One week to go

[Ron Manager]

Bah Humbug!

I really, really, really HATE this time of year. Was subjected to the work Christmas party last night (went for appearances sake, left straight after the meal) and it strengthened my scrooge-like beliefs.

Supposedly normal, mature adults sitting around a table wearing paper hats and singing along to Slade, Wham, David Essex etc playing on 'Now that's what I call Xmas cr*p Vol 4'. People being sucked into the whole commercial orgy and spending a fortune on rubbish to satisfy the greed of ungrateful little (and big grown-up) brats. Rubbish telly. Being forced to spend the whole day with people you wouldn't normally choose to spend that much time with (ie the family, don't get me wrong I get on with them - just that a couple of hours at a time is normally more than sufficient). I could go on and on, and probably will with a few beers inside me later on today.

Like I say, one weeks time and it will all be over - roll on next Saturday and some kind of normality. Wake up people, Christmas is rubbish - ban it!

 

[steveh1510]

I'll drink to that!

 

[Surrey Blue]

you miserable old gits

.

Yes it is commercialised but then again thats the point, well for the majority. Unless your a religous person.

What a great time of year to lose yourself in excessiveness.

The thing is rather than trying to beat it, just enjoy it.

 

[Ron Manager]

Quote[/b] (Surrey Blue @ Dec. 20 2003,13:55)]you miserable old gits  

.

Yes it is commercialised but then again thats the point, well for the majority. Unless your a religous person.

What a great time of year to lose yourself in excessiveness.

The thing is rather than trying to beat it, just enjoy it.

With total respect - b******s!

1 - I'm not that old (well, 29 and that's not old as I keep telling myself)

2 - Why give in? That's the sort of attitude that allowed Hitler to take over Germany, most of Europe and nearly the world! Christmas is wrong, unless you're a Christian in which case it's a religious holiday. It should be treated in the same way as all the other religous holidays are, of all religions, to be celebrated by people who believe in those religions and respected by the rest of us who don't. However I'm not a Christian and begrudge being forced into celebrating it. And yes, I shall be eating turkey and swapping presents but only due to social pressures -ie my family and many of my friends (including the missus) have been brainwashed into following the herd.

Bah Humbug  

 

[Groyne Strain]

How do your children feel about all this?

 

[Tygaman]

I agree with most of what Ron Manager says, people get sucked into the whole thing and spend way too much on cr*p that noone really needs. Its good if you can keep it in proportion and don't go over the top. The kids enjoy it but expect expensive gifts which puts pressure on to the parents to spend way above their means.
Finally, 100% agree with work Christmas parties...mine is tomorrow night and I am still deciding whether to go or gouge out my eyes.

 

[Surrey Blue]

Quote[/b] (Ron Manager @ Dec. 20 2003,21:37)]

Quote[/b] (Surrey Blue @ Dec. 20 2003,13:55)]you miserable old gits  

.

Yes it is commercialised but then again thats the point, well for the majority. Unless your a religous person.

What a great time of year to lose yourself in excessiveness.

The thing is rather than trying to beat it, just enjoy it.

With total respect - b******s!

1 - I'm not that old (well, 29 and that's not old as I keep telling myself)

2 - Why give in? That's the sort of attitude that allowed Hitler to take over Germany, most of Europe and nearly the world! Christmas is wrong, unless you're a Christian in which case it's a religious holiday. It should be treated in the same way as all the other religous holidays are, of all religions, to be celebrated by people who believe in those religions and respected by the rest of us who don't. However I'm not a Christian and begrudge being forced into celebrating it. And yes, I shall be eating turkey and swapping presents but only due to social pressures -ie my family and many of my friends (including the missus) have been brainwashed into following the herd.

Bah Humbug  

So why not just enjoy it?

bit harsh to be comparing Christmas to Hitler (However i like the sentiment behind the analogy)

Im afraid i dont really understand your reasoning, surely if your not religous then it should be just a fun time of year to enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, familys coming together (For better or worse), a few sociable drinks. Just enjoyable. And i know thats not what christmas is intended for, However things evolve and change.

 

[Ron Manager]

Quote[/b] (Surrey Blue @ Dec. 21 2003,14:27)]

Quote[/b] (Ron Manager @ Dec. 20 2003,21:37)]

Quote[/b] (Surrey Blue @ Dec. 20 2003,13:55)]you miserable old gits  

.

Yes it is commercialised but then again thats the point, well for the majority. Unless your a religous person.

