OS Christmas 2014 thread!!!!

gilly1964

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

Gilly1964 - wow, you are organised! Wish I was. I am only organised as been off work sick for the last 5 weeks

Thankyou for your repulse to my earlier thread - my DDs are teenagers - I gave decided to get a phone for the 17 year old (pay monthly so won't be a big outlay and then 17 a month, which is more than I am forking out for PAYG for her now. The other one I don't know yet! Have you looked at Tesco Mobile, my mobile costs £10 per month on contract?

My best friend has been going on about wanting a ceramic hen to store eggs, so I got one in Costco the other day. She came round the other night and spotted it and said " hope that's not for me because it's hideous!)" - honestly I give up with her! Ooops good job Costco are okay with returns

I am going to make up some hampers over the next few weeks - there is a good guide on the aldi website about them, and I am going to make up some cookie mix in a jar type gifts, using £1.50 Kilner jars from Asda.
Not doing hampers this year, but advice on the Aldi website looks good
This thread is really good for ideas! Agreed

Look forward to hearing about your hampers

dronid

mrsdwhite wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestions
Had a bit of a spanner thrown in the works last night, as our deputy in the pub handed his notice in... meaning potentially we will have to do the evening shift in the pub now as well on xmas day...
Going to take some serious organisation!

Sounds like a difficult situation all round. Firstly, do you do food in the pub? I'm guessing not but if you were then it would be a matter of using those facilities while working. If you don't I'd suggest a slow roasted shoulder of pork. That will always remain good and tasty and, depending on the size takes a long while to cook with no notice.
I've found a good trick with roasted vegetables. I do a deep roasting tin of chunkily chopped up parsnips, carrots, swede and potatoes which you rub oil into and sprinkle over salt, pepper and rosemary. Then all they need is to be turned a couple of times but can be cooked all together without different timings and nothing needs par-boiling. About an hour and a half. Then use frozen veg for simplicity, they'll only take 10-15 mins or so and use either instant gravy or gravy based on cornflour. If you were thinking of a starter then smoked salmon, cream cheese and toast.

It should taste good.

However. It might be worthwhile letting the family know the situation all round. It might be better to postpone the dinner to a time when you're free (or your parents might want to come over and do it for you).:D

meg72

lobbyludd wrote: »

dear xmas knitters/crafters, ds wants a sonic the hedgehog hat/hood for christmas - (not for his main present you understand - rolls eyes), I can sew, knit and crochet (in that order of preference), I've searched ravelry and have a couple of possibilities, is there a sewing resource that's similar to ravelry/or does anyone know of a pattern (on the off chance).

second dd wants a hat with a scarf attached that turns into mittens at the end - I could knit crochet with a pattern but what on earth are they called ?:)

http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/crocheting/accessory/sonic-hat/53083

psso

lobbyludd wrote: »

dear xmas knitters/crafters, ds wants a sonic the hedgehog hat/hood for christmas - (not for his main present you understand - rolls eyes), I can sew, knit and crochet (in that order of preference), I've searched ravelry and have a couple of possibilities, is there a sewing resource that's similar to ravelry/or does anyone know of a pattern (on the off chance).

second dd wants a hat with a scarf attached that turns into mittens at the end - I could knit crochet with a pattern but what on earth are they called ?:)

How old is your dd ?
Various options depending on age on ravelry, you'll just have to trawl through the different patterns. See link.
I did a scarf with handwarmers on the end, just turned up a few inches at the ends to make little 'pockets'

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#view=captioned_thumbs&page=1&sort=best&query=%20hat%20scarf

IrishRose12

recovering_spendaholic wrote: »

Gilly1964 - wow, you are organised! Wish I was.

Thankyou for your repulse to my earlier thread - my DDs are teenagers - I gave decided to get a phone for the 17 year old (pay monthly so won't be a big outlay and then 17 a month, which is more than I am forking out for PAYG for her now. The other one I don't know yet!

