Two Pennies Left

Fortune_Smiles · 9 December 2013 at 8:57AM

Thank you everybody for your kind comments about the cake. I am quite proud of it - it's not perfect but I feel I did a good job for my first one.

I'm feeling properly on the mend now and have had a busy and productive last few days:

bottled the Christmas Pudding Vodka. Of course I had to quality test it - delicious!
bottled some Damson Gin which had been gently brewing in the back of a cupboard for the last 6 months
decanted some Crème de Mures into a beautiful bottle I've been saving
hand painted some gift tags for the drinks bottles
made snowflake sweets with the leftover marzipan from the cake, drizzled melting chocolate and popping candy
did lots of admin work which I'm nearly caught up on now
caught up on some housework
Mr F and I visited our neighbour's winery on Saturday morning (I know, I know - when is all this wealth going to rub off on us?). They had an open day which included a tour of the winery, tastings and a walk around the estate. It was very interesting to see our local area from the other side of the lane. We bought a few bottles for Christmas presents
Across-the-lane-neighbour invited us to an impromptu drinks party in the evening. I rustled up some gougere and we took a bottle from the wine rack and some beers. I wrapped up the presents for the children and took them over along with the Crème de Mures
travelled down to Surrey for lunch with my family yesterday. Took the vodka, some cider from the winery and the marzipan sweets as gifts. We travelled in the company car so no fuel costs.
finished the Christmas shopping :T

I'm still a bit behind on things but my list is a whole lot shorter than last week. As Beanie says - I will keep on plodding.

Have a great week everyone

Fortune x

LauraJo · 9 December 2013 at 9:07AM

Wow you have been busy - puts us all to shame

What is xmas pud vodka???? I missed that one!???

Fortune_Smiles · 9 December 2013 at 9:26AM

LauraJo wrote: »

Wow you have been busy - puts us all to shame
What is xmas pud vodka???? I missed that one!???

Hi LauraJo

just playing catch up after being poorly for ages. Christmas Pudding Vodka - vodka infused with dried fruits and Christmas spices. It's the first time I've made it and I wasn't sure about it but it's actually delicious.

Fortune x

shala_moo · 9 December 2013 at 4:40PM

Can we see a picture of the marzipan sweets too please Fortune, i'm intrigued (and I love marzipan!)

Also, (Sorry i'm full of demands today

) can I ask what you'll do with your gin soaked damsons? OH has made two lots of gin (one's already been drunk) but I don't want to throw out the damsons we've got left.

I've been looking at coulis recipes but it says it only lasts for 2 days before going off

and we have 2kg of damsons to use!

Fortune_Smiles · 9 December 2013 at 9:34PM

shala_moo wrote: »

Can we see a picture of the marzipan sweets too please Fortune, i'm intrigued (and I love marzipan!)

Also, (Sorry i'm full of demands today ) can I ask what you'll do with your gin soaked damsons? OH has made two lots of gin (one's already been drunk) but I don't want to throw out the damsons we've got left.

I've been looking at coulis recipes but it says it only lasts for 2 days before going off and we have 2kg of damsons to use!

Hi Shala

I would love to post you a photo of the marzipan sweets but I'm afraid they've either been eaten or given away as gifts. However, it was the same cutter I used for the snowflakes on the cake so that should give you some idea.

I stone the damsons (or sloes) and mix them with melted chocolate (dark, milk or white all work well). They look great if you make them into slabs and then roughly break them up. A cellophane bag and some Christmas ribbon and you've got lovely gifts too...

... I've made myself feel hungry now :rotfl:

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles · 9 December 2013 at 10:06PM

... if I didn't keep adding things to it!

Another productive day:

paid for the boiler service and repairs
submitted my admin claim
picked up Mr F's dry cleaning - £6.85. Dropped some more off
posted a Fleabay item. Only 1 of my stocking filler bags sold but it did sell for more than I expected. I've relisted the remaining 6 but only for 3 days. I don't want to be stressing about getting things to people in time for Christmas
transferred £12.84 to the bank account from PayPa1
picked up wrapping supplies in the C0-0p and got £4.40 off in coupons
sorted out my outfit for Friday's party
a little admin work
a 95p Tillytidy
signed the contract for the alarm system. Mr F heard that burglaries had gone up 27% in Kent in the last year. He's been nagging me ever since so, hopefully, the installation will happen on Monday
sent out Christmas wishes. We have donated the money we'd usually spend on Christmas cards to Help for Heroes this year. I've put a Jibjab card on Fac£b00k and emailed it to people to let them know. It's the one called the Macareindeer. Very funny to see Mr F dancing around - he's usually very staid :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Hope your Christmas preparations are going well

Fortune x

shala_moo · 10 December 2013 at 10:21PM

Fortune_Smiles wrote: »

Hi Shala

I would love to post you a photo of the marzipan sweets but I'm afraid they've either been eaten or given away as gifts. However, it was the same cutter I used for the snowflakes on the cake so that should give you some idea.

I stone the damsons (or sloes) and mix them with melted chocolate (dark, milk or white all work well). They look great if you make them into slabs and then roughly break them up. A cellophane bag and some Christmas ribbon and you've got lovely gifts too...

... I've made myself feel hungry now :rotfl:

Fortune x

Thanks Fortune, i'd found a recipe for chocolate, almond and damson slabs so i'll be trying that :T:T

Fortune_Smiles · 11 December 2013 at 10:04AM

The 'phone didn't stop ringing yesterday. I had lots of lovely, long conversations with friends but didn't get much done!

it looks as though the alarm will be installed on Monday so I've paid the deposit :eek: The savings account is looking very light now
did the weekly grocery shop to take me up to Christmas. Should be £103.46 under budget :T I'd budgeted for 2 weeks and we're only looking at 1 1/2 weeks before we go away. Plus we are eating out on a few days
started a preliminary sketch for art class - we're doing portraits today
slaughtered the ironing
Sausage and Mushroom Pasta for supper last night. Mr F was away so I used up whatever was looking sulky in the fridge. There is enough for lunch today too

Mr F went for an interview yesterday. It was with the Company that headhunted him but then offered the role internally. At the time they said they had another role in mind they wanted to see him about and it's come up. It's a good job but Mr F's current job is just as good they just offer different opportunities. It will be a tough decision if he's offered it and we'll have to have a think about how it fits with what we want to achieve going forward. However, if he's not offered then he still has a good job he enjoys and he's lost nothing.

I'm hoping he'll be offered - even if he doesn't take the job I'd like to see him get the boost.

Happy hump day all

Fortune x