It is a delight to read your stories and memories. Thank you. PJs often feature on my Christmas list; I have a pair of Doctor Who PJs [I also have a Doctor Who rashie and board shorts, Christmas also] given to me sometime in the late 2010s, I think, that are still are going strong!
Do any have particular books they read at this time? Probably of interest to little or no-one, but an Orthodox seminary is putting out daily reflections in the lead-up to Christmas. In case it is does appeal: https://www.svots.edu/daily-nativity-meditations
Not serious reading at all, but I like to revisit Terry Pratchett's Hogfather every few years, and also like Ellis Peters' The Virgin in the Ice. Haven't read that one for several years.
Years ago I bought myself Delia Smith's A Feast for Advent.
For each day through Advent, and on to Epiphany she gives a reading, a reflection on it and a prayer. I was slightly disappointed that there were no recipes at all, but have found the readings helpful, as they have brought me back from the busy-ness of pre-Christmas preparations to the point of the season.
I don't think there has been a year when I have read all the passages, especially as reading is now such a chore, but I do like to dip in now and again.
Another Christmas favourite, just for the fun of it, is Jenny Overton's The Thirteen Days of Christmas - in which a suitor gives his sweetheart all the gifts listed in every verse of the Twelve Days of Christmas song. resulting in chaos for the family and then to the rest of the town.
It is another one that could be read day by day, especially to children, but it is packed away with other Christmas things, like tableware and CDs/audiotapes, so it has been well into advent before I start.
The supermarkets around here were selling trees from about a week ago, and I know they can last a good time if you take care of them, but surely two months in they'd be past their prime?
@Climacus asked about favourite books for Christmas. I usually at least dip into The Box of Delights by John Masefield, or The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper, or The Children of Green Knowe by Lucy Boston - or listen to some of the wonderful audio adaptations. Which reminds me - I must sort those CDs out ready for Advent.
I ordered the Who Gives a Crap box of Christmas toilet rolls. Each roll is wrapped in decorative paper, so that you can stack 3 of them to make a gnome.
I'm so impressed that I asked the Loon and the Quinie if they'd like a box as part of their Christmas present. The Loon was unimpressed but the Quinie agreed. It seems like a perfect present to me - fun, practical, and won't end up as clutter.
I love reading all these Christmas stories and yours touches the heart @Nick Tamen . Regarding reading, I always reread Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Rosamunde Pilcher's Winter Solstice and the festive chapters in Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows and Alison Uttley's The Country Child.
I had two outings yesterday to two different shopping emporia and made a good start on the Christmas shopping. Stocking fillers are the main things - I've always done stockings for the Nenlets if they're here or if we're seeing them on Christmas Day. We have Nenlet2 and his fiancé staying this year. The last time they were here his fiancé said, "I haven't had a stocking since I was a kid!" There is also the GrandNenling to buy for this year (any ideas for stocking fillers for a 14 month old welcome).
Autumn isn't a great time for me, with various difficult anniversaries, so I welcome the prospect of the lights and decorations. There's always a bit of a negotiation with Mr Nen about when they go up, as he is Bah Humbug about the whole business. We have an artificial tree these days - it has a Unique Dropping Feature which means we are sweeping up short green plastic strands for several months into the new year.
I'm sorely tempted to buy a box of these ..... except Mrs RR is very particular about toilet tissue. The word 'sorely' is pertinet in this regard.
I'm working my way through Mrs RR's Christmas list. It's an onerous responsibility ... I had to check out the special box of Xmas Chocco Mints for the grand R'swere up to scratch. A repeat order here I think.
Just asking, does any other shipmate think 'Christmas already?' has a Jewish ring to it?
Our local Tesco was full of Christmas tat when I visited today, but it will be a few weeks before I finally succumb to the temptation to buy Mince Pies, or a Christmas Pudding For One ...
No sign yet of the staff as Santa's Little Helpers, or whatever. IIRC, they wait until the week before Christmas before putting on their costumes, but they do seem to make a Proper Job of it.
