*The Holly and the Ivy* and the You Know What 2013 Chatter Thread.

fatblackandwhite

freespirit66 wrote: »

OMO you are so right about buying just because it is xmas, i had a word with myself about 5 years ago for that, i used to buy dates because my mum/nan used to why???? noone liked or ate them, pickled onions and beetroot would still be in the fridge in summer unopened???

Every year I throw pickled onions away! They get opened, but probably more for the sake of it. Matchmakers - ALWAYS buy them - usually end up with the biscuits at work come about June. Tins of biscuits - the best ones get eaten - the rest get binned (when end up not eaten, same with cheese biscuits, big bags of crisps get half wasted. I always end up buying one of each tin of chocolates and every year end up bunging the leftovers from each tin in a big bag and giving them to my friend for her children to eat...

I really should have a word with myself. I buy way too much every year - infact, more each year. (Although I haven't started on food yet :eek:). I think it is because as a child (cue violins) the only thing mum got in (very tight budget) was a box of family circle and a bottle of REAL coke! (Even today I buy the six pack of glass bottles of coke for the memory, and even that is too sweet as I only drink diet coke :rotfl:)

FeistyFidget

Thanks for all the food advice - will crack on

I make my own pickled onions as I am a bit obsessed with them and it is something my Nan always used to do. In fact once it becomes known I have pickled onions on the go, I generally have family members creeping round for a jar lol.

DH is at his absolute worst and the hospital still refuse to see him to discuss his scan results until the end of October. The swelling is now so severe there is an area that looks like a hernia is developing - but still they refuse to bring his appointment forward - at this rate he will be in hospital begining of December and hopefully out (but on bed rest only) over Christmas We are suing. I know it sounds terrible to sue the NHS, but after a possible misdiagnosis a near fatality on the operating table which would have been avoided had the liaised with his cardiac team as they were instructed and the appalling after care and failed operation he is now out for vengeance. He has been completely destroyed by the hospital, can't work and about to run out of SSP we are at our wits end

mrsinvisible

OK I confess I won't buy beetroot or pickled red cabbage as it is impossible to get the stains of spilled bits out of the carpet! No-one has commented in the past about their absence, I stopped making them about 6 years ago. (still put a jar in the hampers tho.)
I won't be buying tins of sweets, I'll get wrong for that, but most of them end up uneaten, so I will go to the [EMAIL="C@dbury"]C@dbury[/EMAIL] shop and just buy the ones we like and put them in last years tin, m-e-a-n-i e me I'll only buy a small Christmas pudding only 3 of us like it, and sorry mum, the green ginger wine is off the list too.
I save the £5 petrol vouchers from [EMAIL="Morris@ns"]Morris@ns[/EMAIL] all year, DD and DS2 give me theirs too, and I use them to buy the turkey crown and ham joint, and any left over gets used on veg and fruit, so the actual dinner doesn't cost a lot.
Feisty, if they have harmed OH they need to make recompense. And they did harm him, big style.
Nice to see newbies and ex-lurkers, coming aboard.
New sofas came yesterday, lovely, the old ones have gone into conservatory and the ones from there have gone to DS2, his old ones have gone to his friends daughter who has just got her own place, I'm going looking for fabric to make cushions and throws and I will ask santa for a nice rug!
Hope everyone has a good day, and sending hugs to all xx

PoppyGirl

I don't know how you all manage buying food this early! Boring stuff I'd be fine with - I couldn't cope with knowning there was a tin of sweeties or crisps 'hidden' in the cupboard! I bought some Haribo and Kettle Chips last week as they are on half price in Morrisons - they are snacks for our road trip to Wales at the end of next month. I've left them in the boot of the car so they aren't in the house - even that is proving tough! Hoping they last to see the trip!

I'm no further ahead really with Christmas present buying apart from getting some yankee candles in the half price Clinton's sale! I had my first Christmas order from my FB page with is super, so that's the ball rolling in that respect. I've got two fairs booked, and one that's a maybe.

