Ghost of Christmas Past(non footie)

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I know that matchday is an odd day to be posting non-footie threads, but I`m catching up on a week of non-posting. Clarky`s comments on `Mornin` All` set me thinking.

I know I`m probably streets ahead of most of you on the shopping front - but that`s out of necessity not choice. I still love buying presents for people, though I truly miss having small children around to buy for - I think. I say `I think`, because I do believe the magic of Christmas has gone for children by the time they start school.

Do any children still write a Christmas letter to Santa and send it up the chimney full of hope and excited anticipation? (I meant that metaphorically - before I get chastised for encouraging dangerous practices!) It seems to me that Mothers are likely to be presented with a shopping list of demands, rather than a `wish list`. This year Mothers will be doing battle over `Thunderbirds` merchandise. Last year the demand for Furbies saw unscrupulous Shylocks selling them to the highest bidder on the internet (prices topping out at £600!), the year before saw Beanies rocketing in price, and the year before that I actually saw grown people throwing punches over Teletubbies! Not much evidence of `magic` there!

Another sad change I see, is the predominance of expensive electronic games, and violent computer games. They seem to encourage an unreal and conscience free attitude to violence, and a solitary existence for children. (OK, I admit by the time we were on to our fourth game of Ludo, it was becoming tediously boring, but at least we were playing it as a family!)

Please feel free to add you radom thoughts on Christmas to this thread! (:o)

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Answers

Galaxy - Our 8 year old still believes (with occasional doubts) and wrote a good letter to Santa claus last week. It helps that by some chance there was a strange flash in the night sky while we were looking out the window two or three Christmas Eves ago, which totally convinced him. I think Belgium lags behind England on commercialisation and the kids here seem to stay younger for longer. Our two 4 year olds of course believe absolutely. Here they actually have two "Christmases" one on 6th December for "Saint Nicholas and then the real one

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

Well, having just received an e-Mail from my lad, from his phone in The Straabeery, I guess this just goes to prove Gal's point - electronic gadgetry and all tha (mind you , he is 22, and I think he no longer believes in Santa Claus!

However, Barry's point reminded me of Christmases past. We had some Swiss friends, and they too had a special pre-Christmas day for St Nicholas. We used to get on old chap from the village to dress up, but of course he was well-primed with all the news of school, good deeds, bad deeds etc etc. He even had the kids' letters in a big red book (eat yer heart oot Michael Aspel/Eamonn Andrews). To see the look of awe on the kids faces (and some of the mums too!) was great.

I believe the magic is still there today for many, but the age of realisation is getting lower. A difficult balance between deceit and innocence.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000


Great to know that some people are keeping the magic of Christmas alive. However, I think my daughter has got the right idea - always, always, always say that you still believe in Santa - then her silly, soppy, big daft kid of a Mother will continue to creep into your room on Christmas morning and announce with barely contained excitement ` He`s been!`.

And I do realise that there are people who steadfastly fight the tide of hard nosed and blatant exploitation by clever advertising campaigns. And that there are still families who play games together. However, I do despair a bit when I hear the stories about this year`s `must have`, and the ensuing mayhem in the stores. It wouldn`t matter quite so much if the `must have` was a slinky or the latest yo-yo, but some of the items are really high priced toys, and it must really compound the misery of Christmas for anyone with children, little or no income, and not a hope in hell of being able to produce the goods for the children, even if they were available in the shops.

I consider myself very fortunate to have always had the most wonderful Christmas mornings. From my own childhood (when my parents were indeed on a very tight budget) through to Yelli`s first Christmas. How I will always remember the look of sheer delight on Pete`s face when he came down on Christmas morning to find that Santa had left a Scalectrix for Yelli! And the fun continues.....I still love Christmas morning with my family - but I am very, very aware of how lucky I have been, and indeed how lucky we still are.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000


LoL Gal. A Scaley for a one-year-old lass!! Brilliant. I got fed up a few years back when neither of my lads had expressed a great interest in the greates toy for boys (since Barbie) and wrote a letter to Father Christmas myself. It worked, and I had probably more fun converting the loft and building the track than I did playing by myself - no, er, I didn't mean that to come out like that - just as I said, the kids weren't that interested.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000

And I must say that after today's game we should all believe that Santa came one month early this year.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2000


The only good reason for having kids around when you are playing with the Scalectrix, is to place them strategically around the track and let them put the cars back on when you fluff a corner!(;o)

Sort of on the Christmas theme, as I spent a lot of time in perfume departments this week, do men notice/like/care about/really dislike any particular perfumes?

Also, would any man on here wear the new Thiery Mugler men`s version of Angel? Personally I really love it, and would probably fancy Quasimodo if he used it! I just don`t think any man would wear it as it smells like chocolate.(:o)

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


Galaxy, Amen it's called and I wear it most days of the week.....on my other days I wear Fahrenheit ;) get your coat love.....you've pulled!

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000

Oh and it's far from new Gal.....I've been wearing it for over a year! haven't needed to put a second splash on yet ;)

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000

There you go! I knew there was something about you I liked Gav!(;o)

I did know Angel had been around for a couple of years, but I hadn`t realised the men`s fragrance had be around for so long.

Angel itself it too `young` a fragrance for me to use, but I love vanilla based perfumes - I`ve worn Shalimar for years and that is very vanilla.

