Yieeks, I'm still getting over last Christmas and a new one is just around the corner.

I was going to go to the City tomorrow to start looking for prezzies but something else came up so I’ll have to go next week.

What do you want for Christmas and what are you thinking of giving your nearest and dearest.  I have no idea - it seems everyone just about has everything and anything they need or want and being creative with gifts for Christmas is getting harder each year.

Any ideas out there ...signed desperate!

You can get me a car

Last year I didn't buy any pressies. The kids understood that there just wasn't any money left. (maybe I can try the same line this year)  

I once engraved an MG symbol on a bottle of whiskey  for my Dad. That was 25 years ago and he still hasn't cracked open that bottle. 'Its too special to open because of the engraving.' sheesh. Actually that was a pressie disaster. Another great gift was the huge block of Cadbury chocolate I bought for my senile Nan. She sat and ate the lot, obviously enjoying it, and wouldn't eat Christmas lunch with us. Hmmm, another disaster. I made a cross stitch picture for a friend. I incorporated a lot of things into the design that were personal to her and me. I worked on that damn thing for about four months. She cried ..... a lot ..... and put it away in a cupboard never to see the light of day again. Another pressie disaster.

Maybe someone else should give you some gift ideas.

LMAO.
But the whiskey bottle wasn't a disaster, and why did your friend cry and put the thing away forever?
Also, who are you buying for Cactus?  Not that I can ever think of anything but maybe someone will have fun trying.

Ho ho ho and happy Christmas to you Jade and Dean and everyone else on this forum.  I better say it now in case I’m away during the hols.

Now down to the real reason for Christmas ...the pressies.

I have three main loved ones.  Firstly my darling, precious, adorable, 15yo daughter; My 82yo mother; and my generous and thoughtful 46yo brother.

My daughter has already given some strong hints with a very un-subtle clip-art presentation in an email, but I really would like to give her a pleasant surprise with that little bit extra.

For the others, I'll only keep something in reserve just in case we end up together on Christmas day!

Quoted from cactus

Yieeks, I'm still getting over last Christmas and a new one is just around the corner.

I was going to go to the City tomorrow to start looking for prezzies but something else came up so I’ll have to go next week.

What do you want for Christmas and what are you thinking of giving your nearest and dearest.  I have no idea - it seems everyone just about has everything and anything they need or want and being creative with gifts for Christmas is getting harder each year.

Any ideas out there ...signed desperate!

So Cactus... with all your questions about 'MY God' in the 'So many religions' thread, I actually thought you didn't really believe or follow the Christian faith, or any faith for that matter. But here you are celebrating CHRISTmas. Is this because Australia is big on pushing the Christmas thing OR is it peer pressure OR is it because you believe when it suits you, mate? As you said in your last post, and this gives me an insight into your personality even more than before..... quote from Cactus as to the real reason for Christmas... "Now down to the real reason for Christmas ...the pressies."

So you think that was really necisarry?
I didn't make any assumption one way or the other apart from the fact that he is educated on the topic.
I think someone needs a nap.
Often times the person who needs a nap is me so don't take the criticism too hard.

I think Christmas has become over commercialised in the last 15 years or so.  I also think that those for whom Christmas has no religious or moral significance have no place "celebrating" it.  I am on occasion, however, judgemental and opinionated.

That's the Christmass spirit!!  It's about intolerance and... wait a minute! what are you two trying to pull over on me?

hah!  got ya, neener!

ok there are like 304 "guests" on these boards and it's awfully sloooooowwwwww, or is it my imagination?

PS ok there's now a Yahoo! Bot online and the "guests" are rapidly leaving

Wow, no that's slow for 304 guests.  I didn't notice them.

pity they don't all sign up eh? hehe

Where are they all coming from.  I also noticed that the eblah pages were being very slow at times. I thought that it was my ISP so I tried other www and found they were normal and when I came back to eblah it was slooooooooow, so I figured the problem was here.

Are they real guests or is there some form of competitive skullduggery afoot from some other forums.

Quoted from SuziH

So Cactus... the pressies.

I'm disappointed you didn’t realize my reference to "prezzies" as the real reason for Christmas is really sarcasm and if you take a closer look at my other posts in the Political Arena you’ll also notice that I have a very high regard for Jesus and what he stood for ...Happy Christmas Suzi.

