i shouldnt be surprised ...

[kallis3]

They certainly shouldn't. In the States (apart from the all year round Christmas shops), it doesn't start until the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Much better!

[Skippy]

That's the way it should be.

There's too much pressure on people, especially people with children, to spend what they can't afford and with the advertising starting so early it must make it worse.

[kallis3]

And the price of everything!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's token stuff for us now and not a lot spent on food either! I can't believe the money people spend on food - most of it ends up getting thrown away as well!

[kazzafunk]

Jan- hate to destroy your views on the States! Went to NY a few years ago at the end of October and every bleeding shop was full of Xmas stuff!!! Xmas trees everywhere.
I always remember checking into a hotel in Gloucester in August for work and there being a huge Xmas tree in reception all decorated. Thought I'd slept through Autumn by mistake!!

[ginger3232]

LOVE NY - spent many a long weekend there including new year 2000

Seen a christmas ad on TV the other day - for one of those catalogue companies - mentioning 2011 christmas. For Chri*t sake we only managed to get rid of the snow up here a few months ago.

Think i will throw another duvet on and crawl under it till about March 2012 )

[kallis3]

I've been there several times in October/November time and there was nothing there at all until after Thanksgiving. Perhaps it depends upon where you are.

I must admit that I love NY at Christmas - was there for a week a few years ago for both mine and hubby's birthdays in December and loved it.

Then again, I've always loved NY and we have friend there who I hope to go and see again post IVA.

Ginger - NY is my most favourite city in the world.

[kazzafunk]

I love NY too! Only been once but managed to pack in so much - even ice skating in Central Park (but I never let go of the side once!!)[:)]

[kallis3]

I'm lucky to have been several times, did the Trade Towers twice and even walked round the crown of the Statue of Liberty which you can't do now.

It was so cold the last time we went that the horses were not allowed out in Central Park and we weren't allowed out on the top deck of the sightseeing tour bus!

[ginger3232]

Yes same here with the trade towers - we went back in 2004 - on our way Dallas /new orleans, and found the area where the towers were, still very emotional.

NY is great for a long weekend - as you can fit and see a lot in a short period of time

[kallis3]

One of our friends who lives in NY - his backyard faces Manhattan. He told me that his son (NYPD) phoned him and told him to go outside and he saw the second plane hit. Can't imagine what that must have been like - it was bad enough watching it on TV.

We stopped off at Ground Zero on the bus tour the last time we went and it is very emotional. The view from the Empire State Building is weird as well without those towers in the distance.

The only time hubby went up there (I did it twice) he commented as we stepped out of the lift that if there was ever a fire there we would be stuffed for getting out.

How right he was!!

[lukeofyorkshire]

I saw my first Xmas stuff in a shop at the end of July. Pure madness!!!

[kallis3]

I try to avoid it!!!! Just waiting for the shops to put the Christmas decorations in the windows now.

[Skippy]

I have to say New York has never appealed to me in the slightest. Someone I used to work with used to go for a long weekend and I couldn't see the point - if I was going to go it would have to be as part of a longer holiday!

[kallis3]

I've done both - a long weekend and a week. Both are brilliant.

Hubby hates cities but he loves New York - there is just something about it.

[Skippy]

If I've got to get on a plane it's got to be worthwhile and a long flight for a short break definitely isn't worthwhile to me!