I haven't seen any domestic decorations up around these parts yet, but most of the shops are looking festive. The Town Christmas Tree has been set up in its appointed place, ready to be lit at the culmination of the Advent Fayre on the last Saturday in November.
For myself, I have a string of fairy lights wound round a set of shelves in the hallway of Château Piglet, which stays in place all year (because I can't be arsed unwinding and re-winding it). Once the clocks go back, it serves as the hallway light, and is lit most evenings.
The candle-bridges will go up in the windows at the start of Advent, and the tree some time in mid-December.
Tree up until Epiphany, candle-bridges up until Candlemas.
Terry Pratchett's Hogfather every few years, and also like Ellis Peters' The Virgin in the Ice. Haven't read that one for several years.
I have not read either for many years. Some friends invited me to holiday with them post (Old Calendar Orthodox) Christmas so I may divest the local library of numerous Pratchett and Peters books before heading off.
Thanks also to all for their readings which give me new books to look into.
House Christmas decorations are going up around the streets here now. Some quite extravagant displays... Given the sun sets later here at this time I enjoy the occasional late night look around at the lights.
I have my own strict rules about when I want to put up a tree, put up lights, start playing Christmas music, etc -- but in recent years I have become much more laid-back on caring what other people do. The last few years have been hard for many people (maybe all years are hard for most people, anyway?) and if it gives people the slightest bit of cheer to put up lights in November or play Christmas music right after Halloween, I won't begrudge them that. The retail-ness of it all is still annoying, but even in the stores I try to focus on the people who are cheered up by Christmas lights and decorations, as a counterbalance to me being annoyed by them.
That’s my feeling. I’m avoiding Christmas music and such until the day after Thanksgiving myself. But God knows it’s been a rough time for everyone. If people want to keep decorations up all year, let them.
As of today, I have some Christmas preparations proper to be getting on with. At the end of church today, Captain Pyjamas left with a paper containing instructions for the children's Christmas play. He is going to be a sheep. The paper also has the words for a song they're going to sing.
Usually the actual speaking parts in the children's play are taken by the older children, and the younger ones dress up as something cute and sing a song.
I'm glad to have the instructions early because it means I can get his outfit together without too much expense. I'm going to knit one of these using knitting wool I already have and he is going to be the most adorable sheep EVER.
The supermarkets around here were selling trees from about a week ago, and I know they can last a good time if you take care of them, but surely two months in they'd be past their prime?
Last year we bought one early because really good price at B&Q and kept it in cool dark garage until time to bring it indoors and it seemed to be fine.
I finished wrapping all my gifts, and I made six cards today. The house is still decorated for Thanksgiving, both in and out. I must admit this year, I am anxious to move on to Christmas festivities. I'm unsure why, as it will be the second Christmas without my husband, which seems more challenging this year than the last. Perhaps it is because I am thinking getting prepared might help fill the void with activity.
I have purchased my Christmas cards, and I have printed off the address labels. I still need to write my Christmas letter. I know all this sounds very ordinary.
I had two outings yesterday to two different shopping emporia and made a good start on the Christmas shopping. Stocking fillers are the main things - I've always done stockings for the Nenlets if they're here or if we're seeing them on Christmas Day. We have Nenlet2 and his fiancé staying this year. The last time they were here his fiancé said, "I haven't had a stocking since I was a kid!" There is also the GrandNenling to buy for this year (any ideas for stocking fillers for a 14 month old welcome).
Somewhere around that age my little one became fascinated with textures. I went down to the fabric store and got snippets and samples of as many random bits of fabric as I could. You might ask the GrandNenling's parents if he/she's currently fascinated with anything (such as opening/closing boxes, buckles, bits of hardware). I suspect a trip to the hardware store -- or to a place for cookery gadgets, such as basters, small brushes meant for spreading melted butter, blunt pizza cutters, and the like--would produce fascination for weeks. Of course you'd keep safety in mind.
