OS Daily Thread - Monday 22nd December

wannabe_sybil

justpeyton4now - you are absolutely right. Really, she is here to see little bear. Who is an extremely grumpy little bear and doesn't want to play nicely. She also loves cats but evil cat is in permanent hiding due to little bear. So I shall just keep smiling and pouring vodka - she likes vodka, in large, large quantities.

I shall find some preventative chocolate now.

My late mother in law was worse - I used to cry when I knew she was coming. I wish she were alive today, because she adored little bear and only had a few months with him. It is the one stress I really miss.

justpeyton4now

Good morning everyone! Just made it before noon. I only have a bit of tidying up and to hoover the floors today. DH is off to work and I've been having a bit of a lazy morning.

The furchild (doggy) and I have been out several times and she quite enjoyed her jaunts. Actually so did I. It's rather mild today and dry, tho we are due to get rain later on.

My Christmas to do list is quite small at this point. Just DH's gifts to wrap which won't take long at all. And to pop the small stocking stuffers into our oldest two daughters' stockings. The younger ones (late teen years) came last night with their mum and our g'daughter. We had a nice time and it was good to see them. They seemed pleased with their Christmas gifts. We have a large blended family and DH and I consider all of them "ours" regardless of bio or not.

I have admitted defeat on getting the mince pies done and will just pick up the 18 pack at Iceland for £2. DH doesn't like them nearly as much as I do so I'm going to try to freeze some so I'm not too greedy when I get them home. :rotfl:

Our grocery and household budget is tiny for the rest of December and January. When DH's seasonal job ended and the new one began, we had 2 months without a check with the switch from weekly to monthly pay. The bills are all paid though and that feels good. I've been scouring the forum this morning picking up some more ideas on cheap eats and stretching meals. We ought to be able to do it.

I need to do some searches today on making HM bread. I don't have a BM and yeast and I seem to have a love hate relationship. It rises fine but the taste is just not right. Too much of a very strong yeast flavour to me despite following the recipes exactly. Do you think I could use less yeast and still get the rise without the heavy yeast taste?

((((((((((Beth, Smoky & Everyone)))))))))))) big hugs and know you all are in my thoughts and prayers. Back later to see what's going on.

Edit: It would have been before noon except the forum logged me out when I hit submit. LOL

wannabe_sybil

justpeyton4now - have you tried making soda bread? Also there is a recipe somewhere in a pit in this house for rolls that really are only good for the hour after they are made but I think are called emergency rolls. You may find it with google as I am not able to find anything today. Neither of these uses yeast. Also, I would experiment in yeast reduction and also perhaps changing brands.

Hugs to all.

RosyRed

Hello everyone,hope you're all getting sorted.

I'm feeling slightly despondent at the mo as DS1 and his DF have just been to say goodbye and give us a kiss for Christmas as they are off tomorrow to see her sister in Singapore for 3 weeks,so will miss them on C.Day,but they will ring.I don't know why I'm fussing-I survived their year long travelling expedition.They came up last night with various family members and I did a buffet, a good time was had by all,but I've got quite a lot of leftovers and Tesco delivered my big shop this morning so I'm struggling to put it all away. I have given DS some of it for their lunch and tea.
I have loads (and loads) of spuds,as I got 2 packs of the Aldi 39p ones,and 2 more came from Tesco.I am going to prepare my roasties and freeze them(thanks to that thread-would't have thought of doing it otherwise)Now I've taken out the turkey to thaw I have a little bit of room in the freezer,and will also do some mash for it.I do find that very handy to have in,it reheats nicely in the Remoska .
Need to marzipan the cake and then ice it or will run out of time.
My DB rang this morning asking if his stepdaughter can bring her boyfriend for the C 'mas meal.The more the merrier I said- I have been trying to get him here for a couple of years,but he's quite shy and declined till now. ( He's got a very good appetite apparently)
Right must get going again,feeling sluggish after the late night.Love to all xxxx

donny-gal

WS - You need to use the situation to your own advantage - she adors LB, so when she arrived and is given the suitable tipple say, oh he is such a handful now I cannot get anything done, would you like to play with him for a little while and I can get XYZ done? LB is played with, she is occupied and you can do something without having to make conversation. She will soon see what a handful he is and realise you are not kidding.

DG

Rage_in_Eden

Hello everybody and ho-ho-ho-hugs to all!

Just a quick one as I am going to bed for a lie down - lots to do but I can't do most of it as remember how I said that my knee was really painful? Well GP not surprised it was as I've torn my ligament at the side of my knee - and here's me waiting a week before I went to the GP - I'll never make a footballer at this rate:rotfl: . So, I'm maxed out on Ibuprofen and feeling quite merry! I still have stuff to do but, quite frankly, in the grand scheme of things it's not that important...... all cards (bar one) gone so just some light housework and wrapping to do.....

If I don't get back on here before we go to Glasgow I'd like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year!

2009 - the official year of Old Style (for the Nation - Gordon says so!).

Rage

wannabe_sybil

donny-gal wrote: »

WS - You need to use the situation to your own advantage - she adors LB, so when she arrived and is given the suitable tipple say, oh he is such a handful now I cannot get anything done, would you like to play with him for a little while and I can get XYZ done? LB is played with, she is occupied and you can do something without having to make conversation. She will soon see what a handful he is and realise you are not kidding.

DG

Thank you, it is a really good idea which I have used shamelessly with others, but when her daughter was the same age as little bear is now, my sister in law gave her neat wine. That is, two years old. I don't feel that comfortable with them alone together. At least the whisky bottle my darling father gave little bear to play with was empty - I seem to be the only non drinker in an extended family of alcoholics!

Last time I left little bear with her we took evil cat to the vets, calling in to put the cat back in the house. It was the first time I had left him without a full change of clothes and of course he sprung a leak. So instead of calling us to bring in clean clothes we came in to see him stripped to his nappy and his clothes drying on the radiator. Because then she could prove a point that I had not brought along clothes.

I am honestly sitting here crying because she is coming. Fortunately little bear is happy dancing to ceebeebies, and thank goodness for tv.

When all is said and done, she is little bear's only auntie, her daughter is little bear's only cousin and dear heart is very short of family. Sigh.

I can't help but feel this is a lot of fuss about nothing, but very dispiriting!

Pooky

Good afternoon all

Hugs to all the poorlies or those just feeling a bit blue.

I was up at silly o'clock considering DD's are off as my new fridge was being delivered :j They phoned half an hour before they arrived to let me know they were on their way and were so happy and cheerful - nice to see. The fridge is fab, looks very swish - never had a silver fridge before ...only got one this time round as it was £60 cheaper than the white version

DD's were roped into to help this morning - one's been in charge of washing (sorting and putting in, hanging on radiators etc) the other has been in charge of drinks and dishwasher duties. We've had hot choccy and board games and iced some cakes, they're now watching a film infront of the tree....tis finally christmas!

Something involving rubber chicken and pastry for tea tonight - with mash and beans.

Remember to check when your turkey needs defrosting - for those with a frozen one - we want to cook ours christmas eve so it needed to come out today. Beef will come out tomorrow - will be slow cooking it in elderberry wine. Got a bit of gammon too - will slow cook that in blackberry and apple wine for a change (must remember to soak it tomorrow)

Hope you all have a fab afternoon.

LameWolf

Afternoon all.

I have decided that a major tidy out of the loft is in order. I asked Mr LW to find something up there for me, and it took him four attempts at searching the entire loft before he found it. He kept saying it must be on top of the wardrobe, but I knew for a fact that it was in the loft. I felt so totally vindicated when he finally located it (in the loft) and came down all sheepish. It's just so frustrating that I can't get up there myself to sort it out.

Hardup_Hester

Hi LW
After clearing out ex MIL's loft twice in 5 years, I won't allow anything in mine.
Hugs Hester