I visted my parents for Christmas. Despite most people already being off work on Christmas Eve, I had to fight my way there through very heavy traffic, as all the last minute shoppers returned from emptying shops all over London. I watch almost no TV here, so watching something on ITV at my parents was my first exposure to TV adverts for some time. Also, I don't like shopping at the best of times, so I don't enjoy the bustle involved in getting presents for people at this time of year.
It's Christmas Eve. We have a very nice meal at a restaurant with my sister and her husband. A passing comment that he made was that he's been unable to buy teacakes in the supermarket near work since September, because they've been replaced by Christmas puddings. I return to my parent's house, and my thoughts are about it being Christmas day tomorrow, calm thoughts, hoping people will like the presents that I bought, and how the rush is now over.
Waaah!
The TV is full of adverts for "January" sales, which start on Boxing Day. Give us a break! We've had retail therapy in our faces for 4 months now for one reason and barely hours after the shops shut on that and they're already encouraging us to start shopping again for another.
Bah humbug. What is the world coming to? It's not even the most important Christian festival.
