Giving & Receiving
For some reason since moving out here, we don’t do Christmas presents. We don’t give them and we don’t receive them. Does that sound sad?
Well it isn’t I promise, as it takes away a lot of pressure to find something that the other person hasn’t got, that they want and that you can afford to buy.
That’s a lot of stress just because someone says you must buy a gift on this day.
I Am Not A Scrooge!
I’m not a scrooge, I enjoy Christmas now.
I love the lights, the food, the time together, the terrible repetitive TV, the winter weather, the carols, the cheesy films, the lights, the decorations and the extra tot of alcohol.
But I hate all the commercialism – I can give or receive a gift any time of the year – and because Dan feels the same way there is no guilt trip, no pressure, no family tradition that we feel we absolutely have to comply with, despite being thousands of miles away from them.
To be honest it’s bliss and if I were religious it would give me that extra time to contemplate, feel blessed and rejoice in what this season should be about.
Turkey & Trimmings
We celebrate with a large turkey and all the trimmings. There are only two of us so although I get a couple of extra days off work, I generally spend them creating a variety of alternative turkey dishes to keep us fed until about Easter.
And although I am not a scrooge, I do enjoy the economy of ‘One bird – many dinners!’ (That is not a euphemism) 🙂
The thing I find the hardest at this time of year is relaxing. Now this is weird I know! If I don’t have time to relax, I moan I never have time to relax. When I do get time to relax, I’m like, “So what now?”
Being Told What to Do…
Yes I think that’s it – this is my problem. I don’t like being told what to do!
Buy a present on this day – sit down and relax – eat till you burst (ok I can deal with that one).
Now I have written this down, it makes me question my sanity. If I don’t like being told what to do, why have I created a game called You Decide, where you get to do exactly that?
It’s My Game, My Rules!
I must be mad. But I enjoy the interaction, hearing your opinions, seeing what you would do if you were in my shoes.
There is only one problem with all of this, charging for the privilege of joining my ‘game’ doesn’t seem to be working so I’ve changed the rules.
It’s my game, my rules!
As an early Christmas present to all of you for following along on this journey, if you sign up to my blog newsletter (it’s free) I will invite you into the secret sanctum personally – FOR FREE.
(Normally 20 euros / year)
Yes I am so SO aware of the oxymorons in this blog – I could not be more contradictory if I tried… us women are complex creatures.
Reminder of the Rules
As a brief reminder – here’s how it works.
I present a Design Dilemma (about once a week)
I provide all the necessary information – photos, outline, issues
I supply THREE potential solutions
You VOTE for the one you would like to see me deliver.
The one with the most votes is the what I do.
So far votes have been cast on:
A tiling dilemma, what to do with an old Bulgarian artefact that we uncovered and the next one will be … choosing my logo.
Only those on the inside get to see the choices and to influence the design and build of this adventure.
It is now FREE if you sign up to my Newsletter Here and I will invite you to join us.
Happy Christmas Everyone – I hope you get to enjoy the festivities, however restricted you are. Here’s to 2021 not being quite so stubborn!
You Decide! The Design Dilemma Game.
PS: If you are already on my email list I will send you an invite automatically – no need to re-register!
PPS: If you have already registered and paid – you will already have been refunded.
