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Anyone trying to avoid Xmas songs?

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Trog

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Birmingham Christmas Market opens tomorrow, so I'll be paying a visit on Saturday to sample the Feuerzangenbowle


It has always puzzled me why they hold the German Christmas market in Birmingham, after going to so much trouble to clear space for it in Coventry.


As for Christmas if I ran this country any shopkeeper/manager who played Christmas music before December would be taken out and hung from the nearest lamp post.
 
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Howardh

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It has always puzzled me why they hold the German Christmas market in Birmingham, after going to so much trouble to clear space for it in Coventry.


As for Christmas if I ran this country any shopkeeper/manager who played Christmas music before December would be taken out and hung from the nearest lamp post.

Was it the Germans that cleared the space in Coventry??
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Why go to such efforts? Why not just tune it out and ignore it? There seems ot be a distinct dislike of Chirstmas on this board. I wonder if it is becuase many are alone and dont have much human contact? How miserable must you be?

You buy it early to freeze and spread the cost

You can't just "tune it out" - it has to be worked at. And, er, it's not being miserable, it's being pragmatic, there are 364 other days which are vastly more enjoyable. Personally Dec 22 or thereabouts is a day to celebrate....daylight starts to get longer again :lol:

BTW, so much for a super-moon. Super-clouds up here, with the base at the top of our street, 600'.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Does TV still have adverts? Wow, I thought you had to dig them out on youtube nowadays.

Christmas is 6 weeks too early really, I agree with the upthread poster, January is bad, I find February even worse though. Unless there's snow. Short days, but none of the cheer of december.

Looking forward to be shot of 2016 though, it's been a horrendous year.

Disagree about January and February, one the holiday season is over you get the touristy parts to yourself, and is there anything better than a crisp and frosty late January morning around Grasmere? OK, lounging around Old Trafford on a June afternoon when the sun pops out for it's annual five minutes, but we can't have June every month :cry:
Agree about 2016. Annus Horribilis, with two annus's dominating the news.
 
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DarloRich

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You can't just "tune it out" - it has to be worked at. And, er, it's not being miserable, it's being pragmatic, there are 364 other days which are vastly more enjoyable. Personally Dec 22 or thereabouts is a day to celebrate....daylight starts to get longer again :lol:

You just ignore it. It is quite easy. You are a human with free will! In any event it wont kill you if you happen to hear such a song.

And er no it is being miserable. Christmas is a time for celebration and enjoyment. It is time for me to see my family and parents who are all miles away. It means I get to spend proper time with my GF who is also miles away. What does your Christmas day consist of? Mine is always a really happy family day. Perhaps if I was alone (like many here?) I might be miserable but I am lucky I guess.
 
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Howardh

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You just ignore it. It is quite easy. You are a human with free will! In any event it wont kill you if you happen to hear such a song.

And er no it is being miserable. Christmas is a time for celebration and enjoyment. It is time for me to see my family and parents who are all miles away. It means I get to spend proper time with my GF who is also miles away. What does your Christmas day consist of? Mine is always a really happy family day. Perhaps if I was alone (like many here?) I might be miserable but I am lucky I guess.

That's easy. Get mum out of bed, see her on to the toilet, wash her down, dress her, get her downstairs, then do the same for dad, give them breakfast, then go up and clean their bedroom for any spillages etc, then make my own breakfast. wash up, see they are comfortable, do some housework, try to keep mum occupied so she doesn't harm herself + others (due to her dementia), prepare lunch, try to ensure they both eat it, maybe go for a little ride in the afternoon if I can get mum into the car (she gets scared) to a country cafe etc, home for tea and a chance to do some housework, put a film on for dad if I can find something that would interest him etc etc....
 

richw

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Who buys all the Christmas food that starts appearing in late October? Much of it is short dated long before Christmas, there must be people who buy it or they wouldn't bother making it.

I buy certain items in October, but they wont last me until Christmas. I love Mince Pies and would quite happily eat them all year round.

