OS Daily Thread - Sunday 14th December

Bargain_Rzl

ivyleaf wrote: »

Rzl - I tried Bombay Sapphire when we were staying at a Premier Inn recently, because you'd said how nice it was. I couldn't believe how different it was from Gordon's, which was the only other one I'd tried. So smooth! But so expensive, especially in the hotel bar:o Will pop into Somerfield and see if they've still got the offer on. Glad you had a nice time yesterday - I had hoped to come but haven't been well this week. Maybe next time!

The Somerfield offer is on until Tuesday. You can get the 70cl bottle for £9.99 - it usually retails for £16 in Somerfield (though it's cheaper in other supermarkets). Works out at £14.27 a litre (and the cheapest offer I've seen on litre bottles is £16 at Asda) It is pricey when not on special though - which is why I stock up at Christmas

purpleivy

Muppet81 wrote: »

I feel such a failure!!
With all the wonderful advice on this forum I have managed to change the way I do things a lot and feel that I have adopted the OS moneysaving lifestyle.
CONFESSION TIME I have sinned ............
Yesterday was my birthday.
Mr Muppet suggested taking me out but I always hate meals out in December. They tend to be inferior to the rest of the year. Perhaps they think most people will be blathered and not notice the decline in quality/service.
I said I would rather have friends round for a meal instead.
Mr Muppet kindly said that I was not cooking on my birthday. He had been watching the M&S adverts on the TV and decided that if it was good enough for Joan Collins, M&S could do the catering with the lovely finger food shown on the adverts.
Feeling excited about the propsect of a no stress night, I trundled round M&S and put together what sounded like a real feast. AND SO IT SHOULD IT COST JUST UNDER £50 for 4 of us!
Last night arrived and I had a nice bath to get in the mood then strolled down to prepare my "no stress meal".

EEK! How do you fit everything in a normal oven? I turned into a mad whirling dervish, things on trays and in, trays out, pipe chive cream onto blinis, other things into oven, snip smoked salmon onto blinis, oringinal things gone cold. Mini beef wellingtons disgustingly soggy!!!! Brie parcels burst and running all over tray, filo pastry stuck to base, threw in bin, breaded prawns .. are they hot enough? will I kill my friends? Oh no, they are not heated through enough, throw them in bin as not safe to eat.

I would point out that I am usually pretty competant in the kitchen.

My stress free evening wasn't and I was heartbroken that Mr Muppet had so kindly funded everything.

In hindsight a few cheeses and a piece of pate would have been a better option and a darned sight cheaper. At least it would have tasted good and been at the right temperature.

Just posted this as a word of warning to those who might be thinking about paying over the odds for the sake of an easy time.

Please don't get me wrong. There is a lot of M&S food that I love and do buy as a treat but I just don't think the stress free buffet works as well as the adverts suggest.

Beans on toast today.....LOVELY!

My birthday is next Sunday. My MIL kindly asked today if I wanted to go out for a meal or asked if I would like her to make a meal at home. I chose the latter and asked if she would do it Saturday night instead, so that dh could enjoy a glass or two and not have to get up early the next day. I do agree that meals out can be so very disappointing in December.

smokybabe

Hi guys,

Well we have survived the 'bug' I felt nauseous on Saturday but did not actually vomit (not eaten that day though!) Today we are all recovered and on top form (well the kids were! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: ) I however am just letting go of my referee head and winding down.

The uniforms are out and ready and the lunchboxes done. The last wash is just drying (thanks to LO piddling on the settee) - bad boy - but it was the first wash for the settee covers and they have survived. Just waiting for the throws to dry now. The house is clean and the kids and I have sorted out all of the toy boxes and thrown a lot of junk away.

The xmas shop is done and I just need some basics next week, Mr T's is booked for that. I need to pop out tomorrow for about 6 more pressies and then finish wrapping everything. Hopefully I will find out tomorrow when the gas fires are going to arrive and then re-book the fitters.

I am off for a couple of weeks over xmas as childcare is a problem and I guess we will all survive it, but I have to say that since the car was taken away a couple of weeks ago I have been feeling very low and tearful. I really can't explain why as I did not feel this bad when I cleared out Eric's wardrobe. The car was the last thing to sort out and I scrapped it in the end as I could not bear to think of anyone else in it, anyhow I had left it way to late to sell as it had no tax or MOT and I was told that when it did have those I would have been lucky to get £200 for it.

Anyway, enough rambling. Congratulations to all who are celebrating today and gentle hugs to all of you in need.

Smoky. xxxx

Edit, thanks MIOLIERE, tried the vodka thing and it worked a treat. :T

purpleivy

My dh is on the second of his short trips away for the new project that is going to take him abroad (mexico) for most of 2 yrs. These first 2 trips are only one night away, but I was so touched that ds brought his laptop downstairs to keep me company this evening. DD has gone to Mex for 6 months as part of her 'gap' year, don't think she expected her dad to follow her LOL! she rang last night and we chatted on MSN. Lovely to stay in touch with her, I do miss her. Still, when I first left home and lived abroad there was no mobile phones, texts, emails etc etc, I could only afford to ring home once a month too. I did write to her, but it took 4 weeks to arrive - airmail LOL!

Sickness here recently just been ds with a rather bad sore throat and under the weather, didn't take part in usual Saturday activities, but did a bit today. Hope the rest of you are getting well again.

Muppet81

Money Saving Diva - I LOVE that smiley. Thank you :A