Where has all the Christmas gone from the shops?

So, it’s coming up to Christmas and like many of you I’ve been out shopping for gifts for the last few weeks. While I’ve been shopping the one thing I’ve noticed with some horror is the lack of Christmas cheer and greetings from the shop staff.

Now, I know it’s been over a decade since I worked in retail, and yes I did work for Disney who are renowned for their over-the-top chirpiness, but even then every store pretty much gave a salutation of ‘merry Christmas’ as you entered or left their premises. I have noticed over the years that this happens less and less but this year when I went to the Disney Store I got nothing, and there wasn’t even any Disney Christmas music playing.

There are lots of shops with tinsel and tacky Christmas decorations up but to be honest it’s the personal interaction that makes a store Christmassy for me. The staff enjoying themselves, maybe wear a santa hat, wishing you seasons greetings etc. With out it, it all seems a little half-hearted and if I’m honest, fake and money-grabbing.

Bring back the festive cheer. Bring back Christmas music, bring back smiling shop assistants and bring back cheesy Christmas salutations. It’s this that makes the season, not the red, green and gold decorations you’ve put up to make us feel like we HAVE to be separated from our money.

I have a job...

It's true! I am now the proud owner of a job. After weeks of hunting and searching for one, I eventually got one.

I'm still awaiting the full details on the package and start date, but I expect to start in January and the money should be okay. In the meantime I'm still keeping my options open with two other roles, one in Dubai and the other in Abu Dhabi.

I had the second interview for the Dubai role this morning and it seemed to go okay, and right now I'm waiting for the manager from the AD role to call me for my first interview. He was meant to call me last week but their phone system went down and so it was rescheduled to today. However, last week he was 30 mins late calling then I found out it was postponed. Today he's 25 mins late and still no call so I hope I'm not being messed around here.

My preference would be the middle east jobs over the role in the South of England mainly because I'd make a lot more money and be able to save a lot more of my salary. There are drawbacks to the middle east such as missing all my family and friends and not being able to be out as it can land you in jail, but if I can stick it out even for a couple of years it means I'll have a nice little nest egg to help towards buying my own home or putting towards my pension plan.

Urgh, just had a call from the agency (after I dropped him a line asking what was going on) to say the interview has been postponed again. Not impressed. Waiting to hear if they can do a call on Wednesday with me.

Any way, come what may, I have a job and I'm excited that I'll be starting work soon :))