Yes, Cactus, although it is 2 and a bit months to Christmas and I don't usually begin to even think about wishing anyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year until after the 1st of December.... consider yourself wished Cactus. I have a very High Regard for the Creator of Heaven and Earth and all that it encompasses. Excuse my rudeness everyone, I'll blame it on hormones and annoying ex-husbands. Cheers!

Please, PLEASE, no more religious debates!
Christmas is fun. You dont need Jesus to decorate a fake tree and buy gifts for loved ones.

What does your daughter want, cactus? My girl wanted electrical appliances, tv, cd, hair straighteners at that age. You could make up a makeup kit for that something extra. I did that for my daughter this year. I bought a whole lot of things that are handy but you never seem to buy like, toe separators for when you are painting toenails, disposable makeup remover pads, blackhead remover strips, emery board, mud mask; stuff like that.

I agree Jade, Chit-Chat should be neutral where you come to get away from the political.

My darling wants a bed set; doona cover, sheets etc and she sent some clip-art of the style she wanted.  The make-up stuff, something personal, sounds good but being a typical male deciding what to put into it is a daunting task.  I could ask her mother what she needs in this stuff but she’d probably suggest stuff that she could “borrow” for herself.

I promise I am in a better mood today... I think. My son turns 21, twelve days before christmas which always makes it difficult for his birthday and/or Christmas. This year I am giving him $300. for his 21st etal and his Father is giving him $400. to put toward an X-Box 360 when they come out. The console will cost around $600. including a couple of games etc. and he wants to buy a couple of other games with it, adding up to around the amount we are giving him. So Christmas is usually frugal for the three of us (my kids and me) with a luscious Christmas dinner in the middle of the day, and the exchange of smaller presents like candles, a book or two, wind chimes, crystals, Cd's etc are usually the go. Last year my daughter bought me 'Stella' perfume and knowing the cost and thought that went into it, I burst into tears in front of my kids, my ex husband and my ex mother in law. Last Christmas with just myself and my adult kids was THE best I have ever had since my childhood. PLus I cooked the most perfect traditional christmas dinner I have ever done!  

Quoted Text

.... I came back to eblah it was slooooooooow.....

lol! This morning I ~ literally ~ has to queue up to post a reply. Guess there's more traffic than usual.

 

Quoted Text

I don't usually begin to even think about wishing anyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year until after the 1st of December

I'm with you on this one. Although I have noticed Myer store and the supermarket have already started their Christmas merchandising.  

But do we have to wait for December to wish everyone goodwill and to give gifts to our nearest and dearest?  I think we should celebrate Christmas all year.  So Merry Christmas and goodwill to all eblah members and through the six degrees of separation this greeting should touch the whole world.

No Red we don't have to wait until the Christmas Season to wish people good cheer. I am friendly to people all year 'round and show my family how much I appreciate them and love them 365/366 days a year also. I always say 'all the best' and 'cheers' etc to strangers and acquaintences and 'I love you' and "you are the best Daughter/Son I could wish for'. We put much store and emphasis in our Celebrating individuals' birthdays in my family because they are personal, unique and special. My son turns 21 this December so his birthday will be extra special, my 50th was yesterday and I have to say it was better than any other birthday in my entire life. My Daughter made me so happy and proud with her efforts. That is more important to me than Christmas. Presents at Christmas are secondary to spending the day enjoying each others' company and eating yummy food.

My local Woolworths (or Safeway, depending where you live) store had a small amount of Christmas decorations out on sale back in August, no kidding! I almost died when I saw them!

As for presents for ppl, one thing I would love to buy my father is the first 4 series of 'I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again'. For those who don't know, that is a classic radio series back in the 60's featuring John Clease, the three guys from The Goodies and a few other classic english comedians. It was the funniest show I had ever heard (i'm not that old, they had repeats on ABCam back in the 80's). I recenty stumbled across the series on epguies.com (they have a radio show list now!).

But my dream present for my family, which I fully intend to do one of these years, is to fly them all, spouses and kids included, to a Queensland resort for an all expensis paid Christmas holiday. Now thats a pretty huge dream!

The best time to get those Christmas decorations and wrapping paper etc and cards is in the January sales.  Some good bargains to be had here on this stuff but be careful of other stuff because the crafty buggers actually increase the list price during this time.

