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

KiWi13

Phew finally got caught up on most posts from August up to date.

Hugs to everyone that is in need of them - would seem quite a few are going through some rough patches - lets hope they are short and that things will turn out to be brighter on the other side of them.

my link didn't work in my post and I was too busy reading and getting sidetracked with all the wonderful ideas and links others were putting up I didn't notice. SORRY bout that.
If you go to amaz*n and search B009XQT0CG it will bring them up.

I have been using a little slow time in work to start bulking out my Christmas shopping. Going to try and use some of today to make my spreadsheet so that I can see who I have left to buy for.
Always seem to find lots of presents/ideas for a few people and then stumped for others.

Anyway wont bore you all just yet - plenty of time for that.

I'm enjoying being a part of a board that has lots of "eejits" just like me.
KiWi13

:j:j:xmastree::snow_laug:snow_grin:rudolf::santa2:

KiWi13

Also I think someone might have already mentioned this somewhere (apologies for not remembering who) but if your stuck for gifts to get school teachers/nursery teachers/ assistants etc and don't want to do the same old same old maybe buy something from a charitable website.

good gifts or the like - Martin and his helpers had a linky somewhere with a few options re costs involved (think from the recent weekly email)
most do school related option - books or lessons etc

Also just a query and I hope no-one takes offence as its not intended but a lot seem to say that they are giving people vouchers for Christmas.
I know some can be very hard to buy for or that is what they actually want - but is that not a more expensive option overall?
just curious as I have always thought that it was

wee reminder : daily mail free lego starts tomorrow for anyone that needs it.

KiWi

quidsy

Most of the women in my family like to get vouchers for either boots, amazon or the local INTU as it means they can go to sales & get more for the money. My niece in particular being 16 likes to visit lakeside with her mates & if I gave her cash it would be wasted on snacks & Frappuccino's, this way she gets a wardrobe update & I know she isn't wasting money.

tibawo

Have just bought my candy canes for church today. Means I can get the poem printed and sell them. They went down really well last year. Instead my Xmas church donation I use the money to make crafty Xmas bits and then all the money they make goes to church. Means they get more, I do my bit and people get some of their stocking fillas sorted!

As I am back working I am getting bits and putting on wardrobe. Always get dd body butter so have picked some up with last code.

I like getting things for Xmas it gives me a buzz!

FieryAngel

Hello everyone
Been reading through the Board (I have to admit I skipped a fair few pages - 224 is a lot to get through! lol) and I'm very happy there are so many others out there who are very excited about Christmas, especially in September.
I usually love Christmas but this year I feel like it's gone up a whole new level and I'm spending hours searching for things online. It's possible that it's because it'll be the first Christmas me and my boyfriend will be spending together as we moved in together earlier this year and we've taken on the challenge of hosting on Christmas Day - so my mum and dad and his dad are coming along, so luckily not too many for a first attempt!

Any hints or tips for making it a success? Please bear in mind that we've only ever cooked a roast dinner once...for 2 people...:)

I've also discovered the joy of pinterest this year so been using that to 'pin' all the fun things I'm finding to either make (gifts and food - found a chocolate log recipe this morning! yum!) or buy.

I've not bought too many things yet so not doing as well as some of you but I just wanted to say hi and join the group as it seems like good fun in here

quidsy

You can prep some of the vegetables & things like stuffing balls a few days before Christmas. Make the stuffing, part bake them & then flash freeze. Same with potatoes, part boil them, toss in fat then flash freeze, on the day just stick them in the oven & you have perfectly crisp roasties. I also pre cook gravy & freeze it then defrost it in the pan with the meat fats. Another tip is to get a slow cooker & cook any gammon in that, then just score the fat, rub it with honey & mustard (or whatever your choice) & give it 30 min in a hot oven.
to glaze over.

I catered 12 a couple years ago & it was a breeze really until the end when you needed to make sure everything was ready & plated up before it got cold.

The turkey itself is simple, it's just a giant chicken but you can also cooked it in the slow cooker before finishing off to crisp the skin in the oven, everyone was very complimentary when I hosted as turkey is usually dry but mine was moist all through.

pigpen

quidsy wrote: »

I catered 12 a couple years ago & it was a breeze really until the end when you needed to make sure everything was ready & plated up before it got cold...

Amateur ... lol.. I do 12 on a daily basis.. sometimes I get off lightly and manage to do only 8, but not often! 14 is twice a week.

It takes lot of prep but it can be done! I did consider a couple of hot plates last year but could see littlies cooking their face!

FieryAngel

quidsy wrote: »

You can prep some of the vegetables & things like stuffing balls a few days before Christmas. Make the stuffing, part bake them & then flash freeze. Same with potatoes, part boil them, toss in fat then flash freeze, on the day just stick them in the oven & you have perfectly crisp roasties. I also pre cook gravy & freeze it then defrost it in the pan with the meat fats. Another tip is to get a slow cooker & cook any gammon in that, then just score the fat, rub it with honey & mustard (or whatever your choice) & give it 30 min in a hot oven.
to glaze over.

I catered 12 a couple years ago & it was a breeze really until the end when you needed to make sure everything was ready & plated up before it got cold.

The turkey itself is simple, it's just a giant chicken but you can also cooked it in the slow cooker before finishing off to crisp the skin in the oven, everyone was very complimentary when I hosted as turkey is usually dry but mine was moist all through.

Wow, 12, must have been stressful!
Thanks for the tips, they'll come in handy:D Luckily my mum got some of those waitress warmer things last year so I'll be nabbing them to use!:rotfl:
Thankfully I get Christmas Eve off work (well hopefully as looking to find a new job as currently commuting) so that should help.

Peppapig

Welcome FieryAngel - nice to see you leaping over from the hampers thread

freespirit66

Afternoon everyone,

PIGPEN DD2 is due on the 3rd and expecting a boy, oh that doesnt sound very nice, i hate the feel and smell of latex gloves so being allergic to them must be horrible

WILLOWLOULOU oh honey am sending lots of hugs to you after your rough week, hope you have a better weekend

QUIDSY oh that is when christmas is miserable when we have no money to buy stuff and get it out of the way, and s*ds law you always see the right stuff to buy when you cant afford it as well, so sorry to hear about your job it must be very worrying for you, but lovely that you can spend christmas eve with DS

04624181 oh can you let us know if Ikea have any christmas bits out yet please a lovely newly decorated front room for christmas i am dead jealous i still havent got someone to put my paper up for me, i want to have a go but it will be a blooming expensive mistake if i ruin it (which i probs will)

FIERYANGEL hello and welcome to our thread, first thing is dont panic just think of it as another roast because at the end of the day that is all it is plus some extras, for extra easiness im afraid i cheat and buy frozen roast potatoes, parsnips, stuffing, turkey crown, sausages in bacon and just chuck the fresh veggies in the steamer, a lady i worked with many many moons ago gave me a bit of advice and i have followed it ever since and that is to get the turkey cooked on christmas eve, let it cool and wrap up and put in fridge, then next day just slice up, put some gravy on it and cling film and heat in microwave, its always moist and you havent got the worry on christmas day about the main ingredient, i think the hardest thing is getting it all on the plate hot tbh hth