Our Christmas lights live on a glass vase in the porch, visible from outside, all the year round. They are switched on at dusk to serve as the 'Candle for Ukraine' which we are enjoined to light every Sunday evening (but I do it all week).
Found out today that the only time @Celtic Knotweed 's family can all get together over Christmas is the dates we are at my Mum's this year. TBH, love 'em to bits, but we both find the full clan exhausting (as, I suspect, does the Maternal Knotweed these days), and it will be nice to have a *break* instead of a mad whirl of families followed by going back to work just when I need the break most (mind you, I will probably be unemployed then, so no going back anyway).
Hopefully we will get frost in the next couple of days and I can get a photo for my cards, because I've got no suitable ones I haven't used before!
I had two outings yesterday to two different shopping emporia and made a good start on the Christmas shopping. Stocking fillers are the main things - I've always done stockings for the Nenlets if they're here or if we're seeing them on Christmas Day. We have Nenlet2 and his fiancé staying this year. The last time they were here his fiancé said, "I haven't had a stocking since I was a kid!" There is also the GrandNenling to buy for this year (any ideas for stocking fillers for a 14 month old welcome).
Somewhere around that age my little one became fascinated with textures. I went down to the fabric store and got snippets and samples of as many random bits of fabric as I could. You might ask the GrandNenling's parents if he/she's currently fascinated with anything (such as opening/closing boxes, buckles, bits of hardware). I suspect a trip to the hardware store -- or to a place for cookery gadgets, such as basters, small brushes meant for spreading melted butter, blunt pizza cutters, and the like--would produce fascination for weeks. Of course you'd keep safety in mind.
This is a lovely idea; thank you!
I somehow missed La Vie's post about Captain Pyjamas being a sheep and the proposed knitted headwear looks absolutely gorgeous!
@Sarasa , I have heard (and found) that the second anniversary of things after losing someone can be more difficult - because you're so geared up to the first one being hard.
We have Nenlet2 and his fiancé with us for a few days over the festive period. We will see Nenlet1 and the little family on Christmas Day but they are staying in their own home. This is working out well as if they'd all wanted to come here we'd have done it, of course, but would have been packed in like sardines .
Mrs. The_Riv broke her foot and toe a few weeks ago and has been having a trying recovery. Last Thursday I thought it'd be nice to get dinner out -- something we don't do very often -- and as it would dovetail nicely onto the back end of a late-afternoon thing she had at the college I wanted to give it a go. I called three places I knew she'd enjoy going, and all three were fully decorated for Christmas and playing nothing but Christmas music. I went ahead and put our name in at the third one, but when I told her about it, she (1) laughed, and (2) decided that rather than sit in a too-early Christmas vibe, she'd prefer to go another time, comfortably after Thanksgiving. I called the restaurant back. The hostess/reservationist was shocked that I'd cancel because they were already in full Christmas mode on November 14. I told her we'd be back mid-December. LOL.
Nenya, I'd forgotten the best one of all--well, two really:
1) a musical plastic toy that he could push a button and it would play a different classical melody each time. He used it to self soothe and fall asleep for a couple of years.
2) An Easter bunny headband with stand-up ears made of feather fluff. Not to wear, but to tickle and be tickled with. Any similar feathery item would do.
I've now put all Our Place's *Christmass* services onto our website (using the conventional spelling of Christmas!).
At first glance, the list looks formidable, but, given that we have a daily Mass, there are only four *special* services - Carol Service, Crib Service, Midnight Mass, and Christmas Day Mass.
The regular daily schedule means that we can observe the three Holy Days immediately after Christmas (St Stephen, St John, and Holy Innocents), and FatherInCharge offers seasonal refreshments after each service...
My son took me to the local hardware store, and while he was shopping for shelf brackets, I played with all the musical Christmas displays for sale. Step on the buttons, and Santa, the Reindeer, the Elf, comes to life, the sign said, so I did all eight of them. It was a bit of a racket but I had fun.
