Get a grip woman!

EssexHebridean

Glad you're having a fabulous time - it does sound lovely. What a great way to get fully into the christmas period! 

debtfreeoneday

Enjoy your time away 

Suffolk_lass

Blimey, talk about rushing and achieving nothing!

Poor dog sitter had obviously acquired an abandoned limpet as our dog attached to her and she felt it was necessary to sleep on her sofa with him by her head so he didn't cry and bark all night. He was so pleased to be home but was really quiet (knackered, probably) and (I think) didn't know we were coming back, so real separation anxiety. Not helped by his favourite puppy at her house being collected at her house so he went through separation twice. He's on a bit of a pre-Christmas diet atm too as he has obviously been eating her dogs' spatter and leftovers. 

Needless to say, he has tried it on, getting me up at 3am, and 2am the first two nights. We are back to 5 now though!

I've been getting everything ready for my Christmas prep session (cocktail making again, though different cocktails this year). Eight or ten people (one has tooth ache so they may drop out). It won't make much money as the cost of materials is so high but it is great fun! I've made cold black tea, acquired yuzu juice and made honey syrup for the various recipes. Four cocktails, but one is a virgin (and the 0% gin may feature in two as it's a lot of alcohol). I still have to slice oranges, lemons and pineapple, and get the maraschino cherries out. Oh yes, and make some canapés to soak up the alcohol a bit. In true buy some, make some style, I have some ready made chicken bites to heat up and I will fill some little pre-made pastry cases (Lidl, NL) with flavoured cream cheese and prawns with a sprinkle of smoked paprika

I've just made a vast (beef) casserole and popped it in to slow cook for 5-6 hours then it can stay in the warming oven until we and the friends who are staying get back for a late supper fill up.

That all sounds relatively organised but we have to make the spare bed up, and dust the room, clean the bathroom and generally tidy up before the friends from Essex arrive. We were going to put the decs up but the outside net that sits over the porch is damaged (looks like it has partly burned, which may have been during making, but being thatched, hot spots is undesirable so it is bin bound and a replacement has been ordered). I'm going to suggest we put it on a netting frame and hook that up. It's the first year I have got involved with outside decs (because of DH's eye) as DH & DS usually sort it but they have no systems in place and no memory of what they do from one year to the next 😱😱😱. DS hates the net on the porch but bless him, he came and put the outside lights up with me. Only after fighting with the net did we discover the damage (to be honest, we probably did most of it when the net caught on the reed). So the indoor decs remain in boxes, and the tree is still outside. I will explain that we don't put them up until the three days before Christmas. Not a single card has been written or posted yet, but they will be. Just late! 

Hence still not on top of the forum reading and behind with everything really

Suffolk_lass

Decs are up, tree done, click and collect from SM yesterday - I will tackle the rotten fruit and sad looking sprouts in due course but not with queues and parking as they now are. The poor girl at the click and collect delivery point said yesterday was the last sensible day and I was the only person collecting between 12-13.00. So I was able to empathise (8 per hour today, with only 3 spaces, so it will be chaos) and she said it was OK to leave my car in the collection bay while I did a quick scout for the bits I could not order (OOS when I placed the order, they were all present and correct yesterday!) and a couple of bits I had overlooked. We have yet to do cards (for New Year now!) and adorn my wreath but otherwise I feel a little more under control. Just the butcher at 06.15 tomorrow to go now!

The generator people have refunded for the cover (no apology, zero comms, except when I nudged ; then shoved). The generator itself seems good though (cannot test while DH is OOA). I doubt they will push for a review.

Sadly a unit fell over last night (one of those tall Billy CD racks from Ikea). It had some of our treasures in and at least one is badly broken. I will check later, when I have the right specs on and the light is better. We think the cat tipped it climbing through the net of Christmas lights and it then fell later, when I was asleep (though DH says he and the dog heard it and thought it was outside!).

My neighbour's son showed up on the doorstep last night. He has dropped out of Uni (he is an animal lover but was doing chemistry) after one term. He has two offers of apprenticeships but neither is in animal husbandry. He's a lovely lad. I had him tasting homemade flavoured vodkas (crabapple and plum) and sent him home with two (which his Dad said were yum!) as well as some lip balm and the laundry detergent he came for, lol!

Money is getting tighter as the month-end approaches

Karmacat

You're doing amazingly, SL!  I hope you have a lovely time at the celebrations you're working on, you deserve it, such a stalwart of the community  

Suffolk_lass

Up at 05.15 to give me time to wake up properly before going to the Butcher's to collect our Christmas meat. We are having goose. It's in a box in the boot of the car where no nasty things can get near it. I have also defrosted the small turkey crown I bought last January (less than £15), and will roast that too as I think goose might be too rich for my Auntie (she's 91 with IBS). In addition I bought two sticks of sausagemeat; one for sausage rolls and one for chestnut with sage and caramelised onion stuffing, plus chipolatas, streaky bacon and a small haunch of venison that we might have tomorrow after the last leftovers are cleared (I might freeze and save it for New Year's Day night though, when we will be five). Oh and the cheeses and a Rustic Baguette. And I gave them £10 tip too. It's a good job I put the cash aside.

I need to write and post cards today, and finish off adorning the wreath my friend made for me as the demonstration one (at the session I could not attend when we were in NL). It means going into the cupboard under the stairs... I may be some time.

And, just so I have written it down and don't forget, I need to get four more things - elderflower tonic by the Fever people (I know it is expensive but we always buy it as it is lovely and we hold their shares!), hummus (DH eat it!!) and possibly guacamole and celery to dip.

trix-a-belle

Have a lovely time SL, sounds like you're well catered for and can flex things over meals as needed. I popped to get the last couple of fresh bits today (in the downpour) & seems I timed it right to miss the food shop mayhem the guy on the till said hes seen shops up to nearly £600

I hope your christmas cocktail workshop went well, I saw a christmas craft how to the other day & it made me think of it, I might try and run one next christmas, I want to get my upholstery courses up & running too this year.

Watty1

Hope all went wonderfully x

Suffolk_lass

Thanks @trix-a-belle - Merry Christmas and a Happy New year to you too. If we ever get our pig shed rebuilt, I am planning a space to do a bit of modest reupholstery.

Thanks @Watty1 - we really enjoyed it. I'm pretty sure DS's former housemate did too as he had seconds! A whole second dinner really. Got to love a young man who can eat like that and he is 6'8" with no spare flesh on him!

Today is all about getting ahead for New Year when we have a few house guests plus other drop ins. I need to make a bread and butter pudding and have a frozen panettone for that, and a couple of simple curries - I went to Sainsbugs yesterday to buy some of their 2kg trays of large chicken thighs (I'm cooking for our lunch on 6th - only about 24) and they had beef roasting joints (Silverside cut) for £6/kg which was cheaper than buying stewing steak or ready prepared shin! No contest. I plan to slow cook it today then curry it tomorrow. I also need to make courgette soup and bread, although it is market day today and the artisan baker is excellent. Oh, and get DH to vacuum, dust and tidy while I clean bathrooms and make up beds. We'll have leftovers plus whatever on NYD and I have the venison in the freezer to roast and have with veg on the 2nd. They will all leave on 3rd. Then it is back to a far less bountiful table and more modest consumption (though homemade soup and bread are regular features here.

Karmacat

Wow!  Have a wonderful time - I'm absolutely sure you will.