Six Weeks To Go Before Christmas.

OK, six weeks may be a bit early for some, but the shops and stores are gearing up already and thoughts are steering that way with people buying presents for family and friends.
So what is planned folks?

Anyone got the wish list for Santa organised yet?
Are you hoping for the new laptop, the new desktop, or just perhaps that extra USB lead you keep thinking about getting.

It may not even be computer related, a new car, or even a bar of soap.

Any plans for time out, a show, a pantomime for the kids or just a good meal in your favourite restaurant.
How is your Christmas likely to be? Hectic, or peaceful?

Nev.

 

My Christmas will be chilled in a relaxed way, Rush will be a pop group I might listen to, but best of all I'm looking forward to when we take our son HERE,
although I might just be regretting it by the end of February, however I'm sure I will find somewhere else to take him to change the recording by then

 

Bah humbug!

 

I am almost completely finished shopping for gifts. One already has arrived in New Zealand and the recipients can sit there and stare at it until christmas .. that is called "unusual & cruel punishment". but the contents inside will be well worth it.

Christmas will be quiet and held at son's home. A couple of days after Boxing day, grandgirl has her 21st birthday so have to shop for that - it has to be a special gift for her 21st.

I may hold an "open house" inviting a few friends & neighbors for snacks & Cheer but no party is planned - I suspect it will turn into a party anyway as it usually does.

 

lol, Personally I think the three wise men were travelling traders who saw a Marketing opportunity.

I also like to take the opportunity at this time of year to get revenge on those that have constantly stated they are non-religious, or that they are of a religion that doesn't believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah, By asking why they are celebrating a Mass, to celebrate the the birth of Christ, the clues in the name, "Christ Mass".

This also brings into question whether or not the subject of Christmas should be allowed to be discussed on this forum as it is a religious festival, holiday, celebration, and so should theoretically fall under the no religious topics rule.

Bah Humbug Dare you :snckr: ,

but be careful as things to consider are things like this site uses the Gregorian Calendar, which was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582; so the question is where is the line?

 

I know you were just kidding a bit but still it is worthy of some comment for the benefit of newer members.

We will not discuss the theology of any subject. So the issue of who or what Jesus may have been is taboo, period. That being said there are interesting non theological issues that are a of bit fun to discuss. For example if Jesus walked the earth for finite number of days then how come he was said to be born on a specific date (Dec. 25th) and crucified on a Friday etc. How come the day of the week changes for Christmas but never for Good Friday or Easter??

Next: The Romans may not have been the nicest people at the time but they were not stupid. There were no laws at the time that would have required anyone to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to pay taxes. That would be about 64 miles on a donkey in the desert. So if Mary and Joseph needed to be in Bethlehem it was probably for a different reason. There are scholars who believe that the trip to Bethlehem was a bit of a fiction because Jesus is said to be from the House of David and there just were not a lot of them in Nazareth making Bethlehem a more likely place.

Just to go one step further, if Joseph was a descendant of David I don't see how that would change if his family had migrated to Nazareth. There is no one that I know of who doesn't think that Jesus was a Nazarene.

Of course all these little historical side trips have nothing to do with the issue of faith. Faith is very personal and not a subject for this forum. Just in case that is not clear enough why or if Jesus was born in Bethlehem or what the specific date may have been or any other of the interesting little anomalies have nothing to do with anyone's belief in Jesus as the son of God, etc.

If it should turn out that this post causes such a discussion I will remove it along with everything that may follow. The life and times of the period may be discussed, theology may not.

 

HeHe I'm quoting myself, is that a sign of insanity? as BeeCeeBee points out this was said in jest as Christmas is celebrated world wide by many people of varying faiths, so is more of a global holiday, and to most the religious link has been forgotten, especially Bankers, (One day we will have a banker on this forum and I'll end up eating humble pie,) Not only that but many religions seem to celebrate something or other around the same time,

So Back to Christmas, the Old Fat Guy in the red suit, oops sorry the elderly over weight person who keeps forgetting my Ferrari :argue:

 

As for our lot, my family will be off out on Christmas Day to some restaurant, Boxing Day will be a day in the house with family over.

And I'll be spoiling myself rotten (early as well) getting one of those Nexus 10 tablets that can be ordered on Tuesday , all in all as I have trouble on what to get for the members of my family they also have the same predicament on what to get me if anything at all, as I've got everything I need from tech gadgets to clothes, I've always been a pain in the backside (even here ).

 

Great now the theologians have said their piece we can get back on Topic. :tongue:

Santa arrives here first so I suspect by the time he reaches the UK and the US there won't be much left, Match.

 

Really I'll be keeping my eye on him this year. and he better have enough Ferrari's to go round :snckr:

http://www.noradsanta.org/

 

Hum, yes, well now the Ferrari, indeed Match I hope for the best for you, even if to suit you it is only a Matchbox model of one.

As for myself, having put my rust heap through the MOT test, which it failed, and fixed the things found to be slightly wrong, once I get the thing passed and the certificate, the Flimsy Old Rusty Dustbin (FORD) will last another year, so don't actually need a Ferrari this year. Therefore you can have my allocation if yours doesn't turn up.

As for Christmas presents to myself though, I really don't know what I would like this year as I seem to have what I really need, so perhaps all the kit to build a reasonable computer to be able to get better results from my music side of things would be nice.

Nev.

 

Mine Passed , with 171,000 on the clock, but mines not a Ford :c00l: in some ways I'd like to keep it to see if I can get it to 200,000, but in other ways I think it's time to replace it.

 

My previous car, a Peugeot 205 deisel managed 250,600 miles. If it wasn't for the rear suspension wearing out on the main bearings which are now unobtainable, I would still have it. The rust bucket was something to keep me going till I could find something better, three years ago :nod:

 

My 1.8 Vectra is still going strong, bought it 2 1/2 years ago for £500, Intending to scrap it after it failed its first MOT, haven't even had to change the brakes on it yet, 25,000 mile of trouble free motoring, can't moan for what I've paid.

but other than it being red it hasn't got anything to do with Christmas

so back to topic

 

Not sure what my plans are yet. Probably Christmas lunch out with friends (which will last well into the early evening) then stagger home to put my feet up and look at the forums.

Like Nev, not sure what I would like to give myself as a present. My 3-year old scooter has just been thoroughly checked out by a mate (ex RAC road assistance mechanic who owns a similar scooter - very handy :shh: ). She is looking good for a while yet so my Ferrari allocation I give to whoever wants it. :angl:

 

Well, I plan on relaxing a lot and I am looking forward to my daughter coming home for the holidays. She is a journalist and works for the CBC french television network in Montreal. I went to Montreal last year to spend Christmas with her, now she will be coming here. I only had the one child and I miss her a lot, we only get to see each other around 5 times per year. So, all the time we spend together is so precious to me. :nod:

 

PS: I agree with BeeCeeBee, the 2 things I don't like and avoid to discuss is religion and politics. I stay well clear of those 2 topics.

 

IT use to be my mom would cook for a humoungous crowd , in our home.
Now that they are no longer here,
we go to a very lovely place and enjoy for holidays.
And WE can all enjoy each others company.
As far as gifts.
I give money.
No returns after CHhristmas!