Oxford's Christmas lights are on already, meaning we've missed the Z-list local sleb turning them on. One year they pressed the big red button.. and nothing happened! Rain had got into the works...
My tiny town (but a royal burgh so not a village) is turning on the lights as I type. I can hear the strains of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer mixed with the crash of hailstones battering the window. No, I am not going out, but look forward to seeing the wee green train adorning the former railway viaduct all lit up.
The Lighting Chaps (presumably from the Council) were stringing the lights round the tree as I was walking to work yesterday. I must start thinking about cards, letters and pressies ...
I don't have a lot of present-buying to do, although some bottles of WINE and a bottle of GIN will be bought for three good friends, but I have today ordered some nice Christmas cards from a charity I support.
Having little in the way of Family to worry about as far as presents are concerned (we simply don't do presents...), I'm free to donate some £££ to two particular charities in which I have a personal interest. That may sound terribly smug and/or easy, but it's the best I can do...
Our relatively small town (~14,500, largest town in a council of 75,000+) lights up a 43m tall Norfolk Pine tree on the old Anglican rectory lawn on the first Friday in December. I've never been while I've lived here (2012-2015, 2020+), will try go this year; when coming into town from the south at night I have always enjoyed seeing it at this time.
Our Turning On the Christmas Lights always coincides with the Hay Winter Festival, so we often get quite good celebrities. This year it's Luke Evans, and previously we've had Miriam Margolyes and the bald chap who played Nardole on Doctor Who.
One year we had a choice between the Hay celebrity and Joanna Lumley, who was turning the lights on in Brecon on the same night, because of her association with the Gurkhas, who are stationed there.
At the supermarket yesterday, I purchased a chocolate Advent calendar for my son and heir. Mithering has commenced. "When's the first? When's the first?"
I think all supermarkets have Hot Cross Buns for sale year round, and have done for a long time.
Mr RoS is partial to a fruited bun, but is forbidden to buy HCBs out of season.
Walking the dog this morning, I came across a rather large piece of pine with pinecones attached lying under a pine tree near the dog part. I am returning to get it and attach a red bow to it for a door swag. Very excited on this natural gift.
At my local supermarket yesterday I was a little surprised to see chocolate Easter eggs on sale.
Is it possible--I've seen the things--that this is just a marketing thing with those eggs in Christmas foil rather than for Easter? (I've noticed for years now that items that used to be for one holiday are now marketed, in different shapes or with different packaging, for all of them, so you get candy corn for Christmas and Easter ("reindeer corn" in red and white and green, pastel pink and purple candy corn), marshmallow Peeps for every single holiday this side of Arbor Day, just in different shapes and colors, and Cadbury creme eggs for Halloween, Christmas, etc.
Or was it straight out Easter candy? *eek* That's a long time away...
I didn't notice any Easter eggs at Tesco earlier today, and there was no Valentine's Day tat visible, either. Tesco seem to be quite good at keeping the liturgical seasons separate from each other, though the little Creme Eggs (which I tend to associate with Easter - My Old Mum was always pleased to receive some at that time) are available all year round now.
My Christmas preparations have begun, with the reception of a selection of Cards from a certain charity. I now, of course, have to write a list of recipients, and then go to the Po Stoffis to send some of them off, but that's a task for Next Week...
...as is the purchase of a bottle of fine WINE each, for two good friends, and a bottle of her favourite GIN for another.
As regards decorations, I don't normally bother, but, recently, whilst looking for something else in a storage box of stuff from My Old Mum's house, I came across a little plastic Nativity scene - all complete, and still in its own rather dusty and venerable-looking box - which I intend to clean up, and place on the sideboard. The scene is no more than six or seven inches wide, and is what might be thought of as a cheap piece of tat, but it's been around for a good 60 years IIRC, and perhaps deserves to be displayed again! All I have to do now is to remember which box it was in - naturally, I didn't think of taking it out, and putting it to one side, when I was looking for the other article.
Lovely people knowing what I liked gave me the option of buying myself Roly last Christmas. Not a new release (by about 90 years) but I suspect similar joy.
