Not mentioning the T word at all

scottishminnie

VJsmum wrote: »

. Are we allowed to talk about christmas yet?:cool:

nooooooooooooooooooo -I want to hibernate until it's over. I'm feeling ever so slightly bah humbug:o Actually I guess it's ok to talk about it since it's not going away anytime soon!

I had a trip to Costco today for various bit's n bob's and I did actually start my Christmas shopping with a quilted hooded checked jacket for hubby. He likes them for wearing around the yard and the farm and normally we buy them when we are in the US as they are cheaper and easier to get one to fit him. At 6 ft and 18 stone something he's considered outrageously gross by UK standards so it's easier to get clothes in the states. Anyway there was a 2xl for £13.99 + vat so I snapped it up. They had beautiful ladies shearling mule slippers in a denim blue shade which looked so cosy however I resisted as I really don't need them.

I did have a :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek: moment though. I needed bird food so had popped the bag of seed (£6.79) into the trolley and was lifting the bird nuts when I saw the price - now last time I was there (about 6 weeks ago) they were over £15 so I refused to buy them. This time they were - £22.99 a bag:eek::eek::eek::eek:. I couldn't believe it - is there a worldwide peanut shortage????? As I put them back I could picture my little feathered friends looking dismayed and pooping all over my windows in protest but I simply couldn't justify that. I bought another bag of seed and a bucket of fat balls which I'm afraid they will have to make do with.

Hubby is having a treat tonight as I bought him spare ribs from Costco. He only wants one piece though so they will do tomorrow night too which is good.

Costco had beautiful gift sets (toiletries) which I would have been delighted to receive and very nice leather gloves too which I don't really need. My hands never seem to be warm in leather gloves,in fact the only gloves which keep my fingers toasty are a pair of lurid green ski gloves which I've had for years. They tend to clash with most of my clothes though!

I'm off to rummage in the cupboard to see what I can feed OH along with the ribs. May be back later.

CCP

Evening all.

I've spent the last half hour or so in the kitchen making the HB cheese nibbles I mentioned the other day: I don't know if it's a dodgy recipe or if I did something wrong, but they weren't the greatest success ever. Thanks to some improvising I've managed to produce some biscuits, although not according to the recipe - I'm waiting for them to cool down a bit so I can try one and see if they're edible or a total waste of ingredients (including the last of the milk and butter, so goodness knows what I'm going to have for breakfast tomorrow ). At least I was organised enough to make them a day early so, if they're no good, I can make something else tomorrow - maybe something banana-based as I've got several over-ripe ones sitting in the fruit bowl.

I sympathise with everyone who has troubles with shoes - I've also got funny-shaped feet and find it really difficult to find shoes that fit. I've lost track of the number of pairs that I've bought because they felt comfortable in the shop but have proved unusable after the first wear. I seem to have got a good pair of boots at the moment, though - I bought them yesterday and wore them all day today, without any rubbing at all. They're so comfortable it actually feels unnervingly like wearing slippers to the office!

VJsmum - I'm another member of the over-stuffed freezer club - I just can't resist a yellow sticker.

ETA - the biscuits are edible, but no more than that - I don't think they're good enough to sell, although I'll probably eat them myself (it's better than throwing them away after all that effort). Looks like it might be banana cake instead!

shegar

Gigervamp wrote: »

Yes it has, I'll have a look when I'm in there next.

Made hubby scrambled eggs with the eggs we bought. Even though they're free range eggs, they're not a patch on our girls eggs. They were really pale and anaemic looking. I hope our girls don't take too long off laying!

Cor yea dont you half notice how other peoples eggs are so pale to your own.......Mine are still laying , they never seem to go off lay which is good cos I sell eggs and always got people coming after the eggs..........Ive got 31 hens and my son as 13 so we get plenty of eggs all the time.........

Been nice here again today, suns been shining all day and got all the duvet covers ,sheet,pillow cases washed and all line dried , ironed up too , just finishing them off in the airing cupboard, also got no heat on cos the house as kept at 20 degrees all day , nice to have the sun out in November makes winter seem shorter, and try to keep my horrible SAD from becoming too bad..........................

We are now well past half of the month gone, where as this year gone to?......Hope your all doing ok,and not letting the economy get you down too much,weve all got to do the best we can for ourselves and try to keep our heads above water in these terrible times.........

Hobsons_Choice

I was 70 last July and am getting younger every day. Wish I could afford a red soft top sports car, a Ford Fiesta's just not the same.
Oh well....do what you can and all that.
I've almost finished my C*****mas shopping! We go to Benidorm next Tuesday (note: I don't drive a mobility scooter) and I wanted to get most of it done before we went away, so I wouldn't be stressing about it. Got some good deals with Tesco Clubcard exchange clothing (less good was the fragrances/toiletries) and got a lot of prezzies there, and tried to get in to stores before the rush.
Went to the theatre today (a rare treat) to see Simon Callow in a one-man Dickens show. Terrific, both Dickens and Callow genuises in their fields.
House was cold when we got home, so I'm house testing my new M&S thermal vest...toasty.

