Christmas isn't over yet! Prepare for Easter, Valentines, Halloween and next Christmas

Problem (I wrote in January)
It's New Year and the Christmas decorations look so limply last year. (Not simply but limply!) Shall I clear Santa's red hats and the green plastic tree and the Christmas crackers with Santa in a red nose ready for New Year's gold and glitter?

I think I should not clear Christmas decorations until the 12th day, which is January 6th. Why? In order to get maximum value and the maximum number of hours of pleasure from the effort I put into buying or saving the Santa decorations. Do you agree?

My idea of an agreeable person is a person who agrees with me.

Benjamin Disraeli

Solutions To Saving And Preparing From February Onwards

If you are shopping early for next Christmas, try the Christmas shop in the UK which has a website for shopping online. In addition to Christmas they have seasonal goods for Easter, Valentine's Day and Hallowe'en.

Lots of clearance items are under five pounds and even under a pound. The website choices are neatly divided into categories such as for the table and for the tree (Xmas tree).

Lots of British themes pop up, too, taxis, red letter boxes, and Pooh (Winnie the Pooh) and Piglet pencils.

Items for Valentines day include loads of hearts.

What an entertaining website to read.

Useful Websites

http://www.thechristmasshop.co.uk/

About the Author

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Christmas lights means Xmas shopping, even Xmas stockings for dogs

Cards, presents and souvenirs - whether you are at home or abroad, it's good to have a few extra presents ready. You go overseas for Christmas and there's a last minute invitation. You invite family to a Christmas party and they bring an extra guest.

Suddenly it's the last date for posting presents and cards. Be prepared.

Lights are on already in Oxford Street, London. Too early for some.But Christmas shops are open all year in some parts of the world such as the USA.

Here's what I've seen in Harrow, NW London.

Cheapest presents and party ware, gift wrap, and Santa hats:

Poundland
You name it, they've got it. Budget crackers. Hats. Even a push-on back cover for the iPhone 6 in red, green or purple.

Paper plates, napkins, paper cups, table decorations, red hats. Snowflake pattern suitable for any religion or none.

Reindeer antlers, Red hats, black hats from Poundland in Harrow.

Marks and Spencer
Chocolates and food for Xmas for home, parties and gifts.
An idea from their window display, gingerbread biscuits cut in the shape of Xmas trees. Branches all over the world, including Singapore.

Marks and Spencer in Harrow.

BOOTS the Chemist
The baubles hanging in Boots reminded me of the red and green accessories, scarves and ear-rings they were selling. Red scarves and Santa ear-rings.

Boots in Watford.

CLINTONS
Great pop up Xmas cards.

Clintons in Harrow.

WAITROSE Supermarket, South Harrow
Half price crackers, mince pies and biscuit tins until Nov 10th. The display by the entry door shows the current offers. See the free Waitrose  Weekend magazine free in store for the latest offers as well as recipes, interviews, gardening tips, and lots more.

Tesco had Santa socks even in the smaller Tesco Express in Hatch End.

Christmas stockings for dogs and cats? Yes.

Christmas stocking for your cat from Waitrose.

Christmas stocking for your dog from Waitrose.

What else can you buy on the internet? Christmas theme tee-shirts and sweaters.

All kinds of cookware.


Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author, speaker.