Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Christmas is coming!

Today Sian and I went shopping to Liverpool. Since we discovered an easy and cheap(ish!) way to get into the city we've been going more often. Sian wanted to get some stuff at Primark and we went there first, after a small digression up Castle Street (Memory Lane for me) where I showed her the office building where I worked on my first job 30 years ago!

I could not believe my eyes when I saw the above display in Primark, and risking being arrested as a possible terrorist, I got out my compact and took this photo to put on my blog. It's a CHRISTMAS DISPLAY. There are SANTAS and SNOWMEN. But it is (and I checked) still AUGUST. I feel a Quiet Rage - type rant coming on!

It's bad enough that in the UK you start seeing "Back to School" promotions in shops before the six week summer holiday has even started! Or that you can't buy summer clothes in the shops after early July without rooting through crowded and confusing SALE racks because the autumn/winter ranges are all on display. I hate the way the minute the New Year celebrations are over Easter eggs appear in the supermarket to say nothing of Valentine's Day cards and gift suggestions. But to see displays of Christmas decorations in AUGUST is taking the bloomin' you-know-what! I'm outraged! Christmas starts earlier and earlier these days - I really wish it was illegal to start with the Christmas hype before December 1st. I adore Christmas but the past few years I've found myself getting bored with it long before the day itself actually arrives. The "Festive Season" seems to start sometime in late September and wears itself out long before December 25th in my opinion....Maybe I should start a campaign to restrict "Christmas" to December!
Rant over...

Apart from my horrific discovery in Primark, we had a great time. Sian was thrilled to see the Everton Mascot on Lord Street. I am so going to miss my girls when they are back at school!


The building with the coloured pipes outside it is Costa Coffee in Liverpool One. I have been trying to get a photo of it for a while now. This was taken with the compact but I've finally got a composition I'm happy with - so i may revisit it with the D80 sometime.

Let me be the very first to wish you all "Merry Christmas" for 2008 .....

7 comments:

artisbliss said...

How did I miss so many of your posts! Bad on me.

I completely agree with you on the Christmas thing. They push it WAAAY too early here, too. Ridiculous.

mrsnesbitt said...

Oh dear! Thanks for the warning! Will be on my toes.

Dx

Akelamalu said...

Oh I am so with you on your little rant! I went in a card shop just the other day and found CHRISTMAS CARDS displays taking up most of the shop! WTF????

Anyway glad you had a lovely day and the photo of the Costa Coffee is great. It's been I don't know how long since I've been to Liverpool, I must go.

I'm back at work (school) next Tuesday and you know what - I bet the sun will be cracking the flags next week. :(

Jenn said...

I'm with you Julie, I refuse to talk about Christmas until November 25th. it is just totally mad, I even have a neighbour who prides herself on having her outside Christmas decorations/light on for Bonfire Night, by the time Christmas arrives I'm sick of the sight of them!

I love your shot of the coloured tubes, lovely composition :)

Unknown said...

HO HO HO Meeeerry Christmas :)

I so agree with you. I remember, not so long ago, when the Christmas items started showing up in stores the first day in December... then they started the day after Thanksgiving. Now they take down the halloween decorations and put up the Christmas ones.

Even so, I love the holiday. I'll just stay out of the stores until I'm ready for the Christmas spirit.

Kerri Farley said...

I agree wholeheartedly about the stores putting out holday stuff way before the holiday. Christmas is my least favorite holiday. I LOVE that we celebrate Jesus' birth....but I hate the commercialization!

Dianne said...

Man I didn't realize I was so behind! I have to start addressing my holiday cards and get my shopping done!

What crap!! It ruins the spirit of the holiday.

Halloween candy and decor has been out since June. I asked a store manager how could the candy possibly be fresh!? He looked at me with such loathing LOL

Sian gets more lovely and grown up looking each time I see her photo