Christmas 2018 - Mega index and Christmas chat!!!!

littlegreenparrot

I've really started to feel it this weekend as well.

I have bought an advent candle, organised secret santa with my siblings (there's a great website called Drawnames that sets up a list, does the juggling, and emails everyone)

I've eaten a mince pie, and entered a fun local race that's the week before Christmas and is fancy dress to help me burn them off!

I've also been reading the Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater this afternoon. It's really lovely and evocative, more a celebration of winter and the build up to Christmas. There are some recipes, but it's more about the traditions and emotions. Worth a go if you see it.

iamtati

Can't wait when the snow starts falling and the light sparkling everywhere and people are smiling to other random people. The best feeling ever.

nannywindow

I've finally finished my Xmas cards. They have been sorted so that I know how many need stamps for posting, thankfully not too many as it's so expensive now. This is probably the only time of the year that I use the mail service, hence they won't make much money from me .

I have already given the DGC their chocolate advent calendars and their DM has bought them sm*ggle ones. To say that they can't wait for Santa is an understatement :rotfl:.
I still have a few adult presents to get, but as they are having money for their main presents, it will only be bits and bobs. Hopefully I can get those as I go along.

mummygems

I cant believe how many people in my street (and friends and family on Facebook) have their Christmas tree and decs up some here have had them up for 2 weeks already! I was explaining to my Children that when I was a kid it was 12 days before to put them up and we took them down 12 days after - they were quite surprised lol. I imagine we will put ours up this weekend coming but I always always take them down on NYE as I like to start the new year with a clean and tidy house (well as much as a clean and tidy house I can have with three kids and two dogs!).

I have very very nearly finished my Christmas present shopping which I start around August. Thanks to Martin Lewis I had the present conversation with a fair few people so we arent buying for as many people this year (still too many people though!). I'm off to buy my "special" cards today (mum, in laws and kids) and I will probably start wrapping next week.

Mince pies are still to be made (and jam tarts for those that dont like mince pies) and Christmas cupcake decorating with the kids.

I still need to have a sort out and declutter though which Ive been meaning to do all week!

I cant wait to see my tree and Christmas lights twinkling away always love that.

Nonnadiluca

When I was young, ( a very, very long time ago) I went to bed on Xmas Eve, leaving a pillowcase at the end of the bed. When I got up on Xmas morning the pillowcase was full, the tree was up and the house was decorated: it must have been a busy evening for my parents, but it was magical! I think that if the decorations go up too early I would be sick of the sight of them by Xmas day. Still, each to their own!

freyasmum

Nonnadiluca, I can imagine how magical that must have been for you as a child... but it takes so long to put our tree up, that I like to admire my handiwork for as long as possible

beentheredonethat, that did make me laugh :rotfl: Have you managed to keep the presents hidden, or has girl doggie had hers already?

Speaking of trees... my decorations are currently cooling. I'll freeze them once cool and when they're defrosted, I'll get some icing on them.

My chilli jam has finally been made as well. Even if it is more like chilli sauce! :doh: I'll reboil it when I get the chance next week.

The majority of my presents are wrapped.

And we also have the turkey crown, sausages, nice butter and a few other bits and pieces in the freezer. It's all coming along nicely :j

freyasmum

Ah bless her

But they don't half know how to take advantage of us softies, do they? :rotfl:

VfM4meplse

1st December so Christmas is now o-fish! So many homes now have their lights up, its a joy to behold (nowt tacky round here, you understand ). I have invested in 4 bottles of Irish cream to see me through December, the number is limited for health reasons as I could easily sip my way through 1/2 a bottle a night for dinner. 1st dose tonight, its gonna have to last me and any guests all week though.

I stayed overnight with my niece rather than dragging her out to Essex, so I did get to unveil the advent calendar last night, which she was fascinated by. It was difficult to tear her away from it for teeth, bath, bed etc ("just let me look" she begged) so in the end I wrapped it up in clingfilm and let her cut it free this morning. She was delighted with it, and promised "not to trash it" - I am told that as of 5 minutes ago, she has kept this promise.

One thing that has bothered me a bit - the OS Christmas posters of yester-year are nowhere to be found, I like to have one for my niece to decorate with the Christmassy stickers I out in the advent calendar . I have been printing them out, but they are very ink-heavy, and my library charges 50p per colour print. Nor do I think it would be good value to spend £1 on something from Poundland. Eventually I did - a compromise that I accept isn't good for the environment - and bought a 3-pack of large Santa sacks for £1. I stuck one to the wall (the other two are for 2019 and 2020 respectively) and told her that if she is good this month and decorates it nicely, come Christmas Day it will be full of presents.

[Deleted User]

mummygems -
Christmas cupcake decorating with the kids.

Have you already made these, are they in the freezer. I have frozen some and plan on putting icing on then wrapping in bags but not sure how long they will last, I want to give a week or so before Christmas.

K80_Black

Just popping in to say my living room has been deep cleaned and rearranged, and my tree is now up! I bought way too many fairy lights (if such a thing is possible!) so they're all wrapped around some wall art I have too

No idea what veggie delight I'll be taking to the dinner I'm going to. I tried making a Jamie Oliver mushroom tart that was mentioned in one of the old threads, but it only came out OK, not spectacular. I want something that'll convert the meat eaters away from their dry turkey! More looking for recipes and testing them in the coming weeks then.