* It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year * - It's the 2016 Christmas Chatter Thread

Gettingtherequickly

Who is this strange OMO person who has appeared here?

Hopefully things will be sorted for you Free.

I had a ball yesterday. Was in office at 7:45, worked until 11:15. Then the fun began:D:D

Had great fun on the train with a little girl who was very chatty, I can tell you all about Frozen now and how to correctly pronounce all their names. Anyway, got to Shard about 12:10, eventually found how to get into the restaurant section, lift only goes to the floor, so all done automatically, takes about 15 seconds to get to 32nd floor! Had to check in again so our table could be confirmed and were taken to it. Unfortunately, we couldn't have a window seat, but we were close enough. Service was amazing, food to die for. I had potted rabbit with toast (not enough for amount of meat, but we had fresh crisp roll also, so could use that. When I say fresh, my friend said that you wouldn't want to have false teeth to eat it!), my friend had fresh tomato soup. We both had chicken, veg, salad for main course. I don't usually eat desserts but was persuaded to have peanut parfait, which was amazing & tried her Bakewell tart. While we were waiting, we could watch the view, and the weather changing. Had to check loo out, as you would expect, spotless, discreet. Only complaint I would have was the cubicle itself, immaculate, but with darkened mirror walling & door, so not overly gone on looking at myself on the door with what amounts to a spotlight overhead:rotfl::rotfl:

Left there to go to the viewing area, again about 25 secs to go to 68th floor, could walk to 72nd. The weather was awful, we had quite patchy viewing, lots of snow & a good view of the police helicopter! We were unlucky with the weather so didn't see as much as we could have, which was a bit disappointing, especially as I don't like heights so my horizon was quite short. But hey, it was an experience.

Then we got the tube to Victoria to get the bus for afternoon tea. Eating was going to be a struggle because we had lunch, but we were given doggie bags. The trip was lovely, fantastic weather, were seated on top deck of route master, with China service, except the cups, for safety reasons they were thermal with a lid, but we got to keep them. We got so much to eat, 1 each of everything, cucumber sandwich, chicken salad roll, quiche, macaroon, lemon meringue, chocolate cupcake, a custard filled cake, cupcake with fresh cream & raspberry, while we were struggling to even think about eating this, we were given warm scone with clotted cream & jam. Thank goodness for the doggie bag. It was lovely driving around watching people leaving work, waving at those on top decks.

Got home just after 8, still trying to decide what to do with both doggie bags, as I needed up with them. Then remembered my friend going away with her grandsons, if WW3 erupts today, you will know it was started by the boys arguing over which of them I had given the bags! If you want to have a rare treat, I would recommend BB Bakery for the tea. We were lucky, we were using company nectar points, so only cost our travel, but I would seriously consider it for something special.

mrsinvisible

what a lovely day, GTQ, a real experience! Free, glad you are moving forward, at least you have a diagnosis and a pathway for the diabetes, well done on the Blood pressure front, and hopefully an early appointment to get the gastro bit sorted. How brave you were to deal with it.
No Christmas stuff at all in Chez invis, took DD out for lunch yesterday (well, all day breakfast at [EMAIL="Morris@ns"]Morris@ns[/EMAIL]) -her choice-! then the rest of the day was divided between washing, greenhouse, garden and housework.
DD car Mot is £300, DS2 insurance is £650, guess who is the 'default setting' for getting that sorted out/paid for? Fortunately the garage owner is never bothered if he has to wait a week for payment, and l always get the cash back from the kids over a few weeks/months. Even so, it is a huge whack in a short time.
Rain is back today with a vengeance so l will get my visa application filled in as far as l can, then tackle mount ironmore, and maybe scrub kitchen floor as it is minging, oh deep joy.
Keep on truckin' everyone, virtual home made, very lopsided chocolate cake for anyone who wants it. Oh, heres a laugh for you, l have been asked to make a buffet for 100 next Saturday for a friends 40th birthday. Me, yep, me.

Treasurequeen

Belated birthday wishes, Princesskitty. Not a lot of Christmas stuff done but I did get a bargain in Homebase on Friday. They had all of their greetings cards and wrap reduced down to 50p some were even 25p. So I bought about 10 different ones so that's all the birthday cards bought for the rest of the year. They had some really nice designs male and female, don't know if its a regional offer.

Peppapig

PRINCESSKITTY I'm so sorry I missed your birthday so here are some belated birthday wishes and I hope you had the most fabulous day. :beer:

FREE, I know you hate docs and hospitals but at least now you're on the way to finding out what the problem is and hopefully sorting it out. Good thinking getting your hair cut on the same day

MRSINVISIBLE, being asked to do the catering for 100 is really impressive, nobody would ever dream of asking me to do that or even to do the catering for a much smaller number. Will you do it? What will you be giving them? I'll have a piece of your chocolate cake please

GTQ your day sounds amazing and something I'd never have thought of. Glad it was all lovely but I know what you mean about the mirrors.

