Forum Topic

Christmas Day shopping

Call me old fashioned but was it really necessary to have at least 5 huge greengrocery stalls open on Christmas Day as well as late into the night on Christmas eve (Greenford) ? Whatever happened to the Sunday trading laws ? Surely these shops should not have been allowed to open on Christmas day. People shop for long enough in the run-Up to Christmas so they can have at least one shopping-free day in the year...

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5208d43 Comments

To quote that famous English philosopher "What a plonker!""there is nothing nor anyone to whom I have ever referred who do not exist." OK Pinochio...don't poke me in the eye with that thing."The fact in one guise or another you have followed and stalked me is quite remakable"      Oh that's a very odd thing to say, The word stalked generally means to follow or track,FYI I predate you on the forum by  (about) a couple of years I remember that fateful day that you joined. Of course you mean stalk in modern parlance,on the internet,regularly waiting for your every outpouring of sh  wisdom and trying to make you look stupid. Trust me,you need absolutely no help from me. Just how long ago did I last bother to respond to one of your posts,it must be a year or more,you've got time to waste ....check it out.If you really think I'm stalking you then get on to the Editor and tell them you've a complaint (I suggest Portnoys).Catholic Insight??? Well they would say that wouldn't they,not a great example to choose given recent events but still..your choice.I should make it absolutely clear to any Catholic members of the Forum that I have absolutely no problems with your or any other religion...I myself have tried and mostly failed to follow Buddhism for about 40 years. (Vietnam and all that).Namaste!

Tony Wood ● 5205d

No doubt she will - especially if the Greenford shops start spreading their wares outside on the pavement!!!!

F Stone ● 5205d

I was asking Marie actually.But now you come to mention it, maybe too many sprouts is what caused her to go off in a huff!She'll be back.

Amy Brookes ● 5205d

Never touch them! Was just remarking that Marie started this thread and now that most of the people who have posted do not appear to agree with her she decides to go off in a "huff".

F Stone ● 5205d

erm....are you a brussel sprout short of a christmas dinner?

Amy Brookes ● 5205d

You seem to be one of them Marie! You started this inane thread.......

F Stone ● 5205d

Leaving this thread,So many strange posters who just want to waffle on inanely and who seem to have lost the plot ......bye.....

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5205d

Re  listed countless friends from diverse backgrounds              xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      there is nothing nor anyone to whom I have ever referred who do not exist. The fact in one guise or another you have followed and stalked me is quite remakable but what you prefer not to get your mind round is what I  have objection to is MASS IMMIGRATION and the effects thereof. Individuals are judged and accepted on their merits but  not the taking away of my enviroment, culture and customs, as no doubt according to the "school " you believe in  viz:-          Catholic Insight : Features : The Frankfurt School: Conspiracy to corrupt To further the advance of their ‘quiet’ cultural revolution - but giving us no ideas about their plans for the future - the School recommended (among other things):1. The creation of racism offences.2. Continual change to create confusion3. The teaching of sex and homosexuality to children4. The undermining of schools’ and teachers’ authority5. Huge immigration to destroy identity.6. The promotion of excessive drinking7. Emptying of churches8. An unreliable legal system with bias against victims of crime9. Dependency on the state or state benefits10. Control and dumbing down of media11. Encouraging the breakdown of the family

Tony Price ● 5205d

and bon hommenote to self...don't type and phone at the same time...you can't do it.

Tony Wood ● 5205d

oops typing with one finger...."your liberalism"

Tony Wood ● 5205d

I'm puzzled (not really),in many of your posts you've listed countless friends from diverse backgrounds....when it's been convenient to re-inforce you libralism and general bonne amiee.

Tony Wood ● 5205d

Re  very easy decision to make- DON'T GO SHOPPING.          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      no need to, they are there for all to see without using them. Just another joy of diversity, and by golly, ain't we just lucky.

Tony Price ● 5205d

Couldn't have said it any better myself!

F Stone ● 5206d

I can't believe someone can be so bothered about this. Who cares if shops want to open on Christmas day- if they believe there is a market and there are people prepared to work on Christmas day then why not open. If you don't like them opening then you have a very easy decision to make- DON'T GO SHOPPING. In the current economic climate businesses should be encouraged to make the most of any opportunities they have. There are much more important things to be worrying about and if opening on bank holidays helps people pay the bills then good luck to them.

Luke Stoughton ● 5206d

This is still the season of goodwill technically. If big business had it's way we would be shopping on Christmas day!!

Peter Chadburn ● 5206d

Oh contraire Ms O'Connell - I have quite high standards when it comes to retail shopping, thank you for asking. As for Greenford, you won't be seeing me there - appears to be full of very opinionated people.

F Stone ● 5206d

Yes that would be nice Mr.Stone.erm..you seem to have low retail standards...do you get your clothes from the charity shops!! You will do well in Greenford ....

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5206d

Amy, I think you must be relatively new here - Marie tends to object to anything that doesn't conform to her idea of right and wrong. Whatever you do, don't mention the shops that have plasticware on the pavements - you will never hear the end of it.Marie - would you prefer to have the return of early closing on a Wednesday, shops closed all day on a Sunday - no I didn't think so. I bet you will complain if those grocers shops which were open on Christmas Day are closed on a day that you deem to find a normal working day.

