Now I know this may seem odd, but I’ve just had a shock! I was looking in my diary for the date of someone’s birthday and I discovered that next Sunday is the beginning of December. No matter how many times I checked and rechecked – there it was in black and white – Sunday December 1st.
How is this possible?
Have we had September and October?
All of them and every day?
I know this week is November but where has the rest of the month gone?
My grandmother used to tell me that as you got older time passed more quickly and I thought she was slightly potty. I’m sorry Nan – you were absolutely right – time is just speeding away and there seem to be a lot more Mondays in the year than I remember too!
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Of course – where there is December, you’ll find Christmas although it does seem to have been coming for weeks now – not forgetting the card shops selling Christmas cards in August (yes, Card Factory, I do mean you!).
This year we are, once again, not buying into the extravaganza of conspicuous consumption that sneaks up on us all. We have all agreed that we will exchange a small present and we’ve put a price limit on it too! The difference between what we spend and what we used to spend will, once again, be sent to a charity who can make much better use of it than we will. As you may guess, we support The Alzheimer’s Society (for obvious reasons) and I trust them to use the money we donate carefully to benefit other sufferers.
Although this may seem beyond mean, we will not be sending Christmas Cards to all and sundry either! If we are in touch regularly by phone or Facebook or even this, or if I see you umpteen times a week – you know I think of you often and wish you a joyful Christmas – hopefully you don’t need a folded piece of card to tell you that! There are exceptions of course – a couple of elderly relatives and friends that I don’t see often or who live overseas – and even they may receive an electronic card if they have a computer!
I am so sorry if anyone thinks this is just mean or not ‘in the spirit of Christmas’ but we all have to do what we can to cut down on the waste drastically, and if a charity can benefit – then why not?
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On a roll now! I read a very interesting piece about the sheer number of presents we buy for children and how they easily become overwhelmed, don’t really look at what they have and can become tetchy and so on. The mantra is:
Something you want;
something you need;
something to eat;
something to read.
For adults, I would add ‘or drink’ after ‘eat’ but otherwise it seems perfectly reasonable to me so that is the plan for next year as this year’s buying is already underway!
When someone asks you what they can buy for your child, what about saying ‘nothing thank you. But if you really want to give a present could you give a home-made gift token’. Perhaps something like “I promise to take you swimming during half term” or “I promise to take you to the Cinema and you can choose the film”. All children love time just for them and an adult they know – not for everyone else to be part of, but just for them. Simple and as inexpensive as you want to make it – “I promise to come and read to you while you are still on holiday for half an hour.” Free and so special for the child.
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I‘m not going to talk about Brexit or the Election except to remind you – at this rate Election Day will be here before we know it. Please, please use your vote! You don’t have to go to the Polling Station if you don’t want to, using a postal vote is very easy, but please VOTE – don’t just think it makes no difference or you don’t hold with voting. Remember how many seats had to have recounts because it was such a close result at the last election.
YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT!
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Well I hope I haven’t depressed you by talking about Christmas and the Election!
Have a good week and stay safe, well and happy.
Random Ramblings 