Compo 10,326 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 The ubiquitous Christmas present - socks! Anyone have high hopes for a great present this year? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJ360 6,712 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 I have actually asked for socks this year. My girls are far too generous at Christmas and both have new homes to sort out. And anyway ..... apart from somebody to come in here and re-decorate throughout, replace all carpets and soft furnishings and remodel the staircase.. front drive and rear patio.. there's really nothing I need... oh.. apart from the new gas fire in the lounge... and a new shed.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,424 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 I don't want nowt! New hi -fi. I'd never hear the difference New camera. I hardly ever take photos anymore. New electronic organ with more bells and whistles. I can hardly play the one I've got. New car. I'm hoping the one I've got lasts me 'til I croak. I guess I've finally reached contentment with what I've got. You can't buy that. 8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,269 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 I don't want anything either. Spending some quiet time with the moggies and the prospect of watching for the snowdrops and daffodils emerging from their long sleep. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,424 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 Forgot to mention the doggies. I'm very happy with the two I've got, but we couldn't manage another. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 I’m with you on this. There’s nothing I want. Christmas is for the kids. No decorations here yet, other than the dreadful wreath my wife’s stuck on the front door. I wish Christmas would go away. Roll on the Spring, shortest day tomorrow! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trogg 2,002 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 I am with the majority on Christmas presents there is nowt I want, if there was I would have all ready have it ordered. Christmas, if your not religious, is for the children. The only thing I like about this dismal time of the year is that it is close to the 22nd the winter Solstice . The days will be getting longer and new life will soon start, both plant and animal a fantastic time of the year. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonab 1,644 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 France doesn't have this great orgy of consumerism that is so common in the RU - but is it slowly getting here. The German style outdoor Christmas markets are now encroaching on to the French mediterranean cities and even le BsL, where I live, has acquired several of these pine wood sheds selling all manner of knick knacks and foods - which, I must say, are mostly very nice. Christmas gifts tend to be given only to members of the family and to very close friends and they are in the form of small tokens of appreciation and thanks, not huge competitive equivalents of the value of the crown jewels as seems to be the case over there nowadays and verified by my last visit over the Christmas period in 2017. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 Oh no! Someone’s changed the door chime to play ‘Jingle Bells’. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waddo 921 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 Just disconnect the bell push!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 I've just turned it back to play 'The Dead March'. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,269 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 It's a pity you can't get a doorbell that plays the Richard Addinsell score from the 1951 film, Scrooge! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 That's the Christmas present I would like the most! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,269 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 Take a careful look at your door knocker the next time you come home! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
philmayfield 6,089 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 We do have a door knocker but my wife's hung the bloody Christmas wreath on it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,424 Posted December 20, 2019 Report Share Posted December 20, 2019 I bought a new leaf blower the other week. I bought it because my old one was beyond repair. When the new one arrived Mrs' L said, "Keep it as a Christmas present." I refused. I didn't buy it as a Christmas present. I tend to buy stuff as I need it not for birthdays / Christmas etc. Why wait for those and burden others with the chore of buying. The whole commercialism thing makes a mockery of Christmas. Edited to add. Not looking for spring though. We're only just getting over the 95 degree temps in October. I'm liking the frosty mornings and cooler days. I guess I can't get Nottingham entirely out of my old bones. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJ360 6,712 Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 Loppy, I too like the frosty mornings..ans those lovely Autumn mists we get here. It's the darkness which gets to me.... Early Christmas present for me. The shortest day.. 21st December. has come around very quickly this year. After the day length, sunset time etc.. do a bit of a wobble for a few days.. we will settle into an increasing day length and head for Spring. I love that. I've already noticed some of the 'Daffs' I planted a few weeks ago are popping up. Bring it on!! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trogg 2,002 Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 I also thought the shortest day of the year was always the 21st but after reading this https://www.telegraph.co.uk/christmas/2019/12/20/winter-solstice-uk-2019-shortest-day-pagans/ I was surprised to find it varies, just a bit of useless information which wont make any difference to my life, its still a dark dismal time of the year. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HSR 286 Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 Solar sensor lights came on at 2.15 pm yesterday, easily a record...things can only get better.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 I'm also a member of the club which thinks that the shortest day is the best day of the year. From now on it can only get lighter (I know it might not be apparent for a while, but it's the thought that counts.) I really dislike winter, not so much for the low temperatures but for the endless darkness. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oldphil 331 Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 2 hours ago, HSR said: Solar sensor lights came on at 2.15 pm yesterday, easily a record...things can only get better.. It will. Getting over a couple of weeks of the worst dose of cold I've had in a long time. Antibiotics kicking in now, and sounding like that little-known dwarf, Wheezy. The girls fed up with my impersonation of the old boy on the bus on 60 Capstan full strength a day, so I took a stroll round my Pimlico bomb site of a garden. Closer inspection revealed dozens of tiny shoots - I put in 150 assorted bulbs in September. Then, lurking by the rockery, a tiny cowslip with two miniature yellow flowers - are they supposed to do that in December? Anyway, spirits lifted I'm off now to my bowl of steaming water, Vicks and an old towel - the girls laugh their heads off and send videos to their mates. Don't care - it clears the head, and Spring will be here in a blink. Hope we get a bit of snow, though. And I've still got Holiday Inn to watch. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 18 minutes ago, oldphil said: Closer inspection revealed dozens of tiny shoots - I put in 150 assorted bulbs in September. Then, lurking by the rockery, a tiny cowslip with two miniature yellow flowers - are they supposed to do that in December? These are bluebell shoots...they grow wild just outside the back door. I've never seen them so big this early. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
oldphil 331 Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 Just about to take advantage of the sun poking out, when I remembered the printed instructions form the pharmacy on my antibiotics says "protect skin from sunlight" does that mean going out in a hazmat suit? or sunscreen? seriously, at this time of year? Anyone else experienced this? PS, Cliff Ton - I haven't put bluebell shoots in, but do have some wild ones under an old Viburnum. Just had a look, and sure enough, there they are. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,269 Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 I think all the rain has confused them. I have loads of bluebells in my garden but few snowdrops. They don't seem to like the soil. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DJ360 6,712 Posted December 21, 2019 Report Share Posted December 21, 2019 1 hour ago, oldphil said: Just about to take advantage of the sun poking out, when I remembered the printed instructions form the pharmacy on my antibiotics says "protect skin from sunlight" does that mean going out in a hazmat suit? or sunscreen? seriously, at this time of year? Anyone else experienced this? PS, Cliff Ton - I haven't put bluebell shoots in, but do have some wild ones under an old Viburnum. Just had a look, and sure enough, there they are. I'd guess that's Doxycycline you're on. From what I can gather the photosensitivity only affects some people. I doubt a stroll in the winter sun would do much harm.. but I wouldn't recommend a visit to the tanning parlour. Get well soon! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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