Every year, Christmas gets earlier.
A local garden centre has its Christmas grotto, complete with Father Christmas, and we had to visit Tr*** M***s at Merthyr and I noticed Christmas trees on sale.
I bought a load of fruit for a potential Christmas cake on Saturday, and we’ve already discuss where to get our tree from. That conversation was prompted by me buying a Christmas tree ornament while in Italy last week.
I've already got some presents, all wrapped and with gift tags. In my defence, the run-up to Christmas is pretty busy for a musician, plus we have some family birthdays just days before. The food bit will be decided next time both sons are home and when we have some idea of who will be here - the lodger has already booked for him and his father.
On the music front things aren't looking good. Two of the most reliable couples in the choir are going on a cruise over Christmas, which is irksome to say the least. God forbid we have to resort to Ru**er.
My U3a Art Group booked our Christmas lunch a couple of weeks ago. It's an Italian restaurant so that'll be turkey pizza (other options are available tbf)
Doing my regular supermarket order last week I noticed that they already had their Christmas goodies available for pre-ordering.
Their convenience stores have had mince pies on the shelves since the w/e before the children went back to school.
I don't have to think abut Christmas food these days. We have eaten with the vegetarian/autistic branch of the family for the past 9 years so, all things being equal, we will be having Quorn Vegetable Family Roast and all the trimmings for the tenth year running.
At the moment I am dreading the prospect of buying/receiving Christmas presents with insufficient knowledge of the recipients to know what would be welcome
In today's weekly work update email we had a link to the internal page telling us our departmental scheduling slots for booking leave for Christmas and New Year 2026/27. Given that the majority of the people in the organisation work shifts, and a lot of us really do book leave 15 months in advance, ICT probably do need to do this!
As usual, I have finished my Christmas shopping. My goal is always to finish by the end of September so I can enjoy other parts of the season. Advent is my favorite season of the church year. I have also created a few cards and will continue to do so through November. On the other hand I do not put up the tree until Christmas Eve and celebrate all twelve days of Christmas. I did buy a frozen duck last week as they are hard to come by and it was on sale. I'm thinking I will fix it for Christmas dinner.
If you were a few hundred miles further north I'd be delighted to come and help you out!
I sort of expect that every Christmas has to have a bit of Ru**er, although one piece per year is quite sufficient!
Allegedly someone once told him their choir wasn't singing his Gaelic Blessing any more, and JR replied, "that's all right; I've already had two cars and a new kitchen out of it". 😂
If you were a few hundred miles further north I'd be delighted to come and help you out!
I sort of expect that every Christmas has to have a bit of Ru**er, although one piece per year is quite sufficient!
Allegedly someone once told him their choir wasn't singing his Gaelic Blessing any more, and JR replied, "that's all right; I've already had two cars and a new kitchen out of it". 😂
Discussion of the arrival of Christmas decorations at the local major hardware store on my local radio station today. In pre-news chit chat, the newsreader noted that mince pies had already been spotted in the shops. I'm very glad that I no longer do much in person shopping, or I would be tempted every single time!!
Unlike years past, I have made no attempts at Christmas shopping, but might ask the kids to start compiling their wish-lists, so I can start my online ordering. I saw upthread the mention of Christmas cake and perhaps that is something I will make a start on. Make sure I have the fruit and rum ready to go for soaking, rather than doing it the week before the event!!
Maybe it's a Brit thing, because I instantly read it as Lloyd-Webber.
That's what I made it, but on the second reading, not instantly
On a point of pedantry, the man's surname is "Lloyd Webber", with no hyphen. He was ennobled as Lord Lloyd-Webber, because "Lord Lloyd Webber" would read as a man called Lloyd who was the son of a peer.
The Halloween decorations are starting to show up in my neighborhood. A witch is crashing into a tree across the street, and a ghost is on the lamppost next door. Time to dig out my own spooky decor.
The Halloween decorations are starting to show up in my neighborhood. A witch is crashing into a tree across the street, and a ghost is on the lamppost next door. Time to dig out my own spooky decor.
This has inspired me to start a thread on Halloween fun stuff.
@Twangist: actually Lloyd Webber (William) is the choral equivalent of Lloyd Webber (Andrew). The musical director of a group I used to sing with once subjected us and our hapless audiences to a Christmas concert composed almost entirely of William Lloyd Webber's works. This is one of the reasons why I no longer sing with them.
I made my Christmas pudding last year. It's probably time to take the wrappings off and add more brandy.
@Twangist: actually Lloyd Webber (William) is the choral equivalent of Lloyd Webber (Andrew). The musical director of a group I used to sing with once subjected us and our hapless audiences to a Christmas concert composed almost entirely of William Lloyd Webber's works. This is one of the reasons why I no longer sing with them.
I made my Christmas pudding last year. It's probably time to take the wrappings off and add more brandy.
I’m not a fan of Oh holy night “ but that seems to be a favourite on ClassicFM 😟
What? Already? Is Outrage!
So far, Our Place is only advertising the Carol Service (followed by the Christmas Bizarre Bazaar) on 14th December. I daresay FatherInCharge has the rest of the services worked out, but I won't add them to the website until next month, once Pumpkintide/Hallowtide etc. are over!