F Stone ● 5207d

Shhhh!  He's watching you!

Amy Brookes ● 5207d

Rather that than for Satan..:-)

Keith Iddon ● 5207d

You work for Santa?

Amy Brookes ● 5207d

Yes, I also worked on Comms a few times, with trips up mountains in winter, on top of various water towers and high buildings, although only to the first stage level of CP mast (took my camera, but all I could see was clouds below).

Chris Bell ● 5208d

Well some of us serve people who HAVE to travel on Christmas Day however you don't HAVE to shop for your sprouts on that day.....

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5208d

You counted them.How come it's OK for YOU to work on Christmas day, but not anyone else?Maybe you should have a word with your boss next year?

Amy Brookes ● 5208d

Yup me too...though I was with the poorer cousins in Concord doing links/uplinks....You'll know Pete Bentham then.

Tony Wood ● 5208d

Not so much "spotting" more in your face...

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5208d

Correct, My next door neighbour when I was young used to keep me topped up with mis-shaped Palm Toffees. Now an area filled by new but mainly empty industrial buildings and loading areas.

Chris Bell ● 5208d

Ah Christmas time, some of us enjoy doing nothing, some of us enjoy/endure time spent/locked up with people we are related to, some of us have to work, some of us choose to work.Many of us however would have spent Christmas day eating Turkey, Christmas pudding, watching the Queen etc.For one forum member they introduced a whole new concept to the world, you've heard of plane spotting, you've heard of train spotting, well this one, boys and girls is "Grocery shops open on Christmas day spotting".

Amy Brookes ● 5208d

Precisely, I actually worked on Christmas day till 2pm however I still did not need to shop that day,in fact found it really sad when driving home to find these shops open some of them were also open past midnight on Christmas eve .....very sad people.....both shop keepers and their customers....

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5208d

Kendal Ave Chris?

Tony Wood ● 5208d

Many people are required to work over all Bank Holidays including Christmas, including security staff. I hardly ever had a Christmas off in my old job, and you may have watched the results live. That sometimes meant that I had to stay in local accommodation, and/or drive long distances, using services provided locally.

Chris Bell ● 5208d

At last Keith,the voice of reason!

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5208d

Yes,those who feel the need to shop at a veg.stall on Christmas day would definitely belong in the 'grumpy' category !

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5208d

"I certainly do not have the need to trail around shops on Christmas day-just not necessary."  It would seem that some people do need to, otherwise it wouldn't be economical for the shops to open.  I adjust the "Twaddle" to fit the occasion,it was on full in my previous post.  You're probably right about my need to "Get a life",perhaps you could advise, but I wouldn't like to end up a Grumpy!HNY

Tony Wood ● 5208d

Not at all angry wouldn't waste such energy- just sympathetic

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5208d

I certainly do not have the need to trail around shops on Christmas day-just not necessary...as for the rest of your conjecture - sheer twaddle but if you have nothing better to do on that  particular you seriously need to get a life.....

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5208d

Marie Anne    I don't really understand why you are so angry about Christmas Day opening,do you think that it's disrespectful to your God or is there some other reason,you haven't made it clear?    Did you watch any TV on Christmas Day,if so couldn't that be construed as "disrespect",perhaps you didn't and would like that banned as well?     On the other hand,I seem to remember a post by yourself complaining about the number of shops in Greenford selling cheap plastic goods,so perhaps you have an agenda that you're not telling us about?     Tell us how you'd like us to spend Christmas Day and I'm sure we'll all try to comply.

Tony Wood ● 5208d

Closed. Definitely closed. Only churches and pubs (12-2) should be open, imo.

Keith Iddon ● 5208d

The responses thus far are pathetic. I feel very sorry for the sad people who find the need to shop on this one day of the year.You obviously have little else to do given the amount of hours available to buy your veg before 25 th December....shame..

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5208d

For many people Christmas Day is just a holiday which in itself is extremely important.  I don't see why there shouldn't be some shops open. Most people don't want to work on Christmas Day but you can't expect everything to stop for Christmas Day.

Philippa Bond ● 5208d

Exactly  my point... Yes I work very unsociable hours but even I was able to do all the necessary shopping without having to rely on going to the shops on CHRISTMAS DAY ... after all many supermarkets are open 24 hrs.NO NEED TO SHOP ON CHRISTMAS DAY!!!

Marie Anne OConnell ● 5208d

Marie, the shops may be open, but you don't have to frequent them.Remember some people work odd hours as i believe you yourself said in another post some time ago. These shops, which are open 7 days a week regardless are often the only way of buying groceries to those of us who work unsociable hours.

F Stone ● 5208d

Some people are not followers of the Christian faith, some do not even follow any faith. There are also various arguments about Christmas just being timed to coincide with much older, perhaps Pagan, religions. Some religions even dare to treat different days of the week as their special days, although for some reason most appear happy with a 7-day week.

Chris Bell ● 5208d