Quoted from Frankie

Better late than never.

Happy Birthday, Ms Suzi  

OMG. just found it Frankie, Thank you. I was so surprised tears sprang to my eyes. I had a ball and a wonderful performance that lasted 30 minutes by a professional fire dancers, as in he twirled fire around his body up and down and all around on specially designes ropes and cloth soaked in kero. We did 3 clips with the digital camera as well as taking 80 pics over the entire evening. Never had a better birthday!

Just noticed Jade's post re beauty products.... this from a professional Skin care specialist... never never never use blackhead remover strips. They promote hair growth out of the space left by the removed blackhead. I am not being rude to Jade, it is just a little known fact unless you have a friend or family member in the business.

I can't believe the year is almost over already.  I wish everyone a Happy Christmas but it looks like I'll be busy looking for work.  If I don't get work soon I'll have to go back and live with Mum and Dad.

Quoted Text

... Never had a better birthday!....

<< It's your party and you do what you want to
I would do it if it was mine too >>



Glad to read you have a fabulous time.

Spent all day shopping for presents on Saturday and came home without anything and depressed.  Everyone has everything already.  I wish everyone was really poor so I could get them something they haven’t got but really need.

I try to not to give "things" these days...most of my loved ones have more "things" than they can ever use...So I try to be a bit creative these days

* Voucher for a restuarant the person likes (or has expressed a desire to try)(this is a good one as they might take you!)
* Voucher for an adult education course (cooking, home maintenance, history...there are some great things available to suit a range of interests - try local adult colleges as well as some stores or restaurants)
* Voucher for massage or facial
* tickets to a show (theatre/concert whatever)
* a night's accommodation in a nice hotel
* some gourmet food ingredients along with the recipe(s) to use them printed nicely
* a great piece of shareware software (eg I bought a friend who LOVES to cook this great recipe software for $15US)
* some really nice indoor or outdoor plants

Cactus for your 15yr old daughter tho' things are....well all she really wants...maybe some vouchers (CDs, books, sportsgirl, iTunes music vouchers, Diva - depends what she's into - small denomination vouchers are a great idea as she can spread out her purchasing)

I was standing in the layby line at Kmart today for about half an hour, there were so many ppl in line! And worse, most had trolleys overflowing with boxes and boxes of toys. I think today, parents go way overboard buying their kids Christmas presents. I know a couple with 2 kids, and one year they admitted to spending over $2,000 on presents! Ludicrious!

Quoted from Simpson

But my dream present for my family, which I fully intend to do one of these years, is to fly them all, spouses and kids included, to a Queensland resort for an all expensis paid Christmas holiday. Now thats a pretty huge dream!

Trust me - most resorts are still NOT air conditioned - come here in winter......
Weather is mild, crowds are smaller.

But... if they don't have aircon they will have ceiling fans in every room and usually a sea breeze (if you choose carefully). It is very humid at times through our Spring and Summer. In fact the humidity is dreadful right now. I have fans in every room (upright floor fans) and find great relief with those. If you are not used to summer in Queensland then wait until April-May or come in August-September. I find those
months in South east Queensland the best and most comfortable. If you are looking to head further north for Christmas then be prepared for stormy, thundery, humid weather.  

Christmas is at our place on Christmas Eve; I do hope nobody fights like last time they were here.  

Quoted from Simpson

I was standing in the layby line at Kmart

People still shop at Kmart?

Not me - Kmart sold me a crook toaster in 1982, have not been back since......

Heh heh! I only by decent brand names from Kmart. Compared to Myer or David Jones their prices are amazing.

Quoted from cactus

People still shop at Kmart?

Oi I like K-Mart!  

K-Mart Rocks!

Yeah!  It's never crowded at the checkout.

^ That smiley got it's sunglasses at K-Mart for 95 cents and he's really happy with them

Dimmey's are selling the same pair for 45c

People shop at Dimmey's?

Touche

You know its really Christmas when Chrisco start flooding the TV with their ads. I sware they played the one ad 4 times in one commercial break! They play a years worth of advertising in the space of 3 months! One year I bit the bullet and rang that damm number just to see what the fuss was about, and now I get a Chrisco catalogue sent to me every year, even though I've never bought anything from them. I guess its a good idea, for those ppl who aren't disicplined enough to set money aside during the year. In the end, Chrisco customers end up paying service station prices for every item in the pack. You could probably get twice as much food from the supermarket yourself for the same amount of money!

