*Stop The Cavalry* It's The 2014 Christmas Chatter Thread

his_missus

Hi all,


Been MIA for a while, work has been so busy and I just haven't had the time to keep up with you all.


Whoever posted the link for cheap amazon jewellery (I want to say nonnie, the name certainly began with N...I think) bad, bad person!;) I've bought loads of little nick nacks like owl necklaces and snowflake earrings - some I think I'll use in my crafting, cheaper than buying card toppers in some cases.


The Christmas crafting stuff I ordered has arrived - papers, couple of stamps, wooden cutouts and an embossing folding. Really want to make a start on my cards but promised my friend we'd have a crafting night and make a start then. Not sure I can hold out though!:p


Booked the accommodation for when we go to London in December - can't wait


What can I say - once X-Factor starts, that's my cue that Christmas is a-coming:rudolf:

freespirit66

Afternoon everyone, i got an email this morning for a sneaky peek at lakelands christmas bits so here is a link if anyone fancies a look:

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/Christmas

newthrift

Having a cup of tea break and catching up. Thanks for the lakeland link freespirit I will have a look in a mo.
pinknfluffy your zombie themed hamper sounds really good.
hismissus I am the same, xfactor on the telly and Christmas is chugging along
nic making a note of your santa rule for future use
feisty yes cause, I use the same recipe that my mum has used since she was 17! ingredients and instructions below:-
ingredients
8oz each of raisins, sultanas, currants and glace cherries (quarter the cherries), 1 1/2oz ground almonds, 7oz plain flour, 2tsp mixed spice, 5oz soft brown sugar (dark is ideal but either works), 5oz margarine, 1TBSP syrup and 3 medium eggs
instructions
*cream margaine and sugar together until soft
*gradually add eggs and plain flour, mixing well between each addition
*add ground almonds, golden syrup and mixed spice - mix
*add fruit and mix well
*turn in to a well lined cake tin, smooth the top with the back of a metal spoon dipped in hot water, make a small depression in the middle, and bake in the center of the oven for 3hours or until golden brown

Cake tin size - me and my mum have used this in both a 6inch tin and 8inch tin, it's just deeper in a 6inch!

The cake tin needs to be fully lined with greaseproof paper/baking paper. Make a round cut for the bottom and then a long piece for the edge - easiest way!

When cooking put a double layer of newspaper around the outside of the tin and secure with some string, the paper should stick an inch above the tin - it will help protect the outside from cooking too quickly as it is in the oven for so long.

Oven temperture 140o (this is a fan oven) I would suggest 150o for any other oven - I don't know about gas though!

Once it has cooled, take it out the tin, make a couple of holes on top with a cocktail stick, poor a little brandy over, and wrap in two layers of baking/greaseproof paper and then foil. Store in a cool dry place and feed it weekly, or every two weeks - whichever you prefer.

I also soak my fruit in a little water and brandy for 24hours before

Although it has egg in, I always make mine around now and we end up finish eating it my Feb and it's always been fine, but it's up to you if you leave them out.

pinknfluffy28

mandco wrote: »

love the zombie hamper primarni have a walking dead tshirt in the mens section which would go great

pinknfluffy does dd know the new season of walking dead is due to start oct 13th?.

Ooh might just be going to primani tomorrow now, thankyou!

And yes, she is counting down the days till the new season!

his_missus wrote: »

Hi all,


Been MIA for a while, work has been so busy and I just haven't had the time to keep up with you all.


Whoever posted the link for cheap amazon jewellery (I want to say nonnie, the name certainly began with N...I think) bad, bad person!;) I've bought loads of little nick nacks like owl necklaces and snowflake earrings - some I think I'll use in my crafting, cheaper than buying card toppers in some cases.


The Christmas crafting stuff I ordered has arrived - papers, couple of stamps, wooden cutouts and an embossing folding. Really want to make a start on my cards but promised my friend we'd have a crafting night and make a start then. Not sure I can hold out though!:p


Booked the accommodation for when we go to London in December - can't wait


What can I say - once X-Factor starts, that's my cue that Christmas is a-coming:rudolf:

Welcome back.

I use x-factor starting as my excuse to go into mad-crazy-christmas-woman mode, after all, once it finishes its usually only a week or so till the big day!

