5 OS Pleasures in your Day Today part 2

sparrer

Not feeling much like Christmas today as DM isn't so well so isn't coming to stay. However am trying to turn things around and find some good from the bad..

1. Phoned the hotel to cancel Christmas dinner, they don't give cash refunds but have said they'll give back the whole amount in vouchers to use throughout the next 12 months.

2. There's a turkey drumstick and some parsnips in the freezer and some chestnut stuffing in the cupboard so I'll have a Christmas dinner of sorts - lucky I don't like Christmas pud as there isn't any but I'll enjoy the lemon tart I've been saving

3. Lovely friends visited today with a big box - I think I know what's in it as some months ago I mentioned I'd love a slow cooker, and they said they now knew what to get me for Christmas. Lucky me having such thoughtful friends, and with such good memories, too. There a pack of braising steak in the freezer so it's taking me all my willpower not to open the present now and read through the recipe book

4. The temp has gone up several degrees, it sarted to rain mid afternoon and is still just about drizzling. The horrid white stuff is going, just hope it doesn't get cold again and freeze tonight

5. Watched Grumpy Christmas on television, it just sums up how I feel sometimes! My sort of dry humour though so excellent entertainment

night night all, sleep well and stay safe
S x

Muppet81

Sparrer - sorry to hear about your DM. I am feeling worried that my Golden Oldies will not be able to get to us due to the snow and it is so dissapointing when you have it all planned and are looking forward to it. Try to find those positives (put your feet up, chill and watch whatever you want on the TV) and remember it is only a day as any other ... you and DM will no doubt get together soon and have a delayed celebration as we will with the Golden Oldies.
Good friends are priceless aren't they. Hope you enjoy your pressie.
Sending you hugs.

Olliebeak

Morning everybody :wave: - brrrrrr - we had a bit more snow last night, so a distinct possibility of a 'White Christmas' here.

bunny too - wd on being so organised this year :T - such a great feeling isn't it . I've got two fridge/freezers and a small chest freezer all bursting at the seams (have to admit that it isn't ALL home-made but anything that has been bought has been at a bargain price ) so I know that I can 'play the hostess' with confidence when necessary. wtg on your Barley Casserole :j.
savingforoz - wtg that your decorating got finished :T and wd to your boss for the great bonus .
Tealady - how lovely of your DD to fetch you a cuppa in bed - hope you mum feels up to celebrating Christmas a little with everybody else this year.
Caterina - lol at your DH, typical male :rolleyes:. Shame about the service not being completely candle-light - do you think some of these could be to do with Health and Safety/Insurance Issues out side their control? Hope you and DH enjoy your Twixmas Break in Chichester - that Exhibition sounds good .
Broomstick - What a great idea to have a family meal out like that - so much less hassle than trying to squeeze everybody into one family home with one poor lady trying to cater for all tastes :j. Wd on finding a use for the sheep's wool and how sweet of your DS and his g/f swapping home-made bakery treats.
Muppet - :T to you and all the people at the BHWT for the work you do - giving the gift of life to all those 'girls'. What lovely neighbours to offer the use of their 4x4 like that - but sorry to hear your 'golden oldies' won't be able to visit you after all - hope they all have alternative plans to put into action. Just hoping that you don't get completely snowed in for too long.
sunflower76 - wd that you're on top of the housework/meal planning and on finishing your hand-made Christmas cards . Enjoy your time off work and hope you can manage to get your holiday re-booked for sometime soon.
scintus_macbintus - nothing at all wrong with admiring a young man's cute bottom - long may we all continue to do so . The older we get, the less opportunity - so 'bring it on' :rotfl:. wd to your friend for her positive attitude for her.
nic1lou2 - oh dear - talk about prolonging the agony - how mean of them to do that yet again. At least it gives you chance to get through Christmas first - and what a lovely opportunity to have lunch with your DD's instead :j.
kiwiblue - good to hear that your DH is enjoying his life to the full - those Marlin had better start swimming pdq - :rotfl:. Enjoy your family celebrations :dance:.
bella - Having your dgk's to stay is a wonderful reason for 'falling behind' with this thread - great to see that you, AND they, all enjoy being together so much :T.
nuttybabe - great news that you've heard from the insurance company in such a positive way :T and wd on your afternoon baking session :j.
ACEY - what a great day you had and wd you on getting you all home safely after such an horrendous journey back.
sparrer - sorry to hear that your mum isn't very well and you've had to cancel your christmas plans. Great that you've got 'contingency supplies' to magic up a Festive Lunch like that. What fabulous friends you've got :j. for your mum for a speedy recovery. Not sure if it's just ME - but are the 'grumpy oldies' in the programme getting younger these days ?