My best friend has been going on about wanting a ceramic hen to store eggs, so I got one in Costco the other day. She came round the other night and spotted it and said " hope that's not for me because it's hideous!)" - honestly I give up with her!

I am going to make up some hampers over the next few weeks - there is a good guide on the aldi website about them, and I am going to make up some cookie mix in a jar type gifts, using £1.50 Kilner jars from Asda.

This thread is really good for ideas!

Well she's not much of a friend IMO. Firstly assuming that it is for her, and secondly for her rude remarks:mad:

I'd be getting her f//k all and telling her exactly why when she asks why.

meg72

IrishRose12 wrote: »

Well she's not much of a friend IMO. Firstly assuming that it is for her, and secondly for her rude remarks:mad:

I'd be getting her f//k all and telling her exactly why when she asks why.

This would be my reaction too

Nargleblast

And me too! Even if it was for me I would accept it gracefully and either conveniently arrange an accident for it after Christmas or just keep it as a bit of tasteless kitsch, just for a laugh. It's only an egg holder after all, and I could always start a collection of them, buying ones more to my taste.....some people can be so tactless.

Poddly

I have recently made my Christmas Cake and Christmas Pudding, and DS and I are going to make some mince pies today - whether they will make it to the freezer is slightly in doubt..

Have got a few presents, and a few ordered and on their way. Still need to decide on main presents for DH and boys, and it's DH@s birthday on 2/12 so he has to come up with lots of ideas!

Have all the bits I need to make some cards, only a dozen or so for special people, so must start those this week. Need to find my stash of bought cards, I am sure I had enough as last year my DH bought 20 or so from a local artist so we sent those instead of the ones I already had! Think I need wrapping paper, got a couple of rolls in WHSmiths as all theirs was half price last week.

Not entirely sure at the moment if we will have family here for Christmas Day, or if we are going out with them. But usually end up doing turkey and all the trimmings anyway on another day if needs be.

mrsdwhite

dronid wrote: »

Sounds like a difficult situation all round. Firstly, do you do food in the pub? I'm guessing not but if you were then it would be a matter of using those facilities while working. If you don't I'd suggest a slow roasted shoulder of pork. That will always remain good and tasty and, depending on the size takes a long while to cook with no notice.
I've found a good trick with roasted vegetables. I do a deep roasting tin of chunkily chopped up parsnips, carrots, swede and potatoes which you rub oil into and sprinkle over salt, pepper and rosemary. Then all they need is to be turned a couple of times but can be cooked all together without different timings and nothing needs par-boiling. About an hour and a half. Then use frozen veg for simplicity, they'll only take 10-15 mins or so and use either instant gravy or gravy based on cornflour. If you were thinking of a starter then smoked salmon, cream cheese and toast.

It should taste good.

However. It might be worthwhile letting the family know the situation all round. It might be better to postpone the dinner to a time when you're free (or your parents might want to come over and do it for you).:D

Apologies, I've only just seen this. Many thanks for your suggestions
Since I posted about my little dilemma things have been flipped upside down again! My mum called this morning saying that my sister has asked my parents to go to her for Christmas now as her ex will have her son and she will be alone. So they now won't be visiting us after all.
However it looks like we may have to work the evening as well now as our deputy who was going to be doing it and having the day off will be leaving in a few weeks. So unless we find a solution we will be working the whole day and dd will have to go to MIL for the whole day. I have to be honest and say that I'm now officially sick of Christmas this year and will be glad when Jan 2nd rolls around
Sorry to be bah humbug!

emmaggreen

Hi all
Just wondering if anyone has seen any particularly good deals on either Christmas wrapping paper or artificial trees please? Or in fact if anyone can recommend a particular make of tree as I've always hired a real one but having to get a fake one this year as we're away for a chunk of the holiday so won't be able to water it.
All advice gratefully received!
Many thanks!