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Online shopping no mush, fuss or rush
"Ring the bells ..." "Ring their necks more like, " I muse with a sly grin as I look upon the crowd of shoppers crushed into Marks and Spencer, frantic, nervous, and harassed, all seem to be hunting down last minute Christmas gifts. From the escalator, I watch many couples, touch, pause then discuss, whether to buy Auntie or cousin Jane, Brenda or some other poor soul, a jumper, cardigan or blouse, something, I guarantee you the unlucky recipient is bound to hate, as they have lost or gained weight since the last time they all met, exactly 12 months ago on Christmas day.
You may have guessed by now that I am not a fan of Christmas shopping, but that is not all I am not a fan of Christmas either. Each year, my favourite game is wondering why people put themselves through his trauma. Suffering the assault of over the top merry Christmas songs, the shoving, pushing and fear, that your gift will be hated, seen as too cheap or God forbid be the same as last year's. While these sorrowful shoppers wonder around aimlessly, clutching long lists of names matched to potential presents, for people they have hardly spoken to or seen all year, I laugh. My laugh is one of someone who has finished her shopping, yep! Like with most of my purchases, I have done it all on-line, saving myself time and most of all money.
And the money side of Christmas is what I hate most. It seems to be who can buy the most, the best, the biggest. And this years seems no different. I thought after, a daily dose of stories, about bail-outs, companies going bust and belt-tightening, this would be the Christmas where we embrace the doctrine of Kristie and return to gifts made from handy crafts and Jamie and co, cooking from scratch.
But no, perhaps that was the image of my Christmas past, as here I stand in Mark's and Spencer trying to buy a ham sandwich, but can't move for the shoppers who have traded in their baskets for shopping trolleys. After all, it seems that it's better to be skint after Christmas, than let everyone think you went round to Iceland.'
Hungry and fed-up of people watching, I left the teeming store, and out into the cold was no better as it seemed all of London had come to shop. But as I squeezed past these woeful soles, I felt a sanctimonious glow. Suckers! I have already done my shopping, on-line gift cards, football match tickets and ebooks, all poised to land in family in-boxes on Christmas day.
On-line, I hear you shriek, never, what about the thrill of touching, feeling and the satisfaction of having bought the prefect present? I say "bah humbug!" to you. satisfaction? I get my satisfaction from knowing I shopped when I wanted, where I wanted i.e. from the comfort of my bed, and having done all my research months before, my on-line basket is full of the prefect presents. And best of all, there was no accompanying christmas song reminding me to have a "wonderful Christmas time."
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