'Getting Into The Thick Of It!'

Well, I am well on the way to reaching my target of sorting out all of my Christmas presents before December the 1st! I don't think I will quite manage to nail down every single thing I am going to buy for everyone but I am hoping to get 95% or more bought, wrapped and labelled by then. As the picture below demonstrates though, even when you do get yourself organised you come across problems. Storing all of the different shaped sizes, boxes and packets somewhere in the house for a month can be a nightmare! I have taken to utilising the space inside my holiday suitcase the last few years and I find that an ideal option until it gets near enough to Christmas for the prezzies to be out on show under the Christmas tree.

 One present I do not really enjoy giving though is money. Its not that I am a miserable old miser 9well, not all the time!) its just that I feel that giving someone money not only proves how poorly you know them but is such an impersonal present. I'm not normally one noted for making supreme efforts in life but with Christmas I always try to think of or search out something thoughtful to give to someone. After all, as a self confessed self-absorbed (hence this blog!) person, I think its only right that when I do finally get around to thinking of other people I really put my heart into it. The snag with NOT giving people like your 16 year old Nephew who you never see nowadays is

of course that a) it is almost impossible to get to know what he wants and b) that even if you do know, being a teenager, it will be seriously expensive! I honestly LOVE buying presents for people and get a special kick when I think I have got them something they will really enjoy/be chuffed with but in the current financial climate its just not possible to 'push the boat out' too far. I don't believe in hocking up credit cards and would rather someone who could not afford to buy me anything did not than put themselves in bother. Christmas is a special time of the year but it is not how someone treats you once a year that counts its what they do for you/how they are to you the WHOLE year round that really matters so don't forget that those of you who are feeling guilty about having to call a halt to any more expenditure this year! Trust me, those who know you well and know of your situation will understand and those who do not are only shallow, fair weather friends anyway so don't mourn their loss!

I promised the other week that I would upload a picture or two of the glass bottles and jars my fellow writing club members and I have been creating for Christmas this year so here you go. Its been great fun using the special paints but I have found the coloured ones very hard to use as far as getting even coverage is concerned. Last Wednesday I spent the morning trying to colour in this large jar but ended 
up getting more paint on the table than I did on the jar! Still, its not a bad first effort and at least doing some festive Arts & Crafts has made it seem more like coming round to Christmas time...