AND ...a lot of the stuff you don't normally eat so it's still sitting in the cupboard the following Christmas.

A better way to go would be for the major retailers to offer "Christmas Hamper" accounts in much the same way lay-bys are operated now  ...free delivery could also be included as a bonus to get people to sign up.  Some arrangement to use your fuel voucher as a credit towards the Hamper would also be appealing.  

A lot of people who can't get to the supermarkets would still use the Crisco.  But I do like Cactus' idea of the supermarkets having their own hamper arrangement, I think this would be very popular with regular shoppers and using the fuel vouchers as credit is a brilliant idea.

Only three weeks to go and school will be over for 8 weeks.  I wonder if my employer would agree to that when we go to negotiate our WPA contract.


But what to do with the kids for the next two months?  I guess I'll just let them run amok as usual.

How many of you have had your big Christmas pagents yet? Adelaide had theirs on the weekend. Interesting, it really has little to do with Christmas. I guess its more of a pagent around the same time as the Christmas season begins. A pagent only about Christmas would be rather boring. How many floats can you have of Christmas trees, presents, stars, nativity scenes before it gets really boring?

They don't have them around my parts anymore.  I remember having Christmas Parades when I was a rug rat that ended at the local park where there was a Fair & Carnival type thingy going on with beauty contests; apple bobbin; sack races and the like but all that’s gone now  ...nothing, just silence.

Sad really, the town lives on but not the community.

So, who's organised and has started their Christmas shopping? I have a friend who is so organised, she's finishes her shopping and has everything wrapped by August! Now thats just wrong! I like to get it done before school breaks up. The shopping centres become a nightmare in the holidays.

And when does your tree go up? I usually put it up the first Sunday of December, then take it down New Years Day.

My partner puts our tree up a week before Xmas and pulls it down on New years day. I help her of course but she's in charge. She also picks up things through the year and as Xmas draws closer sorts out which would suit who and wraps them and tags them. I get to have my name next to hers on the Xmas cards and pay for at least half of the presents. I think it is stupid to have the shops in full blown Xmas mode so early. Santa came to David Jones last week. The traffic and parking is beyond insane.

[quote=BlackWolf]I think it is stupid to have the shops in full blown Xmas mode so early. Santa came to David Jones last week.[quote]

Not just Christmas but Easter also.  But what really gets up my nose is when Big W and K Mart et al put away most of the winter clothes before the end of winter so you are only left with stuff they couldnt sell earlier.

Just when there are some hot issues to debate I'm off on hols.  

Happy Christmas to ya all and see you in the New Year.

Well, my tree is up, my lights are up, and my Christmas presents have been purchased and wrapped. Nothing to do now except sit back and wait for the day to come! I always get dissapointed when the 25th comes to an end. Theres been a huge build up for months, then BAM its over with in 24 hours. There should be a Christmas festival over 3 days instead!

Quoted from Simpson

I always get dissapointed when the 25th comes to an end. Theres been a huge build up for months, then BAM its over with in 24 hours. There should be a Christmas festival over 3 days instead!

Wash your mouth out with soap Simpson - 1 day is more than enough for me thanks.  All that pressure to be nice to family I don't like....

I love Boxing day - PJs, presents, leftovers and a lazy afternoon trip to the cinema to see the big blockbuster of the year - much nicer

I snapped at my Aunt in law last Christmas eve.  Christms day was spent at her house so it was uncomfortable.  She sort of had it coming though.

we better be careful with all this talk about Christmas, someone might get offended  

source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1529088.htm

Another case of Political Correctness overshadowing our Traditional Australian Christmas that we have known and celebrated since colonisation, Paula. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas either but you don't see them kicking up a ruckus. The people I saw on A Current Affair last night have caused problems before. It's like their tradition at Christmas to complain and be on TV saying those who celebrate Christmas force it on those who don't. Well, God Bless 'em... they need it!

By the way.... Merry Christmas to all my friends on the forum, who DO celebrate Christmas.
This Christmas is going to be very quiet just my son and myself.  
BUT we are celebrating it on the 22nd at lunchtime so we can share it with my adult daughter. It will be the first Christmas Day in 28 years without her company   so I had to think of a solution and this is it!  

