thought!
Having been in retail over many years I have become quite immune to the Songs and ads, and our one granddaughter is spoilt the most, whilst the 'kids and partners' just get money gift card or a book.
So true @Tracieknits - thanks for the giggle.
Hi @Debs - I might come over across and join you!

cheers
Maggie

How wonderful @Debs, you will have a wonderful well deserved holiday without the Christmas stall/ gain that the rest of us may have. You're holiday begins a day before my dad and Elvis' 80th birthday which is on the 80th Jan!

@julianna i' m coming to live where you are..you have such long months in Oz!