Tales from The Shire

savingholmes

Love the paintings. Did I read in your diary that you write too? I've been making my way back from the end.... so am only part way through.

Fortune_Smiles

ruby_eskimo said:

Merry Yule to you too Fortune!  Love the slates, especially the heart.  Found a bottle of cheap vodka in the drinks cupboard over the weekend and neither of us will drink it (well DH loves vodka but he's a snob and only likes Grey Goose ) so will definitely see if turning it into Christmas pudding vodka improves it!  We cracked open the marmalade gin at the weekend and think I now have a new favourite drink, had to restrain myself from pouring a third glass

Ooooh!  Marmalade Gin @ruby_eskimo - that sounds delicious 😋

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

savingholmes said:

Love the paintings. Did I read in your diary that you write too? I've been making my way back from the end.... so am only part way through.

Hi there @savingholmes - yes, I do write a little too.  Short stories mainly with the occasional (very bad) poem thrown in.  You're very brave wading through all my waffle 😊

Fortune x
 

ruby_eskimo

Fortune_Smiles said:

Ooooh!  Marmalade Gin @ruby_eskimo - that sounds delicious 😋

Fortune x

Definitely was - from Aber Falls distillery.  Saw it recommended online and even though it would have been cheaper to by from the evil amazon, I decided to purchase direct from the distillery.  Goes very well with some Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic and is the only gin I've actually liked

Fortune_Smiles

ruby_eskimo said:

Fortune_Smiles said:

Ooooh!  Marmalade Gin @ruby_eskimo - that sounds delicious 😋

Fortune x

Definitely was - from Aber Falls distillery.  Saw it recommended online and even though it would have been cheaper to by from the evil amazon, I decided to purchase direct from the distillery.  Goes very well with some Fever Tree Mediterranean tonic and is the only gin I've actually liked

Oooh!  Aber Falls is within trundling distance - I'm going to add it to the list of visits to make when it's safe to go back in the water.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Two Sleeps!

Preparations are continuing.  The last present has been wrapped and is under the tree.  Mr F will make a final present delivery today.  I am getting through the housework and Mr F is making repairs around the homestead.

The cheese order and veg box have arrived and all is present and correct.  I'm not sure how much of my order T£$co will bring later but I'm sure we'll manage.  Riv£rf0rd have been amazing this year and I can't recommend them highly enough.

I'll need to transfer some money back out of savings today.  Mr F had to buy fence posts and truck servicing materials yesterday and I sent two extra Christmas gifts to some friends who have either given or needed support this year.  We're still on target to make our savings goals this year though.

Lunch yesterday was Smoky Chorizo & Manchego Quiche made with ready roll pastry for speed and yoghurt instead of creme fraiche as I didn't have any.  Definitely a keeper - it was delicious.  Supper was pizza from the freezer topped with pancetta, red onion, sprouts and stilton.  I've realised that my meal plan for the week calls for more potatoes than I've ordered so I may have to have a re-think.  I don't really want either of us to have to venture out to the shops now.  I've managed to get a T£$co delivery for Twixmas so I'm sure we can manage until then.

Right, I'd better get on.  I'm going to try and get the remaining housework done today so I can relax tomorrow.  I've booked a takeaway festive afternoon tea for Mr F to pick up tomorrow afternoon and that will be the official start of our Christmas.

Hope all is going well with you guys.

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, that all sounds lovely Fortune! I have all the presents I'm getting, and have posted all the cards and gifts I'm posting (I think). Slowly working my way round the house tidying up. Mr Cheery is still poorly so as I'm doing everything myself, it's a fairly minimal effort Going to sew some present bags today. Oh, and I've got a little present for a neighbour's small daughter than I need to drop round, and I wanted to take a piece of the Christmas cake to our next door neighbour who is 90 and on his own this Christmas so I might do that today (or tomorrow). 

Hope you and Mr F have a lovely festive time! Starting with afternoon tea sounds perfect

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff said:

Ooh, that all sounds lovely Fortune! I have all the presents I'm getting, and have posted all the cards and gifts I'm posting (I think). Slowly working my way round the house tidying up. Mr Cheery is still poorly so as I'm doing everything myself, it's a fairly minimal effort Going to sew some present bags today. Oh, and I've got a little present for a neighbour's small daughter than I need to drop round, and I wanted to take a piece of the Christmas cake to our next door neighbour who is 90 and on his own this Christmas so I might do that today (or tomorrow). 

Hope you and Mr F have a lovely festive time! Starting with afternoon tea sounds perfect

Thank you Cheery.  I do hope Mr Cheery recovers enough to enjoy the day and that you get the chance to fully relax after your busy year.  What a lovely thing to do for your neighbour.  That will make his day 🤗

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

I always feel like I don't do anything for the neighbour! He's got an amazing support network of other neighbours, one stocks up his logs, another does his shopping, someone else takes him milk, another cooks him a meal several nights a week. I feel there's nowt left for me as a relative newcomer left to do! I always stop for a chat when I see him, but be's quite deaf and I'm reluctant to shout in his direction very much at the minute, even from a distance But I figured I could at least take him some cake. I always feel a bit bashful - he can't hear the door bell so you basically just have to open the door and go in before he knows you're there

Fortune_Smiles

All to plan

It has been an uneventful day - thank goodness.  Our Tier hasn't changed and neither has DS1s so our revised Christmas plans aren't subject to any further revisions... yet.

T£$co delivered and there were surprisingly few changes to my order - one missing item we can do without and three substitutions only one of which had to go back.  A jolly good show I think in the circumstances.

Lunch today was Bubble and Squeak Soup and supper, Beetroot, Halloumi & Cashew Curry, is bubbling on the stove at the moment.  There is enough soup for tomorrows lunch and a couple of portions for the freezer too.  I'll freeze half of the curry as well as we won't need that tomorrow.

Mr F has been paid - early 😁 so I'll shuffle money around this evening so I don't have to worry about it over Christmas.

I have got through the housework I'd intended for today so I just need to vacuum round in the morning.  I have some evergreens to cut to add to a vase of lights and artificial stems and I need to decant the Christmas Pudding Vodka.  Other than that, a day in front of the log burner eating our festive afternoon tea and watching Christmas films is planned.

Hope everyone is going to be able to have a Christmas of sorts after today's news.

Fortune x