Quoted from BSquared

Wash your mouth out with soap Simpson - 1 day is more than enough for me thanks.  All that pressure to be nice to family I don't like....

Heh heh! Well, I don't have a problem with my family, I wouldn't mind having a 3 day festival of food and gifts with them.

And to those who don't celebrate Christmas and are taking offence to our Chrismas talk I say    GET OVER IT!

Since when was christmas a religous ceremony?
Never has been with my family, just a time to be with family and exchange gifts. Just because the christians adopted a good old tradition as their day as well, does not mean they own it!

A Bit like the yanks claiming halloween!

Quoted from BB

Since when was christmas a religous ceremony?
Never has been with my family, just a time to be with family and exchange gifts. Just because the christians adopted a good old tradition as their day as well, does not mean they own it!

A Bit like the yanks claiming halloween!

Yeah it totally pisses me off the way they send their war ships around making sure people don't make the decision to have halloween in their countries as well.  Kids should be allowed to be given candy no matter where they live  

Quoted from BB

Since when was christmas a religous ceremony?
Never has been with my family, just a time to be with family and exchange gifts. Just because the christians adopted a good old tradition as their day as well, does not mean they own it!

errr...you are joking yes?

I mean Christmas does literally mean the Mass of Christ or Christ's Mass and has, since at least the 4th Century AD, been a day to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Some of the traditions that we now associate with Christmas such as the giving of gifts and good old Saint Nick may derive from ancient pagan rituals but the celebration of the birth of Jesus (i.e. Christmas) is a religious ceremony.

The fact your family don't use it as a religious day or that it's easy to forget what Christmas is actually supposed to be about due to modern marketing and commercialisation or the fact that many secular traditions have arisen around the same day doesn't change the fact that Christmas is actually a day of religioous importance for all Christian religions (many of which don't actually celebrate it on Dec 25 as there is debate over the actual date of Jesus' birth).

But I am fairly confident you were joking  

Quoted from BB

Since when was christmas a religous ceremony?
Never has been with my family, just a time to be with family and exchange gifts. Just because the christians adopted a good old tradition as their day as well, does not mean they own it!

Yikes, please be joking!

Quoted from Simpson

Yikes, please be joking!

Of course I am not joking - just because 15% of the white population take their but off to church does not mean that the good old Australian holiday, which is all about gift giving and time with family is a religous holiday! It started long before the christian tried to hijack it!

Just look it up!

here is a starter

http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/tracts/tract3.html

Uh, thanks, but no thanks...

I find the subject of Christmas and just where it began and by whom so interesting.
I did some research.

CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS AND THEIR PAGAN ORIGINS

Because the festive aspects of the German-American Christmas, including the tree, were considered pagan, the Puritans in New England shunned them until about 1875. They were not entirely wrong!

It is generally acknowledged that the Christmas tree is of German origin. In the pre-Christian era the oak was the sacred tree for the Germanic peoples. Legend has it that the missionary to the Germans, St. Boniface, in order to stop sacrifices at their sacred Donar Oak near Geismar, chopped the tree down [725 A.D.]. He is said to have replaced the oak by a fir tree, adorned in tribute to the new-born Christ. Ironically, the evergreen tree has been ascribed magical power by the Germanic peoples as a representation of fertility. Today, the fir and its next of kin enjoy the highest degree of popularity. The Christmas tree custom has spread across large parts of the world.

Much more here: http://www.serve.com/shea/germusa/pagan.htm

and this site is fantastic for all things Christmas....

http://www.allthingschristmas.com/traditions.html

Quoted from BB

Just look it up!

here is a starter

http://www.lasttrumpetministries.org/tracts/tract3.html

mmmm....just because it is on the Internet doesn't make it true BB (c'mon...last trumpet ministries?  what the?)...and anyway your own (from my point of view questionable) reference starts out with the sentence Christmas is a holiday shared and celebrated by many religions.  

But I'm not so sure I wanna get all my facts from some crackpot religion in Beaver Dam.  You want a crackpot religion?  My favourite is the church of flying spaghetti monster...or you want bull**** on the internet?  go to http://www.timecube.com - undoubtedly the best evidence you will ever need that the world is full of crazy people who know a little HTML.

