🇬🇧

or the art of good intentions

This morning, my inbox greeted me with an email from my favourite Belgian comic book shop — the one that always seems to know exactly when to remind me of things I’m trying not to think about. The subject line read: “Only 77 days till Christmas!”

For the uninitiated, Hergé, the creator of Tintin, famously dedicated his adventures “to the young from seven to seventy-seven years old.” As a long-standing comic book fan (and proud owner of the full Tintin collection, of course), I took it as a sign from the universe — or at least from Brussels — that it’s time to start thinking about Christmas shopping.

So yes, the list has officially begun.
Well, it’s more of a vague collection of good intentions scribbled on a notepad, but that still counts, right?

Now the real question: where to shop?

We’ve booked a week in London in November, which sounds like an excellent idea for a bit of festive browsing — up and down Regent Street, Oxford Street, and naturally a nostalgic stop at Hamley’s for the “kids” (which may or may not include me). The only catch? We’re flying Ryanair from Carcassonne. With their luggage policy, I’ll be lucky if I can bring back a paperback and a sandwich, let alone Christmas presents. Perhaps it will be a week of window shopping with intent.

Later, we’ll spend a few days in Hannover, Germany — where we’ll actually be on the day itself. There’s something rather comforting about that; we still feel a bit at home there, and German Christmas markets do have a way of softening even the hardest retail resistance.

I’m trying my best to resist the siren call of Amazon, but I’ll admit it’s an uphill battle. Living in a small provincial town does limit one’s options — unless, of course, one counts “clicking” as a sport.

Still, I like to imagine I’ll be better organised this year. Then again, with 77 days left, there’s a strong chance I’ll end up doing what I always do — waiting until Christmas Eve, armed with a list, caffeine, and that special mix of adrenaline and panic that makes last-minute shopping feel almost heroic.

After all, as Tintin might say: Adventure is just around the corner!

Link back to my master Blog and main menu J²S