This afternoon, Serena and I hit Oxford Street with the intention of going Christmas shopping for our family and those nearest and dearest to us. Six hours and six humongous shopping bags later (at least, on my part), we boarded the Tube content, though armed with the knowledge that we had just blown a lot of money in the space of one afternoon. However, if our gifts will make our beloveds happier, they will be worth every single pence spent. (:
Christmas is turning into a bittersweet time of the year of me. I’ve never spent a Christmas away from home before, without my family — this year is the first for me, and it’s a strange feeling. Sure, we don’t celebrate Christmas at home, but the knowledge that one’s family is around is enough to comfort one. This year, I’ll be spending it in a city which, though I consider it a third home, is still relatively foreign to me, with people I’ve really grown to love, yet most I’ve only known for a handful of months. Bittersweet, yet still beautiful. Christmas carols seem to make me miss home a little. Shopping on Oxford Street, pushing my way through the throngs of weekend shoppers, makes me feel small and insignificant. But Arlie and Brendan will be around really soon to bring some Australian sunshine my way, and people in Bankside and in London who I care so much about (and I hope they feel the same way!) will be around this December, so Christmas will undoubtedly be a good time for me!
Christmas also brings to attention the basic economic problem of unlimited wants versus finite resources, and that’s not good. I basically want everything I see while shopping, but I end up exercising some form of self-control and not splurging on them. After Amanda and I parted ways post-shopping yesterday, I looked around for a gift to get myself — then realised that the Karen Millen dress I bought a month or so back more than constituted a Christmas present for the next four years or so. So there goes the new watch, or the much-longed-after leather travel wallet, or the new DS Lite game (teehee!) I wanted to get myself — but then again, is the end of my first term at university a valid reason to spend money? Sigh!
Bankside held its annual Christmas dinner (plus Casino night!) tonight, and I dressed up a little in order to join in the festivities with the people in my Hall. Chyna, Malvika, Serena, Rania and I made one table — and we made merry, drank way too much (bad) wine, ate a lot of REALLY good food, and had a good time. (: And then I relinquished the faux 100 dollar buy-in I received at dinner to someone who will put it to good use in Texas Hold ‘Em, and now I’m back up in my room about to unpack my Christmas shopping and count my total expenditure for the day (not good!) and read Public Law before bedtime. Good night! (:
