When is it too early...

First topic message reminder :

..to put up a Christmas avi?
My poppy has been put away till next year so I feel my avi should change accordingly.

The shops have been full of Christmas goodies for weeks, I have even sang along to Christmas songs whilst browsing in the local garden centre, so is it prudent yet to change avis to Christmas themed ones??

I fucking hate Christmas.

(Just needed to get that off my chest).

A list shall be made
It will be checked twice
those that Displease Santa
shall run away like Mice

I should care - I pay for what he brings me.

LOL
ziz that is not a good thing

Hating Christmas is sad
don't you have friends or family?

The joy of giving kid's toys
getting an Old man a fine whiskey,
or a great mum something fun,
is worth every penny spent.


Humbugs are the only bugs a squash

Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?
I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.
I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

I always opted out of those - not my idea of fun - hmmph.

Ziz wrote:I always opted out of those - not my idea of fun - hmmph.

Were you the one sitting in the corner doing a Victor Meldrew impression when everyone else was opening their surprise pressies?

Syl wrote:

Ziz wrote:I always opted out of those - not my idea of fun - hmmph.

Were you the one sitting in the corner doing a Victor Meldrew impression when everyone else was opening their surprise pressies?

I discreetly absented myself so not to spoil other's "fun".

Just as I wish I could now absent myself from the mawkish emotionalism of Christmas - hmmmph!

Ziz wrote:

Syl wrote:

Were you the one sitting in the corner doing a Victor Meldrew impression when everyone else was opening their surprise pressies?

I discreetly absented myself so not to spoil other's "fun".

Just as I wish I could now absent myself from the mawkish emotionalism of Christmas - hmmmph!

I sympathise honestly.
Not saying this is your reason, some people are just naturally miserable... but I can see (and have felt this way myself in the past) when we have lost someone for eg, how the jollity of Christmas can magnify your sadness, especially if the person you have always spent Christmas with is no longer here.
I also think Christmas is better if young kids are involved, I think it can lose a bit of glitter when they grow up.
Having said that.....I am really getting in the mood myself now, I have even bought new Christmas lights for the mantelpiece...I will refrain from putting them up yet though.

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?
I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.
I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

Yeah we did it where I used to work - I got a great present one year, boxes of Chinese teas in lovely little decorated Chinese tins. I was well happy.

Syl wrote:

Ziz wrote:

I discreetly absented myself so not to spoil other's "fun".

Just as I wish I could now absent myself from the mawkish emotionalism of Christmas - hmmmph!

I sympathise honestly.
Not saying this is your reason, some people are just naturally miserable...  but I can see (and have felt this way myself in the past) when we have lost someone for eg, how the jollity of Christmas can magnify your sadness, especially if the person you have always spent Christmas with is no longer here.
I also think Christmas is better if young kids are involved, I think it can lose a bit of glitter when they grow up.
Having said that.....I am really getting in the mood myself now, I have even bought new Christmas lights for the mantelpiece...I will refrain from putting them up yet though.

I'm joy itself the rest of the year.

Yes, children make Christmas - and most children are made around Christmas (11 December to be precise, if the Telegraph is to be believed).

Ziz wrote:

Syl wrote:

I sympathise honestly.
Not saying this is your reason, some people are just naturally miserable...  but I can see (and have felt this way myself in the past) when we have lost someone for eg, how the jollity of Christmas can magnify your sadness, especially if the person you have always spent Christmas with is no longer here.
I also think Christmas is better if young kids are involved, I think it can lose a bit of glitter when they grow up.
Having said that.....I am really getting in the mood myself now, I have even bought new Christmas lights for the mantelpiece...I will refrain from putting them up yet though.

I'm joy itself the rest of the year.  

Yes, children make Christmas - and most children are made around Christmas (11 December to be precise, if the Telegraph is to be believed).

I read that most divorces are filed just after the Christmas period...hopefully not the same couples..

eddie wrote:

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?
I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.
I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

Yeah we did it where I used to work - I got a great present one year, boxes of Chinese teas in lovely little decorated Chinese tins. I was well happy.

That's nice that someone put some thought into your pressie and didn't buy any old tat.
I never got the chance at work to do a secret Santa....it was usually the owner bought us a couple of bottles of something and a night out.

Syl wrote:

Ziz wrote:

I'm joy itself the rest of the year.  

Yes, children make Christmas - and most children are made around Christmas (11 December to be precise, if the Telegraph is to be believed).

