The General Conversation Thread

Not wishing to open a can of worms, and each to their own but to me, October 13th is
WAYYYYY too early to be putting xmas street lights up
But that's what's happening along the main drag in Cromer as I type
There's a full 20% of the year yet to run so WTF??
Sorry, but do we need 2.5 months of build up and bull **** - I know I don't

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Totally agree Cromer, it's bad enough putting up with it in the supermarkets!

 

Absolutely agree Cromer, to me it has had the totally opposite effect of putting me off the whole Christmas thing altogether. I think Dec 1 is fine and to have them taken down for 12th night and in that way it does help to keep the festival special. I once while a student witnessed Christmas lights being put up in the centre of Nottingham (the bridge over towards the Victoria Centre if anyone knows it) in SEPTEMBER!! No wonder that by the time 25th Dec comes it is very hard to get excited. And don't get me started on Slade, that should be banned now.

 

It's just another painful overcomercialisation to put pressure on parents to waste more money on stuff their kids don't need. If I was one of the poor bastards on Zero hours having to listen to Christmas music for 3 months straight I think I would turn into some sort of axe weilding homocidal maniac, even with out Vivian's coke!
At some stage surely we must hit some sort of tipping point where everyone will realise the folly of this ridiculous rampant commercialism.

Bah!

 

^Awesome stuff, GM^

 

Brilliant General.
I think seeing Xmas cards in shops from July/August is bad enough, but to see any Xmas street lights up before November is just toooooo much!!!!
I'm sure the that people who work in retail for very little remuneration MUST get absolutely fed up with the incessant dirge of Xmas songs even before December 1st.

As a family, we only give presents to the 2 grandchildren and don't buy expensive presents. Yes, we have a large meal on Xmas Day, but no longer buy Xmas cake, tins of chocolates, nibbles etc. Decorations are taken down no later than 2nd January.

 

Absolutely JM. I think that the whole concept of Christmas has changed over the past 30-40 years and touches to a degree on the earlier debate with the General.
When I was young, Christmas was a massive thing because people had so little. You saved up for it for most of the year for a splash out for those 2 magical days, then people went back to work on 27th December, no doubt with turkey sandwiches. The main day consisted of a huge meal including turkey and Christmas pudding of course and yet somehow by 5 0'clock we were then indulging in tea which would include Christmas cake and mince pies. You cannot contemplate eating that much these days, but that was a one-off. Because as a society we have so much more and the things that we once treasures are available throughout the year, the 'special' time has gone.

 

Me and my family do over do it but even without having any religious convictions, it is a great occasion to get together with family. When else will we sit round have a goose and lots of red wine? The holiday helps, although once again I feel sorry for the poor bastards in retail who work late on Xmas eve and can be at it again on Boxing day. OK so we need emergency services at all times, but is Next taking 5% of stuff that no one wanted before Xmas really worthy of coercing the staff back in?
Regarding the presents, I do like to treat the family at Xmas and we all go a little over board to be honest, but it as occasion and we enjoy it. I often start shopping for the next one through out the year even in the dreaded Jan sales if I happen to be in town and see a bargain. E.g. Always get the Xmas cards in January! Although if I'm honest with Xmas cards, I tend to just send them to those I got them from out of ritual obligation. Anyone who I truely care about I will see or at least partake in a family skypeing session.

Bah!

 

Much the same marathon build up to Xmas in Australia. This is a photo inside my local Sainsburys / Tesco equivalent here in Sydney taken at about 4:00pm on Xmas Eve. They're taking the decorations down before the day.



I guess they had to make room for all the Easter merchandise on Boxing Day.

 

Changing topic -
A lady from Suffolk has won the 'Golden Spurtle' (wooden Scottish stirring tool) for her porridge - using only oatmeal, SALT and water!!!

https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2019-10-14/suffolk-cafe-owner-scoops-world-porridge-champion-title/

 

Beatles fans!
A lyrics quiz.
Fill your boots, assuming the link works?

https://www.women.com/shannon/quiz-...YxwnTt5tGsQNQkK3vFy2pi_dYonpNLk7RjWQ#/results

 

100%.

Not so much clever, more just old!

 

And 100% here too Gandy. Quite proud as I normally cock something up, but like you say it is probably more age than knowledge

 

Me too

 

And me

 

After all your good results and as a relative youngster - I too could be a 5th Beatle - 100%. Mostly really easy, including one title in the question being peak easy! But I did have to guess a couple.

Bah!

 

I think they were a beat combo who used to be quite good. Remember seeing them on 'Ready, Steady, Go'

 

QUIZ: ONLY DIEHARD FANS CAN NAME ALL 29 OF THESE BEATLES SONGS BY ONE LYRIC100% - You Could Be The Fifth Beatle!!! and I am only 47

 

100%

I heard they were a "good little band" once

 

UK weather: Britain hit by SNOW in 10 days as forecasters warn COLDEST winter for 70 years
Better stock up folks,
You know it makes sense