The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

cornishchick

Fuddle.
Hearts mean love and ChristmasIis all about love.
Could you make a big mince pie, or a something like This?

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2175/barneys-rolypoly-mince-pies

Pooky

I refuse to buy crackers with their plastic tat, I've done the "fill your own" ones this year (£1 in last years sale) and popped a scratch card in each with a little gift personal to the person who will get it on their plate. I keep an eye out at C's and boot fairs for cracker sized pressies.

Last year we brought DDs tickets for the ballet and popped them in their crackers, they were so impressed, always nice to have something to look forward to later in the year.

Ginny - would love to see the quilt, get some piccies up!!

Been trying to do some latch hook rug making this afternoon but ginger kitten thought it was very tasty canvas and kept carrying my wool away to his basket. Rather counterproductive.

DD1 has spent the day finalising her Uni application, DD2 got sent home with chest pains.....it's been a little fraught and I'm looking forward to bedtime.

bluebag

Sweet_Pea_Cottage wrote: »

Why isn't this thread in the Arms? It's quite cliquey

Goodness me, that's very rude.

[Deleted User]

FUDDLE if you've got a baking sheet/tin you can make mince pies with flat bottoms and cut the top circle of pastry bigger to fit over the mincemeat on the lower circle. If you damp the edges of both circles with water before you stick them together they will stay secure and the mincemeat shouldn't leak out. Make an airhole in the top of the pie and they'll cook perfectly well. To make them pretty brush the tops with a little milk and sprinkle on some sugar, they will be lovely, Lyn xxx.

maryb

I think it may be an Irish tradition but when I was small my much older brother and sister would go to Midnight Mass with one of my parents on Christmas Eve, then everyone would open presents when they got back. I have vivid memories of being lifted out of my cot to join in.

It was only as I got older I realised it meant that I slept in on Christmas morning!

mardatha

My granny did this too mary

lobbyludd

what very clever parents Mary!! (although mine would be u until 6 am playing I suspect ).

Home made crackers is a lovely idea flower.

I don't buy the shop ones, as I think they are a tremendous waste of money, but in one half of my family, it's essentially a competition to find the most rubbish ones possible each year, with everyone groaning about how truly terrible they are, and I do enjoy that

Our christmas won't really be old-style in a completely tech avoiding/ home made sense (although I have made some presents and decorations) but I think it's possible and everyone should try and make it a christmas that is special to them, rather than anybody else's idea of special.

I've had an epiphany about cards, I buy them every year, in advance, with great intentions of writing thoughtful messages to those I rarely see, but that's aspirational me. Real me ends up hurriedly scribbling generic "love from us" on all of them, put stamps on most, locate addresses for only a few and mainly hand them out to those I see. I initially thought I'd make a grand email announcement that I wasn't sending them this year so will donate to charity instead - but I realised most people will not notice any difference because I don't get round to putting them in the post! so I'll just give the money lol.

don't want to keep feeding the troll, I've found it very welcoming here, although I can understand that it can look like an tough crowd to crack as people naturally have formed ways of speaking to each other and carry on jokes over time, but that's not the same as "cliquey". and if anyone does need a bit of reassurance from time to time and others are happy to give that it really is not a problem is it? Might be worth remembering that forum administrators can track the IP address that a "second" identity is posting from and link it to the poster's normal identity, so trolls are rarely as anonymous as they think they are.

anyhoo, ds has finished his homework for this half term, to be handed in tomorrow, his play is out of the way, had an apology from boss today about being irritated over something she'd formerly agreed to, and one day left to the weekend, and everyone is well so all happy in this household

ginnyknit

Fuddle, cut circles out of pastry, little spoon of mincemeat on one side dampen edges and fold in half, crimp the edges and you have little mincemeat pasties. Brush with egg wash sprinkle with sugar and Bobs your auntie!

bluebag

ginnyknit wrote: »

Fuddle, cut circles out of pastry, little spoon of mincemeat on one side dampen edges and fold in half, crimp the edges and you have little mincemeat pasties. Brush with egg wash sprinkle with sugar and Bobs your auntie!

Now why can't I think of things like that? I am seriously missing the practical gene.

Thank you so much, solved a real headache for me.

Broomstick

jem132 wrote: »

Broomstick Thankyou yes my ds has a weighted blanket but that doent work he hates it after I paid loads for it .

Oh well. That's such a pain after spending all that money on one. I bet there's a second-hand market for them though.
Wishing you both a decent night's sleep soon.

B x