I've been online too. Not stressful compared to traipsing round shops. The good thing about online is that you can get everything you want, and then wander round the shops, getting the odd thing that you might see, but which is not essential.
I've been online too. Not stressful compared to traipsing round shops. The good thing about online is that you can get everything you want, and then wander round the shops, getting the odd thing that you might see, but which is not essential.
Originally Posted by Neely
Nobody, not even Scrooge, dislikes Christmas as much as I do. A free spirit hates ritual where one is expected to conform to a ridiculous charade in which Christmas day isn't even the day that Christ was born but a date taken from a pre-christianity festival for a Roman god. I would be more in tune with it were it altered to the original date, which I think is some time in September. I thought about holidaying in Berlin this Christmas but the Germans insist on celebrating Christmas day to the full, which means virtually a complete shut down. The last time I spent Christmas day in Berlin, I went into the communist zone which, as one might expect, didn't quite die on Christmas day even though it was a holiday.
I'm partial to Johnnie Walker Red Label whiskey but, just now, I have a half-bottle of Teachers Highland Cream which is excellent. i don't go for the single malts that are expensive and reminiscent of gnarled and parsimonious old Scotsmen drinking a thimbleful before hanging up their bagpipes and going to bed.
if you haven't tried it already, l recommend Armagnac brandy, which is earthier than cognac and slightly more expensive due to its cachet as a niche brandy. If you are cooking for the holiday period, you might try a good claret like St.Emilion or a Châteauneuf-du-Pape from the vintage supermarket selection; they are infinitely more agreeable than the average table wine.
Glad you have become more interested in chess, as i have similarly decided to reduce time on the computer in favour of the piano under the tuition of a new teacher.
"L'art de la statistique est de tirer des conclusions erronèes a partir de chiffres exacts." Napoléon Bonaparte.
"Je crois que beaucoup de gens sont dans cet état d’esprit: au fond, ils ne sentent pas concernés par l’Histoire. Mais pourtant, de temps à autre, l’Histoire pose sa main sur eux." Michel Houellebecq.
I love Christmas. It is a time of merry-making, family, love and happiness. I cannot understand why people dislike it :/ Ignore the commercialism and do not let it ruin a wonderful holiday for you
I'm not keen on brandy. I do usually have a little whisky at Christmas but had two bottles last year and it took me too long to drink it, so might not bother with it this year. I am going to get one or two mid range French red wine, Bordeaux or something, maybe one bottle of champagne and several cases of San Miguel which is what I am drinking at the moment, also maybe the odd Belgian if I can get it, though not going crazy. That over two weeks is not much.
Yes I am spending a lot of time with my chess. I joined a local club but was not impressed so left, but have a strong online group where I can play, learn and analyse. (Chess clubs in this country outside of London are pretty poor in comparison to many on the continent.) Also reading lots and studying in general. Slowly getting better but improvement is a long journey requiring a lot of time and continual building up of experience. Glad you have redoubled your efforts on the piano too.
I can tell you are not the one who has to shop, prepare, cook and clear up (not to mention to pay) for that "merry-making"!I love Christmas. It is a time of merry-making, family, love and happiness. I cannot understand why people dislike it :/ Ignore the commercialism and do not let it ruin a wonderful holiday for you
~
"It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
~
Yes I suppose that is trueI can tell you are not the one who has to shop, prepare, cook and clear up (not to mention to pay) for that "merry-making"!
Or the one who is 'blessed' with well-meaning, but sadly boring and unintelligent family who don't see how good BBC X-mas TV is and prefer watching the millionth repeat of one series or another... Or even worse, who express their political opinions warped by slightly racist ideas, at which point you go to the toilet to count to ten...
It's true, I feel appreciated every time I go, but we have nothing much in common. That's the problem.
That doesn't include my parents, but I tell you, one day is really enough.
I always used to look forward to Christmas, also as a young adult, but it was always a kind of soufflé-left-too-long outside the oven-thing. It just rose and rose and rose, and then pffffffffff, out comes the air.
One has to laugh before being happy, because otherwise one risks to die before having laughed.
"Je crains [...] que l'âme ne se vide à ces passe-temps vains, et que le fin du fin ne soit la fin des fins." (Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac, Acte III, Scène VII)
I love all of these things. Seriously. I love buying gifts for my loved ones. Thinking about how long I've known them, and all the stuff we've done together, and what they like, and how I can most bring a smile to their faces with a gift. I love Christmas as an excuse to buy things for others and make donations to charities. I don't shop early- I like to go out in the thick of the holiday bustle. I make all our table centre-pieces out of fresh greenery, I decorate the tree. I love Christmas movies and music. My mother and I bake together and do the cooking together. I love setting the dinner table for 30 or so people, and spending time with my family and friends. I love all of it.I can tell you are not the one who has to shop, prepare, cook and clear up (not to mention to pay) for that "merry-making"!
Ha, there's some of that. But it's my father, so I'm used to doing that daily. He's the epitome of a grinch.
Last edited by *Classic*Charm*; 11-18-2013 at 06:06 PM.
I'm weary with right-angles, abbreviated daylight,
Waiting for a winter to be done.
Why do I still see you in every mirrored window,
In all that I could never overcome?
This Christmas am planning for cookie decorating party for kids, with some sugar cookies, icing, and food coloring -- and of course, the unmatchable power of kids imaginations.
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