My sources tell me that it’s only about a week and a half until Christmas. I must admit this news came as something of a surprise to me. Okay, I’ll concede that the Christmas lights on Deansgate and the Christmas Markets in St Ann’s Square and the Christmas tree in the office and the company Christmas Party and the Christmas music on the radio and the singing Santa on AlanH’s desk and the Christmas coffee in Starbucks and the church carol service and all the rest should probably have tipped me off, but, in my defence, Christmas seems to start in about July or something these days so when I see Christmas lights and markets and trees and coffee, my brain goes “Oh, it must be about October” and then ignores them.
I’ve done, like, one bit of Christmas shopping so far. Even though I work in the city centre, I’ve not managed to summon up the energy to fight through the crowds and buy something thoughtful, wonderful and exciting for my nearest and dearest. Every day, I wake up and think, “I should buy Christmas presents for people in my lunch hour today”. And then 12:30pm rolls around and I’m in the middle of something so I dash out to Suburb to buy a Burrito Grande and a coffee whilst my code is compiling and return to my desk and keep working. And then I get home in the evening and realise I’ve still not bought anything.
It was okay whilst I was at school or University or whatever – term ended well before Christmas so you usually had a week or so to get in the Christmas spirit before Christmas day itself. In the big ol’ world of work, you work up until Christmas Eve and then, bam, it’s Christmas the next day and you’re kind of dazed and confused and just about get used to it being Christmas and then you’re back at work…
Anyway, I’m rambling now, and my compile has finished, so I’d better get back to work. If anyone’s got any suggestions as to what I can buy my girlfriend for Christmas, please leave a comment. I’m getting kind of desperate for ideas now.
Rampant rabbit
solution to problem: graduate and work for a university
Yeah, working for a uni or college gives you plenty of time to enjoy Christmas. I love those holidays.
As for suggested presents, I’ve no ideas – sorry. Isis in the Trafford Centre (and Manchester Arndale, I think) do some wonderful silver jewellery, but I dunno if that’s her kind of thing.