tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post8651502066498745624..comments2024-03-18T16:49:08.253+11:00Comments on All the Blue Day: Christmas CameJohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17803297366197086152noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-67628328417443644712017-12-11T23:15:08.631+11:002017-12-11T23:15:08.631+11:00Your Christmas celebrations sound lovely.
The kids...Your Christmas celebrations sound lovely.<br />The kids are 17 and 15 this year so no one wants any random stuff, yay! Daughter got a concert ticket and has presented me with a long list of books for her annual book stack. Some I have bought new, but am trying to source some 2nd hand. Son doesn't want a single book (I died a little when he said reading was 'boring', sob) but he is getting a custom Rubik's cube - they cost a fortune) and we are getting a family gift of a table tennis table (could not find one 2nd hand, I looked everywhere), and that is it. Husband and I don't exchange gifts as we have everything we could ever want or need. We had a mini family holiday on the beach last week; it is a tradition to go away early December to escape the craziness. The kids still want to me to make mini gingerbread houses that they decorate, and we always listen to Dylan Thomas' "A child's Christmas in Wales" which is just divine. Our tree goes up on 1 December and it is filled with Every Single Decoration (I have decluttered heaps over the years and we are left with only nice stuff, though nothing matches). I confess that my daughter talked me into a new string of LED lights for the tree at Aldi as the old ones died last year:-) Oh, and I just buy books for my niece; we stopped exchanging presents with my husband's nieces and nephews a few years ago and no one seems to feel the lack. My in-laws are in their 70s and still like presents, and they give their grandkids cash (which is very much appreciated, of course). Loretta<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-26492101898319092832017-12-09T19:25:02.025+11:002017-12-09T19:25:02.025+11:00Penny, that is an amazing achievement to not buy a...Penny, that is an amazing achievement to not buy anything from China all year! I have bought.. not much from China. But a little. But the more I avoid it, the more painful it is to actually have to buy it, when there is no other option. So what are you doing for clothes then? I do find it very annoying that all these expensive labels get their stuff made in China and pay a pittance, despite charging a fortune..<br /><br />I think books, edibles and flowers are brilliant presents!<br /><br />And a Merry Christmas to you too :)Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17803297366197086152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-18804156969183293322017-12-08T22:51:07.715+11:002017-12-08T22:51:07.715+11:00I love a tree that is tasteless!! We still seem to...I love a tree that is tasteless!! We still seem to buy far too much, but from me it's mainly books , edibles and flowers delivered to aunties. I may have mentioned before, my mission this year has been to buy nothing made in China. It has saved me a fortune. Even most of our more upmarket yummy mummy labels here in the U.K. Have their goods made there. Some, like Laura Ashley tell you the province they are made in ( like that makes a difference?) and Cath Kidston labels hers as P R C. Anyway, I recommend it to anyone who wants to cut down buying stuff without stopping altogether! I am contemplating a buy nothing new year next year. Don't know if I can... PennyL xx<br />P.s a very merry Christmas to one and all xxxPenelope P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01867211542630495981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-22566789249882014042017-12-08T20:55:22.064+11:002017-12-08T20:55:22.064+11:00Pam, yes, I read your comment, and thought, yes, t...Pam, yes, I read your comment, and thought, yes, there's the thing I forgot to discuss, the season for giving. I love that you bought presents for local foster kids! That is so beautiful!<br /><br />Hazel, it takes a bit of courage to have those kinds of conversations. Ok, I take it all back, I want a home made insect house. Although, now I come to think of it, my house is already an insect house. At the moment it is infested with adorable baby spiders!<br /><br />Kate, I remember taking over the Christmas decorating from quite an early age. I was a very bossy child, but I loved it! So I can't really blame Posy. It's in the genes. It's so cute, too :) <br /><br />jj, I really want to see that tree!<br /><br />Linda, ah, Christmas cards. I think I have received one per year for the last several years, from my great aunt who is.. 85?? Other than that, Christmas cards don't seem to be a thing in my circle. I love that you have 46 year old Christmas decorations. Old, precious things are the best. My mum still has the cardboard angel I made when I was six. That's a 40 yo decoration right there..<br />Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17803297366197086152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-37655445252686475752017-12-07T09:02:56.122+11:002017-12-07T09:02:56.122+11:00I admire your resolve to pare down Christmas givin...I admire your resolve to pare down Christmas giving. Agree with everything you have achieved. Well done to you and your brother for the arrangement you have made. Perfect. My sisters and I agreed that we gave gifts at birthdays and Christmas to grandchildren until they reached 18. Then acknowledged the occasion with a card ( or emailed one). I have recently extended that to my best friend whose children I gave gifts to. But now they are parents, so give only to the children. I have tried to cut down on Christmas cards, many sent email but still have a ridiculous number of "real" ones. Our tree only holds decorations we have collected over 46 years, many given to our children when they were little. Love all the memories hanging there. My husband and I only exchange token gifts, things we know the other needs. I give money or vouchers to my daughter and her husband so they can buy what they need.Lindahttp://linda-koshka2quilts.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-9191681847014395542017-12-07T08:41:39.694+11:002017-12-07T08:41:39.694+11:00We are not a big Christmas family & haven'...We are not a big Christmas family & haven't done a tree for years, though we regularly enter the recycled materials Christmas Tree competition at our local community centre, because that is so much fun! This year I've been hit with the urge to built a tree structure from 'Who Gives A Crap' loo paper, with the chrissy paper covers, & pop a rainbow flag on the top! I'll post a pic when it's up :)jjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06457448880192420452noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-5875994643235668062017-12-07T05:59:02.320+11:002017-12-07T05:59:02.320+11:00My 17yr old had the decorating rights in our home ...My 17yr old had the decorating rights in our home this year, out tree looks very similar to yours. I too love the whole, looks like the decoration box vomited on the tree look. Still it was lovely to see her enthusiasm and eagerness.<br />As for gifts arrrggghhhhh, it's hard. <br />Cheers Kate simplelifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13397507005757292686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-88356425617644463712017-12-07T03:42:49.713+11:002017-12-07T03:42:49.713+11:00The tree does look fab. I have an internal struggl...The tree does look fab. I have an internal struggle every year between the sentimental things and keeping my colour scheme ;-)<br /><br />I took the plunge and spoke to both my brothers a couple of months ago and we've decided to do family presents rather than trying to buy for teenagers who are very picky (not mine!) and have everything they need (all of them). So one is getting an insect house made by my son (one of the drilled wood ones) and some seed bombs made by me and the other is getting one of those DIY Sundae kits that are all over Pinterest with some bought wafers and sweets but I'll make some homemade 'Ice Magic' and some brandy snap baskets (his Godmother used to make us brandy snaps every Christmas and she died earlier this year).Hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05388175819512214533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4838234360213313454.post-47091293568079912632017-12-06T23:26:07.544+11:002017-12-06T23:26:07.544+11:00Hi, Jo!
What a beautiful and elegant tree you hav...Hi, Jo!<br /><br />What a beautiful and elegant tree you have. Good work, Posy!<br /><br />We have always made giving to each person's favorite charity a large part of our Christmas gifts. That is almost all we do now, except for a book or DVD. Or maybe a gift card to a grocery store. I do miss the days when we pooled family resources and went shopping and bought gifts for all the foster kids in a local program. It was pretty expensive, though, and we can't do it to that extent any more.<br /><br />Merry Christmas!<br /><br />PamPam in Virginiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00895842137691734477noreply@blogger.com