Right....I`ll get my coat then....under the clock at Waterloo? (;o)

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


Strange how you think it smells of chocolate, I think it smells of candy floss!?!?! :)

Can't meet you today honey cos I'm wearing Envy (Gucci)....I have to leave my Amen down at the girlfriends cos she likes to wear it when I'm not about!!

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000



That`s Ok Gav - I`m off to look for a new perfume for myself.....something to please Peter. Do you know of any perfumes with a base note of Castrol R? That`s motorcycle engine oil I think. (;o)

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000

You wanna be careful mum! dousing yourself in petrol might turn Pete on but if he starts to get a little hot under the collar then there's a fire risk to consider you know!! ;))

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000

I`d say the fire risk is minimal!!! (;o)

Byeeeeeee!!! Time to earn my keep! (:o)

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


Gav you're not telling me you think you smell of candy floss are ya : - )) Im after the very valentino for men this year , and just abt to go xmas shopping in New York on friday , i wonder if ill manage to pick up the thunderbirds there ? More like 200 tabs and a pair of levi's .

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000

Sting, I've got Very Valentino as well.....not too keen on it to be honest.....I've got quite an extensive collection of smells ;))

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


The girly version of Angel is deffo choclatey in scent.

The lass persuaded me to go for Dolce & Gabana's 'Masculine' ('cos I'm not, like). Very nice indeed. Got very nice compliments from assorted lasses in Oz while wearing it.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


Gav - listen to yerself man....!

Ya big lass!

; - ))

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


There was only one thing Gav smelt of at Southampton and it wasn't very valentino .. very something ; - ) Just bought rochas thats canny too ... cant believe we're having this conversation . However , i have been walking around and keep smelling these lasses and thinking they smell of marshmallows/chocolate and now i know what it is so thanks .. i never had the bottle to come out with the line .... ' youre perfume smells like chocolate , can i put you in the fridge and eat you later ? ' I can think of someone who would ask that question mind : - ))

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000

Bobby, that is because it reminds em of sheep dip!

Galaxy, try Issey Miyake. Mrs gus wears the girlie one, I wear the after shave.

I have Hugo Boss Elements and Farenheit too Gav. Mrs gus is trying to get me to wear the new Paul Smith or is that Sir Paul Smith now.

Wonder if he is related to Queen Galaxy,

Afternoon Maam.

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


ask it? he probably bloody invented it!

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000

Sting, it smells of candy floss not chocolate,

Gus, I've got Elements as well....not bad but not one of my fave's

Gal, if you like Angel for women try Wish by Chopard...that's not bad as well....

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


Thanks Gav - I`ll try it.

Now, before I get banned from the BBS for leading you all astray (men`s perfume on here, radio 4 on another thread - whatever next!) I think we should all join in with a resounding chorus of:

We are the Geordies........the Geordie Boot(s) Boys!!!!!!(;o)

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


.........OK! OK! I`m going........now where`s my coat!

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000

You shoulda let us keep talking about smellies....we obviously enjoy it.....are we finally dispelling the northern hardman image? ;)

Fuck off LR! ;)

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


Whats the worst aftershave/ perfume youve bought or had bought for ya ... i got fendi for men recently , bliddy arful and so is versace green jeans , cats p..... poison for lasses puts me right off too .

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000

Yuck! I`m with you all the way on the Poison front! (:oP

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000

Totally agree with Poison. Revolting stuff.

I tend to wear Escape or Dolce and Gabbana 'Feminine' myself, although I've just bought 'Manifesto' and 'Mania' for Christmas, both of which are divine.

My personal preference is for Farenheit(sp), Escape or Joop on men - all of which make me go weak at the knees. The ex used to wear Kouros which, IMHO, is one of the most vile odours ever created!!! (;o)

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


After getting rid of all my Kouros, and buying Escape and JOOP to go with my Farenheit I have to stick with Issey Miyake as my favourite.

Sorry Yelli, I just had to beat Gav or Tre to that one!

Mrs gus detests Chanel No 5. She is very particular about what she uses, she only uses one fragrence for work, but I'll be b*ggered if I can ever remember the name. The stuff she wears on weekends etc is the same name as mine, just in a girlie bottle!

-- Anonymous, November 27, 2000


Continuing the Christmas theme, I have a suggestion for anyone who wants to buy a computer game for someone, but would like something other than a shoot `em up, death and destruction type of game. It`s called Pandora`s Box, and it a Microsoft game. It is a wonderful compilation of puzzles, very playable, and will appeal to all ages, except very young children. (:o)

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2000

Good god. Blokes using scent.

I'd go along with striking matches on your oxters, but if using scent is what it takes, my pulling days are well and truly over. :-))

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2000


Pit Bill, you`ve just used another of the words my husband and daughter don`t believe exist! Oxters!! Thank you. (:o)

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2000

Yer wash is my command yer majesty. (Exits backwards tugging (what's left of) forelock). :-))

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2000

'Wash' ?
I'll even supply me own poss tub and mangle.

-- Anonymous, November 28, 2000

Pit Bill, two other words that meant nothing to my crew were `hunkers` and `dunch`. That last spelling doesn`t look right - I mean `dunching` as in bumping into something.(:o)

-- Anonymous, November 29, 2000

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