I read that most divorces are filed just after the Christmas period...hopefully not the same couples..

I put some of that down to office parties - in the civil service Christmas was like sexual musical chairs.  

Ziz wrote:

Syl wrote:

I read that most divorces are filed just after the Christmas period...hopefully not the same couples..

I put some of that down to office parties - in the civil service Christmas was like sexual musical chairs.  

I have never been to an office Christmas party Ziz (office work wasn't really for me) I bet they could be a real eye opener though.

Syl wrote:

Ziz wrote:

I put some of that down to office parties - in the civil service Christmas was like sexual musical chairs.  

I have never been to an office Christmas party Ziz (office work wasn't really for me) I bet they could be a real eye opener though.

You don't know how fortunate you are.

I just reread the thread, there are quite a lot of reds been given out in what should be a happy Christmas thread.

Ziz wrote:I fucking hate Christmas.

(Just needed to get that off my chest).

Humbug

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?
I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.
I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

Yeah we did it every year.

One of the ladies got soaps etc every year, she got the hump, and said do I smell or something. I laughed. It was only because no one knew what to get her, she was abit frumpish tbh.

It wasn't me I never got her thankfully

Ziz wrote:

I know what you have done....

Pfffft Christmas...yeuk I make it nice for the grandkids then return thankfully home for a glass of Calvados and a session on WoW, followed by an early night.

Syl wrote:

Ziz wrote:

I know what you have done....

Bugger - I accidentally gave this post of yours a green.

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?
I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.
I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

We always do it at our place. I got the OCD , diabetic t-total boss last year

Sally, our admin got me.
She got me a Kevin Bacon mousemat a Minions coaster and incohol. I easy to buy for!

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?
I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.
I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

Yes I have organised the one at work the last few years ( I took over when the original person left)
 we have a very fun varient.

gifts about $20 (although no one complains if people go bigger)
all gifts are wrapped so you can't tell what they are, none have any names on them
all in a pile under the tree

Everyone that put in a present gets to draw a number out of hat

the person with number 1 gets first pick of the wrapped presents. and unwraps theirs for all to see

the person with number 2 and subsequent
can choose to either
Pick a new wrapped present from the pile
Or steal one of the already unwrapped presents.

If you get your present stolen then it is your turn again
and can choose to either
Pick a new wrapped present from the pile
Or steal one of the already unwrapped presents.

any present can only be stolen 3 times before it is out and can't be stolen again (so 3rd thief gets to keep it)
and you can't steal back what was just stolen from you (but can if another turn has passed)

That's a lot of rules! Just give me the present man and hush with the rules

eddie wrote:That's a lot of rules! Just give me the present man and hush with the rules

the fun part is the stealling
and randomness

no one is specifically given a present (we have had everything Nerf guns and office ornaments to beach chairs and gawdy clocks)

and people that Unwrap something cool rarely get to keep it as the theft frenzy begins

Miffs2 wrote:

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?
I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.
I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

We always do it at our place. I got the OCD , diabetic t-total boss last year

Sally, our admin got me.
She got me a Kevin Bacon mousemat a Minions coaster and incohol. I easy to buy for!

I love that mousepad....very imaginative. I was never struck on Kevin Bacon till I saw him in the EE ads...he is funny.

veya_victaous wrote:

Syl wrote:Has anyone ever bought or been given a 'secret Santa' pressie?
I believe it's common in the workplace now, no one may spend more than a certain amount.
I have never done this but I bet it's fun.

Yes I have organised the one at work the last few years ( I took over when the original person left)
 we have a very fun varient.

gifts about $20 (although no one complains if people go bigger)
all gifts are wrapped so you can't tell what they are, none have any names on them
all in a pile under the tree

Everyone that put in a present gets to draw a number out of hat

the person with number 1 gets first pick of the wrapped presents. and unwraps theirs for all to see

the person with number 2 and subsequent
can choose to either
Pick a new wrapped present from the pile
Or steal one of the already unwrapped presents.

If you get your present stolen then it is your turn again
and can choose to either
Pick a new wrapped present from the pile
Or steal one of the already unwrapped presents.

any present can only be stolen 3 times before it is out and can't be stolen again (so 3rd thief gets to keep it)
and you can't steal back what was just stolen from you (but can if another turn has passed)

Sounds like musical chairs with pressies instead of chairs, I hope you didn't always end up with the one no one wanted.