Every year the same thing happened.
At the beginning of November she made up her mind that this time,
for once, she would get her Christmas shopping done early.
for once, she would get her Christmas shopping done early.
She went as far as writing out a list -
and there, for several weeks, the matter rested.
and there, for several weeks, the matter rested.
At intervals she tried to pretend that Christmas Day fell on the
5th of December, or, alternatively,
that all her friends and relations lived
in South Africa and that she had to catch an early mail;
but it was no use.
5th of December, or, alternatively,
that all her friends and relations lived
in South Africa and that she had to catch an early mail;
but it was no use.
The feeling of temporal urgency cannot be artificially produced,
any more than the feeling of financial distress.
any more than the feeling of financial distress.
from Christmas Shopping -Jan Struther
poster printed by Fosh and Cross Ltd. London 1945