Mine for yesterday:

1. Lovely smooth day in work - no major problems - in fact some of them headed for a couple of weeks to sunnier climes till New Year - lucky people. Many of the others will be going away for a few days from today onwards - so should be down to about half (or third) by this evening.

2. Visit from DS1 this morning - needed a trip to Yorkshire for work reasons, so called here first for hot drink and brekkie.

3. Was able to get out in the afternoon to get the last two Christmas presents and remainder of the shopping. So well stocked now that shouldn't need much until Feb - apart from fresh veg/fruit, bread and milk.

4. Wonderful Shank Stew with Dumplings last night for evening meal and supper. Left-overs in a container in the fridge for now - may get used for lunch later today. Also got a large bowl of Ham Stock in the fridge - very jellified :drool:.

5. Need to visit my other scheme this afternoon as a couple of tenants have asked for me to 'call on them' - will do that around lunchtime as I want to be settled down to watch Flint Street Nativity this afternoon on ITV3(+1) at 12.50 (1.50). That will be time for a cup of 'special coffee and a mince pie' :j.

6. May need to cook the Turkey this afternoon as well. It's back in the fridge at the moment, but I'll give it a really good check-over to make sure that it's fully defrosted. At least that would give me a good start for tomorrow AND an empty oven in the morning ..............

7. More pressie wrapping later today and looking forward to Carol Service at 11.30pm and Midnight Mass tonight.

I hope everybody has a lovely old-style day. to you all, especially everyone who's not well or has loved ones who aren't well. Take care of yourselves and I hope that you get to spend Christmas with people you love. Speak again later, if I get chance - love Ollie xxx

scotrae

Acey - take it easy out there. I hope that you and yours are snuggled up safely ready for the Big Day now.
Broomstick - good for those young people of yours! Isn't that so sweet?
Nuttybabe - I'm curious about the white choc melted in butter and might give that a go, as I'd got white choc and cranberries ready to make some Twinks today.
Olliebeak - special Merry Christmas and festive blessings to you and yours.
Sparrer - I hate to think of you alone at Christmas hope you have a relaxing day, with a phonecall to DM and seeing some other folk to share festive greeetings and the spirit of Christmas with. How lovely of your friends to buy such a kind and thoughtful gift!

1. I didn't get to bed til 2am after getting my final pre-christmas job application done (although I don't really think that the organisation will be staffed this morning, looking at the roads round here). Getting that done and crossing my fingers was my biggest cost-free pleasure today!

2. Making a tray of peppermint crisp with cheapest dark choc and smashed-up Extra Strong mints. Intended as HM gifts for aunts and uncles but I managed to sustain myself into the night whilst doing the application - with plenty left to bag up this morning. It looks and tastes lovely!

3. 'Fixing' the Wii, which hasn't worked for a few days. It turned out that I'd put it back upside down after dusting the other day, so we were putting the disks in upside down - but please don't tell my children that!

4. Waiting until I was sure that our first real snowfall was settling before opening the curtains and calling DS1 to have a look. "Mum - this is the best night of my life!" he said as he raced about snowballing in our road a high-vis jacket.

5. Trimming a block of past-it puff pastry and frying whoopsied cooked chicken (which DS1 insisted was awful when I made him a sandwich) in spices to make 'sweet barbecue chicken pizza-pastries'. DS1 loved it and couldn't get enough! (Is it wrong to feel triumphant satisfaction when I get one over on my children like this?)

