PG
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The annual Merry Hell rantI'm sorry but it's time to have my annual Merry Hell shopping centre rant. I had to go there at lunchtime to pay in some cheques to the bank (on account of their being no f****** way to post them  ).
A few observations -
(a) the Christmas decorations were up. It's October ffs.
(b) just what is the point of half term? The poor darlings have had to endure a few weeks of getting up before 11am and attending "dole training", so they clearly need a week to wander aimlessly about, looking at shyte and tat and resting their brain cell (while texting each other).
(c) buy shares in Brakes - the caterers. There is a new food court (awful American concept) just opened. Now unless they've built very small kitchens designed for midgets to use, there must be a lot of lorries backing up every night unloading microwaveable / pre prepared junk. Because what I really want to do is queue up for some pre-prepared gunk (with added sugar, salt and E's no doubt to give it flavour) masquerading as "food" which I then eat at huge tables surrounded by the great unwashed, barely able to hear myself shout over the incessant noise. Are those of us for whom a meal out is a pint of real ale and some home cooked food in a pub, a dying minority? I fear so.
(d) Are a large portion of the human race (well the western human race) changing into vampires - that if they go outside in daylight they crumble to dust? Bring on Blade I say and help them on their way.
(e) I must applaud a bank for a change. Amongst this temple to all the worst aspects of consumerism, Lloyds TSB was a haven of calm. No piped muzak, polite staff and no queue.
Right, that's that off my chest. How are you all feeling about Christmas and consumerism?
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Humphrey The Pug
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Christmas, well I haven't seen any decorations in the shops yet but TBH I haven't been looking and I try and avoid town as best I can anywhay as I absolutely destest shopping, especially with the wife and little one in tow, it stresses me out, alot!!
I'm not too bad by myself as I know what I want and will go and get it and get out, I can't see the point in aimlessly wandering around, trying this and that on with no intention of buying it, why?
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BeN
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I saw Christmas decorations being put up on Orchard Road (our shopping district), so it's a global phenomenon.
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scamper
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This is where Martin tells us, his xmas stock was up at Easter.
When i think of shopping centres and consumerism i think of Dawn of the Dead
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Humphrey The Pug
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Arghhhhhh, I've just bought a can of coke with santa on it.
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Bob Sacramento
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I had my mother-in-law staying with us a fortnight ago and she was most confused by some of our neighbours who had their Christmas lights up and were 3 weeks early with their fireworks display.
I had to gently point out that it was their Diwali celebrations and that a letter to the local paper was not required.
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maz
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One good thing......
NO FUCKING WOOLWORTH's TV COMMERCIALS
Hurrah Hurrah
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SpecB
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They were putting the Christmas lights up in Yarm this morning. 
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Martin
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| scamper wrote: | This is where Martin tells us, his xmas stock was up at Easter.
When i think of shopping centres and consumerism i think of Dawn of the Dead |
Not quite, but it will go fully on sale on Monday, when the kids go back to school!
Merry Hell is an apt description, I used to hate being dragged there when I lived in the West Midlands.
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gonnabuildabuggy
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| Martin wrote: | | scamper wrote: | This is where Martin tells us, his xmas stock was up at Easter.
When i think of shopping centres and consumerism i think of Dawn of the Dead |
Not quite, but it will go fully on sale on Monday, when the kids go back to school!
Merry Hell is an apt description, I used to hate being dragged there when I lived in the West Midlands. |
I thought Argos Xmas kicked off the start of half term week (all those shoppers with nothing else to do)? Others have gone earlier this year, we've had gift packs up for sale in Boots for at least 4 weeks. We're now discussing next years Gift packs.
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Eff One
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So far it's all seemed a little more restrained this year than in previous years, particularly on TV. No lights up on local houses yet, either.
Even West Quay (local shopping emporium of Hell) wasn't actually too awful last Sunday - though I will still avoid it like the plague.
Aside from my wife's, I haven't bought any Christmas presents for at least three years, and so it will continue.
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Big Blue
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Drove up Regent's Street last night after watching Couples Retreat in Piccadilly.
They were putting the lights up.
This year I fly to Slovakia on 22nd, eat Carp on 24th, fly to UK on 25th, eat Goose and play with kids on 26th, we all drive to France on 27th.
No TV, no Bank Holiday sales, conversation in a language I can barely understand 1% of....... great.