Regarding Christmas adverts, I get it. I've done 90% of presents now, so the adverts are relevant to people like me who do early shopping for whatever reason. Whether that is for financial, or convenience or other circumstances some get it done early. (I got a large tax rebate 3 weeks ago, so just smashed it out with that rebate so don't need to think about it again)
 

DarloRich

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That's easy. Get mum out of bed, see her on to the toilet, wash her down, dress her, get her downstairs, then do the same for dad, give them breakfast, then go up and clean their bedroom for any spillages etc, then make my own breakfast. wash up, see they are comfortable, do some housework, try to keep mum occupied so she doesn't harm herself + others (due to her dementia), prepare lunch, try to ensure they both eat it, maybe go for a little ride in the afternoon if I can get mum into the car (she gets scared) to a country cafe etc, home for tea and a chance to do some housework, put a film on for dad if I can find something that would interest him etc etc....

clamped (as the kids say)

All I will say is you need your own time, space and relationships with people or you will break down and be no good to anyone. Can you get access to any respite care or support?

I know my comments are often factious but you have my admiration ( for that it is worth) - you are a better person than me.
 

SS4

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The Christmas market is opening in town tomorrow so New Street* is going to even more crammed than usual. I'm not really enamoured with the market as it fills up with people who think spacial awareness is some kind of charity.

When it comes to mince pies I could eat them any time of year so I couldn't care less about them being on the shelf in October and November.

To bring my rambling reply back on topic does anyone else find that the christmas number 1 has lost most of its lustre now it's simply whoever won the x-factor (RATM notwithstanding. On a tangent is Killing in the Name a christmas song?)


* In this case I'm referring to the actual street although the station will no doubt be busy too.
 

Howardh

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clamped (as the kids say)

All I will say is you need your own time, space and relationships with people or you will break down and be no good to anyone. Can you get access to any respite care or support?

I know my comments are often factious but you have my admiration ( for that it is worth) - you are a better person than me.

Thanks. yes, I had one breakdown....my social worker saw it coming and managed to get me away for three days and got cover here. Alas we had to pay for it....but the break did wonders and the same's organised for next March!

Also, really looking forward to a day off next Monday - gonna go and watch the Curling so expect a very drunk pax on the Virgin home! Again, carers bough in for the day. I'm managing - biggest problem is they don't have any close friends or family - all gone :cry:; M + D at 86/87 have outlived everyone :D.

Including me at times....;) Have a feeling the old man will get to see our brand new second-hand electrics and I won't *checks own pulse!!*
 
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trainophile

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Huge respect to Howardh, I totally agree with Darlo that you are going above and beyond what anyone should have to do for their parents. Do you have any siblings to share the caring and worry? Is there no local Day Centre where they could go, that would give you a proper break for a few hours, even once a month?

As for the word Christmas v Xmas, doesn't Christmas imply some sort of relevance to Christ? How many folk these days even remember that this is supposed to be a religious festival, not just a week long orgy? I deliberately use Xmas because I don't do religion, and can understand why cards with Happy Holidays are now the norm in some places.
 

Seacook

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It's not Xmas, it's Christmas. Xmas just sounds cheap and nasty.

The two forms sound exactly the same since Xmas is an abbreviated version used in writing, rather like '&' being the same as 'and'. It has been in use for well over 400 years according to the OED.

You may not use it yourself but it is not 'wrong'. The only gripe I have with the word is that it is not allowed in tournament Scrabble.
 

Howardh

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Huge respect to Howardh, I totally agree with Darlo that you are going above and beyond what anyone should have to do for their parents. Do you have any siblings to share the caring and worry? Is there no local Day Centre where they could go, that would give you a proper break for a few hours, even once a month?

As for the word Christmas v Xmas, doesn't Christmas imply some sort of relevance to Christ? How many folk these days even remember that this is supposed to be a religious festival, not just a week long orgy? I deliberately use Xmas because I don't do religion, and can understand why cards with Happy Holidays are now the norm in some places.

Siblings - no; I'm the only one
Day care, yes, but it has to be paid for and despite the good work of the carer's I've seen it's for emergencies only (say if dad has to go to hospital - he broke his hip in April so mum had to have care whilst that sorted itself out). I can get out, there's a care firm that will come and sit in for four hours in the evening - - for the thick end of £60!!

As for Xmas - does anyone not write Charing X as Charing X??!!! <D
 

Butts

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That's easy. Get mum out of bed, see her on to the toilet, wash her down, dress her, get her downstairs, then do the same for dad, give them breakfast, then go up and clean their bedroom for any spillages etc, then make my own breakfast. wash up, see they are comfortable, do some housework, try to keep mum occupied so she doesn't harm herself + others (due to her dementia), prepare lunch, try to ensure they both eat it, maybe go for a little ride in the afternoon if I can get mum into the car (she gets scared) to a country cafe etc, home for tea and a chance to do some housework, put a film on for dad if I can find something that would interest him etc etc....

Can I just say that I am full of utter admiration for the care you are dispensing to your elderly parents. I'm not sure I would have had the courage and fortitude to do the same.

You must love them very dearly and they are lucky to have you as a Son. Parents bring you into the world and nurture you as an infant and now you are repaying the compliment.

It's not often I see something posted that moves me but your story nearly brought tears to my eyes.

Howard H you are one selfless wonderful person.
 

Seacook

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Further research in the OED reveals that the abbreviated form is much older than the the citations given under the headword XMAS. The first citation for CHRISTMAS is from 1123

Her on þisum ᴁeare to X‹ptilde›es. mæssan heold se cyng Heanriᴁ his hired on Westmynstre.​
 

Tim R-T-C

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Hope you enjoyed Peru. Where did you go?

Trekked the classic Inca trail, tremendously good fun and a lot harder than people give it credit for, mostly due to the altitude.

Spent a night in Machu Piccu Pueblo, watching the trains.

I was in Warsaw last summer mainly for a Death Metal gig but had a good look around.

Did you get to the railway museum? Not the biggest and most of the interesting stuff is outside (so not good in bad weather), but cheap and worth a visit if you like line-ups of old steam and electric locos.

14099897_830359263768344_436109086_n.jpg
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krus_aragon

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As for Christmas if I ran this country any shopkeeper/manager who played Christmas music before December would be taken out and hung from the nearest lamp post.
I seemed to have led a charmed life in that regard. My first job was in a supermarket that doesn't do piped music, then bookshops, and now schools. I've never had to listen to endless Christmas jingles at work.
 

507021

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I like to listen to Christmas songs at home during the couple of weeks leading up to Christmas Day, any time before that in my view is a bit early.
 

Howardh

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Can I just say that I am full of utter admiration for the care you are dispensing to your elderly parents. I'm not sure I would have had the courage and fortitude to do the same.

You must love them very dearly and they are lucky to have you as a Son. Parents bring you into the world and nurture you as an infant and now you are repaying the compliment.

It's not often I see something posted that moves me but your story nearly brought tears to my eyes.

Howard H you are one selfless wonderful person.

Aww...thanks, but I'm not here for the sympathy vote! My choice, I couldn't settle if they were in a home, and at the end (if I live that long...) I do get the house, a few bob and dad's shares. His shares are a bit of a whallop...my jaw dropped when I last looked them up! Was his retirement prezzy and since then they've gone up 5-fold, and he seems to have kept the lot!
Might be able to buy a peak day return somewhere. Maybe not....:(
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I seemed to have led a charmed life in that regard. My first job was in a supermarket that doesn't do piped music, then bookshops, and now schools. I've never had to listen to endless Christmas jingles at work.

Piped musak is a real pet hate - but you rarely hear people complaining. Hotel lobbys, restaurants, shops, even probably buses one day - just filled in an Arriva questionaire and one of the boxes was "do you want on-board music/TV?" Grrr.

Anyway, thought of a way round it; and I suggested this to Morrisons (I prefer Lidl - no musak!!) that every business should guarantee one day a week - at their choice - where there is no musak (or replaced with the sound of crashing waves etc) and make that day known, so those of us who hate musak can shop in peace!

Shops have to pay performance fees - think the government is missing a trick here. Businesses who play musak (at whatever level) should pay a tax on top, £1/month for every square m of space where the darned thing could be heard. If musak brings in business, what's to lose - and the treasury gets a bonus? If margins are tight, and they turn it off, the staff and public get a bit of p + q!
 
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fowler9

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Trekked the classic Inca trail, tremendously good fun and a lot harder than people give it credit for, mostly due to the altitude.

Spent a night in Machu Piccu Pueblo, watching the trains.



Did you get to the railway museum? Not the biggest and most of the interesting stuff is outside (so not good in bad weather), but cheap and worth a visit if you like line-ups of old steam and electric locos.

14099897_830359263768344_436109086_n.jpg
.