Well - with job-hunting on hold for the festivities I've got gifts to deliver, truffles to make and a whole lot of house to tidy!

For anyone reading this for the last time before Christmas Day proper, I wish you well. Have a happy and peaceful day and stay safe.

Muppet81

Yippee!!!

A neighbour has lent us his snow chains so it is possible that we can get our Golden Oldies here after all :j

Happy Christmas wishes to you all with a special mention for Sparrer.

nuttybabe

hi all

Mine for today are:

1 feeling great this morning even after another late night of sewing and knitting but got it all finished.

2 getting the last of the xmas shopping quickly and easily.

3 getting all veg prepared and other bits so can hopefully spend most of tomorrow with kids.

4 seeing the kids faces after opening the hamper and they are now wearing their new pj's and cuddling their new sock monkeys.

5 we are all watching xmas film with choc money and snowman soup. Got the reindeer food to put out later.

Just got the presents to wrap when kids in bed.

Have a great christmas everyone.

bellaquidsin

Today's pleasures:-

1. Managing to catch up with reading all these posts after getting so far behind.

2. Reverbe good to see you back, hope things will improve for you soon.

3. The house is spic and span.

4. Ironing up to date.

5. All holiday baking and preparations complete, even done the veggies for tomorrow.

Bella.

katieclampet

I often read this thread, but don't post often, but have been counting my blessings since its christmas

*shopping all done, presents bought and wrapped
*tree & decorations up & look lovely
*having all my family together on christmas eve (but not christmas day)
*being at home all nice and cosy, and not having to go out
*and it looks like we are going to have a White Christmas!!

Happy christmas and a peaceful & prosperous new year to all.

katiex:j

Reverbe

Aww Bella I am touched and honoured to be one of your pleasures. Just popped on for some lifesaving truffle advice.First time I made them and I have had a few issues..

Had an unexpected pleasure as the florist stall in town that me and flatmate know gave us a lovely bouquet to take round to his mums as they are giving us Xmas dinner and company tomorrow. Normally we get a discount but this time he knew how bad things are esp as he has taken a room in the offices Fmate works in. He just wouldnt accept any money for them at all. It's a lovely huge bunch with a snow man, toffee apple and glitter too.Have to say that is twice in the last few days I have been so touched beyond words and moved to tears from people we really do not know.

Will post at length soon but for now can I just wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas. Hope you are all safe and warm and well, and giving those of you who need them especially at this time a great big warm long hug.xxxxx

Frith

Well, Christmas Eve has gone really well! I'm alternating between feeling very happy and rather emotional. Thinking of Sparrer too as we shall be spending Christmas with my mum and dad tomorrow and *hopefully* my Grandma is going. She is 92 and its rare we pluck up courage to take her out. (That sounds a bit nasty, reading it back, but I mean she is very old, very frail and its a tremendous amount of responsibility for the person who collects her).

Anyway, 5 for Christmas Eve!

1) Got up this morning and managed to do all the housework type jobs I needed to while the boys made another snowman!

2) Drove a couple of miles then left the car and walked the rest of the way to drop 2 Christmas cards off. For me, the walk was lovely - all on footpaths through stunning countryside, deep snow, deer tracks. We probably walked 3 miles in all and I thought it was great - apart from the whinging about the length of walk/cold from one smaller person!

3) Got back here and my friend from school came round.

4) Friend had gone then my sister came round. She had brought the boys Christmas Eve presents (slippers and books) and I always get them new pyjamas every year (Primark specials). So they have been in their pyjamas since 5pm.

5) Cooked a roast for tea. I have no confidence in my cooking, despite cooking for myself since I left home at 18 and my sister IS good at cooking but everyone seemed to enjoy it. I didn't know sister would stay for tea so it was a bit "right, better do some peas too!" but it was fine.

6) Boys are now watching TV and popping in here to track Santa on NORAD.

Quiet evening for me now, some television watching and Quality Street eating later on. Santa in this house would like to be left a mince pie and a small glass of sloe gin :-)

Merry Christmas, everyone. :-)

L