Brits... Woman hit by turkey in 'Christmas rage' Reuters Dec. 26, 2001 11:55:00 LONDON - While thousands of Britons flocked to the shops in a last-minute Christmas gift-buying frenzy on Monday, the pressure to be festive proved just a little too much for three harassed women.

Liz Mace, a mother of five, was so irritated that all her family wanted to do was slump in front of the television instead of helping to decorate the Christmas tree that she hurled the set out of the house.

And in a case of turkey rage, two women came to blows over the last frozen bird in a south Wales supermarket.

Mace, 40, was said to have wrenched the family television from its socket, carried to the front door, lifted it over her head and thrown it out of the house.

According to The Times newspaper, the sound of it smashing as it rolled down the front steps of her home in Southampton, southern England, had the desired affect and the family began hanging decorations on the tree.

"I felt much better afterwards," Mace was quoted as saying. "Unfortunately we hadn't budgeted for a new one. We will have to make do with board games."

In the turkey incident, two unidentified women were said to have tussled over the last turkey in a supermarket in the town of Barry, with, inevitably, only one emerging victorious. The pair met later in the car park and, according to The Guardian newspaper, the turkey-less woman snapped at her rival: "I hope you burn it on Christmas Day."

In a response said to have been recorded by the store's security cameras, the woman with the turkey hit her rival over the head with it.

A police spokesman was quoted as saying: "An alleged assault took place and the woman had some of her hair pulled out. Whatever happened to peace and goodwill at Christmas?"

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

Answers

I think that last minute turkey-buying should be a punishable offense. Bet those two women aren't doomers.

-- Anonymous, December 26, 2001

I am reminded of the frenzy over cabbage patch dolls, as Christmas approached some years ago. One woman was arrested for snatching a doll from the arms of a child.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001

And the Tickle Me Elmo that was all the rage about 4 years ago. I sent hubby out the day after Thanksgiving for that one. One lady used him as a ladder to get it. He saw two on the back of the top shelf and reached up to get it. He gave the other one to a grandmother that wanted to get it for her grandson. He told me he saw people fighting over them. I'm so glad he is tall.

-- Anonymous, December 27, 2001