Exciting news though - my friends and I may be going to the Birmingham Christmas market, I've heard it's very good!?

msgigglewick

feisty please don't feel guilty about suing them. they need their socks pulled up every now and then just like every other person in the world. Its terrible he's being left as he is... if he gets too bad make sure you take him to the a&e. A friend of mine was offered a pay out after the inquest into her daughters death threw up inconsistances in her treatement which caused her death... they accepted instead of letting it all be dragged out any longer. but was also told there is large amounts of the budget set aside for such cases (human error they put it down too)

An american friend was always saying 'you never know where your dr/consultant came in their class, so you could be getting treated by someone who came very bottom of their class or even after resits' which is very true too isn't it. Reason why im never scared of asking for second opinions if i believe the first dr's diagnosis is wrong.

sends a big hug

System

lots of lovely parcels arrived today but will have to see to them next week after dd has gone to college.

Food wise we don't tend to get much extra in as we don't do the whole traditional dinner thing, i think this year its a buffet, i tend to bake more and freeze it although im going to play with my new chocolate molds .

For the past few years Ive made my own Christmas crackers but i think this year i might buy some ,any recommendations ?

fatblackandwhite

CHRISSYG wrote: »

For the past few years Ive made my own Christmas crackers but i think this year i might buy some ,any recommendations ?

I can't recommend any - but homemade crackers sound so much better that shop bought ones. I used to buy the more expensive ones (albeit in Jan - very MSE) but found that I binned the contents eventually anyway because who needs a mini screwdriver set on a keyring or a tiny manicure set that would probably ruin your nails! I now buy cheap 'family' crackers.

At least with homemade crackers you know that someone will like what is inside and get some use/enjoyment from it.

LalaGomay

They had a big wall of Christmas tins of chocolates (Roses, etc) in Tesco. But they were £5. That's just the normal price isn't it? I have a vague feeling that last year at some point they were on offer for £3.

Hanley25

Today was my last day at my old job. They organised a buffet and baked cupcakes. The whole office was decorated with good luck banners, confetti and balloons. I had a massive bunch of flowers and £100 in vouchers. Even though I'm not going to miss working for the company I really am going to miss my colleagues. They're all wonderful. Looking forward to starting the new job on Monday now though.

Bought new pic for mil had to pay the full £65 again but at least it's sorted now.

Snugglebunny8

*waves hello* hi everyone, how are you all? am just slowly catching up and its making me smile to see how well you are all doing with Christmas, Im behind this year as its been such a busy summer with gcse's, daughter away on The Challenge and my new job, but determined to make sure I stay caught up!

FiestyFidget Im so very sorry to hear what has been happening to you and your OH, Im the same as MsGigglewick in that I no longer take anything Im told as 100% correct by doctors - we've had so many wrong diagnosis in our family and circle of friends, you must do what is right for you and I hope you are both ok, lots of hugs xxx

Am feeling very sad that summer is coming to an end and hating the thought of facing another winter, but Christmas is what keeps me going through the cold and grey! ... and what has just arrived in my inbox ?? ... http://www.disneystore.co.uk/christmas/mn/1000882/?CMP=EMC-EML&att=280813-b

DISNEY STORE CHRISTMAS SHOP IS NOW OPEN!!!! so many cute things and loads more will be added, loving the Chip n Dale candy cane tree ornament and they have the advent box again £12 which we have out every year

Ive ordered a Disney Christmas fleece blanket from ebay for 4.99 delivered, the Minnie Mouse one for DD's Christmas Eve hamper and filled my Amazon basket with calendars, annuals and dvds so I can watch the prices, pre ordered Greys Anatomy Season 9 for all of us as we are addicted!

I taped Santa Buddies from Sky and I hear tell that Sainsburys will start bringing out their Christmas stock mid september - I saw the tins of sweets in Tesco today too and thought the same ...they are always £5!

We always end up with quite a few tins as I buy them when they are on offer, then end up with the ones nobody likes still sat there at easter! its tradition to have them but wont buy so many this year, and the chocolate Christmas tree decs never seem to get eaten either so may not get those again - I always have the M&S magazine in October in store that shows all the Christmas foods, party stuff etc, its like Food !!!!!!! then plan out our Christmas Eve buffet etc :-)

xxxx