I took the day off work and de-christmased the house yesterday. It wasn’t so much the taking down the decorations that took the time, it was the finding places for all the toys to live. I’ve decided that next year we will put out an edict that any gifts to our children must not be over 0.25 cubic meters in volume and preferably be stackable. Which may prove a problem if Amy want’s a bike.
Of course such rules will not apply to me. As second in command to the supreme leader, my position in the household grants me certain perks. For example I am allowed to stay up as long as I like, have pudding even if I haven’t eaten all my dinner, and am allowed to spend my Christmas money on whatever crap I want.
My parents and my in-laws, who all very generously showered me with cash this year, may want to look away now or else run the risk of feeling compelled to tut and shake their heads. Because while I did buy a few practical and sensible presents for myself (waterproof coat and trousers, and a couple of walking sticks so I can emulate my hero Oli), I also went a little mad at the Amazon.co.uk DVD sale:
Just in case you can’t make them out that’s:
- Sherlock Holmes Complete Jeremy Brett TV series collection.
- Agatha Christie’s Poirot collection 4 & 5
- The Complete Jeeves and Wooster (series 1, 2, 3, & 4)
- Babylon 5 series 1 & 2
- The Phil Slivers Show (Sgt. Bilko) 18 classic episodes
- Morecambe & Wise series 3
- The IT Crowd series 1
- Visionaries complete collection
- 300
- Casino Royale
In my defense I must point out that all of these were absolute bargains and I fully intend to get my moneys worth out of them. I’ve been a very busy beaver ripping them to my iPod, and am pretty confident that my viewing will be sorted out for quite a while to come.
But that isn’t all I bought. On Christmas Eve Oli lent me a portrait lens for my camera, a Canon 50mm f/1.8 if that means anything to you. I fell in love with it instantly (mmmmmm blurry backgrounds), unfortunately I have to give it back to him today as he’s going back up to Scotland. I therefore scoured the internet and, taking advantage of the current weakness of the dollar, bought one from the American branch of Amazon for a paltry £35. Another bargain!
In order to avoid paying import tax I had it delivered to my friend Greg in the USA, who agreed to post it on to me labeled gift. I thought myself very clever indeed and was most smug in my self satisfaction at beating the system. Until, that is, Greg published a photo of his daughters “processing” the parcel:
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. That man is a comedy genius.
on Jan 4th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
As you probably saw, I used my Christmas money to get the full series of Gilmore Girls on DVD. Your choices are much manlier.
Avitable’s last blog post..Big Turk
on Jan 4th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Putting away Christmas presents for us means going through and getting rid of older, no longer played with toys. My husband hates that I do this as he is a natural born pack rat and hopes to pass on that trend to our children, but it’s a necessity.
Miss Britt’s last blog post..Calendars are for sissies.
on Jan 4th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I love Jeeves and Wooster. I have yet to buy a camera but I am determined to accomplish it today. Determined, despite my determination not to spend more money than I have (which is to say… very little).
Nina’s last blog post..Poise? Really??
on Jan 4th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I once used my christmas money from my parents to get a tattoo back before they had really come to terms with the fact that their daughter was determined to have enough tattoos to scare small children.
on Jan 4th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Zane asked me just the other day, “Why do you get to stay up late?” to which I replied, “That’s what adults get to do—now go to bed!”
I have a Pentax 50mm f/1.8 I would have been glad to sell you for say £34. And my shipping/packaging department is surely to be more trustworthy.
zoe’s dad’s last blog post..Y2K+8
on Jan 4th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Too bad for you and Greg that, just yesterday, I accepted a new job with the US Postal Service as International Customs Inspector.
Please send the $10,000 fine to my address.
on Jan 4th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Most of my Christmas presents got packed into boxes for storage in the garage… They were nice when I saw them.
Wait… h My God, is that Jeeves and Wooster… it is… (checking out Amazon) it’s how much? Where did I put my card?!
Bec’s last blog post..Outbreak
on Jan 5th, 2008 at 12:24 am
I bought tires for my car with my Christmas money. :-(
Jeff’s last blog post..It’s left for me
on Jan 5th, 2008 at 12:57 am
I guess I can understand 300 and Casino Royale, but as for the rest….
Mr. Fabulous’s last blog post..?I think it was Diet Pepsi??
on Jan 5th, 2008 at 4:37 am
Don’t let anyone make fun of your tastes. That’s what makes you “special.”
Whit’s last blog post..I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet): Take 2
on Jan 5th, 2008 at 9:25 am
You have incredibly generous relatives. Mine got me a box of chocolates, a picture of a cat, and new mouse. All I’m missing is a lump of coal and an orange.
Still, I bought the Jeeves & Wooster DVDs for my girlfriend - practical thinking, now I can watch hers.
Rol’s last blog post..Working for the cash machine…
on Jan 5th, 2008 at 11:52 am
Avitable - At least it wasn’t the Golden Girls
Miss Britt - We strike a happy medium and relegate toys to the attic. Then once or twice a year I take Amy up there and let her bring down a few things. The attic has now taken on mythic proportions in her mind.
Nina & Bec - Jeeves and Wooster is a work of genius. the TV show isn’t even half as funny as the books, but it is still magnificent.
CamiKaos - Amy and I were sitting behind a rather heavily tatooed man on the bus the other week and she said loudly “That man has been drawing on himself, he’s very naughty isn’t he daddy”
Zoe’s Dad - It’s tempting, but i don’t think it would fit on my camera. Maybe if you included a roll of duct tape in with the price.
Phil - The check is in the post. $10,000? I guess I’ll have to go without my snickers bar tomorrow morning (got to love those exchange rate jokes).
Jeff - I steal my tires
Mr Fab - This from a man who’s favorite movie is Dirty Dancing (ok, it’s probably not, but I couldn’t think of a witty comeback)
Whit - I’m sending you Mr. Fabulous’ adress. Please go beat him up for me.
Rol - A cat? And a mouse? Surely that’s a recipe for Tom and Jerry style hijinks?
on Jan 5th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
We didn’t have ‘christmas’ presents..but Saint Nicolas presents..but I stuffed everything in a box and dropped it off in my appartment so I’m not going to see the stuff again till monday (I’m at my parents place atm).
The visionaries dvd reminds me to order that one…as for a camera..I think I’ll just buy one in the store instead of letting hammering kids go at it.
Arjan’s last blog post..Merry christmas & a happy new year!!!
on Jan 8th, 2008 at 6:01 am
Ah! Babylon ! Ivanova! The manly Captain Sheridan! Surpassed in my book only by the quite extraordinary Battlestar Galactica (new style).
(un)relaxeddad’s last blog post..My head hurts - miscellany