you are kidding me

[old tree man]

I went into my local garden centre yesterday and they are already putting up christmas decorations so i went up to an assistant and said "at this rate you will be getting ready for easter next week " don't laugh we've already got the stuff in the stores all ready to put out after christmas" i am so fed up with all this hype
so jane and i are going away this weekend to get away from all this rubbish

[Green Aura]

Yup, went to Lidl on Friday and they're selling Christmas cookies and similar stuff already.

[crowsashes]

i can report - i have already seen an advert that mentions 'xmas'

co-op has the seasonal choccies in t£$c0 do too and sainsburys.

oh and in plymouth city centre the other day i couldnt help but laugh at two card shops side by side one promoting Halloween the other xmas cards, tinsel and paper !

so far the only safe shop is M&S but i dont like shopping there because everything seems to have ridiculously excessive packaging (there soya milk is delicous though)

it wont be long before every one else follows. bets on that 1st november all shops will have the seasonal displays in

it things like this that make me wish we had another holiday between xmas and halloween to break it up a bit. bonfire night really dosent help dent it at all

( must admit i am guilty of eyeing up some 1950s glass xmas decorations the other day on fleabay purely because my nan had some and id like to have a few 'antique' pieces like hers )

[Millymollymandy]

Do you think they will have Xmas puds in by mid October? Cos I've got a friend coming over here last week of Oct and it would be nice to get a reasonably priced Crimbo pud for a change instead of having to pay the silly prices here from the couple of shops which stock British or Irish goodies. And no don't suggest I make my own as I will never do so again after the last fiasco which the blue tits enjoyed!

[StripyPixieSocks]

I've already seen all kinds of Christmas stuff on sale here... puddings, mince pies etc... I was a tad shocked I can tell you! It's getting out of hand now I think!

[Marmalady]

i was at a conference earlier this week, and the hotel i stayed in already had a christmas tree up!

Millymollymandy - i will be starting on my christmas baking soon for farmers markets etc -- so if you want a pud, let me know what size & i'll price it up for you

[battybird]

All the supermarkets seem to have the full selection of Xmas puds, cakes and mince pies, as well as mincemeat! So at least you will appreciate it MMM!! It seems to happen earlier each year, but I am developing a mist which prevents me from seeing anything till at least November, I have to own up to making my Xmas cakes yesterday though! is that allowed??

[Millymollymandy]

Marmalady that's kind of you but I think the postage price to France would probably mean it would cost more than paying the import price in the English or Irish shops here! I will ask my friend to get me a couple and some cranberry sauce as well as the only stuff they sell here is vile.

[123sologne]

Don't tell me about Christmas... I work in wholesale selling (among other things) Christmas artificial flowers, trees etc... We are late delivering and our client are crying out already.... But hey at the same time we are looking at our purchasing for Christmas 2011 as in January we go to a trade fare where the shops buy for their next Christmas... Total madness!! And it is every year the same thing except that it is getting a little worse all the time. Some clients (garden centres, big groups, etc) they want their Christmas stuff to be delivered in July.....

[eco-mick]

The firm I work for whom I drive the big red waggons starting with the "W" ;) - have already started photoshoting for the summer 2011 catalogues! groan... hey ho

I ain't bothered about it all as its all commercialised now and I just carry on as normal by ignoring it... but wait until slade hits the radio stations and I will go mad (merry xmas song). Xmas stock is currently arriving in now into the depot and already the chocolates are going into shops.. 3 months before the big day

I don't have any interest in celebrating the day of Dec 25th other than popping over to parents to see the young ones and having a family meal - but my day is the mid winter solstice... (okay... when it all starts again on the allotment with the garlic and onions getting planted etc..

Now... where did I leave that staff and gown for 21st Dec.

[Marmalady]

Marmalady that's kind of you but I think the postage price to France would probably mean it would cost more than paying the import price in the English or Irish shops here! I will ask my friend to get me a couple and some cranberry sauce as well as the only stuff they sell here is vile.

ahh didnt realise you were in france!

as an aside - is there a section anywhere on here for advertising our wares? I dont want to be spammy in chat threads, but would like to be able to get the word out when i have something new to sell!

[StripyPixieSocks]

I suppose in all honesty it might actually be a good thing for people with little or no money to be able to buy things gradually over a few months though... that's the only up-side I can see and with money becoming even tighter lately it seems the Christmas stuff in the shops is becoming earlier... coincidence?

[bonniethomas06]

I haven't shopped in Next since 2008, when I went in to buy a work suit in September and found that the xmas decs were up and they were playing xmas music.

I just feel sorry for the staff - by the time xmas arrived they must feel sick at the sight of their own xmas tree.

[Green Aura]

I suppose in all honesty it might actually be a good thing for people with little or no money to be able to buy things gradually over a few months though

I think you can do that anyway, without a blooming Xmas tree and lights! Plus I've never been convinced that the prices don't rise with the erection of the Crimbonalia

[Ellendra]

I can't complain too much about the Christmas-y stuff this year, the only job I could find was a seasonal one, taking orders over the phone for a toy company!