High street booming

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

I'm not meaning to be inflamatory, but it just struck me that th phrase abov was rater telling as to the situation the worldf inds itself in. Christmas should be a time for celebration regardless of money and economic climate -for Christians anyway- in fact, one could argue even more so.

I was thinking the same thing, but couldn't express it as politely and as well as you've done, LIR. Thanks.

hethmar

amcluesent wrote: »

Anyone else making 'crackers' from used toilet-rolls and instructing everyone at the dining table to shout 'crack'?

I know that was a joke - but in fact we did do that some years ago when the kids were small. We made the crackers, put little toys in and they thought it was wonderful. Ditto, making the paper chains, it was lovely to sit with my sons and make the decorations ourselves, sticky bits of paper all over the floor, lol. The "fairy" (angel) looking a bit skew wiff (toilet roll again ) Dont knock it, more fun and much more satisfying than buying a £20 box of crackers from Tesco. Mind you, I DONT recommend making the holly wreath yourself, cut my hands to bits doing that

SingleSue

One of our decorations broke last year or the year before and it was after the shops had shut so I got all the old magazines and toot that comes through your door, cut them into strips and made paper chains....the kids thought I was mad!

Very therapeutic though

neverdespairgirl

Making Christmas decorations is fantastic fun. I loved doing it when I was a child.

Davesnave

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Making Christmas decorations is fantastic fun. I loved doing it when I was a child.

So did I, till the day when the red hot poker I was using to put candle holes in the yule log, burned into the dining room table. Well, I was only about 12!
My Dad, being originally in carpentry, could easily have fixed it; but no, the hole stayed there.

Generali's post of Sandie Shaw's 'Always Something There to remind Me' comes to mind!

Max_Headroom_3

mitchaa wrote: »

I watch my pennies just like everyone else but with children, im sure you'll know christmas is not cheap.

I suspect that depends very much on how those children have been brought up, and their resultant expectation levels...

Max_Headroom_3

lostinrates wrote: »

I'm not meaning to be inflamatory, but it just struck me that the phrase above was rather telling as to the situation the world finds itself in.

Christmas should be a time for celebration regardless of money and economic climate -for Christians anyway- in fact, one could argue even more so. I am not a practising Christian, but neither am I mocking of the faith I was brought up in, and in seems terribly sad to be that 'purchase power' and a time of celebrating goodness in the world have become so inextricably linked.

I'm not for a moment suggesting a giftless clebration would be good medicine for us all, but even for the non religious, time with friends and/or family, a break from the normal routine, an oppertunity to reflect on the good things in life, and New Year being a good time to strive to be better ourselves...of course these go hand in hand with giving as we can to the people we love or want to give a little pleasure too, but the fact that being cautious financially is automatically equated with misery at Christmas I really do find sad.

Along with everyone else we'll be cooking and eating very indulgantly, but quite frankly I'd have bread and water and enjoy time off with DH more than I'd have the fun meal and all the presents in the world without the love.

Should have read the whole thread first, you put it so much better than me.

Yes, totally agree, great shame that the "success" of Christmas for many families seems inextricably linked to the cost.

I suspect there'll be many having a final credit card blow-out this year, one last good Christmas before finally facing economic reality in the new year.

lostinrates

Max_Headroom wrote: »

you put it so much better than me.

.

rare event for me these days Max, to express my self reasonably, so I'll bask in the the glory of my success, thank you for the compliment

Geenie

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Making Christmas decorations is fantastic fun. I loved doing it when I was a child.

So did I! Blue Peter came into it's own at Xmas time when a child. We made the large sweetie jar snow man, covered in cotton wool and filled with Quality Street, and of course the wire coat hanger thingy with candles, whose name I forget! Licking paper chains and making our own cards.....it was so simple then.

My highlight when a kid at Xmas, was getting one of those big books of cardboard dolls, with all the different clothes you pressed out and then put on in varying combinations! Had hours of fun with those. :cool:

They made up for the fact my mother would never buy me a Sindy doll!

Kez100

I loved making decorations too. We still have some of those I made at Brownies