Monday 08 December 2003

This can't be right ...

I always leave Christmas shopping to the last minute, I mean always.  I'm one of those people running around on Christmas Eve buying last minute items and feeling secure in the knowledge I've forgotten half a dozen other things.  Last year wasn't too bad as I only had to buy for Tuxedo and his family, and Tux and I had ordered our Christmas presents to each other sometime before.  This year I had Tuxedo, his family, my family and a bunch of others to buy gifts for.  Fortunately my family has a tradition of the "Secret Santa" or Chris-Cringle variety - ie, writing everyone's name on a bit of paper, putting them in a hat, each person draws a name (can't be oneself or one's partner) and buys for that person only, to a given dollar value.  Its made even easier by my instituting a wish list system where each person writes a few ideas/wishes on a list, kept on the parents' fridge, so you can see what your giftee wants and purchase accordingly - if you want, its not compulsory but it does help focus.

Anyway ... I was saying I was last minute.  Well, something is clearly very wrong and out of kilter in the world because as of today I have completed all my shopping.  I have bought or ordered online all gifts for Tuxedo (we both spent a fair bit on each other and I'm really pleased with my purchases  - I'm childishly excited, can't wait to see his reaction); we've ordered all Tuxedo's family's gifts at various online UK stores so they will be delivered direct, and with minimum shipping costs (if we bought pressies here and shipped them over the cost would be astronomical; shipping costing more than the gift itself is not an ideal concept); I've bought for my Secret Giftee in the family, and have bought or made small things for various friends and relatives. 

Tux and I have made a heap of mix CDs for people like Fifi and Magnum, and I've started making several decalitres of Thai red and green curry pastes, coriander and pepper paste, and sweet chilli sauce.  I think I've chopped about six dozen red chillies and smashed heaven knows how many heads of garlic - even with my beloved Braun food processor its a labour intensive process.  Tomorrow I am heading out to a small factory to buy jars and bottles, and have designed and printed labels to stick on the finished product (they're looking pretty cool if I say so myself, a neat text design and border with two labels per jar/bottle - the front title label eg, Jules' Thai Red Curry Paste, with made on and use by dates, and the back label has the list of ingredients and "Guaranteed all natural and gluten free".  Take note - this might be the start of something big!).

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So its all done, and only the 8th of December.  I can't believe it, this surely can't be the true state of affairs?  I'm sure I'm going to remember something at 8 pm on Christmas Eve ...

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