Had a lovely time today at vintage lunch for DGD's 7th birthday. Hope everyone has a nice bank holiday x

freespirit66

Evening everyone, apart from being in pain i have had a lovely day today, nothing special just popped to a few shops but feeling very mellow and it is nice to not be stressing over something or nothing! I finally bought my shadow box frame was looking before christmas but never found one at the right price, but Hobbycraft had some half price today, so i now have my box, the backing paper and the bells, just need to sort out with MSGIGGLEWICK if she is interested in doing the vinyl lettering for the front of the box ;) nothing like a bit of christmas crafting in May :rotfl:my bunting still hasnt got out of my wardrobe :o. Tomorrow i am going to do some baking and have a nice quiet day, i hope everyone is enjoying their BH

VULPIX it can get you down when you arent happy with how clothes look on you, but you have done it before and i am sure you will do it again my lovely!

GETTINGTHEREQUICKLY ooh your day out sounds fab, im glad you had a lovely time! Shame you couldnt see far because of the weather

MRSINVISIBLE i will swap you a homemade chocolate brownie for a slice of your chocolate cake
wow catering for 100 i wouldnt know where to start you are very brave! Its so expensive to keep cars on the road these days its ridiculous!

PEPPAPIG aww that sounds so sweet a vintage lunch for a 7 year old, i bet it was great fun and she felt very grown up! I hope you are managing to have a good weekend and not be overtaken by the worry of next week, sending you lots of strength vibes and squishy hugs

System

Can anyone recommend a sorbet maker ?

murie

Morning on this very overcast Bank Holiday (are there any other sort?!)


GTQ- your day out sounds fab! You were brave on the viewing area if you don't like heights- I am terrified of being up high wuss that I am! The tour bus tea sounds lovely as well.


Vulpix- its awful when you have a shopping trip for clothes planned and nothing looks right on isn't it? Sort of gets you in a strop (well it does me lol), then nothing looks right and the whole trip goes down hill! Theres always another day to find some nice clothes x


Peppa- that lunch sounds a lovely idea! Glad you enjoyed it x There is a whole vintage renaissance at the mo which I love! I cant quite decide whether afternoon tea make me feel elegant or if it takes me back to having a tea party in my wendy house when I was little! I used to make dad crawl inside with me and sit on a tiny chair sipping pretend tea out of plastic tea cups. His back must have been killing him but he used to sit in there for ages with me, peering out at the adult world through the net windows! It just shows the lengths we go to for our kids doesn't it? Big hugs for next week xx


Free- so glad you managed to have a lovely day (apart from pain). There's nothing wrong with Christmas crafting at any time of year in my mind! I know what you mean about the bunting staying hidden, the table runners I planned on are still a length of fabric in my room. I just cant face the sewing machine- we are old enemies! Will have to bite the bullet soon though as I need them for July. Enjoy your day baking- I made a coconut and lime cake yesterday which has nearly all gone. Thanks for the link from Lakeland- I have one winging its way to me as I type !! DH will love it!


Mrs I- wow!! 100! That is a LOT of sausage rolls!! Im sure you will cope, your friend wouldn't have asked you if they didn't think you could xx Don't knock yourself out though x


Chrissy- no idea about a sorbet maker, but I think you could just do it in the freezer yourself in a tub and a fork. You just have to break to the ice crystals every few hours. (Sounds easy enough but then recipes always make things sound easy don't they? I've never tried it so cant say)


Feisty- hopefully lil Miss has settled down a bit and you and DH have been able have some quiet time to discuss options etc.


Everyone- have a lovely Bank Holiday xx

vulpix

Sounds like people have had some memorable times recently.:)

Mrs I what will you make for 100 people?I would relish doing something like that.

We went to Bury market on Saturday as the builders were here.I bought some handmade soap to put away as stocking fillers for the girls.

Yesterday my eldest daughter and BF came and helped me move masses of concrete flags off the wall :T I need to clear the wall and take the wooden fence off the top before we go away in case the council want to come and repair it whilst we are not here.I made lamb tagine and cous cous,it was tasty.They are coming again next weekend to finish the job and because BF likes my cooking.He can eat:eek:He is 6'4" and fit as a butchers dog.He is a climbing instructor and always starving.

Mr V is at work till lunch time.I am playing with my Samba band in town as there is a spring fair or something on,there will be a lot of tourists about.

Have a nice day folks Vx

vulpix

Forgot to say,I still haven't done my sewing either:o

newthrift

Happy Bank Holiday, I've been reading just haven't had chance to post. Just got the last two days to catch up on.
Omo lovely to see you posting :-)
Belated birthday wishes princesskitty

Lovely day at Cheshire Oaks with DH yesterday, we set off early and got there before it was busy, got a few nice bits and he treated me to a handbag he does spoil me!!
Currently making fondant flowers/butterflies and leaves for BIL's partners mum!
Hope everyone is ok and I'll be back to catch up on past couple of days when I get a chance xx