And just because you're family doesn't treat it as a religious holiday doesn't mean it isn't a religious holiday (in my family we have a picnic on Anzac day...but that doesn't mean Anzac day isn't a holiday commemorating Australia's soldiers)

As I believe I said in my earlier post...some of the traditions that we now associate with Christmas Day have been taken/borrowed/stolen from older, in some cases pagan, rituals but the term Christmas and the day itself is pretty much universally accepted as having a religious basis.

But I'm still thinking you are joking  

Christmas is a religous holiday, it is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Note it is the celebration of the birth, not the actualy birthday of the Christ - a bit like the Queens birthday not really being on a Monday every year! So, wheather you choose to believe it or not is up to you, but you cannot deny the fact that CHRISTmas is a religous holiday. The crackpots of the internet are trying to make us all forget this, and unfortunatly, winning some over by the looks...

Quoted from Simpson

Christmas is a religous holiday, it is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Note it is the celebration of the birth, not the actualy birthday of the Christ - a bit like the Queens birthday not really being on a Monday every year! So, wheather you choose to believe it or not is up to you, but you cannot deny the fact that CHRISTmas is a religous holiday. The crackpots of the internet are trying to make us all forget this, and unfortunatly, winning some over by the looks...

No - it is a religous holiday for the religous (IE Christians) - for the rest of us it is a time of gift giving and family gatherings. (And a day off - until we are all on AWA's) I dont have a problem with the religous celebrating the day the way they want to, and I expect them to respect my right to celebrate the day the way I want to!

The day has been celebrated long before the catholic church removed its ban on its celebration, and long before christianity was a religion.

I think that's a pretty fair statement.  It's the way you worded it the first time around that looked Christian bashing... and American bashing.  Both statements being false by the way.

Quoted from BB

No - it is a religous holiday for the religous (IE Christians) - for the rest of us it is a time of gift giving and family gatherings. (And a day off - until we are all on AWA's)  

We'll agree to disagree on the rest..but I will guarantee you that it wouldn't be a public holiday (AWA or no AWA) if it wasn't for the religious significance of the day.  So count your blessings that it is commonly accepted as a religious holiday in dear old Oz...otherwise you wouldn't be having a day off.  

In fact I'd keep the bit about it having no religious singificance to you very quiet if you want to keep it as a holiday when you negotiate your AWA...I would suggest it'll be much easier to negotiate the need for a day off to celebrate a non-movable feast of religious significance than it would be to negotiate a holiday for when you want to give presents to your family  

I bashed the yanks! dang and I did it without even knowing it! and I so enjoy doing that
- another thrilling moment lost!

I did not mean to be anti religous either, although I can be where appropriate ( I so hate double standards and people whom cant make up their own minds on a subject and just preach the "Church Line")

I'll have you know I attended my wifes Spiritualist Church Yuletide service last night and sang carols with my kids! Although I dunno how singing about koalas in a gum tree or rusty holden utes could be seen as a christian theme (unless driving one brings you closer to god!)

I don't know how attendance to anything is a claim to religion.

Quoted from BB

I bashed the yanks! dang and I did it without even knowing it! and I so enjoy doing that
- another thrilling moment lost!

Yes but your Yank bashing was nothing but verbal manure that made you look like you were a xenophobic idiot that belongs with the rest of the trash down at Crunulla beach. You realise that if Americans all looked differant than Australians then that would be a racist statement and that it's just a coincidental detail that allows you to make blanket statements without being called just that and that the motivation is the same.  What do you really know about Americans.  And without using foul words, ask yourself what I now would say I know about you.
If you want to bash America then go ahead but if you want to bash Americans in general and intentionally over again, and making a point to do it in a generalistic way then it's obviously including me and making a personal attack, from where I sit, and sure other forum members are going to accuse me of being a nazi of political correctness for the service of my own benefit, but the simple fact is that I shouldn't be approaced by complete strangers so they can tell me that they hate Americans and, without saying that some things aren't true, humourous as it is to read some of the "facts" about Americans on Australian sites, most notibly the ebroadcast forum that was a predicessor to this one, attitudes like your own contribute to bullshit that I run into every now and then.  On a minamalistic level, it's even a bit like having an ongoing attitude of anger toward a small handfull of Lebonese people, feeling that it is okay to express that in blanket statements, and then failing to see that you too played a role in the recent violence.

