Preparedness for when

fuddle

we are just mere mortals eh?

Caves? Do you think they would withstand the mightiest of destructive weather? If they would I think the question would be would us mere mortals survive the person who got there first!

My instinct is drawing me to collect wood from the great outdoors and invest in logs but I am soon to move I to an electric powered house. I do wish there was something temporary we could do in order to get fire powered heat indoors.

GreyQueen

Afternoon all.

Gobsmacking about the historical editing of the Tory archive and the pussillanimous excuses behind it. Next stop, rounding up hardcopy history books and rewriting our collective pasts.

Do you ever feel as if you somehow dropped down the rabbit hole into an Alice-in-Wonderland version of RL but everyone else is pretending like crazy that nothing's even slightly odd? Reminds of the reason satirical comedy songwriter Tom Lehrer cited as being responsible for his retirement back into academe : "Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize."

Just remember that we have always been at war with Eastasia. Unless it was when we were always at war with Eurasia. Stop asking awkward questions, you pesky insolent peasants, if you know what's good for you.

Shropshirelass

I always enjoy putting up and decorating the Christmas tree, even though it is just for the two of us most of the time - several groups of family visitors expected to stay for a few days, but we will mostly be just two. DH having a poorly period at present, and wont be going out much - though I have quite a few dates booked with friends.:j


The tree and most of the decs are years old now, though still nice - a few years ago I decided I needed to retire-and-replace some of the baubles, and found just what I wanted in local CS :cool:, so it is quite state-of-the-art now.


I am planning meals based around local products, as something different for visitors, and feel we will be supporting local businesses. Will have to provide some kind of turkey for DH, but think I might leave the bird to him and just have all the trimmings myself, as they are what I really enjoy... and a bit of pud...


Hope we can all enjoy a healthy time over Christmas and New Year, as that is what makes all the difference. A few nice walks in a bit of winter sunshine, feed the ducks on the local pond, watch the bulbs coming up in the gardens...forget the politicians, who will hopefully be keeping low profiles..


speaking of politicians:eek: , erasing proof of their regretted promises, someone once said - those who do not remember history are destined to repeat it.

GreyQueen

I operate on the principle that if I can see a politician's lips moving, I'm being lied to. Haven't been caught out yet.

Family Crimbles among my crowd are very chilled. We spend a few mins decking the halls with boughs of plastic holly and various geegaws, order in an extra nice beef joint and have a bottle of inexpensive wine and some sherry in the evening.

Dad and I (me being a militant anti-royalist), go walking in the woods so Nan can watch The Queen's Speech with Mum in peace. We exchange small gifts, mostly of books, and a novelty "little else" for under the tree. Mine is to be a mug from Poondland.

Every New Year for the past several years, I have successfully lied about my whereabouts by pretending to each group of friends who ask me to their homes that I have already accepted an invitation elsewhere. This is because I tire easily with ME and it's tortuous to try staying up as late as midnight. Plus I hate dressy clothes and faddling around.

Seeing New Year in lounging on the couch with a small libation and an early night - sheer bliss.

[Deleted User]

Isn't it surprising the number of people (including me) who much prefer all the trimmings and veg for christmas lunch and don't really look forward to the big expensive lump of meat we all feel obliged to buy. Wouldn't it be liberating to just cook the things we liked in quantity with the money we've saved by not buying the BIG roast?

GreyQueen

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Isn't it surprising the number of people (including me) who much prefer all the trimmings and veg for christmas lunch and don't really look forward to the big expensive lump of meat we all feel obliged to buy. Wouldn't it be liberating to just cook the things we liked in quantity with the money we've saved by not buying the BIG roast?

Over 30 years ago, Shirley Conran's Superwoman book said do what you want at Christmas, not what you think you ought to be doing.

If you like egg and chips, bliddy well have egg and chips.

About a decade ago, Mum was grumbling about cooking the turkey; about getting up at silly o'clock to get it in the oven, and all the fuss for a kind of meat which no one much cared for and which we couldn't even palm the leftovers off on the cats.

So, being me, I said what about a beef joint? Beef is our favourite meat (although we find it tastier on special offer, as you do). Mum seemed a little shocked at the idea, there were protestations that it wouldn't seem like Christmas.

But the idea took root. She first cleared it with Nan (her MIL) and Nan was only too happy. So she orders up a lovely bit of topside from the local indy butcher where they shop every week and are valued customers, and money stays in the local economy inc with local lifestock farmer.

Plus the mogs never get tired of mugging people at table for bits of prime beef, particularly Wild Thing, who is a greedy little sausage. But you've seen a pic of her lookie-likee and could you resist such cuteness?

ETA; if anyone hasn't encountered Mr Lehrer's work, please follow this to a recording of his A Christmas Carol http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_56935/tom-lehrer/tpx_1438998

ALIBOBSY

When younger I was veggie and my Mum not knowing what to cook would often do the roast dinner with just the veggies and veggie packet gravy for me lol.

Last year we had a lovely high welfare local joint of beef from the meat farm shop. Not massive, but delicious and not too expensive and a chicken for the kids who don't all eat beef. Loads of mixed leftovers for other meals and still alot less than a supermarket turkey.