What a great time of year to lose yourself in excessiveness.

The thing is rather than trying to beat it, just enjoy it.

With total respect - b******s!

1 - I'm not that old (well, 29 and that's not old as I keep telling myself)

2 - Why give in? That's the sort of attitude that allowed Hitler to take over Germany, most of Europe and nearly the world! Christmas is wrong, unless you're a Christian in which case it's a religious holiday. It should be treated in the same way as all the other religous holidays are, of all religions, to be celebrated by people who believe in those religions and respected by the rest of us who don't. However I'm not a Christian and begrudge being forced into celebrating it. And yes, I shall be eating turkey and swapping presents but only due to social pressures -ie my family and many of my friends (including the missus) have been brainwashed into following the herd.

Bah Humbug  

So why not just enjoy it?

bit harsh to be comparing Christmas to Hitler (However i like the sentiment behind the analogy)

Im afraid i dont really understand your reasoning, surely if your not religous then it should be just a fun time of year to enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, familys coming together (For better or worse), a few sociable drinks. Just enjoyable. And i know thats not what christmas is intended for, However things evolve and change.

OK - I realise the Hitler think was a bit strong, although it was said with tongue firmly in cheek (however that doesn't always come across when typed, believe me I'm not REALLY making a direct comparison).

When all the presents have been bought and wrapped (then un-wrapped) and the dinner cooked (and eaten) and I'm finally sitting down with a beer in hand then I shall probably relax and enjoy the fact that it's a day off work surrounded by the most important people in my life. I just seriously begrudge all the grief, stress and expense that goes before that moment and don't think it's at all neccesary.

 

[MrB]

Quote[/b] (Ron Manager @ Dec. 21 2003,18:17)]OK - I realise the Hitler think was a bit strong, although it was said with tongue firmly in cheek (however that doesn't always come across when typed, believe me I'm not REALLY making a direct comparison).

When all the presents have been bought and wrapped (then un-wrapped) and the dinner cooked (and eaten) and I'm finally sitting down with a beer in hand then I shall probably relax and enjoy the fact that it's a day off work surrounded by the most important people in my life. I just seriously begrudge all the grief, stress and expense that goes before that moment and don't think it's at all neccesary.

As I said in the pub yesterday, I couldn't agree more. Alas the good lady is well into it so I have to make an effort....

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

So by your reckoning all those non christians should actually be working on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Look dont blame Christmas for your own weaknesses. It does not have to be a stressful and expensive time but your too weak willed to fight the 'social' pressure.

To me Christmas has evolved as my life changes (i.e getting older and having kids) when I was young it was all about receiving but now it is the giving I enjoy most. There is nothing like giving something to the ones you love and watching their face light up. I guess that maybe too sickly for you.

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

Quote[/b] (MrB @ Dec. 21 2003,18:42)]Alas the good lady is well into it so I have to make an effort....

Too right, I saw her out shopping again today.

 

[Surrey Blue]

Quote[/b] (Ron Manager @ Dec. 21 2003,18:17)]

Quote[/b] (Surrey Blue @ Dec. 21 2003,14:27)]

Quote[/b] (Ron Manager @ Dec. 20 2003,21:37)]

Quote[/b] (Surrey Blue @ Dec. 20 2003,13:55)]you miserable old gits  

.

Yes it is commercialised but then again thats the point, well for the majority. Unless your a religous person.

What a great time of year to lose yourself in excessiveness.

The thing is rather than trying to beat it, just enjoy it.

With total respect - b******s!

1 - I'm not that old (well, 29 and that's not old as I keep telling myself)

2 - Why give in? That's the sort of attitude that allowed Hitler to take over Germany, most of Europe and nearly the world! Christmas is wrong, unless you're a Christian in which case it's a religious holiday. It should be treated in the same way as all the other religous holidays are, of all religions, to be celebrated by people who believe in those religions and respected by the rest of us who don't. However I'm not a Christian and begrudge being forced into celebrating it. And yes, I shall be eating turkey and swapping presents but only due to social pressures -ie my family and many of my friends (including the missus) have been brainwashed into following the herd.

Bah Humbug  

So why not just enjoy it?

bit harsh to be comparing Christmas to Hitler (However i like the sentiment behind the analogy)

Im afraid i dont really understand your reasoning, surely if your not religous then it should be just a fun time of year to enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, familys coming together (For better or worse), a few sociable drinks. Just enjoyable. And i know thats not what christmas is intended for, However things evolve and change.

