Bedecked with debt
Current mood: Christmassy
Current music: The 'Fa La La' song
What ho, dear readers! How have you been keeping? The past months have been busier than ever for me, with deadlines converging and mandatory social gatherings picking up speed, hence my increasing inability to get down and bloogie. Sorry, I meant write a blog entry. (Did I really say that? Oh gawds. It's far too late for me to keep on staring at a screen...) Well, here I am now, so away with excuses.
A recent spate of Christmas-related shopping has somewhat periclitated the state of my finances. The two rather cute shop boys persuading me to buy a pair of expensive leather boots did not help things, either.* Generosity compounded with selfish temptation is not the best combination as far as that dent in the wallet is concerned.
So, at the risk of sounding somewhat Scrooge-like (with a huh, bah-humbug, hah, hrrmph) but perfectly cynically accurate, I have re-written the following ditty. If on the off chance you don't recognise it immediately, let me remind you that it's the one featuring holly, jolly, and other things ending in '-olly'...
Well, I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure which version of the song I'll be singing when my credit card statement comes through... So Merry Christmas, one and all! And just in case I don't blog again in the coming weeks, have a Happy New Year, preferably not in a state of parsimony... See ya in 2007!
* I haven't bought the boots. Yet.
Current music: The 'Fa La La' song
What ho, dear readers! How have you been keeping? The past months have been busier than ever for me, with deadlines converging and mandatory social gatherings picking up speed, hence my increasing inability to get down and bloogie. Sorry, I meant write a blog entry. (Did I really say that? Oh gawds. It's far too late for me to keep on staring at a screen...) Well, here I am now, so away with excuses.
A recent spate of Christmas-related shopping has somewhat periclitated the state of my finances. The two rather cute shop boys persuading me to buy a pair of expensive leather boots did not help things, either.* Generosity compounded with selfish temptation is not the best combination as far as that dent in the wallet is concerned.
So, at the risk of sounding somewhat Scrooge-like (with a huh, bah-humbug, hah, hrrmph) but perfectly cynically accurate, I have re-written the following ditty. If on the off chance you don't recognise it immediately, let me remind you that it's the one featuring holly, jolly, and other things ending in '-olly'...
********************
Picture taken from: http://antiqueclipart.com/image.php/spray-of-holly.html
DECK THE HALL
(Alternative Lyrics)
Deck the hall with greed and vices
Fa la la la la, la la la la
'Tis the season of high prices
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Retail merchants crow and cackle
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
When the Yuletide fires crackle
Fa la la la la, la la la la
See the cost of presents rocket
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Burning holes in every pocket
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Spending wisely will be frowned on
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
Tacky gifts are much looked down on
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Soon your overdraft comes chasing
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Sets your heart and mind a-racing
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Munificence might cost you dearly
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
Your banker gets his bonus yearly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
********************
Picture taken from: http://antiqueclipart.com/image.php/spray-of-holly.htmlDECK THE HALL
(Alternative Lyrics)
Deck the hall with greed and vices
Fa la la la la, la la la la
'Tis the season of high prices
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Retail merchants crow and cackle
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
When the Yuletide fires crackle
Fa la la la la, la la la la
See the cost of presents rocket
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Burning holes in every pocket
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Spending wisely will be frowned on
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
Tacky gifts are much looked down on
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Soon your overdraft comes chasing
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Sets your heart and mind a-racing
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Munificence might cost you dearly
Fa la la, la la la, la la la
Your banker gets his bonus yearly
Fa la la la la, la la la la
********************
Well, I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure which version of the song I'll be singing when my credit card statement comes through... So Merry Christmas, one and all! And just in case I don't blog again in the coming weeks, have a Happy New Year, preferably not in a state of parsimony... See ya in 2007!
* I haven't bought the boots. Yet.
posted by Aureala @ 8:45 pm
PIPSOH!
4 Comments:
At Tuesday, December 19, 2006 9:40:00 pm,
Anonymous said…
I always find that my January credit card statement is never as bad as I anticipate.
When trepidatiously opening the envelope, I envision "months of baked beans, no phone calls home, taking familiy heirlooms to the pawnshop..." When I actually see the statement, it turns out that this is not necessary at all. Far from, and I can even afford my caviar and champagne as normal. I would advocate that pessimism is the key to happiness.
However, as if to make up for the relief offered by the revelation of a reasonable credit card bill in January, I find that the September credit card statement is ALWAYS a shock. At least a large degree of generosity is involved at Christmas time. Does this make other people feel better when they are looking at their statements, because it does for me? But in the summer... all the money has obviously been spent on totally selfish pursuits like summer holidays, days out, BBQs, garden parties...
Then I think: savings aside, what was I planning to spend this money on in the first place?
Well... Christmas presents, summer holidays, days out, BBQs, garden parties...
But do not buy the boots. Be strong. There are other boots in the sea. The tide will come into the shops come January sale time.
At Sunday, December 24, 2006 11:23:00 pm,
aidanrad said…
Heh, bah humbug indeed...!
Hope you have yourself a very merry little Christmas indeed, anyway - bootless or otherwise... Enjoy!
At Wednesday, January 03, 2007 10:51:00 am,
Anonymous said…
Hey-yo. hope you had a great Christmas and new years too. ah, boots + cute shopboys = impulse buys. actually, it's a very unfair tactic by the shops. Tho at the same time, I can't imagine a worse woo-ing tactic than letting some guy know that you like spending lots of money on impulse. So you can't win anyway!
Sorry I didn't get to see you again before I left HK. things have only just started to settle down a bit after a bit of a crazy pre-christmas and new years. have you had the chance to check out that website I gave you?
anyway, nice to read your latest blog and hope '07 is all good!
At Friday, January 05, 2007 3:24:00 pm,
Anonymous said…
Hey. Big ups for the limerick. Apologies for not getting back to you sooner, have been backpacking round Asia and altho Cyber cafes are now everywhere, I have been running a bit short of cash. Read your Christmas message and while I can't identify with cute boy assistants, I can only hope the boots were of the killer heels variety.
Look forward to reading your next post in the New Year. You can fill us in on your exciting New Year's Eve celebrations. And maybe your resolutions too!
Samson
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