I spent nearly 4 hours, today, wrapping Christmas presents. 
I'm not a huge spender at Christmas. No, I'm not mean, but I despise the commercialism that surrounds the Festive Season and I won't over-spend for the sake of it. I do, however, want to show my affection and appreciation of my family and it's the traditional time to do that so there's a present for everyone and, hopefully, it's something they'll like even if it didn't cost a fortune.
I think it's important to make the present look good so I invest in good wrapping paper (this year it's black with a silver hollogram detail but it was "3 rolls for the price of 2" at M & S so not outrageously expensive) and every parcel has a sparkly bow and curled shimmery ribbons. I have run the scissor edge over, approximately, 60 lengths of ribbon to curl them today - it takes flaming ages, no wonder I'm exhausted. I have also used nearly half a large roll of sellotape and all the gift tags that we got from Laura's school. The kids design cards and tags which are then printed and parents/grandparents buy them.
That's the next job - writing the cards. I have, in the past, tried to NOT send Xmas cards. I have advised friends and relations that I will not be sending any but they've continued to send them to me so - one feels obliged. I really think Xmas cards are just a waste of time and money. A very good friend of mine, when I was a child, was the daughter of the owner of a well-known card factory in Accrington. He was the wealthiest person I knew, at that time, and all due to Christmas and birthdays. Having said that, though, he was a lovely, very kind man so I won't criticise his business too much.
Anyway, I've now got a bedroom full of beautifully wrapped and decorated gifts. We'll be putting the tree up in about another 10 days so then they can sit under it. My OldestBigBrother will, no doubt, make his annual pilgrimage to Lymm within the next fortnight, bringing gifts from him and SecondBigBrother, and will take away a pile of beautifully wrapped ones for himself, his daughter and granddaughters and SBB and wife. Both my brothers always buy me champagne and chocolates. This year they've both got whisky (but OBB's has a golf ball and 4 tees - he's golf mad). I used to send them fruit cakes from Texas but I think they're sick of them.
Peter, my grandson who is 23, was a problem to buy for. In the past, I've bought him an electric razor, ditto toothbrush, various other appliances. He has cameras, a state-of-the-art PC (he's a graphic designer), games etc. In the end I went for a sweater (he likes "preppy" - American college type) some Calvin Kline underwear and a glasses cleaner kit as he, like me and most of the family, is a speccyfoureyes. Laura, who also has everything, I have bought Scrabble. She has Wii games and DS games but she still loves a good, old fashioned board game. We can all play it on Boxing Day.
I'm not a huge spender at Christmas. No, I'm not mean, but I despise the commercialism that surrounds the Festive Season and I won't over-spend for the sake of it. I do, however, want to show my affection and appreciation of my family and it's the traditional time to do that so there's a present for everyone and, hopefully, it's something they'll like even if it didn't cost a fortune.
I think it's important to make the present look good so I invest in good wrapping paper (this year it's black with a silver hollogram detail but it was "3 rolls for the price of 2" at M & S so not outrageously expensive) and every parcel has a sparkly bow and curled shimmery ribbons. I have run the scissor edge over, approximately, 60 lengths of ribbon to curl them today - it takes flaming ages, no wonder I'm exhausted. I have also used nearly half a large roll of sellotape and all the gift tags that we got from Laura's school. The kids design cards and tags which are then printed and parents/grandparents buy them.
That's the next job - writing the cards. I have, in the past, tried to NOT send Xmas cards. I have advised friends and relations that I will not be sending any but they've continued to send them to me so - one feels obliged. I really think Xmas cards are just a waste of time and money. A very good friend of mine, when I was a child, was the daughter of the owner of a well-known card factory in Accrington. He was the wealthiest person I knew, at that time, and all due to Christmas and birthdays. Having said that, though, he was a lovely, very kind man so I won't criticise his business too much.
Anyway, I've now got a bedroom full of beautifully wrapped and decorated gifts. We'll be putting the tree up in about another 10 days so then they can sit under it. My OldestBigBrother will, no doubt, make his annual pilgrimage to Lymm within the next fortnight, bringing gifts from him and SecondBigBrother, and will take away a pile of beautifully wrapped ones for himself, his daughter and granddaughters and SBB and wife. Both my brothers always buy me champagne and chocolates. This year they've both got whisky (but OBB's has a golf ball and 4 tees - he's golf mad). I used to send them fruit cakes from Texas but I think they're sick of them.
Peter, my grandson who is 23, was a problem to buy for. In the past, I've bought him an electric razor, ditto toothbrush, various other appliances. He has cameras, a state-of-the-art PC (he's a graphic designer), games etc. In the end I went for a sweater (he likes "preppy" - American college type) some Calvin Kline underwear and a glasses cleaner kit as he, like me and most of the family, is a speccyfoureyes. Laura, who also has everything, I have bought Scrabble. She has Wii games and DS games but she still loves a good, old fashioned board game. We can all play it on Boxing Day.