I don't know what the f*** is wrong with people.  If I really wanted to I could make up a bunch of bullshit that is insulting, apply it (much more neatly than you did to Americans) to the population of Australia, and I assure you that I would very quickly be banned from the forum.  So why then should I not say something when I'm treated with the same disrespect?

We all actually already know the answer to that last question which of course is "Aussie Aussie Aussie!"

Australians don't have the right to bash Americans - if it wasn't for those fine ppl many years ago, we'd all be classed as Japanese today.

I think we should get back to the original topic of 'Merry Christmas'. Can you believe the store trading hours this week? Our major malls will be open till 9 every night, then open from Thursday 9am right through till Saturday 5pm! Yikes! You'd have to be pretty unorganised to need THAT much time to finalise your Christmas presents!

Hey sorry for going there in the Christmas thread.  I wasn't in a good mood when I brought that up and intend on getting Australian citezenship when I qualify for it, just get tired of hearing blanket statements that are much more harsh and I'm not even sure if that qualified as being much at all or not.  I'm not with a lot of sleep.

I didn't know about the store hours but I suppose I'm happy about it.  I thought I had all my shopping done but at the last minute we got invited to some in laws that we weren't expecting to see much of and we'll be all bringing a gift and drawing a name from a hat to give it to someone.  On top of that, now that we're going to be seeing them, I'm thinking it's a good idea to buy a nice gift for my wife's cousin and her husband.  They just got married and took out a loan for an apartment that's really small and needs lots of work.  should get them something for the apartment... maybe not for Christmas though... hmmm.. what to do, what to do

Quoted from Simpson

Can you believe the store trading hours this week? Our major malls will be open till 9 every night, then open from Thursday 9am right through till Saturday 5pm! Yikes! You'd have to be pretty unorganised to need THAT much time to finalise your Christmas presents!

Hey watch it Simpson...I resemble that remark  

I looooooooooooooooooove the long opening hours...I think they should exist all year round.

It's one of the things I looooooooove about America...you can shop whenever you want...and as a business owner you can open your store whenever you want...not when some fool bureaucrat says you can

...and no MeanDean I didn't just bring this up to redress the balance from the earlier argument...I mean it...I have relatives living in the US and I visit every year or so and there is much to love....apart from everyone wanting a tip that is...I don't love that so much (who knew the girl who washes your hair at the hairdresser needs a &^%$#! tip tip?)

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all!

I can't believe how popular all night shopping was! Apparently cars were lined up to get into the car park, ppl were directing traffic... Wow!

I have a work christmas party coming up and the only thing I could say I really hate about christmas - are these work christmas parties!

I can not hold my alcohol for THE life of me but I CAN NOT drag myself through these work christmas parties without at least a cpl of drinks! Its just around the corner - I've got to get an outfit n all I keep thinking is WHY!! who wants to really get drunk with their boss? seriously! who?

oh my god....  

We have a work christmas party but I didn't wanna go

Who's got an Advent Calendar? Remember: It starts Friday

I'm getting one

i'm probably not gonna get one this year because we're moving house in a couple of days so we're tight on money!

OO cool!
You can get them pretty cheap like $2 some places

yeah, but money is tight plus i'm saving my money for the nanny dvd's too!!! their will be 4 seasons to get next year! and they will probably cost $50 each. gulp

try this site.............
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/Xmas/calendar/index.html

oooh thanks for that lawnbowler

What am I missing? I have never had an Advent Calendar in all my life. I don't even know what they represent or are for. Please enlighten me as I feel   now!

you open one up everyday - according to the days countdown to christmas AND score a free chocolate or toy.

My mum use to ALWAYS get so fired up because I'd beg her for one every year and she'd agree but ONLY on the deal that i didnt open them all up as soon as I got home - first free chance, I opened those windows and gulped down the chockies :p

Lol yeah my sisters do that!!

Could we have a secret santa?
What we'd do is like someone is host they have all names that want to take part ( I can be if no one wants to ) and then everyone gets allocated someone. And then  sometime on xmas or before it, you send your person like a greetings card, some graphic or something you made yourself, a story, a poem, a website, well anything we can do on the internet basically cuz that's the only way I can think of that will work. :S
it could be fun!

