My Christmas plans are a nice quiet dinner at home with several friends drinking some wine and cooked dinner. Perhaps some movie and cards later on but generaly a nice relaxing day. ( Looking so forward to it)

As for New Years, well i do believe ill be attending some function but thats all being handled by the family's head admin. (girlfriend).

I'm trying to ignore Christmas to the very best of my ability, whilst trying to accommodate the sensibilities of others. My family is scattered all over the world & I'm located in a "foreign country" myself (Scotland).

I've had invites from friends to go to theirs on the big day but can help but think I'd be a "welcome but timed guest", if you know what I mean ! So instead I'm staying at home on my own. Everyone thinks that's sad, but I'm going to dive onto Skype and video chat to my folks which will be so cool.

Most folk in Scotland, the adults anyway, seem to enjoy the New Year (or Hogmanay) much more than Christmas so I'm going out that night with my Scottish friends to Edinburgh Castle to see the fireworks display and get extremely merry

Seems like you and I are the only ones with a plan this year.

A nice quiet Christmas Morning..the smell of turkey wafting through the air the rest of the day..a nice nap on the sofa with a full stomach..ahhhh
As for New Years..I have a prophecy that will either be fulfilled or not. Anything can happen, so we shall see.

Hardly anyone is celebrating Christmas on ATS ! Perhaps the thread is too early for some people, I know many people are jaded by the festivities starting earlier and earlier each year that passes.

We've got our office party on Friday night. They have a strange custom here called "Secret Santa" which I'd never heard of before moving to Scotland although I suppose like many things the idea came originally from the USA.

All my co-workers had their names written on pieces of paper and each drew one from the pot ... and have to buy someone a gift up to five Scottish pounds in value. They won't know who the gift is from ... hence the "Secret" Santa.

The co-worker I got is a lady who was divorced this year. She's the life and soul of our office, a good laugh. So I've purchased a gift which I hope will go down well ... although I fear not ... it's an "inflatable husband".

But now I'm scared to hand it into work in case she takes offence when she opens it !

Oh dear. What to do ?

Originally posted by Ulala
Hardly anyone is celebrating Christmas on ATS ! Perhaps the thread is too early for some people, I know many people are jaded by the festivities starting earlier and earlier each year that passes.

We've got our office party on Friday night. They have a strange custom here called "Secret Santa" which I'd never heard of before moving to Scotland although I suppose like many things the idea came originally from the USA.

All my co-workers had their names written on pieces of paper and each drew one from the pot ... and have to buy someone a gift up to five Scottish pounds in value. They won't know who the gift is from ... hence the "Secret" Santa.

The co-worker I got is a lady who was divorced this year. She's the life and soul of our office, a good laugh. So I've purchased a gift which I hope will go down well ... although I fear not ... it's an "inflatable husband".

But now I'm scared to hand it into work in case she takes offence when she opens it !

Oh dear. What to do ?

I dare say, being divorced myself..I would DEFINITELY take offence to that gift.She may be good natured, and see some humor in it, but it might hurt her as well.A gift for a co-worker shouldn't be something too personal.

Well, my plans have slightly altered.
My next door neighbor is a young guy with a wife and three small kids, and he graciously gives me a ride when I need it (I don't drive) and has shoveled my walkway half a dozen times over the last 2 days.
I just found out that he lost his job, right before Christmas..just as many are losing theirs around here.
Tomorrow he is taking me out shopping for the last of my holiday purchases, and I'm going to surprise him with helping him out with gifts for his family.
I may not be rich, but well enough to offer that, and it's the least I can do when he helps me out and has asked for nothing in return but a thank you.

Originally posted by AccessDenied

I may not be rich, but well enough to offer that, and it's the least I can do when he helps me out and has asked for nothing in return but a thank you.

I know exactly what you mean AD, as I just spent all of my Christmas money on someone that I thought could use it. Unfortunately, unlike you, I received not so much as a thank you. No note, nothing, it's as if I just didn't exist.

Makes one wonder what some people are all about, and how they sleep at night.

Well they say karma's a bitch..I sure hope so.

hmm, yeah..
WHATEVER.

[edit on 11-12-2009 by AccessDenied]

Originally posted by AccessDenied

I asked for nothing.
What you were expecting was not being offered. And a thank you was given.
I sleep just fine thank you.Finished now?

?????

I have read my post several times and cannot for the life of me figure out what you are on about.
I was responding TO your post, not AT your post.

Even though I don't think I need to explain myself, I shall as you are obviously upset about something.

There is a "working girl" that is a neighbor of mine that I see every night on the street, and she only had a sweater to wear.
As the temperatures continue to drop, I have been worried about her, so went out and spent my Christmas money on a down coat for her.
She never even said thank-you, and even though I am used to such behavior lately, somehow a smile, a thank you would have been most welcome.

I merely intended to point out that there are those that will take and take from people, and never even acknowledge what the other has gone through
to help them, even going so far as to ignore them as if they were a pile of crap on the sidewalk.

Now unless you are a middle aged, anorexic "working girl" named Crystal that is my neighbor, my comments were not directed at you. Only at those that use and abuse those that try to help them by ignoring them.

I sincerely apologize to you if you thought my comments were directed at you, and as I said, I can't figure out where you would have got that assumption from, unless you are feeling guilty about something.

I really hope that you take care of yourself as something is obviously making you a little sensitive these days me thinks.

Please read my original post again and try to see what my intention was and how it was written.

~hugs~

Originally posted by AccessDenied
A nice quiet Christmas Morning..the smell of turkey wafting through the air the rest of the day..a nice nap on the sofa with a full stomach..ahhhh
As for New Years..I have a prophecy that will either be fulfilled or not. Anything can happen, so we shall see.

May i be so bold as to ask what your prophecy might be, it does seem you are looking forward to it, so i would guess it is something you have been looking forward or should i say hoping for.


Peace.