brissybee

Well, if last year was anything to go by... there'll be tinsel and gift wrap popping up in the shops just about anytime...

It was September last year.

Hasn't this year flown?

jad n rich

We said the same thing, they are clearing a area in myer, will be Xmas dept next month Woolies already has Xmas Mince pies in.

I refuse to think christmas till either.

A. Sons birthday on December 17 has passed or B. I have landed in a cold climate and it feels like Xmas

ozzieeagle

What do you want for xmas is probably a better way of looking at it.

I reckon I'm going to go with paid for long weekends away.... That way we get at least two small breaks out of it.... One paid for by each of us.

Jon77

Can't wait for Christmas, my parents who I haven't see for over 2 years fly in at the end of November

carolinephillips

I still have mincemeat left over from last year.

I am collecting the ingredients for my cake, which I'll make in September.
I am also looking forward to making the cards once my eyesight has settled down and I have a pair of reading glasses suited to my new eyesight.

ozzieeagle

Yay Santa's Grotto will open Saturday at ASDA

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2...-grotto-august

eddie007

I'm getting a baby for christmas this year

Jon77

Remember, a baby isn't just for Christmas, its for life Is this mail order from Africa ?

RedT

Somebody shoot me now. I freakin hate Christmas and we have to do it every bleedin year. At least last year (being our first in Oz) was a novelty, having the sunshine and no massive roast dinner to make. Was far more laid back than in the UK.

DadAgain

Done a chunk of my xmas shopping earlier this month.

My personal rule is to NEVER enter a shopping mall in the month of December. I failed last year and did drop in once to go to the movies, but the year before I managed a perfectly clear run.

Obviously online shopping helps a lot - but its also worth remembering that the last postal date for surface mail to UK is 21st September - So get shopping. ONLY 22 more shopping days until UK xmas (if thats the paradigm you chose to live in!)

Chortlepuss

Xmas stuff in David Jones today - It'll be old by November

brissybee

OMG, already!

It's not even September yet.

Right then, Easter eggs go in the supermarkets on Boxing Day (I really saw this last year) and Christmas goods go in the shops on August 30.

chris955

I cant wait for our first Christmas back here, hopefully it will snow. I really disliked Christmas in Australia.

Jon77

Meh, Christmas in the UK is too intense, for me anyway it always feels like enforced fun.

Christmas down here is more relaxed and you don't have the dreaded first week of January blues so much here. Those days in the UK following New Years Day when you take your decorations down and head back to work in those dark cold morning with the prospect of another 3 months of cold to come.

Here Christmas is the holiday time. I take leave after new years, then there is Australia Day coming, it feels the holidays go from the week before Christmas to the end of Jan

chris955

We all see things differently, i have had maybe 12 Christmases here in England and dont see them as anymore 'intense' than back in Australia.
I work from home so I dont care how dark the mornings are