OK, Thanksgiving is over and I will now start thinking about Christmas. I just ordered my mentally handicapped brother this years 60th anniversary Hess toy truck. Ouch that's expensive.
Comments
Not serious reading at all, but I like to revisit Terry Pratchett's Hogfather every few years, and also like Ellis Peters' The Virgin in the Ice. Haven't read that one for several years.
For each day through Advent, and on to Epiphany she gives a reading, a reflection on it and a prayer. I was slightly disappointed that there were no recipes at all, but have found the readings helpful, as they have brought me back from the busy-ness of pre-Christmas preparations to the point of the season.
I don't think there has been a year when I have read all the passages, especially as reading is now such a chore, but I do like to dip in now and again.
Another Christmas favourite, just for the fun of it, is Jenny Overton's The Thirteen Days of Christmas - in which a suitor gives his sweetheart all the gifts listed in every verse of the Twelve Days of Christmas song. resulting in chaos for the family and then to the rest of the town.
It is another one that could be read day by day, especially to children, but it is packed away with other Christmas things, like tableware and CDs/audiotapes, so it has been well into advent before I start.
I'm so impressed that I asked the Loon and the Quinie if they'd like a box as part of their Christmas present. The Loon was unimpressed but the Quinie agreed. It seems like a perfect present to me - fun, practical, and won't end up as clutter.
I had two outings yesterday to two different shopping emporia and made a good start on the Christmas shopping. Stocking fillers are the main things - I've always done stockings for the Nenlets if they're here or if we're seeing them on Christmas Day. We have Nenlet2 and his fiancé staying this year. The last time they were here his fiancé said, "I haven't had a stocking since I was a kid!" There is also the GrandNenling to buy for this year (any ideas for stocking fillers for a 14 month old welcome).
Autumn isn't a great time for me, with various difficult anniversaries, so I welcome the prospect of the lights and decorations. There's always a bit of a negotiation with Mr Nen about when they go up, as he is Bah Humbug about the whole business. We have an artificial tree these days - it has a Unique Dropping Feature which means we are sweeping up short green plastic strands for several months into the new year.
I'm working my way through Mrs RR's Christmas list. It's an onerous responsibility ... I had to check out the special box of Xmas Chocco Mints for the grand R'swere up to scratch. A repeat order here I think.
Just asking, does any other shipmate think 'Christmas already?' has a Jewish ring to it?
( No offence, I'm of Yiddish stock myself).
No sign yet of the staff as Santa's Little Helpers, or whatever. IIRC, they wait until the week before Christmas before putting on their costumes, but they do seem to make a Proper Job of it.
For myself, I have a string of fairy lights wound round a set of shelves in the hallway of Château Piglet, which stays in place all year (because I can't be arsed unwinding and re-winding it). Once the clocks go back, it serves as the hallway light, and is lit most evenings.
The candle-bridges will go up in the windows at the start of Advent, and the tree some time in mid-December.
Tree up until Epiphany, candle-bridges up until Candlemas.
I love Advent and Christmas. 🙂🎄🎍
Thanks also to all for their readings which give me new books to look into.
House Christmas decorations are going up around the streets here now. Some quite extravagant displays... Given the sun sets later here at this time I enjoy the occasional late night look around at the lights.
That’s my feeling. I’m avoiding Christmas music and such until the day after Thanksgiving myself. But God knows it’s been a rough time for everyone. If people want to keep decorations up all year, let them.
Usually the actual speaking parts in the children's play are taken by the older children, and the younger ones dress up as something cute and sing a song.
I'm glad to have the instructions early because it means I can get his outfit together without too much expense. I'm going to knit one of these using knitting wool I already have and he is going to be the most adorable sheep EVER.
Last year we bought one early because really good price at B&Q and kept it in cool dark garage until time to bring it indoors and it seemed to be fine.
