New-and-unsure

Xmas ads here just aren't the same.

I'm going back to the UK in 4 weeks, so I know I can't really complain, but man, it makes me feel like I am so totally in the wrong country :-(

13 months left here and counting.

Sorry, but felt the need to rant.

Sally Redux

Xmas is a big load of nothing here. At least you know you're going back

New-and-unsure

I've been really surprised at how un-Christmassy it is!! I was pleased when they stepped it up a notch after Halloween, but really it's quite different from the UK.

Ethelred_the_Unready

Do you have room in your suitcase for me?

Christmas isn't as big of a deal over here, but that's partly because they have Thanksgiving too, which is a BS holiday in my opinion "thank you Indians for allowing brave white man to steal your land and either kill your tribesmen or convert them to Christianity".

Nothing beats Christmas in the UK, even for an angry twat like me.

New-and-unsure

Haha, I agree (re the nothing beats UK xmas part!).

Think it's also because I'm expecting baby no 1 in March, which has made me even more sentimental than usual.

Glad it's not just me.

Sally Redux

Have a good trip anyway

Bob

Santa was in the mall doing photo's during Halloween.

Tree's have been up in the shops for a month now.

Now Halloween is over with, it's gone into full blown Christmas mode in most shops already...be sick of it come Thanksgiving.

You're only here a year, so you might as well try and go out and enjoy what you might not be able to do if you lived in the UK

ChocolateBabz

You have to go find Christmas over here - it's just not the same when it's sunny.

Houston Plan of Action

1. Attend Nutcracker Market - mid November - Christmas overload baby!!
2. Crank up air conditioning so it feels cold, then snuggle under blanket to stay warm Turn on fireplace (with remote control people, we are not barbarians!)
3. Start buying Presents early.
4. Buy Cards and post - complain about how un-environmentally friendly they are and how you never get as many back as you send and how next year you will send e-mails instead.
5. Ignore Thanksgiving and instead go away (or paint kitchen hint hint!)
6. Once Thanksgiving is over decorate house
7. Buy overpriced Yankee Candles in Christmas flavours
8. Switch radio to Sunny 99.1 - 1st December - all Christmas all the time !!
9. Start Christmas Baking and surround yourself with Chrtistmas goodies - mincemeat pies, christmas cake, christmas pudding, cheese balls, quality street by the box, etc etc
10. Complain that it is all too commercial these days and hark back to when all you got for Christmas was new underwear and an orange

Bob

The new scents this year are worse than the ones they did for Fathers Day.

A vomited bit of curry in a shop door way would smell better than most of the new scents. Minging.

ChocolateBabz

Have to say the 'dessert' ones are awful - after sniffing *all* of them I got 'Sparkling Cinnamon' for Christmas so my house will smell like the Christmas shop at Baxters Visitors Center in Fochabers.

rallybug

FM100.3 has started playing continual Christmas songs in chunks, here in SLC, and the LDS Temple lights go on soon - they've been stringing them since August, so you can guess how many there are! My attempts at photographing them last year without a tripod on my P&S are here.

I must admit that I don't miss the shops going into Christmas mode in late August - or that's what it always felt like in the UK/IOM, anyway.

Sally Redux

It's over the top in the UK, but at least there's a festive feeling about the day itself - all the just the same blandness here.

AmerLisa

ChocolateBabz

My neighbors did this at the weekend, they are obviously in the Christmas mood....or they're nutters

N1cky

My daughter has suddenly become a huge Doctor Who fan, so we are working our way through them on Netflix. Last night was the Christmas special, and I was 'awe, look Christmas in England, isn't it lovely.' My husband pointed out it was actually a shitty market with a crap brass band playing Christmas songs.

I miss the UK at this time of year, more than at any other.

Is the English Victorian Christmas Fair thing on this year in SF? We could have a little outing if it's before you fly back, I've never been my hubby hates stuff like that.