Just how many 'family' tubs of those essential festive chocolates can one supermarket stock? Well, judging by the 'wall' of said tubs in my local, well known superstore, sufficient to feed a small planet! Okay, so perhaps that is a teenie bit of an exaggeration, but really, you would think we were facing Armageddon and best advice was to over-indulge while still able to and to chocolate hell we go!
I apologise not for my seemingly endless rant about the obscenity of UK commercialism which continues to be so expertly marketed under the guise of supporting our various 'religious' festivals, Saints days, historic events and anything else that can be suitably promoted to make wads of cash.
Today marks the 408th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when a bunch of plotters planned to assassinate James I by using a reputed 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up The Houses of Parliament. A much abridged version of the political event of the time, but it was a geezer named Guy Fawkes who was due to light the fuse. Needless to say, their explosive plot failed but, to this day, we light bonfires and fireworks to celebrate the failing of a plot that would have changed the course of British history!
What a shame that such an important event is overshadowed by our clever marketeers who prefer to focus on what to buy to make 'Bonfire Night' a commercial success - unbelievable! Just how many baked spuds and unhealthy fillings can be stuffed into the bonfire, coupled with the prerequisite need for cheap bread rolls and tinned 'Hot Dog' sausages served with lashings of ketchup or brown sauce!
Never mind, Bonfire Night is only one single day in the commercial calendar and not exactly a money-spinner compared with the successful marketing of Halloween. After all, a wad of spuds and a ton of bread struggle to compete with the profitable rewards of ghoulish costumes, pumpkins and scary parties.
Anyway, I digress. Not only is my local supermarket crammed full of Christmas fayre to tempt their beleaguered shoppers, but already, they have erected two humungously large Christmas trees at the entrance to the store to remind us that the festive season is almost here but, IT'S ONLY THE 5TH NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I rant about commercialism but with good reason. The kids break up from school in July and immediately we are faced with 'Back to School; Halloween starts next and now coincides with the beginning of the 3 month long Christmas period; then, on Boxing Day, TV advertising goes into January Sale overload where items that were promoted as Christmas 'must haves' are now are bargain basement prices. There follows a quick acknowledgment of New Year, never-ending holiday advertising and January sees the introduction of St Valentine's day followed speedily by all things Easter. Who knew that the most poignant and important festival in the Christian calendar could warrant being turned into an extravaganza of bunnies, chicks and chocolate overdose, with little recognition as to what those indulgent eggs actually represent! Over the next few months we are, of course, invited to grab those 'essential' summer spectacular bargains before the whole, unpleasant shebang begins again. Ruddy nightmare on all counts!
No wonder our lives seem to whizz by at break-neck speed.
Does anyone else tire of our over indulgent society where life seems to revolve around the next big spend? Please do tell.
I apologise not for my seemingly endless rant about the obscenity of UK commercialism which continues to be so expertly marketed under the guise of supporting our various 'religious' festivals, Saints days, historic events and anything else that can be suitably promoted to make wads of cash.
Today marks the 408th anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when a bunch of plotters planned to assassinate James I by using a reputed 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up The Houses of Parliament. A much abridged version of the political event of the time, but it was a geezer named Guy Fawkes who was due to light the fuse. Needless to say, their explosive plot failed but, to this day, we light bonfires and fireworks to celebrate the failing of a plot that would have changed the course of British history!
What a shame that such an important event is overshadowed by our clever marketeers who prefer to focus on what to buy to make 'Bonfire Night' a commercial success - unbelievable! Just how many baked spuds and unhealthy fillings can be stuffed into the bonfire, coupled with the prerequisite need for cheap bread rolls and tinned 'Hot Dog' sausages served with lashings of ketchup or brown sauce!
Never mind, Bonfire Night is only one single day in the commercial calendar and not exactly a money-spinner compared with the successful marketing of Halloween. After all, a wad of spuds and a ton of bread struggle to compete with the profitable rewards of ghoulish costumes, pumpkins and scary parties.
Anyway, I digress. Not only is my local supermarket crammed full of Christmas fayre to tempt their beleaguered shoppers, but already, they have erected two humungously large Christmas trees at the entrance to the store to remind us that the festive season is almost here but, IT'S ONLY THE 5TH NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!
Yes, I rant about commercialism but with good reason. The kids break up from school in July and immediately we are faced with 'Back to School; Halloween starts next and now coincides with the beginning of the 3 month long Christmas period; then, on Boxing Day, TV advertising goes into January Sale overload where items that were promoted as Christmas 'must haves' are now are bargain basement prices. There follows a quick acknowledgment of New Year, never-ending holiday advertising and January sees the introduction of St Valentine's day followed speedily by all things Easter. Who knew that the most poignant and important festival in the Christian calendar could warrant being turned into an extravaganza of bunnies, chicks and chocolate overdose, with little recognition as to what those indulgent eggs actually represent! Over the next few months we are, of course, invited to grab those 'essential' summer spectacular bargains before the whole, unpleasant shebang begins again. Ruddy nightmare on all counts!
No wonder our lives seem to whizz by at break-neck speed.
Does anyone else tire of our over indulgent society where life seems to revolve around the next big spend? Please do tell.
