OS Christmas Support thread & timetable

metherer

Hoping work doesn't decide to get rid of the Champagne & Chocolates they introduced to replace the Christmas Bonus. Christmas Day breakfast won't be the same without a large jug of Bucks Fizz... Best bit is my partner doesn't like Champagne so I get the whole bottle to myself...

Anyone else got anything they ALWAYS have for Christmas breakfast?

kscour

Well thanks to all - not sure why I feel so down about it all but...
I've spent a few day ordering on line and found some new "small" sites where I've managed to order some what i call "wow I never knew that existed but it's just what I wanted presents" so shopping all done without piped in jingle bells
I've banned any tv channel with adverts! especially ones with multiple santas :rolleyes:
school concert helping coming up - oh goody not!
have told dd's it's paper chains or nothing this year - if they want the plastic version it'll be in their rooms!
Christmas cake is awkward cos I don't like icing, dd's don't like fruit, OH doesn't like marzipan sooooo boiled fruit cake for the grown ups and a gingerbread house for juniors (big gulp!)
snow today made me feel better - not so much the snow but everyone diving in and helping out whenever and whoever they could (real christmas spirit I think!)
And I guess you've all reminded me that Christmas is what you make it. I've always thought of it as being "family" so that's what I'm going to aim for this year :T No Argos, No artificial trees, No stress, Just quality time with those that mean the most. I wish I could say I had that Christmassy feeling all over but I don't - however I do feel a faint hum of Jingle Bell's coming on :j
And if you should spot some strange person dressed as an elf lurking in your garden don't worry that'll be me back to normal again

BWZN93

chinagirl wrote:

companies are feeling the pinch, so don't give so generously today.

Thats very true. My employer is giving everyone £50 of shopping vouchers and we can choose it from a list though which is certainly better than a slap in the face! We get our choices next week so im deliberating whether to get vouchers for my xmas presents or vouchers for other people....

Im erring towards me at the moment - but Ill see how I feel later.

I have bought some silk boxer shorts for the other half for xmas and he is now under strict instructions to not open any packages that come between now and xmas. Cant keep anything secret from him!

Im going to ebay some more presents and intend to have his sorted by the end of next week, and I still have to go buy a tree (fake - dont want the cat getting needles in the paw and I simply cant be bothered to take a dead tree away, and would feel guilty that I dressed it up and watched it die!) Id love a potted real tree but I dont have anywhere to keep it for the whole year so fake is the way forward.

Ive got to find presents for 3 other people after him then im done! Ive got my cards ready too - ive just got to write them and get some stamps.

Tesco just gave me a £2 voucher off a £20 shop too, im stocking up on dry goods this weekend.

Jo xx

pavlovs_dog

Jo, it may be worth your while having a nosey on ebay - a lot of vouchers sell for more or less face value, if you would prefer the cash

katieowl_2

KScour, if you are making a Gingerbread house, you might like to look at this for some inspiration!

http://frankysattic.home.comcast.net/index.html

Somewhere amongst all the fab pictures, there is a gingerbread house pattern, and recipes for stiff dough!

I made one of these as a pressie for somebody last year, use the 'instant' royal icing you can get in a packet to stick it all together. made the job much easier!

Regards

Kate

zar

nabowla wrote:

• Make an Advent wreath and light one candle each Sunday to mark the approach of Christmas;

:A :eek: I thought I was being prepared by buying the candles for my advent wreath last weekend, but you've just reminded me that that's all I've got so far! I'm useless at crafts stuff, but I did have an oasis wreath that I stuck the candles in and branches of evergreen holly etc - but it had too many holes in now and got thrown away. Guess I'll have to go shopping tomorrow and get a new one, or something else to use (can't go today as I don't drive, DH is at work and I live in the middle of nowhere!)

metherer wrote:

Anyone else got anything they ALWAYS have for Christmas breakfast?

As well as bucks fizz, my dad's family ALWAYS has pork pie for breakfast. I like the tradition, but not the pork pie! I have a scotch egg instead usually.

Enjoying the thread. Although I plan on doing Christmas shopping etc a bit earlier this year (i.e. not week before) I won't be decorating til at least 2 weeks before, apart from the advent wreath and calendar. I do get grumpy when other people decorate too early (for me) - I get even grumpier when they then take the decorations down before the epiphany because they "get sick of seeing them" (one of my aunts) - don't they know that Christmas lasts twelve days, hence the song?

Rebob

kscour wrote:

Christmas cake is awkward cos I don't like icing, dd's don't like fruit, OH doesn't like marzipan sooooo boiled fruit cake for the grown ups and a gingerbread house for juniors (big gulp!)

Ikea usually sells the gingerbread house kits very cheap for the ones not suited to baking.

PaleScene

metherer wrote:

Anyone else got anything they ALWAYS have for Christmas breakfast?

We don't always have the same thing but we tend to have strange and luxurious choices on Christmas Day ie Vol-au-Vents

lucym

Rebob wrote:

Ikea usually sells the gingerbread house kits very cheap for the ones not suited to baking.

My children don’t like gingerbread so I make a shortbread biscuit house instead.

I cut out the windows before baking and put a piece of boiled sweet in the holes – it melts to form the windowpane. If you place a small torch inside the house it looks very effective.

scuzz

We have made the chutney. Now just the chrimbo cake and sweets to go