Seemingly not all garden centres have dinosaurs this year.
Burnside garden centre in Thornton-Cleveleys has avoided the dinosaur rush and gone with Nordic Santas ...
... and very surprised looking Moose!!
We called round one day last week to claim our free November coffees before they vanished into the ether and only Decembers were left for this year.
Happily the day before we went we received a voucher from the company for a free 'treat jar'. So along with the free coffees that we enjoyed with our choice of 'small breakfasts', we got a jar that should have been £5, and a voucher at the till for a 'buy one get one free' small breakfast in January. I tried to choose the jar that was the least Christmassy as I don't like 'seasonal' kitchen things, but I think I can get away with a gingerbread man jar for far longer than the festive period. 😁
So that will be a good morning out, two breakfasts and two coffees for a total of £6.50 the price of one small breakfast. They are obviously wanting people to visit the garden centre and shop the sales in January. But I think we will just go for the food and drink after all it will be Alan's birthday on the 8th and you can't beat a birthday treat, I might even surprise him and pay. 😃
Sue xx
Ah, a change from geen dinosaurs... I've no room for giant Christmas anythings! Lovely to have treats lining up ready for January. I'll buy a reduced price chocolate advent calendar if I see one that will take us through most of January!
ReplyDeleteSnap, anything like that would have to live on top of my wardrobe, and I don't really want a santa or a moose watching me all year. 😄
DeleteYou could refill that little jar and he'd make a good gift next year
ReplyDeleteI might donate him to a charity shop if I don't find something suitable to fill him with. 😀
DeleteThe best present to give to anyone and everyone is kindness. Forget the mayhem that surrounds this season. Christmas is a big, big money making time in marketing. So I’m wishing everyone peace health and happiness. Let’s not forget Christmas is for children not retail. June x
ReplyDeleteI agree completely. And after having a career in retail management, and my own shops, I am very glad to step away from the pressure that is a retail Christmas. 😏
DeleteI suppose they are not quite as odd as the green dinosaurs - but I still wouldn't be tempted.
ReplyDeleteNice to have plans for January already.
Much more seasonal for sure, but not tempting for me in the slightest. I need to gather in free/freeish things to do in January to avoid succumbing to retail pressure now. 😀
DeleteI like your little treat jar and he can certainly stay out all year. I don’t know what Alan’s childhood birthdays were like but I usually got something that had to do Christmas and my birthday as the 8 th January was too near Christmas for there to be any spare cash for a birthday gift. I am however older than Alan so perhaps times had changed by the time he was born. Catriona
ReplyDeleteAlan's Mum always made sure he had separate gifts for Christmas and then for his birthday. Her birthday was 23rd December, so she knew only too well the disappointment of one gift for both. 🎂🎄
DeleteIt is amazing to think someone somewhere will be getting paid a lot of money to think of the next craze in decor and soft toys and now they can make even more money by selling the same things but in the pet section! I just wonder where everyone stores all these things. Our local garden centre is still very heavily stocked but maybe they will have a late rush to buy.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's the way our crazy world is working now. Literally someone is out there deciding on next Christmas' 'must have' decorations already.
DeleteI guess they are hoping for a late rush,while simultaneously planning their post-Christmas sales. 🫤
I guess the Santas aren't too bad, but, Christmas Moose? I haven't been to any shops here, other than the dollar store and the pharmacy, so I don't know what is being sold as Christmas decor, these days.
ReplyDeleteBelieve me you are missing nothing by staying away from the shops at the moment. Well maybe a bit of shock at the range and prices of Christmas tat.
DeleteThere's just something so funny about all those Christmassy soft toys en masse - but I'm like others above, not in the least bit tempted 😀
ReplyDeleteI like the little gingerbread boy jar, it would have to have chocolate or sweets in for me!
Alison in Devon x
They actually stopped me in my tracks, which is why I got my phone out to take a photo. 😄
DeleteThat jar is super cute!
ReplyDeleteIt is isn't it. I think I am going to use it as my sweet jar, I have some gold wrapped chocolates that will look good in there over Christmas, then it can be just bits and pieces from opened packets. 😀
DeleteYou had a real bargain visit, food, coffee and a present..
ReplyDeleteWe really did. I love seeking out economical outings for us both. Alan can be too extravagant at splashing the cash, so it's nice to show him how much fun we can have at minimal cost.
DeleteI really think that jar is so cute, and I eat gingerbread all year.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Maybe I should make some little Gingerbread people to go in it. 😀
DeleteI hope you have health and happiness this season and lots of good memories too.
ReplyDeleteThat is lovely, thank you. I wish you the same. 🎄♥️🎄
DeleteI like your style Sue
ReplyDelete😄 xx
DeleteI LOVE the little jar, I would have possibly used it for a penny jar, perhaps even 5p pieces. I save all my coppers for a local cancer charity shop where everything is priced ending in 99p and they never have any pennies.
ReplyDeleteThe new header is fab, so very festive. We've put our door wreath up this morning but I don't have the energy nor the inclination to do more yet!
Angie
We always pop the pennies or two pences into the charity box on the counter. As an ex-charity shop manager I know this gets emptied into the till as a donation once or twice a week adding to the coin stash. But saving them up yourself is very good too. ♥️
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