It's that time of year again chaps!  I know you all love to follow along with my epic journey each year!  We don't have solid plans yet, and we are pretty much done with our Christmas shopping already, but it would be a shame to miss Americans at their best!

Oh yes, you're the King of Black Friday.

Can we have photos of the carnage? How far you're driving? And a list of what you buy?

Sure!  I don't know what we are doing yet, but I will do all that you ask!

BTW, I just installed an attic (loft?) ladder like you are doing, but I used the kind that pulls down and has the ladder on the backside of the door.  I also wanted a cool way to have it open and close, but I got lazy and didn't do anything like that.

Are you equipped with running shoes, crash helmet and nunchakus?

Shoes, yes.  I just take my .380 instead of the other stuff.

I was thinking of you and this just the other day! Looking forward to any entertaining tales you come back with.

:) thanks!  I'll do my best! Right now I'm not positive if we are going.  The wife isn't feeling good, but when it comes to shopping she usually perks up so there is still hope!

Hope for who, you or her, or us reading about your adventures? I'm sure if it was me I'd be hoping not to go.

Hope that I can entertain you all.  I'm good either way, I love going and making fun of the people and my wife and I have a freaking blast every year.  I don't remember laughing as hard as I did last year with her!

Well I'm sorry to say that we aren't going this year.  Teh wife's too tired.   :-((  :-((  :-((

Oh no! Hope she feels better soon then. Enjoy not being a consumer drone :)

Thanks!  I do kinda wish we were going but I'll probably be better off staying home.

How much do you usually spend? Will it just be a case of you not spending that money this year?

I'm looking around now online and because there's nothing I need (already have a decent TV, just got a replacement phone, don't really need a new laptop etc) nothing is taking my fancy.

Oh, actually, if I can find a cheap Chromecast Audio I'll buy one.

It just depends.  My wife has most of the shopping done already, that's why we weren't really worried about not going.  We will just finish online.

I was just going to say, this is 2015 - you don't have to drive to the shops to go shopping any more :)

Yeah, but the insanity is where all the fun is!

I was in Florence at the weekend, to run the Marathon, and even there, there seemed to be "Black Friday" promotions happening. Except they extended to the Monday as well. I went into a shop to buy a scarf, and got told that if I bought two items, I'd get 30% off. So I bought another scarf. Then they told me I could get a free haircut if I wanted, so I ended up sitting in a shop window on one of the main streets in Florence while a strict Italian matron went at my beard with the clippers and passers-by took selfies with me in the background.

Strange days.

I suspect you might have accidentally married her/her daughter without realising it. Better check your receipt carefully.

Wouldn't be the first time that has happened. I think I got away with it though.
 

Bigamist.