Yes, France has to be the most non-Christmassy place I've been to. Not that I have a lot of experience of being in foreign climes this close to Christmas if I'm honest, but here there are virtually no Christmas decorations, and the only sign of Christmas in the shops seems to be gigantic piles of boxes of chocolates. It might as well be any time of year (well winter time of year anyway - could hardly be summer with this grim weather!). Is it due to the financial crisis or is it just that France is a non-Anglosaxon, secular country and doesn't really go in for celebrating Christmas in a big way??
Anyway, I will be safely back in the UK by Monday evening, and I have to say I'm looking forward to it. Not because I miss the UK or my family particularly but because if I were to stay here, I think Christmas would just pass me by completely and that would be sad. Also, I'm just dying for a mince pie*....!
Not had much inspiration on the presents front though. Partly a time thing, partly due to the non-Christmassy feeling, but also due to all the "nice" things being really pricey here in Paris. Instead I have settled for the rather unimaginative (but expensive) wine, chocolates, saucisson (good quality I hope as I bought it at great exense from a proper charcuterie / traiteur place), cheese solution - well I reckon I can get away with it for one year at least. Thing is I suspect my Mum won't consider it to be much of a present and will be waiting expectantly for something else to materialise....dread to think what the reaction will be when it doesn't.
You know, Christmas should be a happy time but in our household it is so often spoilt by people (read 'my Mum') getting stressed about the lunch on Christmas Day and generally being too stuck in the past and resistant to change to accommodate things not going according to (her) plan or idea of what should happen, when. If something doesn't work out or if people don't want to do things how she expects, critisims and snide comments begin to fly, even resulting in tears.... And then of course after lunch everyone just falls asleep, and it's all a bit boring really. And Hubby won't be with me this year either due to weird, antiquated French HR people who think people can work a year with no holiday (or something like that but probably more complicated).
Hmmm....perhaps I'm not looking forward to being back in the UK for Christmas after all....
*Note, I would make some myself but it's kind of difficult without an oven.
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