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

Snugglebunny8

caitlyn22 wrote: »

Thanks freespirit66 - we are booked for Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall! I had a romantic notion of seeing it late afternoon on the weekend after a day pottering in the city...before going on to skate and get hot chocolate or take a horse ride in the park. But I really couldn't bring myself to pay the costs of the prime-time shows!! OH was happy as it's a treat but I would have spent the whole time thinking this cost HOW much?!?! So we went for good seats but on the Monday morning. :j

Feisty so sorry to hear about your hubby. What a mess. It's horribly traumatic but write everything down, keep an online diary if needs be as I've been through something similar and it can drag on for a long time and I found at the point I needed to tell my side of the story I almost couldn't give it justice because I'd worked so hard to put it behind me! Hugs to you, let us know if we can do anything to help. I've quite the eye and pen for a fierce letter of complaint if it's needed

I have used this recipe halved previously and it turned out well so could even be quartered: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1160/simmerandstir-christmas-cake

I know they say cooking is an art and baking a science but I think Christmas cake is the exception, it takes a lot to mess it up so just go with approximate amounts! I've cooked them in baked bean tins then cut them in half to make two mini ones but my most successful mini ones have been using one of those Heinz tinned pudding cans. Plus you're forced to eat the pudding...

That's some impressive sofa recycling mrsinvisible, bet it felt good how that all worked out for everyone!

Poppygirl I'm like you, I can stockpile lots of things but tins of chocolate would be a struggle! I will still be buying a tin of roses - just the smell when you first open it is part of Christmas for me :rotfl:

I'm not too bad for buying other seasonal food stuff but I am going to have to remember that I do not really want to spend my entire month off cooking daft things everyday. I convince myself I'll do loads from scratch and I end up in January with some smoked prosciutto, some random frazzled herbs and a pack of ricotta, with no clue what it was all for.

Snugglebunny, I've said before that my OH swings from amazing present buying to moments of me saying "erm...what were you thinking?!' One year, after spotting Santa Buddies and saying how I loved the look of it, I got the entire Disney 'buddies' collection on DVD! There were bloody dogs in space, dogs in snow, dogs in Hawaii, dogs in theatre - about ten DVDs in total! I've been watching old Grey's as I'm all up to date on it. I love to watch the last couple of episodes of each season - all the dramatic ones!

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:thats a lot of labradors in anyone's book!!!:D

Im sooooo envious of you going to NYC! what you have planned sounds really wonderful! whenever we watch the US Open tennis and they show the shots of the city Im muttering 'MY NYC ...MINE!' I wish! will you get to the Magnolia Bakery for cupcakes? Im so disgusted we dont have any cupcake shops here other than in London LA has some amazing ones, I was addicted to peanut butter cupcakes, must try and make some

We only got into Greys this year, we tend to discover series to watch that have been going for years so we have loads to catch up on, otherwise - like Revenge, Homeland etc we have to wait ages for the next series! We loved Greys from the first episode so I got the series 1-6 box set then seasons 7 and 8, we try to ration oursleves to one episode per night but its usually 2, we have 4 episodes of Season 8 left to watch then will have to wait til Novemmeebr for season 9 ... son the kdis and I have gone back to the beginning and on days Im not working we watch some old ones - we are on season 2 .. the Bomb In The Chest, gulp! :cool: Have you watched Private Practice? think will have to start that next as Addison is in it and some others guest star - they were filming it in Santa Monica last year when we were there, though didnt know what it was at the time!

Snugglebunny8

fatblackandwhite wrote: »

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Christmas/b/44386030

Squee!

Oh Dear God! now Im in trouble! :beer:

Snugglebunny8

ELJAYCOCK wrote: »

POPPYGIRL may have missed it somewhere but whats your fbook page? Love to look at what people do and 'like'

Looking forward to children going back to school next Tuesday, have got loads of stuff stashad in my wardrobe and under bed and need to go through and actually see what I've got! :j sad to though as my Little man is starting school and I'm gonna miss him:( what will I do with my time, sure I'll fill it with stuff!

Off to Chelmsford on Monday with children had promised them we'll Park and ride, they love the bus! The Costas for babychinos and then the Entertainer to get some ideas of what they want for xmas.

DD is desperate to buy some sylvanian stuff with her pocket money, what shes not aware of is I've bought some of the stuff on offer and put it away. Hope she doesnt pick something I've already bought?

Gonna spend some time today looking at 'organized christmas' web page. Need to print off pages for getting organsied! Lists are whats needed!

Sounds like a lovely day! :beer:

I absolutely hate the kids going back after the summer, September is my worst time of year after January, makes me think of colder days and grey skies! I miss them so much when they go back - plus then its all manic with getting them up and out, sorting uniforms, traffic is always terrible when schools go back and having to sit in it for ages to pick up DD as her school is further away and when its getting dark at 4 in winter shes only just leaving so dont want her walking all the way in the dark - holidays so much more relaxed!! my contract at the supermarket is all weekend so if Im made permanent after my 12 weeks (end Sept) Im wondering if they will give me some week hours as well and if I can fit them around school - Ive done overtime each week but its 8 hour slots so dont know what will happen, am doing 10-6 today so better shift my a$$! :cool: xx

Own_My_Own

Well it's just gone 9 and I have already had a flaming row with a bin man and phoned the council to complain about him. I do hope my day gets better.

Hanley25

Feisty - The fudge are mine and my brothers fave sweets in the tins. We always wind each other up when we visit my mum's cos we eat as many as we can before the other visits. Although my brother took it one step further last year. He filled a sandwich bag with all the fudge and took it home. My mum said my face was a picture when I arrived and found out. :rotfl: Hope everything is sorted with your dh soon. I agree it really sounds like they've not looked after him properly. Good luck with everything.

Trendyjenny

Head pop in x

Ameyturtle

hello all,

will pop back in later after my mega 12 hour day. keep your fingers crossed for lots of tips for me lol.

God knows I need it right now

Love and hugs to all xx

PoppyGirl

ELJAYCOCK wrote: »

POPPYGIRL may have missed it somewhere but whats your fbook page? Love to look at what people do and 'like'

I don't think I'm allowed to post details of them on the forum, I'll try and update my profile with them. I agree, always good to have a look at what other people are doing, and get ideas! Anyone else who'd like to, please have a look and give me any feedback you wish. I'd also love more likes on FB (I'm at 30 at the mo!)

Lina_T

Hi guys, sorry I've not posted for a couple of weeks, general life madness getting in the way. My brother and sister-in-law have just had a little baby so I'm now an Auntie :j she went 12 days overdue and had to be induced but all is well and I got to see her in the hospital for the first time last night. Such a little cutie!

It's 10 days to my holiday to Majorca so I'd better start getting my stuff together for that.

Christmas-related, I've just bought some nice handkerchiefs from M&S to put with my granddad's present and these stickers from Amazon to put on presents and whatnot.

I need to have a proper read and catch up of what I've missed but my thoughts are with Feisty and her DH, Freespirit and her DS and anybody else who isn't having much fun at the moment.

pinknfluffy28

Lina T - Congratulations on becoming an auntie! :beer:

Grrr to the m&s christmas shop, although lovely, there really isnt much of it yet!
Have just downloaded a couple of free xmas stories for my kindle - well, its never too early for a good winter warmer right? :cheesy: