Bah Humbug

This morning I headed into the city to finish off our Christmas shopping while Ella was at nursery. Christmas 2007 is turning out to be something of an epithany because never in my life have I made so little effort for the festive season, and I can't decide how I feel about it.

By this time in December I'd normally have the whole thing planned and shopped; sausagemeat and sage for the stuffing (having knocked out three pensioners in Sainsbury's to secure the last pot of sage in the store), presents chosen and wrapped, festive room freshener, garland on the fireplace. See also Warninck's advocaat (with Rose's lime cordial) as well as Bailey's Irish Cream, Marks and Spencer sausages in bacon and Cointreau flavoured cream.

And that's before I've even started on the mini stollen and the turkish delight and the Terry's Chocolate orange for Darren's stocking - surprise!

But the thing is, who's all this bloody stuff for, exactly? I mean, yes, we get visitors, so it's good to have a stock of mince pies or stollen, but I'm just not sure about the rest of it anymore.

So this year we're going for a budget version of our usual Christmas and so far in I've purchased exactly the following items.

1. Box of six Mr Kipling mince pies

2. Jar of Bonne Maman jam (strawberry - I want the jar for shells)

3. One bag of gold coins to replace the Cadbury's ones my in-laws sent for Ella, which are not where Darren hid them anymore

4. Six chocolate santas to hang on the tree (cheap Chinese chocolate - santa on the wrapper but not on the chocolate. Note to self, never hang chocolate santas in direct sunlight).

5. Two Australian cheeses, box of crackers and jar of plum paste

And that's the lot. No chocolate, no booze, no biscuits, nothing. For Christmas Ella's having a talking Dora the Explorer (against my better judgement; made in China, speaks like America), an electric guitar (no volume control. Not coming back to Blighty), a pair of fairy slippers, a pretend birthday cake and a ballerina jewellery box. She's also having a K-Mart Christmas stocking filled with delightful stocking fillers like clothes for her baby doll, bubble bath and sweets. All stuff we don't have to carry home.

Nana Ange and Auntie Janet and Auntie Lou have sent parcels though. Nana Ange's parcel contains DVDs for the plane; Auntie Lou's parcel contains a travel game (something about how many hand held massagers can you nick from Harvey Norman's?). Jan's sent her a scarf and gloves.

You really think we're coming home, don't you?