Christmas grouches

Hello to all!

What a delightful thought: four weeks(give or take a few days) to Christmas;  the big, fat jolly man(how does he ever miss the attentions of Jenny Craig et al, I wonder?) pays his once-a-year visit to most of us.( Most of us, if we were truthful, also wish our relatives would follow his lead and only visit once a year, for one damned day or night!) . That would be usually enough to create the same chaos.

By the way, this is NOT a Pick-on-Santa post. I am just as fond of the idea as anyone else. The only thing about Christmas that sticks in my craw is WHY do everyday items become suddenly exotic and cost prices equal to a beach holiday every time it rolls around? Take soap, washing liquid, toilet paper for instance, and they are just necessities.

Okay, I understand the economy is lousy, sales aren't grossing what they should, we all need to tighten our belts, jobs have suddenly hit the equivalent of here today, gone tomorrow. But, really, is that worth a 500gram tub of margarine which was $3.50 last week suddenly being worth $4.95? There isn't any more in it, unless some new ingredient has been added and then it still adds up to 300grams or 500 grams. The packaging is the same. Everything is the same. So why the jump? Maybe a few cents, but that is plain ridiculous.

We all have chicken at least once a week nowadays. Once it was a luxury and for some, still is. But it is not limited to Christmas or just Sunday is what I am getting at. So why is it so expensive around this time of year? ham turkey are all available during the year now, or you can buy it frozen and use it, so why? Is it because it is so-called organic, or free-range or has ninety-nine growth hormones which cost money added? Or has some other marvellous thing implanted? In that case,I think it should be a lot cheaper. After all, who is really old enough to show exactly what these additions can do to us inside and out?

No, I am not advocating boycotting shops or major stores. And, I do wish them all nothing but the best. But, hey, can't they throw a bit of the charity towards those who genuinely cannot afford the huge upscale?