La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
I never liked Black Friday in the States. The day after Thanksgiving, which marks the start of Christmas shopping season. Big sales, big crowds, aggressive shoppers, and a lot of ugliness. So, it gets on my nerves that the Black Friday tradition has made its way to Spain.
We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here and the meaning of Black Friday is completely lost. We even have Black Friday Week here. But the high-end home furnishings shop I saw Thursday, which I visited after the sofa shop I peaked into simply to see the bull (above), is promoting Black November.
I’m glad nothing of interest to me was discounted. We don’t need any of it — although there were some things that would look great on the terrace and would provide excellent (and expensive) scratching posts for the cats.
Yesterday was the pits. I stayed home while San Geraldo joined our friends for dinner. I’m feeling much better today. I went back to bed for a few hours after breakfast but I plan to get out for a decent walk this afternoon.
.
Nunca me gustó el Black Friday en los Estados Unidos. El día después de Acción de Gracias, que marca el inicio de la temporada de compras navideñas. Grandes ventas, grandes multitudes, compradores agresivos y mucha fealdad. Entonces, me pone nervioso que la tradición del Black Friday haya llegado a España.
Aquí no celebramos el Día de Acción de Gracias y el significado, no es que fuera de un origen admirable, se pierde por completo. Incluso tenemos Black Friday Week (Semana) aquí. Pero la tienda de muebles para el hogar de alta gama que vi el jueves, que visité después de la tienda de sofás a la que me asomé simplemente para ver el toro (arriba), está promocionando Black November (Noviembre Negro).
Me alegro de que no se haya descontado nada que me interese. No necesitamos nada de eso, aunque había algunas cosas que se verían muy bien en la terraza y proporcionarían excelentes (y costosos) rascadores para los gatos.
Ayer fue un día malísimo. Me quedé en casa mientras San Geraldo se unía a nuestros amigos para cenar. Me siento mucho mejor hoy. Volví a la cama por unas horas después del desayuno, pero planeo salir a dar un paseo decente esta tarde.
• Si tan solo hubiera sido el caballo entero.
• Los peces tienen que nadar.
• Este es el estilo que buscábamos (aunque rectangular en lugar de circular) hace unos años cuando compramos nuestra nueva mesa de comedor. Vea la siguiente foto para ver con qué terminamos.
• 2019. Las cosas van y vienen rápidamente por aquí. Esa silla gris y su gemelo a la izquierda ya no están, al igual que la vieja alfombra de mi madre, y el sofá que apenas puedes ver. Además, se ha movido el aplique del comedor.
• Solía tener una colección de jirafas. Lo dejé atrás cuando redujimos el tamaño para España.
• Me gustaron estos para la terraza.
• Estas, no tanto.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
I love the stone carving, kind of easter island.
David:
I always thought it would be fun to have an Easter Island reproduction on the terrace.
Those wooden/driftwoody sculptures are nice!
Happy you are feeling better. Enjoy your walk.
Jim:
I wonder where those sculptures are coming from. I’m seeing more of them lately. We saw a life-size horse a few years ago.
Observations:
1) remember the moai need their eyes put in to obtain their power
2) Black November sounds like an episode in the history of the Bubonic Plague
Have a happy Sunday! 😁
Wicked Hamster:
1) I have some seaglass that might do the trick.
2) You’re right about that.
Sunday was spent in bed. But it was so much better than Saturday.
That is one hell of an ugly shop. I hate everything in those photos with the possible exception of the Easter Island head, and even that’s pushing it… Jx
PS Glad to hear you’re feeling better. I had no particular side-effects from my COVID booster apart from the usual sore arm, but I was very snotty after the flu jab for a few days.
Jon:
I actually liked the shop, although much of it would work better on our terrace.
For the first time in memory, I had no reaction to my flu jab a couple of weeks ago.
It’s always fun to browse!
Debra:
I’m more a buyer than a browser. But I’m learning.
I get a very uncomfortable, unsettled feeling in places like that store – sensory overload. Even the photos make me antsy. But I like the candle holder lamps (the ones you like) very much. Hope you continue to improve.
Wilma:
I know where you’re coming from and must admit that store was a bit too scattered for me. I don’t like when I take a path and then have to back out.
I agree about the lamps — they ARE nice. But that bull is kind of creepy. It looks like it’s decaying with skin coming off.
It’s weird that the Black November sign is in English. Whose business are they trying to get? (And yes, Black November is taking Black Friday WAAAAAAAY too far.)
Steve:
I love your description of the bull. I would have liked it much more without the “skin.” Yeah, I was put off by all the signage in English. Black Friday always appears in English because it’s an Americanism. But there was no Spanish signage in that shop and I find that offensive. I don’t care if they cater to English speakers, they’re still in Spain. By having signage only in English, I feel like they’re saying locals aren’t welcome.
Do they use terms like “Black November” to market specifically to expats? Personally I dread the holiday shopping frenzy and have avoided it for many years. Being with family/friends and sharing laughter and good food is sufficient for us.
Frank DeFrancesco:
Black Friday is picked up from the States, so they stink to the English version as a gimmick. But that shop did nothing to welcome Spanish-speaking locals. We always avoided the holiday shopping frenzy. It now gets crazy here, too, but nothing like what we experienced in the States.
I liked the lamps and half a horse, but that couch looked like something out of the Flintstones.
Shirley:
Ooh, I always wanted a Flintstones house!
Black Friday has contaminated the Canadian retail landscape too — to the point that Boxing Day is now just an extra day off after Christmas! Boxing Day sales used to be fun: lots of deep discounts, plus all the 50% off wrapping paper, cards and trim you could carry! Large crowds, but no one was getting trampled or shot over the newest TV or latest game station. I avoid big stores in November and December like the plague!
Tundra Bunny:
In Sevilla, Spanish traditions were still the norm. Down here, we see a lot more Santa Claus and American and British traditions. I don’t like that.
November, proof that black isn’t always beautiful. I kind of like that ugly Reynold’s Wrap bull. Then again, my eye has been swollen and pink all day, so I don’t know what I’m looking at.
Deedles:
My first thought was “Black November. As if!” I love your description of the Reynolds Wrap bull. We saw a life-sized horse a couple of years ago without the Reynolds Wrap. I liked that style more. But either would be fun on the terrace.
I never went out for Black Friday, I usually had what I needed by then but I like to look but on that weekend. Son and I like to look at the displays at World Market right before or after Thanksgiving always put us in a good mood. Lots of food items. No mass of crazies.
Love the photo of your home.
cheers
Parsnip:
I never shopped on Black Friday. I know someone who used to camp out in front of her favourite shop. I never understood that. (She probably still does.) I love World Market! My mother and aunt used to ask to go there just for the free coffee and tea samples.
I’ve been hearing “Black November” here in France, too. Ick.
Walt the Fourth:
It’s shocking that even France would pick up that ugly American tradition.
I suppose one of the levels of Hell resembles a Black Friday sale at Walmart – and the creators of BF are on another level – a deeper one.
Urspo:
You’re so right about one of the levels of Hell being Black Friday at Walmart. Another level of Hell is Walmart on any day of the week.
That bull has a steampunk Deborah Butterfield vibe.
Chrissoup:
I love that description. Oh, to own a Deborah Butterfield! OR a steampunk.
Ummm..I still DO collect giraffes so, I think you know what you need to do! (I’m a month behind but I’m working my way through all your posts.)
Sassybear:
I know. I think of you whenever I see a giraffe and I think of mine whenever you share one of yours. I miss them.