What did Santa bring you?

Well, coming purely from my personal point of view...

If there is someone you feel you want to buy gifts for, christmas is a good day to give them. For some it is meaningful from a religious perspex, for some it is just convention, some might have other reasons but its one day that is kind of 'comfortable' for the majority when it comes to giving gifts.

For me, the main recipient of my generosity these days is my son, who I probably am spoiling rotten (and I don't care, I've thought about it, acknowledge it, and decided he's only got one dad and one day I'll be gone so until then I'm going to treat him as much as I can). As much as I spoil him, there has to be some structure. He has to learn that he can't just have what he wants when he wants, so christmas day is one day of the year when I can give him far too much, see him buzzing with excitement, grateful to some imaginary old fellow and excitedly showing daddy what santa's brought him.

I've also given a lot of thought as to why we let santa take the credit, despite the effort and expense we put in. I've figured its for three reasons. 1) Everyone needs a bit of magic in their life. For kids, santa is as good a figure head as any. 2) Its not all one sided, we can blame santa too if something goes wrong, but most importantly, 3) We teach our kids manners all year round and as important as manners are, we shouldn't allow ourselves to emotionally depend on them. If someone forgets to say thank you, it should not ruin our day. By giving the credit to santa, just one day of the year, the kid can relax from their tuition to express gratitude and just enjoy the moment, and we can bask in the liberating sense that despite our hard work and expense, we should expect nothing in return except to see someone we love being happy.

 

It's not about receiving but about giving.

My other half was thrilled with the Apron and matching oven gloves.

 

I bet she was!

 

Sheez, Clue .. after I woke up I have to say I do appreciate Christmas (ie, presents) is about kids.

Rob ... must say I would not be enamoured with an apron and oven gloves ... a cleaner for two hours once a week would be a nice gesture ...

... however, I have bought myself a VAX 2S steam cleaner for tiled floors (of which my whole house is) ... from Amazon down to £44.99 with NO postage costs to here. I am HOPING this will cure the problem of mopping a whole house in the winter rains here where it take hours to dry.

 

Well, you know me by now. Always one to answer the questions that don't normally get answered

I have to restrain myself sometimes because I think about everything all of the time, to the point where my my head sometimes feels like its melting

 

I got a new growlight (the one I paid for myself a several weeks ago) and some fishing socks from Mrs Scrungee and I bought her a Remoska and a tin opener (the cheapo 'butterfly' type because she'd borrowed the one I always have packed as those in holiday accommodation never work).

As it's her birthday next week I've just ordered her a new laptop (as mine died a week or so ago and I'll end up with her old one. And I've just remembered that I also paid for those socks myself. I don't seem to have done very well out of this.

 

Maybe you'll benefit from the Remoska and tin opener (long term investment?)

 

and dear friend who is so ubber GIRLIE bought me a gardeners world novelty bucket full of hand care products

 

I love it

 

I'll mention it but I doubt she'd fall for that one.