[Ballbag]

hello?

[Yudster]

Hiya. I'm miserable. And no, it isn't because I'm not going on a glorious tropical holiday. Although if I was, at least I could forget about the fact that the central heating pump has packed in.......

[Sidders]

I'm miserable too.

[Yudster]

You know these emergency service contracts which guarantee you an engineer within an hour if you pay so much a month? Don't bother. I phoned them at 12.30 today - they said they could come at 4.00, when I wouldn't have been here, so I arranged for them to come between 5.30 - 6.00. They just phoned to say they can't come until tomorrow. I'm now miserable, cold and angry. Avoid Colchester if you want to keep all your vital parts intact, I'm in maiming mood.

[Eddie]

I'm not turning on my heating til November out of prinicple so I don't know if my pump's packed in. It was close to doing so last year!

[kendra k]

i never turn the heat on, ever.

[kendra k]

no, northern california. and i'm cheap.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

I've not turned the heat on now. I dont know how to.

[kendra k]

get your coal bucket out and head to the pits!

[MK Chris]

You know these emergency service contracts which guarantee you an engineer within an hour if you pay so much a month? Don't bother. I phoned them at 12.30 today - they said they could come at 4.00, when I wouldn't have been here, so I arranged for them to come between 5.30 - 6.00. They just phoned to say they can't come until tomorrow. I'm now miserable, cold and angry. Avoid Colchester if you want to keep all your vital parts intact, I'm in maiming mood.

Then you should stop the direct debit, since they've violated their contract, surely?

[Sidders]

There's probably a clause.

[Yudster]

I'm not turning on my heating til November out of prinicple so I don't know if my pump's packed in. It was close to doing so last year!

I used to do that - until one year it turned freezing really suddenly, and when I turned it on it didn't work. So now I test it before it gets crucial. I'm just so bloody boring its untrue. I even get the christmas tree lights out at the beginning of December to check them, because the tree doesn't go up until Christmas Eve usually, so by then I won't have time to replace them if they have died......its no wonder I have a damn headache. All the time.

[Eddie]

Why don't you put your tree up before Chirtsmas eve - That's leaving it a bit late isn't it?

[Yudster]

I know, but its traditional. If I get myself better organised this year, I will try to get it sorted the week before Christmas, that would be ok. I get annoyed when I see Christmas decorations up at the end of November though. It kind of loses its charm for me when people do that. Still, each to their own.

[Eddie]

We get our up about the 15th December or thereabouts.

[Yudster]

I like to have a real tree, and I find if they go up too early they look a bit tired and saggy by Christmas! And with a two year old in the house as well, I don't want to have to spend too long before Christmas fending him off the sparkly things. Not to mention the chocolaty things.

What are you thoughts about Christmas decorations in general? I often have just a tree, but if I have time I like to put some bits across the ceiling too, very cheesy and old fashioned but I don't care. I never get around to putting my cards on display, nowhere to put them. And outdoor stuff - I think sparkly lights in a tree outside look lovely, but I really hate the move towards these plastic scenes people are putting all over their houses. Especially the giant inflatable jobs. Reminds me of Its a Knockout......Anyway, I am probably a crashing snob, but I think they look trashy and nasty. But I would never agree with the people last year who tried to get them banned, that is just silly. I don't like them, but I'm not going to tell other people what they should and shouldn't like.

[Sidders]

The people at the end of our town always put their Christmas lights up at the end of October. They'll be going up in a week or so.

[Eddie]

Not a fan of too much. It's got to be tasteful and subtle. A few nice decorations will look better than loads of bad ones. Same goes with lights - a few nice white ones = good. Loads of coloured ones = bad.

[Yudster]

Well, each to their own, but I wouldn't want to do that, I love Christmas and all the stuff that goes with it, but I think the reason I like it so much is because its Christmas! It'd seem weird starting Christmas before you've even done Bonfire night.

[SAV1OUR]

Well, each to their own, but I wouldn't want to do that, I love Christmas and all the stuff that goes with it, but I think the reason I like it so much is because its Christmas! It'd seem weird starting Christmas before you've even done Bonfire night.

Yeah you gotta get the evil and the fire and the flames of all hallowes and bonfire night outta the way before you go all camp for a month in December, besides, everytime you go into town at this time of year you cant move for the unofficial 'Jesus + God - countdown to Jesus's birthday - Gay Parade'.

[Yudster]

I know what you mean. Another one of the reasons we get to Christmas relatively late in our house is that we do tend to focus on it as a Christian event, so it doesn't really start until the Sunday before with Lessons and Carols in church. We don't make a fuss about Advent. But Christmas means different things to different people and I hope we're all allowed to enjoy it.

[Boboff]

I really hate Christmas, for 10 years I have tried to come up with those rubbish glass with bottle of Jack Daniels and those layered spices in a funny shaped jar kind of thing, and we start doing that in October for the following Christmas !

Bah humbug I know, but really the extreme comerciallity of Christmas is unbelievable.

PS buy the Pears and Amaretto & almond syrup in Tesco Isle 9, they are lovely and it's mine ! ( gently spiced with Star Anise and Cinnamon, it's a pleasure for the perfect dinner party finish, where you can pretend you did it, £3.99 is a bargain as well, when you consider theres a triple of Amaretto in every Jar ! Go out and buy some.

Apparently Advertising isn't aloud, so ignore the above please, please or I'll get in trouble,

Other post dinner alcoholic and fruit based generic deserts are available !!!

Joke, a bit, please

[Yudster]

I'm making chocolates or preserves for everyone this year - I'm fed up with shopping, I'll cook instead!

[Yudster]

Oh very funny Fowler.......*pokes tongue out in a faintly embarrassed way because she can't think of anything else to do*!

[Boboff]

yudster, isle 9, youv'e offered now to make everyone some, I like piccalilli please,