Somewhere around that age my little one became fascinated with textures. I went down to the fabric store and got snippets and samples of as many random bits of fabric as I could. You might ask the GrandNenling's parents if he/she's currently fascinated with anything (such as opening/closing boxes, buckles, bits of hardware). I suspect a trip to the hardware store -- or to a place for cookery gadgets, such as basters, small brushes meant for spreading melted butter, blunt pizza cutters, and the like--would produce fascination for weeks. Of course you'd keep safety in mind.
Hopefully we will get frost in the next couple of days and I can get a photo for my cards, because I've got no suitable ones I haven't used before!
I somehow missed La Vie's post about Captain Pyjamas being a sheep and the proposed knitted headwear looks absolutely gorgeous!
@Sarasa , I have heard (and found) that the second anniversary of things after losing someone can be more difficult - because you're so geared up to the first one being hard.
We have Nenlet2 and his fiancé with us for a few days over the festive period. We will see Nenlet1 and the little family on Christmas Day but they are staying in their own home. This is working out well as if they'd all wanted to come here we'd have done it, of course, but would have been packed in like sardines
1) a musical plastic toy that he could push a button and it would play a different classical melody each time. He used it to self soothe and fall asleep for a couple of years.
2) An Easter bunny headband with stand-up ears made of feather fluff. Not to wear, but to tickle and be tickled with. Any similar feathery item would do.
At first glance, the list looks formidable, but, given that we have a daily Mass, there are only four *special* services - Carol Service, Crib Service, Midnight Mass, and Christmas Day Mass.
The regular daily schedule means that we can observe the three Holy Days immediately after Christmas (St Stephen, St John, and Holy Innocents), and FatherInCharge offers seasonal refreshments after each service...
Having little in the way of Family to worry about as far as presents are concerned (we simply don't do presents...), I'm free to donate some £££ to two particular charities in which I have a personal interest. That may sound terribly smug and/or easy, but it's the best I can do...
Our relatively small town (~14,500, largest town in a council of 75,000+) lights up a 43m tall Norfolk Pine tree on the old Anglican rectory lawn on the first Friday in December. I've never been while I've lived here (2012-2015, 2020+), will try go this year; when coming into town from the south at night I have always enjoyed seeing it at this time.
One year we had a choice between the Hay celebrity and Joanna Lumley, who was turning the lights on in Brecon on the same night, because of her association with the Gurkhas, who are stationed there.
Mr RoS is partial to a fruited bun, but is forbidden to buy HCBs out of season.
Is it possible--I've seen the things--that this is just a marketing thing with those eggs in Christmas foil rather than for Easter? (I've noticed for years now that items that used to be for one holiday are now marketed, in different shapes or with different packaging, for all of them, so you get candy corn for Christmas and Easter ("reindeer corn" in red and white and green, pastel pink and purple candy corn), marshmallow Peeps for every single holiday this side of Arbor Day, just in different shapes and colors, and Cadbury creme eggs for Halloween, Christmas, etc.
Or was it straight out Easter candy? *eek* That's a long time away...
(What, no Valentine's Day stuff?)
My Christmas preparations have begun, with the reception of a selection of Cards from a certain charity. I now, of course, have to write a list of recipients, and then go to the Po Stoffis to send some of them off, but that's a task for Next Week...
...as is the purchase of a bottle of fine WINE each, for two good friends, and a bottle of her favourite GIN for another.
As regards decorations, I don't normally bother, but, recently, whilst looking for something else in a storage box of stuff from My Old Mum's house, I came across a little plastic Nativity scene - all complete, and still in its own rather dusty and venerable-looking box - which I intend to clean up, and place on the sideboard. The scene is no more than six or seven inches wide, and is what might be thought of as a cheap piece of tat, but it's been around for a good 60 years IIRC, and perhaps deserves to be displayed again! All I have to do now is to remember which box it was in - naturally, I didn't think of taking it out, and putting it to one side, when I was looking for the other article.
It's a way of making sure I get one present I really want.
So do I, and a lovely little 00 gauge model railway engine (a new release) arrived yesterday...