Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Run off my feet!


Next week should be a breeze but we have family coming on Friday, I have two appointments tomorrow and I’ve decided to make it Christmassy (how many more one wonders) and am knee deep in holly, spruce, red berries from unnamed bushes, ivy - all from the garden and – inevitably with the accompanying wild life. The thing is I’m not very good at it and although MTL assures me it looks very festive I think the ladies who deck with glitter would not approve. Who cares?


I do love my crib scene; I should try to replace the old cigar box which passes for a stable but it’s just the right size to store the Sheperds, Kings.The Family and even the animals. I’m happy with the tree- miraculously both sets of lights work. There is always a moment when the tree looks just right but one always goes on from there - OTT - but that’s Christmas for you.


I like a bit of beef at Christmas and here’s mine. At this time of year I write lots of cheques and am down to my last one with ne’er a new cheque book in sight . It seems they are to be phased out to save the Bankers time and money. I am not completely antedeluvian – I use the internet – clearly - and I use a debit card when I feel like it but still I am outraged on my behalf and all the many older people who would be lost without a cheque book. Let’s have some grey power here!

25 comments:

DILLIGAF said...

Just about to put the deccies up. Psyching myself up for it.

God knows what Maximus will make of it all!

Anonymous said...

You can buy checks from on line sources. You don't have to get them from the bank. Assuming the law of commercial paper is similar to the US there in the UK, banks are required to make payments on correctly written paper drafts.

Stated differently, "Screw the banks."

Cheers.

Pat said...

Four.D: I have just had a tower of cards collapse on me so am cooling off. To do it with a ginger kitten would be beyond my wildest nightmares.

Randall: that's very interesting - I shall inquire further. Thank you and ditto to the banks

Unknown said...

I Hate Christmas!

Charlie said...

Glitter is pretty, but it's also a nuisance--it takes until June or so to get all of it out of the carpet.

Anonymous said...

John G ~ You hate everything! Except Pedigee of course. . .

Christmas? Bah! Humbug!

Anonymous said...

I have no idea where my cheque book is!

Good luck with the decorating and entertaining :)

Madame DeFarge said...

I'm not convinced by the idea to phase out cheques. It just doesn't seem right somehow. Getting a cheque book was such a big moment when I was 18 and I remember the joys of trying to make it balance. Good luck with the decorations.

Barlinnie said...

I can remember the joys of balancing Madame DeFarge herself, let alone her cheque book.

I might pop in at Christmas and add a bit of cake to your beef.

Pat said...

John.G: I sympathise. Soon be over:)

Charlie: I'm going easy on the glitter and frost and snow.

Keith: I'll bet you do the whole shebang!

Cinnamon; the trouble is I think charities are going to suffer - so many people pop a cheque in the post.

Madame D: I think most of us use them far less but it's a bleedin' sauce to decide - that wretched woman on TV - with just a couple of days notice so there is no time to mount a serious protest. I am very cross.

Jimmy: thereby hangs a tale I'm sure.
I'll put the kettle on.

Shane said...

Pat speaking of her crib... Ha! I found you out... You have been listening to rap music.

lom said...

What I want to know what will happen to little firms when we can no longer use cheques, I have just sent a cheque off to a small firm, and what do we do about paying bills, it's just another way to make us all used direct debts.

Pat said...

Shane : sometimes I just don't realise my versatility:)

Pat said...

LOM: tried to leave a comment n yours yesterday - couldn't and couldn't find your e-mail address. I managed a message this morning but it was very jumpy. I blame the reindeer:)

Kevin Musgrove said...

I'll miss cheques, too. They're a perfect way for giving certain companies a taste of their own customer service.

Pat said...

Kevin: that's two of us. We should form an action group.

kenju said...

I agree with you about checks; I don't ever want to give them up completely!

I am sure that your greenery looks good and if you like it - that's all that matters!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Phasing out checks?? HELP ME! I really do not want to do everything like Banking on the Internet. I'm sorry. I NEED My Checkbook...The day that happens here--and no doubt it most likely will---I hope I am long gone.

Everything sounds so Festive Pat...Beautifully Festive! I love that you are so into it, my dear. I feel like Scrooge this year. I haven't done one thing about anything.(I hope I will have a Calendar put together by January, but...I may not! So, I admire all the decorating you are doing Pat. And I'm sure your dear MTL Loves it--as will all the Family that are coming.

BTW: A NEW Post is up with some pretty pictures...I think you will like it---If you get a chance.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I just read Randall's Comment...Oh I Hope He Is Right! And, I say, Screw The Banks, Too...!

Pat said...

Judy: I do like it - I'd just like it to look as it should in my mind's eye:)

Naomi: I'll be over soon. The cheque thing is supposed to be in force by 2018. If I'm here I'll probably be beyond caring:)

DILLIGAF said...

Deccies up...tree up....Monsieur Spittimus is behaving badly.

Caz has stated tonight "He is your cat 'cause he acts like you"

Oh eck.....

Pat said...

Four.D: awww he's only a little kitten:)

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

You sure are having fun, Pat. That's the spirit.

I kinda like John g's spirit too, haha.

No more cheque books? Wow. I can't think how my poor anti-tech mother would function if that were to happen here.

Kanani said...

I'm off to clip some limbs off a neighbor's cypress tree. Can't find any boughs of holly around here!

Pat said...

GG: I'm afraid lots of old people will resort to carrying loads of cash around - which is a bad idea.

Kanani: I used laurel which had the red berries and holly which hadn't.