OK - I realise the Hitler think was a bit strong, although it was said with tongue firmly in cheek (however that doesn't always come across when typed, believe me I'm not REALLY making a direct comparison).

When all the presents have been bought and wrapped (then un-wrapped) and the dinner cooked (and eaten) and I'm finally sitting down with a beer in hand then I shall probably relax and enjoy the fact that it's a day off work surrounded by the most important people in my life. I just seriously begrudge all the grief, stress and expense that goes before that moment and don't think it's at all neccesary.

One thing i will agree with is the Stress of xmas shopping, thank f**k for the internet. I ventured to Bluewater only once and nearly ended up screaming at someone. Never again.

 

[The General]

Quote[/b] (Bob Cratchitt @ Dec. 21 2003,18:54)]was all about receiving but now it is the giving I enjoy most

Sick man!!!

Kev

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

I have done 99% of mine over the net, I had to do one little dash into town today no stress knew exactly what I wanted, browsed in a few other shops to see if anything interesting was in there.

 

[McNasty]

Quote[/b] (Ron Manager @ Dec. 21 2003,18:17)]

Quote[/b] (Surrey Blue @ Dec. 21 2003,14:27)]

Quote[/b] (Ron Manager @ Dec. 20 2003,21:37)]

Quote[/b] (Surrey Blue @ Dec. 20 2003,13:55)]you miserable old gits  

.

Yes it is commercialised but then again thats the point, well for the majority. Unless your a religous person.

What a great time of year to lose yourself in excessiveness.

The thing is rather than trying to beat it, just enjoy it.

With total respect - b******s!

1 - I'm not that old (well, 29 and that's not old as I keep telling myself)

2 - Why give in? That's the sort of attitude that allowed Hitler to take over Germany, most of Europe and nearly the world! Christmas is wrong, unless you're a Christian in which case it's a religious holiday. It should be treated in the same way as all the other religous holidays are, of all religions, to be celebrated by people who believe in those religions and respected by the rest of us who don't. However I'm not a Christian and begrudge being forced into celebrating it. And yes, I shall be eating turkey and swapping presents but only due to social pressures -ie my family and many of my friends (including the missus) have been brainwashed into following the herd.

Bah Humbug  

So why not just enjoy it?

bit harsh to be comparing Christmas to Hitler (However i like the sentiment behind the analogy)

Im afraid i dont really understand your reasoning, surely if your not religous then it should be just a fun time of year to enjoy the giving and receiving of gifts, familys coming together (For better or worse), a few sociable drinks. Just enjoyable. And i know thats not what christmas is intended for, However things evolve and change.

OK - I realise the Hitler think was a bit strong, although it was said with tongue firmly in cheek (however that doesn't always come across when typed, believe me I'm not REALLY making a direct comparison).

When all the presents have been bought and wrapped (then un-wrapped) and the dinner cooked (and eaten) and I'm finally sitting down with a beer in hand then I shall probably relax and enjoy the fact that it's a day off work surrounded by the most important people in my life. I just seriously begrudge all the grief, stress and expense that goes before that moment and don't think it's at all neccesary.

Andy , does that mean I can keep the f*c*ing great present I have bought you ? I suppose the Christmas card from you and the wife was really only from her ?

 

[Mrs McScriven]

Christmas or more rightly Yuletide is actually a Pagan festival which has been celebrated long before the birth of Christ - so if you're enjoying "Christmas" but not a Christian you're not being hypercritical. However - if you're not a Pagan, Roman or Christian - bugger off and get your own festivities!!

 

[McScriven]

Quote[/b] (Mrs McScriven @ Dec. 22 2003,08:30)]Christmas or more rightly Yuletide is actually a Pagan festival which has been celebrated long before the birth of Christ - so if you're enjoying "Christmas" but not a Christian you're not being hypercritical.  However - if you're not a Pagan, Roman or Christian - bugger off and get your own festivities!!

Indeed it's long been argued that Jesus wasn't even born in December let alone the 25th!

 

[Mrs McScriven]

No he was actually born in May like me!

all the best people are you know!

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

It was clever planning by those early Christian's when they came to pagan europe to tie a major Christian festival to an already established pagan celebration.

Also we all know the story behind the reason for Christmas trees?

 

[Leeboy]

Quote[/b] (Bob Cratchitt @ Dec. 22 2003,09:03)]Also we all know the story of the reason for Christmas trees?

yeah, Santa was ****ed one Xmas eve and crashed his sleigh into one, so it's in his honour that we put up a tree.