SDG31000

Evenin' All
stiltwalker I hope your arm is feeling better.
VJsmum I too have some knitting projects on the go and am not enjoying the current one. I'm still at the just about able to knit one purl one stage and I'm trying to turn a rectangle of knitting into an owl. I did try to find a pattern, but failed and am going from this pic. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tooley-Owl-toy-knitting-pattern-easy-beginners-/120743449430
Time will tell if it works.
CCP have you tried putting some icing or melted chocolate on the biscuits? I find that hides a multitude of sins.
scottishminnie I can relate and I've got most of my shopping done now. I keep asking to get sedated and woken up after Santa has been.

I'm trying to make some space in the freezer so I can get some Christmas baking done. DH and DS1 are waiting for me to go into mince pie baking mode. DS1 loves them so much that he has a few dozen of them in a pile instead of a birthday cake. I'm waiting for December 1st so I can make the first batch of shortbread which is my downfall. If I start making it now I won't fit into any of my clothes by Christmas Eve. Mmmmmmm white chocolate and dried cranberry shortbread and clementine shortbread.
DS1 has hurt his hand/wrist playing rugby at college. Being a typical 15 year old he told me 2 1/2 hours after he got home. It's hurting from his wrist to his little finger, so I've strapped it up and will see how it is in the morning. I'm hoping it doesn't need a trip to A&E as we are at the hospital eye clinic on Friday morning as it is.
Fingers crossed DH will be home soon and he can have a look at it and give me a second opinion. I can't call him because his work phone has died and he left his personal phone at home today. Typical isn't it.
Take care everyone xxx

oldtractor

Same here re freezer, I've made mincemeat and frozen some HM pastry. I have a frozen turkey crown. I have the presents bought and wrapped and the decorations all looked at and dusted ready to go. I have a holly bough in a bucket of water by the shed. Xmas? Bring it on!
Hope your son is ok SDG

maryb

Lidl had their frozen goose in today so I snapped one up. I didn't mamge to get one last year so sent DH to Smithfield on December 23 as his office is near there. He spent £50:eek::eek::eek::eek:

And it was no nicer than the Lidl's one we had the year before. So I wasn't taking any chances

CCP

SDG31000 wrote: »

CCP have you tried putting some icing or melted chocolate on the biscuits? I find that hides a multitude of sins.

Sadly they're savoury biscuits - cheese ones - or I would indeed be going down the icing route! They're actually not as bad as I first thought - they have a rather floury texture and aftertaste which isn't quite right, but are surprisingly more-ish for all that (which is why there are only about half of them left ).

My evening isn't going well - I've just noticed a dripping noise from the bathroom and the leaky sink which was supposedly fixed last week isn't, and the carpet's soaked. I'll be having a word with my landlord tomorrow, possibly suggesting that he gets someone competent to do the repair this time! :mad: (I am grateful that I don't have to pay for the repair, though, which is one of the few good things about renting a flat.)

mmmsnow

Argh, Christmas.

<begin rant>

I'm having my parents over (cooking Christmas dinner for the first time this year!) and my mum's already moaning about the fact that I'm not putting up a Christmas tree. "Why?" I asked her, "Why would an atheist and a Buddhist have a Christmas tree?" This was followed by the inevitable "because it's nice". Then (and this makes my blood boil) she says, "You can both come over to us, WE'LL have a tree." When I said "no", she then decided it would be best for us to go out for a meal.

Now, after much grumbling, my parents are definitely coming to mine and, what's more, they aren't bothering with a tree. Sometimes I think my mother likes this strange, low-level drama she creates. I'm a little hurt that every invitation to come to our flat is met with, "Oh, you should come to us, instead." :mad:

I can cook and I do keep a clean house so I don't understand what the problem is!

</end rant>

Glad to get that off my chest.:D

Bobbykins

Awwww mmmsnow - you know you've really made me think there!.

I have realised that I am guilty of responding to invitations to my DD's house with a counter-invitation to mine and have never before thought how it must seem to her :eek::eek::eek:.
I know she can cook very well, I know her house is clean (ish ) and my seeming reluctance to go is nothing to do with any of that anyway. It's just that I think it would be nicer for her not to have to go to all the bother and invite her to me thinking it would be a nice rest for her. I kind of think I am helping her if you see what I mean? Maybe that's what your DM is thinking too?

Anyway, now you've pointed out how it feels "on the receiving end" of parental overuling, I promise to accept graciously the next invitation my DD issues. Thanks.