h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

That's the extent of Christmas shopping I've managed before getting sick of it.

Lists. The only way to go shopping. Without them I am lost...

I made the mistake of thinking I might pop into a shop in town today, whilst there, and pick up some new jeans... No chance... so busy with I guess all the Christmas shoppers out so I postponed jeans purchasing until Monday when hopfully during the day it'll be quieter than on a Saturday... I'll leave actual Christmas shopping for at least another two weeks mind

Was that hour spent online?

Online is the only way to shop.

indeed, this though was accompanying the wife doing her shopping.

There is no greater justice for years of gender-based oppression than the right of a wife to take her husband shopping.

Well, I was also supposed to be getting a book for my brother. Which I did.

I'm not really that much of a grump about Christmas, I just hate the commercialisation of it. Or rather, the *over* commercialisation. It really does seem that kids are growing up not only thinking that it's all about buying presents, but knowing full well that that's all the commercial aspect and not the "true meaning"

They know the true meaning, they just don't seem to care.

What I really object to is the notion that the quality of a present is measured by how much it cost than how much thought went into it.

That, and anyone who asks for the receipt for a present they don't like.

I don't buy many presents. But those I do I take a lot of time and care thinking about.

I get and keep a receipt in the case that there is anything actually *wrong* with the present, but I do not give the receipt too.

Thankfully I've only ever been asked once so that someone could take something back, and then they were very honest, thanked me for thinking about getting them that particular gift but that they honestly didn't like it. I was happy to admit I'd chosen wrongly, and they exchanged it for something they did like. Which to be fair was cheaper.

Speaking of the "true meaning" of christmas... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWQuDtxD2-c

In recent years I've taken to bundling rather than buying one big thing, unless I know the one big thing (like a hardcover book) is exactly right for the recipient. Otherwise, what I do is more like a Christmas stocking in a box.

I have to admit that I like choosing and buying (if not paying for!) Christmas presents. I spend a lot of time thinking about and researching what someone likes and doing my best to also surprise them. However, I really hate shopping and I absolutely hate how commercial Christmas has become. I've thought many times about 'not doing Christmas', but I enjoy giving surprises and all the other apsects (fun, food and frivolity shared with family and special friends - the 5 Fs!) too much.

There is one think I absolutely abhor about crimbo... the incessant carols. The commercials start just after Halloween, then after Thanksgiving (late November here) every other restaurant I go to at lunch pipes it in. I'm keeping notes this year. If I hear jingly - belly, kris kringly music I boycott that restaurant until January

So, you're not eating out much until January then?

I'm still eating out, just a lot more repetitively. I actually had a bit of a fright yesterday. One of the two Indian buffets I go to (one or the other usually once a week) was closed! Today I went to the other one and they were unsurprisingly packed.

I just found out from a coworker that their just moving locations.

I also found out yesterday that one of the Pho places I go is playing crimble music, so that's another on the list.

I may get really desperate and go to a Cajun restaurant I usually avoid because they play country music at high volume.
Or maybe I won't.

I don't mind Christmas carols, but then you almost never hear them in the shops/restaurants here. But there is only so many times I can hear Noddy yell "it's Chriiisstmaaassss" or be told to "feed the world" before I want to scream and

I don't go out much at this time of year! Thank Bob for internet shopping.

For me it's the xmas commercials on the teevee. I saw the first one on 1st November, and I have seen that first one many times again since then.

Noddy yelling "It's Chriiiiiiistmaaaas!" is one of the few things I like about the festive season. That, and The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College. Maybe a bit of turkey too. And time and a half on Christmas Day. Double time and a day off in lieu would be nicer though.

I was listening to Danny Baker a few days ago and he played whatever song has the line "It's the best time of the year". No, it isn't. What on earth makes anyone think that? Summer is best time of the year. Warm weather, long summer evenings, holidays, the seaside, the Proms, cricket, no bloody football, Wimbledon, sitting outside a pub in shirtsleeves, not getting huge fuel bills, parliament on holiday, my birthday. How is any of that better than bloody Christmas and the middle of bloody December