I had to do it. What choice was there? If I didn’t buy my adopted nephews and nieces presents they’d never talk to/try to talk to/gurgle at/dribble on me again. So I hit the shops.
An Irish rugby jersey for Oisín. By the time the season kicks off he’ll fit into it. And a tee that says “Am I cute or what?”. An Irish language pictionary for his big brother - with a Gaeilge-phobic dad that’ll cause a stir. Oh, and of course the obligatory Robert the Construction Operative socks - complete with spanner shaped rubber grips on the soles. A book of Roald Dahl poems for another ‘nephew’. A really girlie pinky flowery thingy for making your own party invitations for his sister - her birthday’s in January. And so on until each would have something to wear or read and something to play with. Sort of Kinder Surprise without the chocolate and poorly dubbed voices.
The whole operation only took an hour and a half and that was in three different shopping centres. Not bad going. The only shop I had to queue for service was Eason, which says something about our nation’s love of reading. But what does it say about the economy?
I don’t know. I’m no economist. But I do know that 1½ hours is the quickest I’ve ever done the prezzie-run. Is it that there are so many shopping centres now that the buyers are spread out among them? Or are consumers cutting back this year? Are they short of money or just sick of buying crap non-stop the whole year long?
The ESRI would know, so I had a look at their website. Big mistake! Christmas is depressing enough without reading ESRI reports. “Growth to slow in 2008″. “Unemployment to rise”. And damn difficult to understand too: “Factory gates” and “gross national product”. Well if the products are that gross then I suppose the factory would have to be behind big gates.
Then I noticed something I would understand - the Consumer Sentiment report. Wrong again! It’s all figures. “The forward-looking sub-index weakened to 49.2 in November, from 58.4 in October”. What the hell is that about? I checked the archives and still more figures. If I was writing these I’d tell it like it is: “Mid February showed consumer sentiment to be soppy”. “In the heat of July consumers were horny”. “At Hallow’een consumers were scared”.
A jeweller I met tells me she’s having the slowest Christmas ever. Yesterday should have been mad busy in my local with most people finishing work for the holidays, but the manager had to send one of the staff home. My builder had a team of 16 working on 4 sites last June. As of yesterday he has just 4 and he’s trying to find things for them to do on the single site remaining.
I think the real test will be to ring around on Christmas morning and ask the kids what Santy brought. If the reindeer were tired this year and couldn’t carry much then we’ll know the true state of the economy.
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
Addictions Advertising Back to school Banks Blogs Builders Characters Charity Commentary Crappenings Driving Economy Education Environment Estate Agents FAQ Farming Friends Fun Gaeilge Gardaí Guest blaggards Health HSE Immigration Internet Irish identity Jokes Kids Kildare Law Life Literacy Local Media Mothers Movies Neighbours Occasions Painting Pet Hates Pets Photgraphs Photos Plonkers Poetry Polish Politicians Politics Pubs Pub talk Racing Radio Relatives Religion Science Shopping Snippets Spam Sport Tech stuff Time Transportation Travel Travellers TV Uncategorized Weather Wildlife Women Work
cá bhfuair tú an pictionary, a chroí?
Thanks Primal, you gave me inspiration for my post today!
Eason Droichead Nua - ’san Whitewater SC agus (ceapaim gur) chonaic mé cúpla i Barker & Jones (Nás) freisin. “Buntús Foclóra” €9.99.
Ooops, Grannymar - I didn’t see you slipping in there while Rosie and I were sorting out the next generation’s education.
I think it’s just a natural reaction to years of ‘lodzamoney’ we thought we had. I agree with you that the shops seemed much less manic this year, but surely that’s a good thing. God Primal, I’ve to go get ready and hurl myself out the door again. What does it say about me that I only want to get into my jammies and plonk my arse in front of the telly all evening? No, don’t answer that, I’m getting old.
Congratulations on such a quick pressie run, but more than that I am impressed with the choices. I went to the shops today to buy presents for 4 different kids, 3 adults and came back with a facial cleanser for myself and a couple of cheeses, and case of beer… Sheesh.
Tomorrow morning, I try again. Failing that I will just go hide somewhere or pretend dead when it’s time to open the presents.
FMC - Less manic shops is an absolutely brilliant thing! For me anyway. Eh, right so, I’ll keep me gob shut on the last bit.
Gayé - I find with kids that books never fail. If they do then it’s a message to the parents that their offspring are being let watch too much TV. Just wondering - could you claim the “this is my first time doing Christmas and I’m only learning” excuse?
That’ll do! Thanks Primal!
Christmas shopping round our parts isn’t quite as exciting probably although the queues are shocking - its just a large range of chinese made plastic, lead painted, breakable things with ‘Small parts - not suitable for children under 3′ written on every one. I find i look for all those i would like a go of and throw them in my shopping basket - seems to entertain for 5 minutes then breaks and so doesn’t clog up the kids cupboards - Perfect.
Go for it, Gayé! And enjoy it. Enjoy yourself because it’s Christmas; enjoy because it’s December; enjoy everything.
White girl - Sounds like a great solution to the age old problem of kids getting bored with their toys - let the toys get bored with the kids first.
Warmth and joy and fun and frolics be your’s at Christmas, Sneezy, hun.
xxx
Thankee, Sam, ma’am. And same to you and yours. The heating’s on so I have warmth. I’m spending the Feathers working on my thesis and, strangely enough, enjoying it. The frolics could be a problem though as I’ve put myself under mouse arrest until the paper’s written.
I’ve hardly ventured into a shop for 3 years now, I do it all online. I suspect a lot of other people are doing likewise. I usually do buy one gift in person, just to soak up some atmosphere. By the way - Happy Christmas!
Nollaig faoi shéan is faoi mhaise duit, a chara.
Primal, hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I sure did, thank you! It was festive, feast-ive and just overall wonderful time. It was my first proper Christmas (in Australia it was just gift exchange with housemates and that was that), and I really enjoyed it. I ended up finding the gifts for my Kris Krindle (Sp) and the children, that were in fact just right. I was a happy shopper and didn’t end up stressing much the next day.
Ate, drank, was merry and then hungover the next day!
Visiting my folks for new years, which is what people celebrate in Turkey. Will be a surprise visit. Shhhh.
Here is my wish for you. May 2008 bring you all your heart desires and more! And Looking forward to reading more of Primal Sneeze in the new year.
Gx
John - I used to do everything online myself until I realised I was buying crap half the time. What looked pretty on screen often turned out to be rubbish in real life.
Bock - ‘S athbhliain faoi mhaise duitse.
Gayé - A post-turkey trip to Turkey. How apt. Anyway, I’m glad you enjoyed it. Did Santa come to you? Given it was your first Christmas I think you were entitled to a visit.