OS Christmas Support thread & timetable

Madmel

I can't belive you are all so organised! We are moving house in 10 days, so I can't think beyond that just now.

My favourite Xmas Pud recipe is one my Dad adapted. It's completely veggie and very very easy...

Sieve 50g plain flour with a pinch of salt, half a level tsp of mixed spice, a quarter tsp each of nutmeg & ground cinnamon.

Then stir in 50g of fresh breadcrumbs - I get the kids to crumble some crusts up for me

Add 100g of stoned raisins, 100g sultanas, 100g currants and some glace cherries if you like them and/or mixed peel and stir together then add 100g soft margarine and 100g brown sugar,

Add 50g carrots which have been peeled & grated, a small apple (cooking or eating, doesn't seem to matter) peeled & cored, 1 tablespoon of marmalade, 1 beaten egg and the grated rind and juice of 1 lemon and 1 orange.

As you add each ingredient, give the bowl a stir. By this point, it looks like a brown gloopy mess - it's perfect!

Now the fun: the recipe says 2 tablespoons of rum or brandy. I add both in larger quantities . Grease your pudding basin (we use old Tesco ones from the days when we bought them after Xmas in the sale!) and add the mixture. It will look very wet, but that's fine. Cover with greaseproof paper and a tight fitting lid, or foil tied on with string.

Leave it to stand overnight at room temperature so the fruit can absorb some of the alcohol. Then cook it either by boiling for 6 hours, or boiling in a pressure cooker for 15 minutes, then steaming for 1 3/4 hours.

On Christmas Day, heat it either in the microwave, or boil again.

I normally make mine in the October half term holidays, cook them and leave them in the back of the fridge. DH and MiL say they have never tasted one as good .

QueenB.

Churchmouse wrote:

We used to use glitter, called it stardust!!

That could work:D

Shortie

My local 99p stores had some really nice childrens puzzels in so I bought 4. That's part of 4 presies sorted for friends kids - for £4!! :rotfl:

kezbradley

Hi, we use glitter mixed with talc and call it magic snow, my kids think north pole snow doesn't melt!! BTW it also makes the carpet smell nice for xmas day:rotfl:

EagerLearner

Girl_least_likely_to wrote:

I've been doing my bit for christmas. I've got £30 in John Lewis vouchers from Pigsback, £20 in Next vouchers from Shop & scan, £10 Amazon voucher from Test & Vote and about £10 on my Boots card. I have no idea what to buy people though :rotfl: .

I bought a nice candle set for some friends from Next in the xmas sales last year and I bought all my cards and wrapping paper too. I saw a half price Marylin Monroe mug for a MM mad friend yesterday so I'll pick that up for him. Only 14 more presents to find :eek: . Am going to try and get one present a week from now on.

Soooo organised - well done you - it won't be as painful that way :T :T :T

We chose to go away for Xmas & new Year fopr once, avoiding all the expense, but since I have joined MSE I think I could have managed it for once... will have to focus on Xmas pressies for my niece instead as she will still get some :j It's her birthday in 2 weeks and I already found a pink Winnie The Pooh piggybank in Poundland for £1 (the last piggybank I gave her is full!!! So this one is bigger) and I also found her a fairies book that has 4 puzzles inside on the pages for £3.99 from Sussex Stationers. Also plan to get her a little glittery purse and put some coins in it - she's 4 so I think she will like these things... No harm in starting them young re money!

leni

I used to make my dady take off the gas fire because Santa wouldn't be able to get down the chimney if the gas fire was still plumbed in! This was the days before corgi sertificates

Santa always got me new PJ's too that my mam used to change me into when I fast asleep during the night (bit pervy looking back but the innocence of youth!)

We also has pillow cases instead of stockings and had to bring that into my parents bedrooms so they could have a lie in :T

I want children - the magic of christmas is GONE

Also another tip for the tooth fairy is to sprinkle fairy dust from the windowsill to the bed when taking the tooth!:A

nicki_2

We have a Christmas Fairy who comes to check on DD every night from 1st September and checks whether she has been naughty or nice and went to bed on time etc She then goes back to Santa to report in.

December 12th, if DD has been good, she leaves a set of PJ's or a nightie especially for Christmas Eve Sometimes she leave little gifts or notes during December but she doesn't half make a mess with her fairy dust (aka gold glitter).

For a real magicical touch I was going to try some Magic Reindeer food ( here ) from OrganizedChristmas. We'll have to see though.

My SIL x2 both still like to "believe", especially since DD was born. Last year Santa left his boot behind :rolleyes:, the time before that when we were there for Christmas he made a mess all over the harth with the soot from the chimney (IL's have an open fire in their livingroom). All 3 of us older girls are still trying to convince FIL that Santa would prefer a selection of drinks (baileys, WKD, cider etc) instead of a glass of rum :rotfl:

kezbradley

For all of you who think you are getting organised early, I've just been into West Bromwich town centre and one of the card shops is selling Xmas cards, not last years reduced stuff but this years stock, now that is early:xmassign: :xmassign:

Girl_least_likely_to

kezbradley wrote:

For all of you who think you are getting organised early, I've just been into West Bromwich town centre and one of the card shops is selling Xmas cards, not last years reduced stuff but this years stock, now that is early:xmassign: :xmassign:

I was in a garden centre at the weekend and they looked as if they were starting to shift the displays around to begin bringing out the xmas goods. They had xmas cards already on sale too. I know us lot on here are already getting organised but the shops really should know better, it's August !!!!!

anniebooklover

On my day trip to York today, we came across a toy shop that had a fully decorated Christmas tree in the window! :eek:

I have been more organised this year though. I already have my youngest nieces and nephews' gifts bought (all at 50% off RRP or less) AND wrapped. :j
Also got a beautiful vase for my mum that was massively reduced to £3. My parents were given around 5 or 6 bouquets of flowers for their golden wedding and she didn't have nearly enough vases for them all. So, she adds to her collection courtesy of my DS and DD.

When I get paid on Friday, we will probably head into town to do some more prezzie bargain hunting.