Comments on: Will it last until 2067? http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/ Rambles around the head of an Irish Grandad Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:46:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Grandad http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-27009 Grandad Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:57:49 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-27009 Gaye - Maybe we should get the Green Party to ban Christmas [the commercial variety]? What with all the waste wrapping paper, the cards and all those lights blazing everywhere? On second thoughts.. I've just remembered - the Green Party doesn't exist here any more..... Gaye - Maybe we should get the Green Party to ban Christmas [the commercial variety]? What with all the waste wrapping paper, the cards and all those lights blazing everywhere?

On second thoughts.. I’ve just remembered - the Green Party doesn’t exist here any more…..

]]> By: gaye http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-27003 gaye Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:54:44 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-27003 This year I joined the Kris Kringle (sp?) thing that Niall's family does. Not the out of the hat style, but random computer pick then automatic e-mail sent with attachment text file that has the name of the giftee. Still it's great, and is less pressure. Next year, I am going to stop buying gifts and writing cards altogether, and just donate money for a good cause or pay for education expenses of an orphan. Cards, what happens to the cards anyways, they get thrown away after, or locked away never to be looked at again. Waste... Cheers! Merry Christmas to all those who manage to remain merry despite all the madness around them! Gx This year I joined the Kris Kringle (sp?) thing that Niall’s family does. Not the out of the hat style, but random computer pick then automatic e-mail sent with attachment text file that has the name of the giftee. Still it’s great, and is less pressure.
Next year, I am going to stop buying gifts and writing cards altogether, and just donate money for a good cause or pay for education expenses of an orphan.
Cards, what happens to the cards anyways, they get thrown away after, or locked away never to be looked at again. Waste…
Cheers! Merry Christmas to all those who manage to remain merry despite all the madness around them!
Gx

]]> By: Grandad http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26928 Grandad Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:58:31 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26928 I think it generally getting to the stage where shops see this as an opportunity for a general free for all. They couldn't care less about the stress and financial worries of the individual, as long as they get the cash. I'm not surprised that 4 million are still paying off debts. And that 4 million is going to increase exponentially. It is strange, but of all the people I have known over the last ten or twenty years, the vast majority hate the commercialism, yet they feel pressured and compelled to join in. Far from being a season for the family and togetherness and peace, it has become the season for spoilt brats, stress, alcoholic overindulgence and poverty. *wanders down to the pub to drown his sorrows with his last few bob - sure f*ckit; it's Christmas* I think it generally getting to the stage where shops see this as an opportunity for a general free for all. They couldn’t care less about the stress and financial worries of the individual, as long as they get the cash. I’m not surprised that 4 million are still paying off debts. And that 4 million is going to increase exponentially.

It is strange, but of all the people I have known over the last ten or twenty years, the vast majority hate the commercialism, yet they feel pressured and compelled to join in.

Far from being a season for the family and togetherness and peace, it has become the season for spoilt brats, stress, alcoholic overindulgence and poverty.

*wanders down to the pub to drown his sorrows with his last few bob - sure f*ckit; it’s Christmas*

]]> By: Nick http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26918 Nick Sun, 16 Dec 2007 17:18:19 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26918 I was reading somewhere that 4 million people in the UK are still paying off debts from LAST Christmas!! Insanity or what? I was reading somewhere that 4 million people in the UK are still paying off debts from LAST Christmas!! Insanity or what?

]]> By: gaye http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26913 gaye Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:00:30 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26913 Such a great post GD. Having grown up in Turkey, I was only exposed to the wonderful expectations, celebrations, family get-togethers, gift exchanges on the evening of December 31st. Until the age of 21 I had no idea about Christmas celebrations and how it goes. Mind you, Turkey is a silly country really because while we did NOT celebrate Christmas we had the Santa, the tree, the lights, you name it. Just no holiday or days off. And turkey was cooked for the 31st dinner. My exposure to Christmas, therefore, was in my adult(?!) age and it coincides the more commercialised, shop till you drop, stress out about it 2 months prior to and pay off credit cards 6 months after the event. In Australia, it seems more and more people are enjoying Christmas less and less. Everyone rushes around and forgets to relax and enjoy the season, the spirit is almost all gone but the shopping malls are getting busier and busier. I can't say I have ever felt the excitement and the spirit of it all. Maybe this year in Ireland? I am not sure. The malls seem to be just the same as they are in Aus. Such a great post GD. Having grown up in Turkey, I was only exposed to the wonderful expectations, celebrations, family get-togethers, gift exchanges on the evening of December 31st. Until the age of 21 I had no idea about Christmas celebrations and how it goes. Mind you, Turkey is a silly country really because while we did NOT celebrate Christmas we had the Santa, the tree, the lights, you name it. Just no holiday or days off. And turkey was cooked for the 31st dinner.
My exposure to Christmas, therefore, was in my adult(?!) age and it coincides the more commercialised, shop till you drop, stress out about it 2 months prior to and pay off credit cards 6 months after the event. In Australia, it seems more and more people are enjoying Christmas less and less. Everyone rushes around and forgets to relax and enjoy the season, the spirit is almost all gone but the shopping malls are getting busier and busier.
I can’t say I have ever felt the excitement and the spirit of it all.
Maybe this year in Ireland? I am not sure. The malls seem to be just the same as they are in Aus.

]]> By: janet http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26912 janet Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:25:09 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26912 A link to how Christmas really originated <a href="http://lifesinwestcliffe.blogspot.com/2005/12/part-i-winter-solstice.html#links" rel="nofollow">winter solstice</a> A link to how Christmas really originated winter solstice

]]> By: janet http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26911 janet Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:18:58 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26911 A past link on how christmas orginated. http://lifesinwestcliffe.blogspot.com/search?q=winter+soltice Also another good link to follow. http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2007/11217.html A past link on how christmas orginated. http://lifesinwestcliffe.blogspot.com/search?q=winter+soltice

Also another good link to follow. http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2007/11217.html

]]> By: Grandad http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26910 Grandad Sun, 16 Dec 2007 14:06:00 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26910 Nick - I believe it was Queen Vic who brought the Christmas Tree into vogue, and the goose for dinner. Turkey is another damned American import ;) Nick - I believe it was Queen Vic who brought the Christmas Tree into vogue, and the goose for dinner. Turkey is another damned American import ;)

]]> By: Nick http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26909 Nick Sun, 16 Dec 2007 13:54:26 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26909 I just saw Hugh Laurie on TV saying that the modern Christmas with all its elaborate rituals only started in Victorian times. Before that, it was just a day's holiday and that was that. I just saw Hugh Laurie on TV saying that the modern Christmas with all its elaborate rituals only started in Victorian times. Before that, it was just a day’s holiday and that was that.

]]> By: Grandad http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26907 Grandad Sun, 16 Dec 2007 12:55:53 +0000 http://www.headrambles.com/2007/12/14/will-it-last-until-2067/#comment-26907 Hi Hullaballoo, and welcome! :) The reason Christmas was so exciting then was because it was such a relatively short event. And, as children, we never knew what was coming. It was full of surprises. Nowadays, they all put in their shopping lists, and get exactly what they want - usually extremely expensive. The magic and mystery are gone, for the older children at least. Hi Hullaballoo, and welcome! :)

The reason Christmas was so exciting then was because it was such a relatively short event. And, as children, we never knew what was coming. It was full of surprises. Nowadays, they all put in their shopping lists, and get exactly what they want - usually extremely expensive.

The magic and mystery are gone, for the older children at least.

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