Inca Trail sounds amazing, we actually did the trip to Machu Picchu by train, our tremendously tight budget meant that public transport was cheaper than walking. Ha ha. We did walk up to the sun gate where I believe the trail comes out though.

I didn't know about the railway museum to be honest! Will make a bee line this time, is it easy to get to? The other museum I want to go to is by the River across from the National Stadium and has a load of Soviet era war planes outside. Last time we had two nights, first night involved beer, next day was the National Stadium and the Legia Warsaw Stadium, the main station then a death metal gig. The last day was the Palace of Culture and Science. Got three nights and two full days this time so am doing the museums and the old town, don't care what the others want to do.

Apologies, off topic. Ha ha. We will hopefully avoid Christmas Music though. :D
 

trainophile

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Aww...thanks, but I'm not here for the sympathy vote! My choice, I couldn't settle if they were in a home, and at the end (if I live that long...) I do get the house, a few bob and dad's shares. His shares are a bit of a whallop...my jaw dropped when I last looked them up! Was his retirement prezzy and since then they've gone up 5-fold, and he seems to have kept the lot!
Might be able to buy a peak day return somewhere. Maybe not....:(
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Piped musak is a real pet hate - but you rarely hear people complaining. Hotel lobbys, restaurants, shops, even probably buses one day - just filled in an Arriva questionaire and one of the boxes was "do you want on-board music/TV?" Grrr.

Anyway, thought of a way round it; and I suggested this to Morrisons (I prefer Lidl - no musak!!) that every business should guarantee one day a week - at their choice - where there is no musak (or replaced with the sound of crashing waves etc) and make that day known, so those of us who hate musak can shop in peace!

Shops have to pay performance fees - think the government is missing a trick here. Businesses who play musak (at whatever level) should pay a tax on top, £1/month for every square m of space where the darned thing could be heard. If musak brings in business, what's to lose - and the treasury gets a bonus? If margins are tight, and they turn it off, the staff and public get a bit of p + q!

Your caring responsibilities haven't wrecked your sense of humour anyway! :lol:

Excellent idea about muzak-free days in shops. I can't believe anyone actually enjoys the racket anyway. I'm sure some shops deliberately play rubbish on a loop to brainwash people into buying stuff they don't need... TK Maxx for example. My house is full of TK Tatt as our friends call it, most of which is shoved in a wardrobe or cupboard and forgotten about :oops: .
 

Lankyline

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When my partner was alive, the last 5 Christmas's we would go carol singing in a small village called Burnsall, she loved Xmas and as an added attraction we always ended up in the Red Lion afterwards ! Now she's gone, I avoid most thing's Christmas, particularly the songs (Greg Lake excepted), just not the same, so the sooner its over the better
 

fowler9

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When my partner was alive, the last 5 Christmas's we would go carol singing in a small village called Burnsall, she loved Xmas and as an added attraction we always ended up in the Red Lion afterwards ! Now she's gone, I avoid most thing's Christmas, particularly the songs (Greg Lake excepted), just not the same, so the sooner its over the better

Not quite the same but after my mum passed away Christmas kind of went with her. Just always felt a bit awkward. I then went out with a girl who loved Christmas and especially her family Christmas. She couldn't understand my lack of interest. At the same time when we happened to be in Chile for Christmas she was devastated not to be with her family and I couldn't understand why she didn't think it was amazing to be on the other side of the world where it was hot. Christmas trees, Nativity scenes and dried up riverbeds. Ha ha.
 

Butts

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Not quite the same but after my mum passed away Christmas kind of went with her. Just always felt a bit awkward. I then went out with a girl who loved Christmas and especially her family Christmas. She couldn't understand my lack of interest. At the same time when we happened to be in Chile for Christmas she was devastated not to be with her family and I couldn't understand why she didn't think it was amazing to be on the other side of the world where it was hot. Christmas trees, Nativity scenes and dried up riverbeds. Ha ha.

Perhaps you were not hot ;)

Only joking. Although I am divorced I still go down to the West Midlands to spend Christmas with my ex- wife and grown up kids. I love it and look forward to it each year.

One downside she does not let me smoke in the house :cry: - however I'm normally up 1st so have a sly one in the kitchen with the window open. As long as the Cat does not bubble me I get away with it !!!
 

RichmondCommu

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As for the word Christmas v Xmas, doesn't Christmas imply some sort of relevance to Christ? How many folk these days even remember that this is supposed to be a religious festival, not just a week long orgy? I deliberately use Xmas because I don't do religion, and can understand why cards with Happy Holidays are now the norm in some places.

My wife is a Sikh and yet has no problem with the word Christmas or indeed wishing people a merry / happy Christmas. If people don't wish to send a card with the word Christmas on it then why bother to send a card at all? In all honesty I think the word Xmas is used because people are simply too lazy to spell out Christmas.

I agree that the true meaning of Christmas is often forgotten about but I don't think that is an excuse to start writing "Happy Xmas" in cards. If someone sent me a Happy Holidays card I'd assume that they were taking the ****.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The two forms sound exactly the same since Xmas is an abbreviated version used in writing, rather like '&' being the same as 'and'. It has been in use for well over 400 years according to the OED.

You may not use it yourself but it is not 'wrong'. The only gripe I have with the word is that it is not allowed in tournament Scrabble.

It might have been in use for 400 years but it still sounds cheap and nasty. It essentially say's that the person writing it can't be bothered, in which case they can't be bothered to do a lot of things in life. 'Can't be bothered' is something that lets our country down all the time.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ok, because it's shorter, and up to standards with the latest Pop culture; it sounds more energetic! :D

But I am allowed to have an opinion on it, right? :)

As far as I'm concerned you're allowed to have an opinion on anything but that doesn't mean to say that you are right. :D

I don't think the word Xmas has anything to do with popular culture; :D I might have just turned 50 but I still have more than a grasp of popular culture :D
 
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fowler9

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Perhaps you were not hot ;)

Only joking. Although I am divorced I still go down to the West Midlands to spend Christmas with my ex- wife and grown up kids. I love it and look forward to it each year.

One downside she does not let me smoke in the house :cry: - however I'm normally up 1st so have a sly one in the kitchen with the window open. As long as the Cat does not bubble me I get away with it !!!

Ha ha. My ex is now shacked up with a Dutchman in Shrewsbury. She is a lovely girl and from what I can tell he is a nice fella. We are still in touch and are friends although I have met her dad for a pint more than her since we split up, chatting about the army since I work with it and he was in it. Ha ha. :D
 

STEVIEBOY1

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The first time when they play Christmas songs on the radio it's fine, but when it's all the time it gets a bit much.

Spare a thought for people who work in shops. When I was made redundant, I helped in a department store for 10 weeks Oct-Dec a few years ago and on 01 Dec through to 31 Dec, the Christmas songs were on a permanent loop, driving me mad. There was music too for the rest of the year. I did ask for it to be turned down sometimes which helped. I don't know why shops, even small ones seem to have the need for music all the time, some of it is too loud. I have walked out of shops sometimes when it's like this, can't be good for the staff who sometimes have to shout over it to speak with the customers, many of whom don't like it either. After having had that working experience, I always make habit of being nice to shop staff, they work hard, in sometimes quite hard and strenuous positions. On the other hand, I have made some great friends and still keep in touch with them. I am made most welcome when I pop back there several years later.
 
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Blindtraveler

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Firstly to Howardh, serious cudos to you for all you do for your parents.

On topic, Im with anyone who wants to avoid frothmas, me and the Wife both hate it.

Even more on topic, Im almost certainly the worst on here at avoiding the festive tunes as Im a mobile DJ to traid so I get them at almost every gig from November the 6th to December 25th and sometimes after but I do ask any booker and indeed the croud on the night if they want Xmas tunes or not and the number who say not is very high indeed. In fact sometimes people dont want them before xmas iether
 

Butts

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Firstly to Howardh, serious cudos to you for all you do for your parents.

On topic, Im with anyone who wants to avoid frothmas, me and the Wife both hate it.

Even more on topic, Im almost certainly the worst on here at avoiding the festive tunes as Im a mobile DJ to traid so I get them at almost every gig from November the 6th to December 25th and sometimes after but I do ask any booker and indeed the croud on the night if they want Xmas tunes or not and the number who say not is very high indeed. In fact sometimes people dont want them before xmas iether

So you kept that quiet - "Blindtraveller Blackburn" :p

Do you have "smiley miley" with you on the road and your own jingles ?

Seriously do you still play slow ones at the end (christmas or other):p
 
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