... Set them free at the break of dawn, 'till one by one they're all gone (well mid morning anyway!)

Gonna make you a drink you can't refuse. A Godfather - equal measures of Jack Daniels and Amaretto - expensive but worth every penny.

As retailers, no matter what we think personally we are forced to start rolling out the Christmas stock earlier and earlier every year. It seems inevitable that no sooner have the kids gone back to school after the summer holidays you're going to walk into a shop somewhere and find Christmas cards and gifts already starting to appear. If it was down to us Christmas would be left in December, where it belongs, but unfortunately in order to compete in the High Street we have to join in.

But there are limits! We were horrified when the rep from Ling Cards came out to see us on Wednesday (11th Jan) to arrange an uplift on the Christmas cards that were left over from this years stock asked if we'd like to place our order for Christmas 2006 while we were at it! We've only just got over this one - WE DO NOT WANT TO THINK ABOUT NEXT CHRISTMAS IN JANUARY!!!

Whereas we realise that the manufacturers have to get geared up much earlier than the retailers in order to meet demand is it too much to ask to have at least one Christmas free month before we have to start thinking about it again? Bah Humbug!

Cathy, Alison and everyone at 81 Red Balloons would like to wish all our family, friends and customers past, present and future a very happy New Year and we hope you all have a great 2006.

Cheers

:)

Happy New Year, have a fantastic 2006. :)