* Driving Home for Christmas * - It's the 2021 Christmas Chatter Thread!

chanie

Stokie I caught covid over the summer.  Like you, I was wearing my masks, sanitising my hands etc, so I was surprised when I tested positive.  I think I must have caught it on my commute to work in Central London, as I hadn’t been anywhere other than home in the days before I tested positive.  

kerri_gt

@StokieBecks how annoying for you,  esp when you want to be out and about getting stuff done.
OH was unwell right at the start of this mess, being ill he 'only' had to isolate for 7 days at the time, me not being ill got stuck with 14 days. I was utterly climbing the walls by the end. 

skogar

Sorry - not been on this thread for a bit and now I have caught up I have forgotten who I am replying to.

Lemon puddings - if you wanted something lemony and refreshing you could have the option of a tub of lemon sorbet - very refreshing and light after a big meal - if it is someone who visitis regularly there could still be some eft in the freezer for next time or you could have it as an option alongside something else (if you were serving smething that might go nicely with a ball of lemon sorbert).

Christmas stockings - Definitely when I was young you diidn't see commercial stockings for sale -- they weren't a thing. When I was at primary school we used to use my Dad's socks (as they were much biggger than ours - we would try and find the longest ones (that would be late 70s). I don't think larger stockings were a thing really unless they were homemade ones. I did hear of a few people using a pillowcase instead. It wasn't uncommon though or there to be a few things with the stocking that wouldn't fit in the sock - perhaps a book, bubble bath etc. When I was probably about 6 (early 80s) I got a larger one that were being made at the school out of fleecy material and the juniors had decorated by sticking on other pieces of material - this was tremendously exciting as it was much bigger than Dad's socks! There was always a satsuma at the bottom of the stocking and a few nuts and little chocolates and then the little gifts. As we didn't have our main presents till after lunch the stockings were the main event of the morning.

Stokie - Hope you're feeling better soon.

kerri_gt

Was up in the Big Smoke today (way home from an event last night that I'd stayed over for).

Managed to get one specific item I wanted (hurrah!) and also staggered into TKMaxx (went a bit mad on things in Primark, plus had the wheelie case) and found one single set with the pillowcase and scrunchies like the other one I got. It was tucked away at the back of a shelf and the only way I saw it was because I knew roughly what I was looking for. So now I can decide what to give in my own time.
Only annoying thing is socks I wanted to get for DN are currently OOS online

Also got OH some after shave in TKM although I couldn't smell what its like.

DaffyDaisies

@StokieBecks those hampers look amazing!  I'd be super happy to receive such a hamper! I didn't know Mr T had the choc orange penguin biscuits in, I'll have to have a peep next time I pass... Did you manage to get the popcorn as a bargain? I was looking for some to go with my future BIL's present but it seemed super expensive everywhere. Ended up getting the same gingerbread one I got last year from HBs. I didn't think he'd fancy marshmallow flavour!

I've seen the red nose marshmallows in my HBs branch, so it's worth scouting.

Spendless

kerri - Glad you got the pillowcase.

We did a last minute trip to Scotland for DD as she was ill. Restrictions are different there, still face masks in shops etc and track and trace, well I think was last month, this time we only ate in the hotel restaurant. Still cases there. Am wondering what exactly will work tbh.  

Today I got DD some soft socks back in stock at Primark and some bottoms from the nightwear section. She's requested loungewear as something to just be around her student digs, tops that fit this description but aren't exactly PJs are easy to find, bottoms not so. easy.

Still need to make a start of DS and DH. 

StokieBecks

Daffy the popcorn wasn't really a bargain I just thought it looked a nice extra. Think it was £7 for a box of 8 mini bags (and i got three boxes) 

zafiro1984

I'm concentrating on putting HM things in the freezer to use over the Christmas period.
Yesterday I added a casserole of steak and kidney with chestnuts and pickled walnuts, plus 5 portions of Delia's Fruit compote. The savoury drawer is almost full, the dessert drawer not so. 

My next job is to bake biscuits for the tree as that usually takes quite a lot of time to ice and decorate them as well. 

kerri_gt

@zafiro1984 ohh you've just reminded me to buy chestnuts, thank you.

Went out yesterday to try and get the profiteroles I want as part of our pud but neither Iceland had the larger box. That's three stores I've been to now.
Not sure whether to get 2 * smaller boxes from Tesc0 tomorrow if they have them, which will work out a bit more expensive,  or hold off and see if Iceland get them in. But I don't want to end up with them sold out and me kicking myself.

Managed to get some Baileys for £10 in A$da yesterday, total fluke as I had no idea it was even on offer. That's my hairdresser's gift sorted and one for OH in his stocking. 

Beshki

I’m trying something different re food this year. I overspent massively last year on food and we still have some of it now…! So I’m not buying anything until my last shop before Christmas & I’m going to be very regimented in what I buy. I don’t have to do Christmas Day, only a small buffet on Christmas Eve, so I’m planning to be sensible about it. Easier said than done!

For my family gift in which I had planned to buy biscuits, I instead bought a gift voucher for a place they like so they can have breakfast there. It is the same price as the biscuits and seems they’ll get so much more for it. So that’s sorted

im going to get all our pressies out tonight and go through what I have.