Getting in The Mood


I wasn't feeling rather festive yesterday.
Today I've pulled myself up by the bra straps and have got into the mood. I drove to the Welsh Food Shop at Bodnant and used some almost out of date vouchers to purchase some goodies for Christmas day. Bodnant Food Shop , like most bespoke country outlets can be reassuringly expensive and I was amused to see two middle aged ladies ( who probably always shopped at Asda) picking at the shelves with shocked looks on the faces....
When they were perusing the preserve section, even the check out lady stifled a laugh when around the hushed tones of the shop one of  the women sang out to her friend " BLOODY HELL ANGELA , LOOK AT THIS !!! FIVE POUNDS FOR A SODDIN' JAR OF RASPBERRY JAM !"




When I got home, I popped into the church and dropped off mad Gaynor's Christmas hat and Card ( inside her Organ) then went to the post office to get a load of stamps. I was even Christmasy enough not to get too angry at a spoilt child at the till, who was playing up behind her grandmother's back.....but I did allow myself a very theatrical " BEHAVE YOURSELF AND SHUT UP"  comment when I passed them........
That made me chuckle at myself all the way down high street!

The Prof is away in Kent .....this afternoon I will be digging out the Christmas decs after I have wrapped my offering to work's " secret Santa" offering.....
The nurse , I am buying for loves a nice proscecco and has a new puppy......
The bottle is hidden away behind these little fellas

52 comments:

  1. Nothing, nothing NOTHING puts me in the holiday mood. Soddin' Christmas.
    Sorry.
    Love...The Grinch

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    1. Agreed, Ms. Moon. And I'm here decorating and baking cookies for my Jewish grandsons. Figure that one out.

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  2. I rather like Xmas, always have... don't think I'll be able to manage any decorating this year, though.

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  3. Glad you are feeling a bit festive today John. I love your secret Santa gift! Remind us about the unwanted secret Santa gift you received a couple years back. Was it a onesie or fancy dress or something? Go on - give us a larf!

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  5. I can't seem to get my shit together to make Christmas happen this year. It's just coming too fast, and my dad is ill, and and and....I'm about ready to say to hell with it! 

    Love, Grinch #2

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  6. I am also having a hard time getting in the mood. I hope I will, though, as the day approaches. I love Christmas and I am determined to take some pleasure from the good things despite world events, holiday anxiety, and all the rest.

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  7. Christmas would be fine if it wasn't so completely over the top. People throw themselves into a hysterical buying, feeding and drinking frenzy as if December 31 is due to be the Apocalypse. A day of doing absolutely nothing and seeing absolutely nobody would be divine.

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    1. We just have a nice lunch ..not over the top, just nice

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  8. Nothing for Christmas here, i wish we had.We have Hanuka but it is not the same, with all the red and green and the lights,,,

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    1. Have you a photo of the red and green?

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    2. I shall post tomorrow, i hope.

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  9. You are so thoughtful.

    No Christmas here.

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  10. Five pounds for a jar of jam IS a bit much, but from a fancy store with a fancy label - a bargain gift for the snooty recipient. It's all in the way we look at things.

    Not much Christmas happening here yet ... Maybe I will get some things ordered ...

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  11. Are you telling us you are buying the secret Santa gift for yourself?
    No Christmas here either.

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    1. Lol...its a long story but i have had a history of having awful gifts bought for me....this year i said i wasnt doing the secret santa ( yeah I know) but one girl specifically asked if she could get me something nice as long as i bought something for her....she loves proscecco and has a new puppy...gence the silly dog toys

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    2. She probably has in mind His & Hers Fanny Wipes for Winnie and Yourself. It's what I would get you.

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    3. Great assurance for something nice this year! Otherwise Mary can "bite into it" for you.

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  12. My granddaughter had the same experience in Pottery Barn yesterday!She's 12 and we were admiring some pretty faux fur blankets.She turned the price tag over and exclaimed in shock loudly "200$ dollars for a BLANKET!!!?
    I had to explain to her that when we go to the fancy mall to see how the other half live best to keep our opinions to ourselves until we get back to the car!
    Xmas is looking good for us this, we our grateful and blessed even if no 200$ blankets will be under our tree!

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  13. "Soddin" is a brand of preserves that I am unfamiliar with. I guess it must be an upmarket brand for posh Welsh people if indeed such folk exist. Would Charlotte Church be one? Aled Jones?

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    1. Catherine zeta jones, Anthony Hopkins, sian philips, gethin jones, kathryn jenkins, And ruth madoc

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    2. Oh, and Chris Burton... (Naturalised Taff)

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    3. Anonymous11:57 am

      I know he's been gone for a few years now, but you missed Philip Madoc.....and for that "Your name shall also go on ze list"!

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  14. didn't you get an XXL onsie last year.....i seem to remember? superman or some such thing?

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    1. That was the year before last..last year i got plastic antlers

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  15. we keep it simple; gifts between spouse and I and something for the cats. minimal decorations. a chinese food lunch and perhaps a visit to the cinema, provided there is something we want to see, on xmess day.

    no mall excursions; we purchase online or in the small local shops. some greeting cards are sent to friends far and wide.

    less is more.

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  16. The prices at Bodnant can seem a bit steep for those used to shopping at Asda but the quality is fantastic and it is worth the occasional treat.

    You're a naughty boy ... you should've called in for a coffee you know I'm only five minutes up the road from the farm shop :-(

    I love your Secret Santa purchase, I hope you get something equally 'you' this year.

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    1. I did think about popping in but , i hate to drop by unannounced

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    2. You would always be welcome. I'll email you my phone number so next time you can announce yourself ;-)

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  17. You are a lovely person John.xx

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  18. Love that idea of bottle hidden by those lovely fellows John. As usual you are full of inventive ideas - and inventive sayings - loved your comment to the child playing up. (probably bored stiff from trailing around though

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    1. She was a brat...a well dressed princess..she had it comming

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  19. Replies
    1. Are your spanish christmas preperations going ok hannah?

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    2. Great, thanks! Tree is up and the whole place is feeling very festive despite the hot weather :-)

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  20. I tend to agree that no jar of rasperry jam can be worth five pounds, whether soddin or not; but if you send me some I will be prepared to be proven wrong.

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    1. I wont be sending u any

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    2. And greetings of the season to you too. I hope that Wild Winter Willy does not get you (a Scottish monster you may not have heard off but would do well to avoid.

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  21. I am so far behind (I fell again, stupid me) but all the lights on the homes around me are so wonderful. I look forward to them every year. Hopefully all the Christmas cards get cut, folded and sent this weekend and my lights are going up too.
    thehamish always gives "chkikin' strips" to all his gud dug friends. So his shopping list is easy. If he doesn't eat them first.

    cheers, parsnip

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  22. Anonymous8:07 pm

    A little retail therapy helps every time.

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  23. John - gift bag - price tag still on it....!!!

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  24. I love those overpriced shops that support local farms and kitchens.

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  25. I love Xmas but this year I am so behind . A very stressful couple of weeks work and I feel swamped . I think after being away the last two years at this time of year makes me feel like I missed out on a holiday as well . First world problems hey !!!!

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  26. Super Secret Santa gifts you bought; those cute puppies and the Prosecco.

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  27. So many sad posts about no Christmas this year: I hope the next two weeks brighten these peoples' lives up a tad.

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  28. I have a Russian friend who celebrates Christmas on January 6th. I wish I could do the same as it would be much less expensive.

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  29. Oh, that is definitely my new catch phrase! BLOODY HELL ANGELA , LOOK AT THIS !!!

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