Christmas Shopping

According to Christmas.com (yes, you read that correctly) there are 69 days until Christmas!

I'm not sure whether I should be proud or ashamed to admit that I have bought my first Christmas present. I saw something that would be perfect for my Mum so, instead of leaving it, forgetting what it was and then later panicking, I bought it. So now I've started to work out what to get the rest of the family. I have a list of fair trade, eco and charity gifts which might be useful for those awkward people who already have everything. I like the idea of sponsoring a donkey or providing emergency medical equipment.

Thankfully, my nephews are easy this year - they're into Star Wars ... what a chore it will be shopping for their presents! hehe The only negative aspect of Christmastime is the commercialisation. Christmas has become to symbolise over-eating, over-spending. Presents are judged by their monetary value not the sentiment. Our families agree to cap spending at a reasonable amount and try instead to find unusual or funny gifts instead.

I have to admin, my weakness is decorations. Recently I went to a garden centre with my parents and they had a large section given over to Christmas decorations. There were the usual gaudy cheap things but there were many coloured themed displays of some really gorgeous decorations. A lot of the decorations had a scandanavian feel to them being wooden or ceramic. Lots of stylised snowmen and Father Christmas. Whilst October is a little early, I thoroughly enjoyed looking through them all and would have spent a fotune if we had a big house to put them in (at present I have more than enough decorations for our flat).

In the past I used to celebrate Christmas as a religious festival (although as a child, there is more emphasis on the presents and food!) but now I simply enjoy looking forward to the celebrations that will cheer an otherwise dark and cold time of year. I love making our home beautiful and welcoming. I have great fun making hand-made Christmas cards. Seeing the face of someone opening a present that I have chosen and realising that they like it is great. Most of all, I get really excited about cooking Christmas dinner - it's not always perfect but usually mostly edible.

So, if you observe mid-winter celebrations, I hope that you enjoy choosing presents for your loved ones, find a moment or two to write a note in your cards, and don't get carried away by the hype.

Happy Journeys