SmlSave MFW diary - where to start?

SmlSave

SmlSave wanders back in whistling and looks at all the cobwebs....

Gosh I really must come in here more often!

Hi guys :hello:

youngone, here is a link re medlars: http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=131 and thank you for absolving me of all holiday guilt

Well done on booking holiday..... I'll be stowing away!:D

Gosh, I'll be having heavy bags me thinks with two Mums stowing away in our lugagge - my Mum and DansMum

Hi Iris, I've been researching all different types of startes for something that's cold and easy but looks impressive.

A duck terrine really appeals to me but I'm worried it'll all be too much meat!

Here's my Xmas menu as is:

Grapes, Pomegrantes, Figs, Mozzerella, Prawns, Crostini, Dips - I'm trying to go for an abundant table of things you can pick at, all cold and on the table when they arrive.

Stuffed Poussine topped with Bacon, Roast Potatoes, Stuffed Onions and various veg.

Mocha Chestnut Tart. Xmas Pudding

Stinking Bishop and crackers

Let me know what you think

cha97michelle

Sounds like a great choice on the holiday front. I didn't mind being in the domininican for 2 weeks but DH started to get a bit restless, but then he is very fair so doesn't get the same enjoyment of lounging round the pool. Great to have one last brilliant hol before munchkins reign you in a bit. We never seem to get further than centre parcs now, lovely as that is i miss the sunshine.

Christmas menu sounds very posh too. Perhaps i should be trying to become a bit more inspired. :rotfl:I've got as far as buying a huge ham joint that i need to chop up and freeze in smaller pieces. We have a tradition of ham and poached eggs breakfast every morning over christmas. I am drooling now at the thought. I am usually much further on with all of my purchasing but being a bit slow this year.

SmlSave

I've never been to centre parcs before Michelle, I'd love to go

Did you do many trips in the Dominican?

Thank you for saying the menu seems posh It's got to steal the show as we're putting 10 people round an 8 people table in our living room that only just fits the table! :rotfl:DH will put up the gazebo in the garden so that we can move our coffee table and Xmas Tree outside.

I keep getting distracted by edible centre pieces

Food aside I've been transporting my spreadsheets to googledocs so that DH can see what's going on. It should stop him from suddenly asking me "how's the account/savings/holiday fund/loan looking?" out of the blue and hopefully it'll make him think twice before spending the joint account money but I doubt it.

SmlSave

Hi hope everyone had a good weekend.

We got the house tidied, including the understairs cupboard! It now has a bottle of grape wine bubbling away, elderberry wine in a bucket, sloe gin and sloe vodka on the go and a pumpkin sat in the corner I'll give you three gueses what people are getting for Xmas...no, not pumpkin pie! I'm going to eat that.

Went out 'clubbing' Sat night and spent £30 (of my own money, DH had to pay for me after 12pm as I was a bit wobbly) Got home by 3am and up at 9:30am which i was quite chuffed with. Cue a bacon roll and after we tidied the house it was round the in-laws to be fed

Pilates starts tonight, £30 for six weeks which I think is a good deal.

There so much food in the house I'm sure we don't need to do a shop for at least a month! Could you please give your tips? I do ok for the first week and then I start to slip out of lazyness

SmlSave

Well Pilates was good and it was nice to catch up Almost had a healthy tea with just tomato soup but then the carrot cake called to me...not once .....or twice...there could have even have been a fifth time! Thankfully it was Weezle's one.

I shall go swimming tonight and then its left over curry for tea and dancing at 8.

I finally finished updating the spreadsheets on google docs and while we haven't stuck to the budget very well we haven't spent any money that we didn't have - phew.

[Deleted User]

Ooooo smlsave you are naughty... I dutifully chopped up a load of carrots today to make soup with .. but now I am sitting here thinking, "could they be turned into cake??" :rotfl: :rotfl: I tell you what that OS board has a lot to answer for the amount of cooking (aka making cakes) Ive done the past few months!!...;)

glad you enjoyed pilates , I gather its meant to be pretty relaxing?

well done on not going over on the spends- even on a nite out! I find alcohol always makes me more generous with the money! :rotfl:

tyo x

cha97michelle

sorry hun - missed you asking a question. I think we did 3 or 4 trips in the Dominican.
rum factory and amber manufacturing - not that amazing, and ended up people hard selling in a shop
catamaran trip - snorkelling and seeing lots of lovely fish - lots of fun but a 2nd week trip as there was no shade really and it was so hot
monster jeep safari - tour of little villages and see how the dominicans live. Really sad as lots of children take time off school as it is so profitable to beg. Also did lunch at a big BBQ place with a swim in a lagoon - really worthwhile trip

I can't remember another one if we did one? My memory is not what it was. I couldn't even remember how old i am when someone asked me the other day. :rotfl:

I'm sure no-one will mind sitting snugly if the food is that entertaining. Sounds delicious, and very homely. I love that kind of thing.

SmlSave

I tell you what that OS board has a lot to answer for the amount of cooking (aka making cakes) Ive done the past few months!!...;)

I know what you mean! nomnomnomnom to cakes

glad you enjoyed pilates , I gather its meant to be pretty relaxing?

So far I haven't found it relaxing :rotfl:We don't jump around or move much but you'd be amazed how much it hurts just to rotate your leg in little circles 40 times! Doing the class reminds me through week to sit up straighter and to hold my tummy in.

well done on not going over on the spends

I don't deserve the well done I've bought lunch all this week. Bad SmlSave

Thank you for the trip information Michelle. I shall put the boat and jeep trip on my to-do list - but I want to go now!

Re the holiday: the paperwork came through and we need to pay the full amount by 19th Dec! :eek: We'll be able to raise £2000 fairly ok but I think I shall have to dip into the ISA for the remaining amount. I would out it on the cc but the b*ggers charge 2% for doing so!

KolaKube

Hiya SmlSave!

I've been having a bit of a nosy at your thread! Great stuff..!

Your xmas menu looks lovely, room for 2 more round the table? We're fine with eating on our laps lol :beer:

KolaKube

SmlSave

Your xmas menu looks lovely, room for 2 more round the table? We're fine with eating on our laps

You're more than welcome to come round Kola You'll have to sit on the stairs though - would that be ok?

Finally sent off my passport to be renewed - robbing so-n-so's! They won't accept certified copies of anything so I've paid for special delivery so nothing disappears. My photo looks terrible

On a good note we've been invited to tea round the in-laws tonight The food shall be scrummy but I alway feel a bit awkward as they have family visiting and I don't speak Dutch. I'd like to learn but its one of things I haven't got round to and DH is no good.

We've invited the cousins round for dinner tomorrow (think I'll make toad-in-the-hole as they've never had that) but I'm not 100% sure if they're coming or not. Maight make an apple pie just in case though nomnomnomnom