Shopping – can you get a bargain before Christmas?

I have defined some of the words (underlined) in the blog post, which you can add to your Personal Dictionary. Click on the Excel icon to download the word list to your PC or mobile device, which you can thereafter import into your Personal Dictionary. They are also listed below.

Scroll down to the bottom for links to a crossword and word search using words from this post, as well a YouTube video.

Continually – without interruption; constantly

Remind – cause (someone) to remember someone or something

Bombard – subject (someone) to a continuous flow of information

Advertising – publicise information about products or services

Drag – take (someone) to or from a place or event, despite their reluctance

Department store – a large shop stocking many varieties of goods in different departments

Overfilled – filled beyond capacity

Bargain – a thing bought or offered for sale much more cheaply than is usual or expected

Queue – a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed

Pavement – a raised paved or asphalted path for pedestrians at the side of a road

Gift voucher – a paper token given as a present which is exchangeable for goods

Receipt – a printed statement acknowledging that something has been paid for or that goods have been received

Refund – a repayment of a sum of money

Incidentally – a chance occurrence

Christmas is coming and we are continually reminded of that fact when we switch on the TV and radio. In between the TV shows as well as on the radio, we are bombarded with advertising of what we should buy this year, and that for 6 long weeks before the big day.

Fortunately, I don’t have to buy many presents, but I’m quite certain that I will be dragged by my wife to various department stores, in the city where we live, this coming weekend, to walk around overfilled shops looking for pre-christmas bargains. I can’t think of anything I really need to buy, except perhaps a new Christmas pullover, because I’ve worn my current sweater for over 20 years.

Whatever I buy, I’m sure I’ll have to stand in a queue, first of all on the pavement waiting to get into the shop at opening time, then secondly when I pay for my goods at the cash register. If anyone asked me what I wanted to have for a present, I’d probably just ask for a gift voucher, so I can decide what I’d like to buy at a later date. Otherwise, if it was something I didn’t want or need, I’d have to ask the present-giver for the receipt, then go to the store to get a refund.

Incidentally, the shops in the UK are only closed for one day over the Christmas period, and that is on Christmas Day. The next day, Boxing Day people will see shoppers racing to the stores for the sales, which go on until the end of January.

If you are heading out for some last-minute presents, I wish you good luck and lots of patience. Perhaps you should drink a mulled wine before you start!

To test your knowledge, why not do a crossword puzzle, using words from this text?

Click here for instructions on how to play.

To test your knowledge, why not do a word search puzzle, using words from this text?