FeistyFidget

newthrift wrote: »

Having a cup of tea break and catching up. Thanks for the lakeland link freespirit I will have a look in a mo.
pinknfluffy your zombie themed hamper sounds really good.
hismissus I am the same, xfactor on the telly and Christmas is chugging along
nic making a note of your santa rule for future use
feisty yes cause, I use the same recipe that my mum has used since she was 17! ingredients and instructions below:-
ingredients
8oz each of raisins, sultanas, currants and glace cherries (quarter the cherries), 1 1/2oz ground almonds, 7oz plain flour, 2tsp mixed spice, 5oz soft brown sugar (dark is ideal but either works), 5oz margarine, 1TBSP syrup and 3 medium eggs
instructions
*cream margaine and sugar together until soft
*gradually add eggs and plain flour, mixing well between each addition
*add ground almonds, golden syrup and mixed spice - mix
*add fruit and mix well
*turn in to a well lined cake tin, smooth the top with the back of a metal spoon dipped in hot water, make a small depression in the middle, and bake in the center of the oven for 3hours or until golden brown

Cake tin size - me and my mum have used this in both a 6inch tin and 8inch tin, it's just deeper in a 6inch!

The cake tin needs to be fully lined with greaseproof paper/baking paper. Make a round cut for the bottom and then a long piece for the edge - easiest way!

When cooking put a double layer of newspaper around the outside of the tin and secure with some string, the paper should stick an inch above the tin - it will help protect the outside from cooking too quickly as it is in the oven for so long.

Oven temperture 140o (this is a fan oven) I would suggest 150o for any other oven - I don't know about gas though!

Once it has cooled, take it out the tin, make a couple of holes on top with a cocktail stick, poor a little brandy over, and wrap in two layers of baking/greaseproof paper and then foil. Store in a cool dry place and feed it weekly, or every two weeks - whichever you prefer.

I also soak my fruit in a little water and brandy for 24hours before

Although it has egg in, I always make mine around now and we end up finish eating it my Feb and it's always been fine, but it's up to you if you leave them out.

Big thank you! I think I shall use this one as it is tried and tested

Lina_T

Hi Christmas-Crazies, I'm checking back in now it's into September :beer: cheers!

I've got nearly all my Christmas cards now, just need a box set of 16 or so next time I pass a card factory for postmen/paperboy etc etc.

Got lots of bits to allocate people (bargains and a couple of bits I've won through comping) but nobody fully ticked off the list yet. I have a challenge of £10 per person. Some people will be more and some will be less but once I count up the people and divide the total amount I want it to come to under £10 p.p. I have about 30 people to buy for so it's a big task. Got my spreadsheet coming along!

Saving my nectar adpoints for Dad's whisky (won some lovely whisky glasses this year so I can put those with it).

Saving my Bubblews credit for OH's Mum's pressie. She's requested some products we got her last year again but they're rather expensive, looking at £40 but if I can get it mostly in Bubblews credit it's no problem.

Applied for the M&S credit card that was recently on here, that sends you a £30 M&S Wine voucher when you spend on it before end of september. Waiting for that to come in the post so i can spend a few quid on it, pay it off, cut it up and get my voucher that will be the bosses bottle of vintage port sorted.

A heads up - I've seen boxes of Celebrations/Roses/Quality Street in the Co-op this morning at 2 for £10. I'm sure the boxes get smaller and smaller each year!

boredjellybean

I want to make some chocolate spoons for the kids advent calendars & as gifts for their friends, I have the wooden spoons on order & some little cellophane bags, I just wondered if anyone knows which is they best type of chocolate to use??

MrsPoppyGirl

Hello, hugs to all.

My Christmas Jumpers arrived today, I can't post them as I'm too new sadly. Bargain from ebay at £14. Not very cheap, but better than £30 each and I expect they will go up nearer the time or be sold out.

I got my husband a blue red and white one and myself the same design in pink and white. I *may* have also bought the dog one!

I've also bought us new stockings (these are not matching - don't want overkill afterall ) from the same person who made my dog one last year. So now we all have one.

If anyone buys pet gifts - TK Maxx had lots of things - I got a wooden puzzle brain training game for £3.99, and some toys for her. I've also seen some nice small pet bowls in B&M for 99p. They come in a few colours and have hearts on, they don't look like pet bowls really and could be used for crisps etc.

I'm not much futher forward with regards to gifts, but getting lots of ideas together! Time to dust off my notebook soon and right list of what I've to get (I know most of you already have done this!)

I'm still impatient for the shops to hurry up!!

System

Rule No 5 is my favourite .

freespirit66

Afternoon everyone, just got my shopping delivery and have 2 boxes of matchmakers to put away in my christmas food cupboard (1/2 price) and two bars of Lindt for stockings (on offer) all still in date :D

LINA welcome back blimey that is a lot of people to buy for! Have you done your Nectar Adpoints this week? What do you think of the new set up, i cant get any sound and at first i couldnt get on with it at all? I have been told that the chocolate boxes are smaller again this year as well

BOREDJELLYBEAN i use Lidl chocolate when i make slabs and spoons, everyone always says they like it

MRSPOPPYGIRL ooh that wooden brain training game sounds interesting, i might look out for that thankyou