Time to order some Winterfest cards, I guess - I usually patronise a deserving secular charity, rather than religious stuff.
Tesco today were displaying lots of those alcoholic gift sets - various miniatures of GIN, WHISKY, and so on - making me feel quite thirsty. I didn't spot them, but no doubt there were displays of CHOCOLATE and CHEESE, too.
With November upon us, I guess it's time I acquired some greetings cards - religious Stuff for friends at Church, and secular/humorous Stuff for my family. I usually (said he, virtuously) buy online from the charities I regularly support.
I wish I could not give any Christmas presents. That sounds really mean. I don’t begrudge the money, but I do not know what to get anyone and they mostly don’t know what to suggest. They get enough stuff already. It becomes a chore, instead of a pleasure. Besides, we have four family birthdays in December/ January.
@Puzzler, I announced to my family that I do not wish any Christmas gifts or for my December. Birthday. If they want to remember me please give to your local food bank. Perhaps if you did that, others would follow your idea.
My family simply doesn't do presents, but I buy gifts (mostly alcohol!) for three good friends, so it's not too onerous.
I agree with @Puzzler that choosing gifts can become a really painful exercise, completely spoiling what should be a happy festival. The total commercialisation of Christmas (or Christmass, as FatherInCharge insists on calling it) Is Outrage...too many victims desperately spending money they haven't got, on Stuff they neither want nor need, for people they don't like.
I wish I could not give any Christmas presents. That sounds really mean. I don’t begrudge the money, but I do not know what to get anyone and they mostly don’t know what to suggest. They get enough stuff already. It becomes a chore, instead of a pleasure. Besides, we have four family birthdays in December/ January.
One thing I have done recently is get a book I’m interested in that I think they might not mind, or even actively like, and get it for them and for me (possibly the same book for a bunch of people). That way if they read it we can chat about it, and it’s also something connected with me that I can vouch for.
What’s wrong with any of those? I think it sounds awesome.
I don’t. It’s fine to point out (but not beat people over the head) that Christmas is derived from Christ’s Mass. But regular deviation from the standard, accepted spelling would strike me at best as affected and at worst as pretentious.
I am in the same position as Puzzler, except that our four family birthdays are slightly more spread out - one each month from October to January.
Not only do I wish I could avoid giving Christmas presents, I wish the family wouldn't give me any.
I really hate it when my family buy obviously expensive gifts for me that I have no use for, and no storage space for either.
I don't like to deny my family the blessing of giving, so as the plea, several years ago, for small and inexpensive gifts only worked for one season I seem to be stuck with the problem.
(This is not a problem I have ever had with Mr RoS, who has never had any trouble not giving gifts)
What’s wrong with any of those? I think it sounds awesome.
I don’t. It’s fine to point out (but not beat people over the head) that Christmas is derived from Christ’s Mass. But regular deviation from the standard, accepted spelling would strike me at best as affected and at worst as pretentious.
What’s wrong with any of those? I think it sounds awesome.
Not so much awesome as tiresome, especially when he uses the double s in every email, newsletter, flyer etc. he sends out.
I accept that he's trying to ensure that people are reminded that Jesus is the Reason for the Season, but it wears thin after the first airing...
Oh, that makes sense, yes. I’m just thinking of the use of the names Michaelmas and Candlemas at all… or even celebrating them at all! But yes, the double S would get old very quickly. And yes, does comes across as pretentious. I remember years ago one church person I knew would emphasize every single time that “disease” was “dis-ease” in a similar way…
What’s wrong with any of those? I think it sounds awesome.
I don’t. It’s fine to point out (but not beat people over the head) that Christmas is derived from Christ’s Mass. But regular deviation from the standard, accepted spelling would strike me at best as affected and at worst as pretentious.
What’s wrong with any of those? I think it sounds awesome.
Not so much awesome as tiresome, especially when he uses the double s in every email, newsletter, flyer etc. he sends out.
I accept that he's trying to ensure that people are reminded that Jesus is the Reason for the Season, but it wears thin after the first airing...
Oh, that makes sense, yes. I’m just thinking of the use of the names Michaelmas and Candlemas at all… or even celebrating them at all! But yes, the double S would get old very quickly. And yes, does comes across as pretentious. I remember years ago one church person I knew would emphasize every single time that “disease” was “dis-ease” in a similar way…
Yes, he celebrates Candlemas and Michaelmas, on the Sundays closest to those days. Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Ascension Day are all kept on the proper days IYSWIM, and he celebrates a daily Mass in church, albeit often with only one or two of the Faithful present.
I know I'm uber-critical of him sometimes, but I have to emphasise that he is a conscientious and devout priest, who works very hard to keep the rumour of God alive in our backstreet urban parish. No doubt he will soon make available the list of Christmas services, which I will then put onto our website - but with only one s, of course...
The local store is selling frozen smoked turkeys for $35.00. Just heat and eat. I am going for it. I am having my son, his girlfriend, and her two children for Thanksgiving, and do not have a lot of energy these days. It will be easy to heat it. I will make cranberry sauce, dressing, and coleslaw the day ahead, and they will bring the rest.
Comments
On the music front things aren't looking good. Two of the most reliable couples in the choir are going on a cruise over Christmas, which is irksome to say the least. God forbid we have to resort to Ru**er.
Their convenience stores have had mince pies on the shelves since the w/e before the children went back to school.
I don't have to think abut Christmas food these days. We have eaten with the vegetarian/autistic branch of the family for the past 9 years so, all things being equal, we will be having Quorn Vegetable Family Roast and all the trimmings for the tenth year running.
At the moment I am dreading the prospect of buying/receiving Christmas presents with insufficient knowledge of the recipients to know what would be welcome
If you were a few hundred miles further north I'd be delighted to come and help you out!
I sort of expect that every Christmas has to have a bit of Ru**er, although one piece per year is quite sufficient!
Allegedly someone once told him their choir wasn't singing his Gaelic Blessing any more, and JR replied, "that's all right; I've already had two cars and a new kitchen out of it". 😂
Bah Humbug!!!
He is the choral equivalent of l***d-w****r
Unlike years past, I have made no attempts at Christmas shopping, but might ask the kids to start compiling their wish-lists, so I can start my online ordering. I saw upthread the mention of Christmas cake and perhaps that is something I will make a start on. Make sure I have the fruit and rum ready to go for soaking, rather than doing it the week before the event!!
Neither do I. Some clarification would be welcome, please.
ETA - I am brewing a Styx thread.
I've started a Styx thread so that we can discuss it further.
That's what I made it, but on the second reading, not instantly
On a point of pedantry, the man's surname is "Lloyd Webber", with no hyphen. He was ennobled as Lord Lloyd-Webber, because "Lord Lloyd Webber" would read as a man called Lloyd who was the son of a peer.
This has inspired me to start a thread on Halloween fun stuff.
https://forums.shipoffools.com/discussion/6611/halloween-fun-stuff-and-plans/p1?new=1
I made my Christmas pudding last year. It's probably time to take the wrappings off and add more brandy.
So not a fan of either Lloyd Webbers?
What? Already? Is Outrage!
So far, Our Place is only advertising the Carol Service (followed by the Christmas Bizarre Bazaar) on 14th December. I daresay FatherInCharge has the rest of the services worked out, but I won't add them to the website until next month, once Pumpkintide/Hallowtide etc. are over!
Time to order some Winterfest cards, I guess - I usually patronise a deserving secular charity, rather than religious stuff.
It always makes me think of the film 'Home Alone', in which it features!
O! The relief ! Thank you!
Tesco today were displaying lots of those alcoholic gift sets - various miniatures of GIN, WHISKY, and so on - making me feel quite thirsty. I didn't spot them, but no doubt there were displays of CHOCOLATE and CHEESE, too.
With November upon us, I guess it's time I acquired some greetings cards - religious Stuff for friends at Church, and secular/humorous Stuff for my family. I usually (said he, virtuously) buy online from the charities I regularly support.
I agree with @Puzzler that choosing gifts can become a really painful exercise, completely spoiling what should be a happy festival. The total commercialisation of Christmas (or Christmass, as FatherInCharge insists on calling it) Is Outrage...too many victims desperately spending money they haven't got, on Stuff they neither want nor need, for people they don't like.
Cynical, moi?
I'm afraid so, and Michaelmass, too...
What’s wrong with any of those? I think it sounds awesome.
One thing I have done recently is get a book I’m interested in that I think they might not mind, or even actively like, and get it for them and for me (possibly the same book for a bunch of people). That way if they read it we can chat about it, and it’s also something connected with me that I can vouch for.
Not only do I wish I could avoid giving Christmas presents, I wish the family wouldn't give me any.
I really hate it when my family buy obviously expensive gifts for me that I have no use for, and no storage space for either.
I don't like to deny my family the blessing of giving, so as the plea, several years ago, for small and inexpensive gifts only worked for one season I seem to be stuck with the problem.
(This is not a problem I have ever had with Mr RoS, who has never had any trouble not giving gifts)
Not so much awesome as tiresome, especially when he uses the double s in every email, newsletter, flyer etc. he sends out.
I accept that he's trying to ensure that people are reminded that Jesus is the Reason for the Season, but it wears thin after the first airing...
Oh, that makes sense, yes. I’m just thinking of the use of the names Michaelmas and Candlemas at all… or even celebrating them at all! But yes, the double S would get old very quickly. And yes, does comes across as pretentious. I remember years ago one church person I knew would emphasize every single time that “disease” was “dis-ease” in a similar way…
Yes, he celebrates Candlemas and Michaelmas, on the Sundays closest to those days. Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Ascension Day are all kept on the proper days IYSWIM, and he celebrates a daily Mass in church, albeit often with only one or two of the Faithful present.
I know I'm uber-critical of him sometimes, but I have to emphasise that he is a conscientious and devout priest, who works very hard to keep the rumour of God alive in our backstreet urban parish. No doubt he will soon make available the list of Christmas services, which I will then put onto our website - but with only one s, of course...