Help... It's time for change!!!

Mint1955

Well colds have floored both of us now. I had a lovely visit with my sister who mainly lives in France and she was very encouraging re our plans which was good.

Cards all done but I really should have printed a note to include with them all re plans but I will have to do that in the new year otherwise these cards would not get sent at all. I just wanted to complete that task.

No tree up yet but as long as it's done before Xmas Eve when kids arrive that's fine!!

Nothing much on the house front just a few enquiries and some time wasters.

Presents done but nothing wrapped. We have cut down this year but I am ok with that.

Finally conquered the shredding pile, OH just kept feeding the machine bless him.

Fresh food to get for Xmas and a menu plan done which is flexible as everyone keeps changing plans on the other days but so far it's 7 for Xmas dinner and 8 for tea.

Friends Mum has had operation to relieve the brain and she is up and about and doing ok.

Other friend says she feels like the world has stopped until she gets to have her colonoscopy on the 22nd but she does get the results there and then.

We have a few things on this week
EPC report being done for house sale tomorrow
Meeting friends for late lunch Thursday who are also moving to Cyprus
Friday girls lunch who meet once a month usually for afternoon tea
Weekend will be tree and decorations I think NOW visiting FIL sat pm
Sunday off NOW step son popping in am
Monday visiting grandchildren then last shopping I think
Tuesday my birthday no idea if anyone arriving at this stage but if so they can cook lol
Wed Xmas Eve I think two arriving
Xmas day three to collect I think and one arriving tea time who will then take three other home later
Boxing Day two possibly leaving or maybe tomorrow!
27th peace if the last ones leave today instead of Boxing Day and we can then start organising packing lol

Just heard our car in cyprus has been serviced so all ready for when we arrive.

Going out for a walk in the hope that we can blow away a few germs.

Mint1955

Well a lazy day yesterday as OH was feeling particularly rough so we stayed indoors and did not a lot lol

EPC inspector came and did his thing.

We did wrap gifts for handing out on weekend visits.

Today's lunch had to be cancelled as friends are desperately trying to complete on their new house today or tomorrow otherwise they have to wait until new year so they are spending ages in solicitors just in case. So we will go to Bluewater and use our cake and coffee vouchers from John Lewis and have a wander as one gift to buy and we don't know what to get.

I have managed to free up Monday as Grandkids preferred a Sunday afternoon visit which works well for me ;-)

I am thinking of making a trifle for Xmas tea as it reminds me of my younger days but can anyone tell me when's the earliest I can make it?

Frustrating day yesterday as I bought 7 bars of the sainsbury chocolate that was for the royal british legion charity, there are seven on the receipt but I can only find six in amongst the Xmas gifts grrrrrrr

All our meals are from stores so at least I am clearing out and not spending and when I use something up I am not replacing the spare that I already have so that we are clearing food and household stores as well.

Reading Goldiegirls diary I am so pleased for her that today is the last day of work for her and Mr GG.

Mint1955

If anyone is about to buy or change an electric blanket we have just bought an electric duvet and it's amazing. Duel control so we can both chose different heats. We love a crisp sheet beneath us so have never like an under blanket. I wasn't sure but I am blown away by the purchase.

http://www.johnlewis.com/dreamland-6982-sleepwell-heated-duvet-double/p231270130

Our Cyprus car is all ready for us having had a good service and a new rear light cluster has just been delivered and we will take that with us for fitting as parts are expensive there.

We have to start making decisions about what is going into the cases and Really useful boxes that will go on the plane this trip. We have 132 kilo hold luggage and two flight cases weight limit 20kilo each (but must be the flight case size) plus 2 personal plane bags (handbags or very small hold for OH)

Luckily OH is brilliant at Tetris so not a tiny corner will be wasted.

NewShadow

Mint1955 wrote: »

I am thinking of making a trifle for Xmas tea as it reminds me of my younger days but can anyone tell me when's the earliest I can make it?

If you're going to top it with fresh cream, I'd suggest it needs eating within three days.

If you're happy to 'cream it' on christmas morning, Jelly keeps for a week in the fridge easily, and custard keeps for about 5 days, meaning if you make sure all the sponge and fruit is sealed under jelly, you could make it this weekend?

nursemaggie

I usually do everything but the custard and the cream Christmas Eve while I am prepping veg etc. Add the custard and cream Christmas day so it lasts longer. I find it often does not get eaten until boxing day.

I have frozen trifles quite a few times in there nice glass dishes. They will keep for ages but do take up a lot of room. Yes I have put cut glass in the freezer and it has been fine. Just needs clingfilm on top and I keep it near the top so it does not get spoiled by something heavy.

Mint1955

Thanks I will do the fruit sponge and jelly early so that gets that out of the way. Can I use good tinned custard ?

Our walk and cake and coffee was ok and Bluewater was so quiet it was eerie yesterday. We got the last gift so that's them all done now.

OH kept pointing out bits I might like so he obviously doesn't have a clue what to get me, even though I keep saying don't buy me anything particular for Xmas as it's my birthday on the 23rd but I do hope for a gift then. We shall see he always is thoughtful and usually ahead with this stuff.