Quoted from SuziH

What am I missing? I have never had an Advent Calendar in all my life. I don't even know what they represent or are for. Please enlighten me as I feel   now!

Just for you, Suzi..............

Advent Calendars
Advent is the start of the Christmas season in England. The first sign of Christmas in an English home is the children's advent calendar. It starts on the first day of December. The calendars are a fun way to help children to know when Christmas Eve will arrive, an important night for them because Father Christmas will visit them bringing gifts.

An Advent calendar is a poster or card with twenty-four small doors, one to be opened each day from December 1 until Christmas Eve. Each door conceals a picture. Every morning children open 1 window of the calendar to see a pretty picture or find a chocolate inside.

This popular tradition arose in Germany in the late 1800s and soon spread throughout Europe and North America. Originally, the images in Advent calendars were derived from the Hebrew Bible.

Many Advent calendars today have no religious content. Now, alongside traditional Advent calendars depicting angels and biblical figures are those whose doors open to display teddy bears, pieces of chocolate, or photos of pop stars.

An Advent Candle has 25 marks. Every day it is lit and is burned down by one mark each day.

Quoted from SuziH

What am I missing? I have never had an Advent Calendar in all my life.

Really? I've had one ever since I could remember. In Germany, everyone had one, including my parents. Now it's only me.

I know! its how u score free chocolate at christmas! suzi!! lol :p

lol yah i always had one!

I will have to buy one for myself and one for my surrogate grand daughter who was 6 recently.  
I am minding her tomorrow night so will give it to her then  

Thank you for your in depth reply Lawnbowler. I like the candle idea. I will get a more traditional one and Abby can have a chocolate one.  

Cool!
They are really awesome
I have mine

I had a boot today

I had holly

A star today

i got a freddo advent calendar and you get a new freddo every day i've got the white one today

Wow thats a good one! Mine just has the small square chocolates.

Yesterday was a present BTW

You know what I found out today thats got me a lil ticked off!    

We normally have two major christmas concerts that happen here in brisbane - one in the botanical gardens and the other at southbank called the golden casket or something like that. Anyway, i've just found out that neither are doing anything to support charities (a lil sad really) AND that neither have any real decent people lined up (besides ol' saint nick of course  )

We have some good talent here in Brisbane/QLD we would love to sing carols with in the city!  ... Pete Murray, Powderfinger/Bernard Fanning, Andrew Morris, The Veronicas.. anyway, you get the drift that we have names the crowd could give a cheer for but no! instead we have some random opra people that hit notes we simply cant touch..      

Anywayz, had to vent!  

Omg lurveit didn't know you lived in brisbane :O
Me to!!

Haha... me and Paula live in Adelaide... hey Paula!

I had a choo-choo train today

Haha u get paula i get  lurveit

lol u get meeeee... wait,  what?

lol

Lol I meant norman has paula living near him whilst I have you living near me.. make sense now??

haha totally got it dara.. just being a tool! xx

Lol kk
I've bought my sisters presents so far. Now I need to do my friends bday, secret santa thing for work, my nz friend, my parents and give $10 for my bosses stupid present.

I'm so freaking happy that I've gotten all my Christmas shopping done.  I always stress out about it and thinking about it is more of a hassle than actually finding things.
This year, unbeleivably, I did it all in ONE trip to the shopping centre.  I didn't have many ideas at all either.

Okay let's see.  I don't have any family here so it's limited to the part of the family that my wife has here.  A while back I finally got enough in me to tell one of her family members how I feel which was pretty much "You disrespectul, rude woman, go away and don't come back," and it was a huge relief after it was finally done but it also isolated us from some of her other family members.  This really only effects us at Christmas time and financially with the fewer gifts thing it's pretty good.  The single drawback is fewer people at Christmas, but now that I think of it... thank God!  Hell I'm glad I typed it now!
Yeah so anyway, this solves the question of which side of her family to have festivities with.

Lol

I had all my presents bought and wrapped before november finished. I can't stand the thought of shopping a few weeks before Christmas. You can't get a carpark, the malls are packed with people, checkout lines are a mile long, you have to have lunch at either 11am or 2pm to avoid the crowds, its a madhouse! Ppl have enough stress at this time of year, why add to it by shopping now?

At school you have lunch at 11.
I like to shop in December it feels festive