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16 December 2014

Shopping at Christmas

 

I can’t go into a store lately without buying something, and by something I mean items of clothing. Blame it on the fact that I feel the cold now and my normal winter woollies irritate the skin something awful. Because of this I am looking round for tops that won’t cause great uncontrollable itches. I’m now into long sleeved SILK vests which are not only warm but comfortable too. I’m wondering why I didn’t think of them before.



Our tiny mall looks very festive. There is music in most of the stores but outside musicians play for money. Years ago they played for a penny-in-the-hat but we have to remember inflation! Today there was a young man playing an accordion, Christmassy stuff that had some passers-by dancing. Not me, these days I don’t dance in streets (or anywhere else, for that matter) but I did do a sort of on-the-spot jig as I approached him. He grinned when I dropped some coins in the hat and upped the tempo so that a few younger folk joined in. It was nice to think I’d started something. They all yelled Merry Christmas as I walked away, including the accordionist.

The grotto was less 'babyish' this year. Not sure I liked it!
Would you believe the only pictures I got were of the children’s grotto. Well, can you blame me when I was loaded up with parcels? But I did get two new tops which is what I went shopping for.


To make up for the lack of personally taken pictures, I’ve included a selection taken by news reporters when the area had a ‘switching on’ ceremony.

Why walk through the mall when you can grab a train ride?


19 comments:

  1. Gosh was that first picture really you in days gone by!

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  2. I have shopped online, but I managed to drag Mr BC to buy some new, better fitting, pants for the trip to CA. He was almost kicking and screaming but we bought 3 pairs so he wont look so homeless.

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  3. " but I did do a sort of on-the-spot jig as I approached him. He grinned when I dropped some coins in the hat and upped the tempo so that a few younger folk joined in. It was nice to think I’d started something. They all yelled Merry Christmas as I walked away, including the accordionist."

    *cheers*

    Valerie, that TOTALLY made me smile!

    And I loved that you shared photographs of Christmas in your area because it's so wonderful to see the festivities throughout the world during this holiday season!

    Excellent selection of the two tops you purchased. Great colors! And I love the neckline in the one on the right.

    Happy Holidays, dear lady!

    X to you and Joe!

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  4. BC, I have a husband like that... what should we do with them, eh?

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  5. Joe, sadly I was never, ever that thin. Hmmm I can always tell when you're getting better... you get cheekier!

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  6. Hi Ron, truth to say, when I walked away I felt a bit emotional, simply because youngsters included me in their Christmas greeting.

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  7. nice...i like the mock neck on that red one....is that a christmas squirrel? that is pretty cool...ha....i dont go anywhere near the mall this time of year....i was done before thanksgiving...

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  8. Sweet, I would get emotional too. Lovely post Valerie.

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  9. Denise, I'm glad I'm not alone in the getting emotional stakes.

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  10. How neat to see a street accordionist! The on-the-spot jig sounds like fun!

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  12. Nice post, Valerie. It's always fun to see how things are decorated in other parts of the world! I like the tops you picked.

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  13. It's really nice going shopping at Christmas - there really does seem to be a festive mood drifting around the place, even in the centre of London! I always prefer "real" shopping streets to malls, though.

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  14. Oh, I've tried like the dickens to avoid shopping right now. I've ordered stuff online just to avoid the melee right now. People physically get invasive....standing wayyy too close!! Yikes. Nope....no mall shopping for me. I hand himself the list and send him on his merry way.. LOL. Oh but the giant squirrel looks.....interesting. LOL!!

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  15. I love the image of you doing an on the spot jig for the accordion player :)

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  16. Jimmy, I won't kill the illusion with an in-depth description :O)

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  17. Bethany, it was a very pleasant little interlude on a cold day. We have quite a lot of musicians in our mall lately, all playing different instruments ... though not at the same time unless they are in a group. We've had singers, too.

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  18. Your post reminded me to go and have a look of the decoration of the nearby mall..I always find it fascinating..loved your tops..especially the right one..

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  19. Hi Ranita. Everyone likes the right one best, including me.

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