Yesterday we were out again but this time I took my walker that has a seat and also a couple of shopping bags we could put items in rather than use a trolley as well. We managed to buy all the things the two youngest great-granddaughters want which was fortunate and a couple of other items for adults in the family. It was so good to be able to sit down for a few minutes every now and again so I was able to spend much more time than the previous day. I was glad too as they had removed their one and only seat to make way for more displays.
I just realised I was so intent on not getting in the way of people and searching for what we wanted that I didn't really see any decorations. I'll have to go back with no shopping to do just to enjoy them in peace. Talk about single minded. It wan't till I got home that it hit me. What a dodo!!!
Several years ago my daughter devised the idea for the adult members of our family to do Secret Santa lists (things we would like for Christmas to a total of $100). She would then (usually with the help of her oldest granddaughter) draw out a list and then a family name and that person would then shop for those items. It is always meant to be a secret so nobody knows who shopped for whom but it's amazing how secrets sometimes leak out. We have completed our two lists for this year so are feeling very virtuous to have all items ready to wrap so early in December.
We all have a grizzle every year saying we don't know what to put on our lists and yet seem able to eventually come up with suggestions. Whether we will keep it up we don't know but to Phil and me it has been a boon as we know what to buy (and often where to buy it) so we don't have to go tramping round the shops, which I can no longer do and he is not a lover of shops at the best of time.
We have been very grateful for this Secret Santa idea and hopefully it may continue for a year or two.