That said I am looking forward to this years turkey as I know its locally produced and had a good life, plus its free in return for OH's plucking services.

For what I have read about so called free range turkeys from the big suppliers its a big con.

I would say unless someone really insists on turkey then go for whatever option you really enjoy. One year we had a chicken for the kids and a pheasant for us. Do plenty of trimmings and gallons of gravy and job done.

That reminds me must get the basic gravy done-I use the Jamie O method where you make a yummy chicken gravy from chicken wings and basic veg, then freeze to add the Turkey juices to on the big day. OH love gravy making day as the house smells delicious and he gets a bowlful of chicken wings to pick over lol.

I do yorkie puds no matter what the meat as we all love them and it always reminds me of gran when I make them.

Yum yum.

Ali x

alfsmum

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Isn't it surprising the number of people (including me) who much prefer all the trimmings and veg for christmas lunch and don't really look forward to the big expensive lump of meat we all feel obliged to buy. Wouldn't it be liberating to just cook the things we liked in quantity with the money we've saved by not buying the BIG roast?

With half the household being veggie (including the cook - me!), we do just that Lyn. We love all the veg, cranberry, bread sauce, herby stuffing etc etc. there's no big expensive roast, we each have a portion of what we prefer and even Dh likes the traditional cashew and mushroom roast as opposed to meat. Result is a meal we can all enjoy, no one has to eat something 'just because it's Christmas'. We finish comfortably full but not stuffed so plenty of room for a sweet treat later.

The tree will be the one I bought from someone at work for a fiver a few years back, looks great with all the lights twinkling. Lights are a must have :rotfl:

Gifts will be a single main gift for DDs or money equivalent to spend as they choose, plus a few small items but not lots as it becomes buying for the sake of it. DH and I are allowed something we really need eg new running shoes for him. Small gift for Dh's brother and that's it. Long since agreed with friends, aunties etc not to buy, not because we are mean but less stress for all of us.

The best part of the season for us is a few days with no work or college, have a lie in if we want, extra long walks with the doggers, play card games and do a jigsaw puzzle late into the evening. Already have a couple from the CS and keeping an eye open for more.

We love it. Wouldn't enjoy having to dress up, do the round of parties etc, pretending to have a good time.

VJsmum

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

I reckon most of us have wised up and hope this year they are more of "us" and less of "them" and I am glad MSE and Martin are pushing this message. No way TPTB will agree with this though as a booming economy relies on the masses falling for their lies and buying a load of old tat to pass from person to person every December.

Ali x

Whilst the tide may be turning a bit, I rather fear there are still a lot more "them" than "us". I don't know what it is? The fear of looking mean or too "Bah Humbug?

Watching Downton on Sunday, I was gobsmacked at the shear volume of Christmas adverts - and it's only November? Is it really so important to have that sofa delivered for Christmas? Who does that? Whilst I didn't like everything of Frugal Queen's post on her blog the other day - there were parts I was nodding furiously. Who needs a sparkly dress? who goes to those parties? Who in hell eats all that "orange" buffet food?

Last year we went to Tenerife on Boxing Day and came home on Jan 2nd - it was perfect. Christmas really was one day and then we got some sunshine. Unfortunately we can't do that this year

So we, too, have the tree we've had for years. it is decorated with a combination of stuff - from posh ornaments I've collected over the years, to things the kids made at nursery i.e. a small pine cone with a teeny bit glitter spray :rotfl: I buy Christmas tree decs as holiday souvenirs (or if I am on a work trip), and only if I find some I like - this year one is from Disneyland Paris, one from Sri Lanka (a green sparkly tuk tuk ) and a colleague has just bought me a fab one from the American University we are partnered with - of an American football player. it ain't elegant or classy but it couldn't be anyone else's tree.

THe family have decided they want gammon this year, DD wants a stir fry (she isn't keen on roast). For the first time in many years it will be just us 4 for Christmas day, some invasion between Christmas and new year, and then just us for new year. I am looking forward to it.

Regarding pressies, I have just written a list of 25 (it includes 3 birthdays). I remember at one point it got to over 40 :eek: - but a couple of family deaths and the fact that a lot of the kids purchases have gone (teachers, child minder and her 4 children) have gone makes it a bit more manageable.

Last year I went on a bit of a spree in Sainsburys and bought vouchers for cinema, Nandos, pizza express etc. So much better than a load of tat.

DD is having theatre tickets and DS a mountain bike as he is really into his sport and fancies taking that up now. So that isn't too bad (though not cheap, I realise), they will get other bits (to open!) but nothing of any consequence - clothes, books, smellies, chocolate.

We are having people round on boxing day, and the thing I am looking forward to most is a shop for "lucky" dip prizes for bingo and quizzes etc. An attack on bum bargains and the pound shop produces no end of little prezzies.

Thanks for those other grauniad links, and Tom Lehrer - fab!

[Deleted User]

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

So confirmed with parentals that only the kids will get pressies this year.

I buy for nobody, and nobody buys for me.