#430: Christmas? Bah Humbug.
It’s the credit crunch that’s making this Christmas a little more depressing than it should be. The bitter cold and short dark days doesn’t help cheer things up. I’ve noticed some strange happenings this Christmas; in a particular upper-class supermarket located in the vicinity of Southampton Row. People aren’t stocking up on Christmas goodies as enthusiastically as they did last year. Last year, Halloween had barely ended and the Christmas food was already out, on a pretty display, and gone in a flash. There were cheerful young couples buying bottles of the finest wines and champagne to savour over the long Christmas break. Students were taking the time off school to buy sweets and luxury chocolates to bring back home to loved ones (a cheaper alternative to presents, you see). Older couples with families were selecting turkey and chicken like there was no tomorrow, poking and prodding the poor birds but eventually picking up more than their baskets could hold. Also in those baskets were a lot of the finer foods in life (caviar, smoked salmon, gruyere cheese etc).
But this year, things have been a little different. I’d put it down to the financial dip (I wouldn’t call it slump, that makes this EVEN more depressing than it should be) at the moment. Don’t get me wrong, lately; I’ve been struggling to make myself and the boyfriend a decent sandwich for meals (he eats A LOT) and I feel like my pocket’s been pinched. Where has all the money gone? I don’t know, albeit I learn Economics as an extra module. Shameful I’d say. (On a completely random and off-topic note, I wanted this beautiful top from Camden Market and I didn’t get it because I felt guilty if I’d spent that 20 pounds on 1 top, I wouldn’t be able to buy presents for people this year. No, I’m not a scrooge to only spend 20 pounds on all the people I love! But it COULD contribute towards the money spent on presents. You know.) This year, Christmas shelves sit beautifully and immaculately decorated; untouched. This year, shoppers are pushing their shopping carts at a slower speed around the supermarket aisles, carefully selecting essential and important ingredients. The turkeys lie frozen in the freezer and the cheese board stays filled. The baskets and carts aren’t as full as Father Christmas would have expected, but it can’t be helped can it? I bet everyone’s struggling to make their own decent sandwiches too.
I’ve peered over the section where the smoked salmon lies. Usually, I’d treat myself, once in a while isn’t a sin right? But life’s hard at the moment. Let me go moan a little while and then I’ll plan my Christmas sandwich. Ah, the life of a poor student.