Going to Aldi now to get the shop which will then just mean a quick shop early next week for fresh bits I can't get yet.

Tree and decs to go up today and a lunch booked for our Tea @3 ladies. We usually meet once a month for proper afternoon tea where the whole world stops for a few hours and we really enjoy the peace and quiet.

Friend 1 house completes today so she is able to get moved in and then they will also be on the move back to Cyprus as soon as it's ready to rent to her daughter.

Friend 2 Mum is doing great but friend says it's going to be a long Christmas but really she is just happy she is able to have her home from hospital as well as she is.

Friend 3 is feeling lost and the waiting is pressing heavy as the mind plays terrible tricks and she is scaring herself more and more. Colonoscopy Monday so nothing to be done except fingers crossed and hugs.

Onwards and upwards as I still need a pair of strappy sandles or evening shoes for New Years Eve do.

Mint1955

Visits to OH Dad and Brothers yesterday with gift swapping done. This is always a difficult day as OH dad is not easy to get on with after a major row a few years ago to which he has never apologised for terrible things he said leaving a big rift between family.

A visit to asda for more stuff as DD wants to make coconut ice and peppermint creams on Christmas Eve. I still don't have a Christmas cake as we don't like soft icing and the royal icing ones are few and far between, I should have thought about it much earlier.

No shoes yet either.

Visiting two grandchildren today which is lovely but difficult as I have only known them for five years and they are 16 and 17 so we don't really have a bond and definitely no history.

Tree and a few decs are up though so it's looking better and the kids have now settled on what days arriving and leaving. Just got to work on OH mum and partner re driving or collecting etc.

Budgets are getting a little stretched and I think a little creative stretching between pots is going to have to happen.

nursemaggie

Hi Mint of course you can use tinned custard but maybe now you need to budget a bit it is cheaper to make the custard or you could just use the instant which I do these days. I don't think it is any more expensive and you don't have to use your milk. Depending on how many people it is for you may need 2 packets as they only make 3/4 pint.

That has just reminded me I better check if I have any custard powder. I have mostly finished my shopping only fresh things but we do have a Mr M at the top of the next street. I seem to have made a habit of living within ten minutes of Mr M for the past 20 years.

You sound very busy. Hope you have a good Christmas with your family.

Mint1955

Doh! yes I have packet custard just didn't think about ability to make it up thick enough lol. I did say i am not a natural at all this stuff ;-)

I had a nice time with Grandkids and took some photos. I am lucky that their mum is so easy going and accepts me. Even luckier that the kids are interested in a stranger who their dad told them didn't want anything to do with them that's why I never visited! I in fact didn't know they existed.

A few local cards to drop of today, try and find a royal iced cake a pair of shoes for New Year's Eve and a bit of salad, veg and dips to complete the food shopping to get us through until we fly back to Cyprus. Followed by a quick go through bathrooms dust and Hoover to freshen the place up.

Just done money shuffle and with a little put and take it's not too bad after the extra spends just lately. Jan will be back to basics and recovery time pot wise.

We are counting the days to go home as the shops tv pubs and general day to day is feeling so very crowded and noisy and being indoors so much is not normal for us. It has made us sure moving permanently is what we really want.

Out for a late lunch today at Jamies Bluewater to celebrate my birthday tomorrow as they make such a fuss of birthday people and there is also a Christmas gift for me to pick up as well.

Mint1955

Well I found a bargain pair of evening shoes which will do for many occasions and outfits and as they have dumpier heels they won't get ruined as many of the venues are outdoors in Cyprus with much gravel so stilettos are not a good idea coupled with the fact that if I wear stilettos I can't walk at all lol

Also found a royal iced Christmas cake as no one likes soft icing here. BIG note to self next year I will make one it so got to be cheaper lol.

So that's the shopping and list of Christmas tasks completed.

Birthday today and many cards and messages have been lovely and apparently I am mentioned in the MSE newsletter which is funny as I seem to be taking to myself in the main ;-). OH gave me a kindle paperwhite which I am in love with and will be great for relaxing with. Found some free kindle book sites and downloaded loads to get me going.

Vouchers I love to hold onto so very happy to receive some this morning as I have a wish list of things I call treats and will not use the budgets for. The latest Victoria Hislop book was also a gift and it's set against the island of Cyprus and the divide between the north and the south. I can't wait to get started on that one.

Jamies Italian was lovely yesterday and we had a free bottle of Prosecco on Jamie and the kitchen sends out desert for free with Happy Birthday written in chocolate on the plate. I also received a pack of Jamies napkins as a Christmas gift.

Going for a walk this afternoon to the local pub to meet some local families as I love their little ones and it gives me a lift and they make me smile.

I hope any one reading is having a peaceful time. That Goldie Girl is enjoying her first days of retirement and Victory whose husband has had a major accident is holding up ok. I keep checking her thread but she has been missing for a few days which is a worry.

Love to all MSE readers and threaders, the staff that manage the site and Martin himself who I have been so grateful for over the years.

Have fun all xxxx