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DaveGibson
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I went to Merry Hell about a month ago and was surprised to see the Calendar stall (next to M&S)already in place.
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Apex clipper
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We're about to start printing the xmas run of breadbags that have various christmas themes.
And you bloody lot are complaining!
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Chris M Wants a V-10
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The seasonal calendar shop has opened in one of the normally closed shops in the local shopping centre. The local supermarkets and Boots have had their Christmas edibles and gifts on sale for about 3 weeks now. I think Argos started selling artificial Christmas trees a week ago. Not seen the Christmas Lights in the streets yet.
One good side to half-term week is that traffic levels to and from work have been seriously reduced this week :-)
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Martin
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| gonnabuildabuggy wrote: | | I thought Argos Xmas kicked off the start of half term week (all those shoppers with nothing else to do)? Others have gone earlier this year, we've had gift packs up for sale in Boots for at least 4 weeks. We're now discussing next years Gift packs. |
Argos are in full Xmas flow but we've been doing well with our furniture offer that sits on the seasonal mat in store so we've pushed back Xmas implementation by 2 weeks. To compensate slightly, it will be put out over a shorter period of time.
Unfortunately Xmas can't be delayed!
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Mike Amos
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I shall start looking into the c word on or about december 1st and not before, bah humbugs. Or eveton mints, whichever.
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DradusContact
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I quite enjoy going into Liverpool shopping. The sights you see are something to behold. Its also because i only do it (shopping) about 3 times a year its a good novely for me.
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr
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| Mike Amos wrote: | | I shall start looking into the c word on or about december 1st and not before |
Quite right too. Given that I'll be flying back to the UK not that long before Christmas, I will order all my presents online and have them delivered. The idea of braving Lakeside or Bluewater at that time of year chills me to the marrow ...
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woof woof
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DC - "Its also because i only do it (shopping) about 3 times a year its a good novely for me."
You only go shopping 3 times a year? You must have a bloody big freezer!
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Roadsterstu
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Incessant DFS advertising.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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PG
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | Given that I'll be flying back to the UK not that long before Christmas, I will order all my presents online and have them delivered. The idea of braving Lakeside or Bluewater at that time of year chills me to the marrow ... |
Do you think the postal strikes are a huge conspiracy by the retail trade to make us go to their god-awful shops?
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Dr. Hfuhruhurr
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Should be OK, since Amazon and Argos (IIRC) have taken their business elsewhere.
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DradusContact
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| woof woof wrote: | DC - "Its also because i only do it (shopping) about 3 times a year its a good novely for me."
You only go shopping 3 times a year? You must have a bloody big freezer! |
Nah, i kill whatever i want to eat.
Food shopping is a weekly task aye, but i mean a proper day shopping, i only do it thrice per year.
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TimR
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I was in Ocean Terminal, Leith, Edinburgh about a month ago and Debenhams had a stand of stuff with Christmas decorations on it just inside the door.
I was tempted to accidentally knock it over.
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Parm
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John Lewis near where I work have had their "christmas" stuff (trees, decor etc) on sale since the beginning of October! I remember when it was well into late November before a hint of Xmas hitting stores. I expect there will be a pre-Xmas Sale, then a pre-VAT change sale and then a new year sale to look forward too... NOT!
Thank god for on-line shopping...
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Humphrey The Pug
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| Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | Should be OK, since Amazon and Argos (IIRC) have taken their business elsewhere. |
Don't know about that as I ordered a patio furniture cover on Wednesday from Amazon and the dispatch confrmation said it was being delivered by Royal Mail.
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Mike Amos
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"Nah, i kill whatever i want to eat."
In that case I have a good stuffed brown recipe you may care to try. I take no responsibility for the amount of alcohol required to wash him down tho'.
I know baked alaska is supposedly very nice but baked tird may not be sp agreeable.
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Gooner
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I wouldn't mind consumerism if it wasn't so bloody expensive!
Christmas always seems to come round sooner each year now we have kids and Mary keeps wanting to spend more each year on them. I'm just going to ignore it all and hope it goes away!
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Martin
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| Humphrey The Pug wrote: | | Dr. Hfuhruhurr wrote: | | Should be OK, since Amazon and Argos (IIRC) have taken their business elsewhere. |
Don't know about that as I ordered a patio furniture cover on Wednesday from Amazon and the dispatch confrmation said it was being delivered by Royal Mail. |
You are OK with Argos, so get buying.
Please.... I need them to have a good Xmas!
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