I Am Steph » Christmas http://www.iamsteph.com I am Steph. This is my blog. Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:09:18 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 And you thought silly season was over http://www.iamsteph.com/random/2010/and-you-thought-silly-season-was-over?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=and-you-thought-silly-season-was-over http://www.iamsteph.com/random/2010/and-you-thought-silly-season-was-over#comments Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:37:10 +0000 Steph http://www.iamsteph.com/?p=1429 Continue reading →]]> And so it begins. Brown Thomas opened their Christmas shop as per tradition this week just passed. That’s fine. I rarely darken the door of the place so it’s not going to bother me.

But then this morning while working away and listening to the radio as I do it happened. The first Christmas party radio ad in my ears complete with Jingle Bells backing track trying to sell me a good time out at the Red Cow with June Rodgers.

Showing that radio advertising does work (see, even the Newstalk ad for Newstalk ads works) I went off to investigate the object of my annoyance over my lunchbreak. To be honest I didn’t realise that a market for such events still existed in Ireland. Seems you can get yourself a festive dinner and cabaret party including all the essential ingredients:

  • Vol au Vonts – check
  • Turkey, ham & spuds – check
  • Christmas Pudding – check
  • Undisclosed “vegetarian” option – check

And a collective of glittery angelic happy people for your entertainment.

“Book early to avoid disappointment.”

*BITES FIST*

You’re all right, thanks. Now if you don’t mind, I’m off to my fallout shelter until December.

]]> http://www.iamsteph.com/random/2010/and-you-thought-silly-season-was-over/feed 1 Festive Fix #2 – Christmas wouldn’t be the same without… http://www.iamsteph.com/christmas/2009/festive-fix-1-christmas-wouldnt-be-the-same-without?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=festive-fix-1-christmas-wouldnt-be-the-same-without http://www.iamsteph.com/christmas/2009/festive-fix-1-christmas-wouldnt-be-the-same-without#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:11:47 +0000 Steph http://www.iamsteph.com/?p=956 Continue reading →]]> It’s the season of top 5 lists more than ever this year as we crawl to the end of a decade. Here’s my list of the things that are essential to my Christmas:

  1. David Parkes’ Christmas Hits on repeat (cassette version too for a nice old school crackle)
  2. Fixing the Christmas tree lights
  3. Myself and the sisters wearing Santa hats *all* the time
  4. Drinks and chats at my Nana’s before midnight mass on Christmas eve
  5. The annual Christmas day swim fundraiser for the RNLI after morning mass in New Quay

The first one on that list is particularly close to my heart. It was an RTE production of the classic Christmas songs along with a cracking ‘disco’ medley at either end. The cassette has been wheeled out and left in the stereo every Christmas for as far back as I can remember and has been the sound I associate with being at home in Clare for the festive season.

I had a look online last week to see if perchance it ever came out on CD or there was still some way of getting a copy of it as I’m sure the cassette is bound to wear through sooner rather than later. To my delight and surprise it’s available on iTunes for €8.99! You can even get the individual medleys on their own if that’s your pleasure. Can’t believe it was released in 1992 – where the heck do the years go? I was still writing letters to Santa then!

Happy disco dancing :)

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