General Chat

Just having a sit down before getting something to eat for us all, it's only a Charlie Bigham's meatballs al forno I've got two of these they aren't cheap but have been on offer so we will have those with Garlic bread, lunch time it was Pizzas.
Cooked the gammon and prepared the sprouts and carrots, I never go over the top on Veg, I will put Aunt Bessie's parsnips in the oven as well, I got a sprout tree which I wish you could get more often as they keep longer and I think taste better.

Sam & Pete the bridal couple from yesterday are now on the way to Costa Rica for 2 weeks, Sam's Mum and a friend are joining them for the 2nd week.

Richard and Paul are both out for a short while this evening so after 9pm it will be just Becky and I again, they are both out with different sets of friends .

In case I don't get on here later I hope everyone one of you and your families Have a lovely day tomorrow. <3 <3

Did I ever tell you I once built a working crystal set, late 50's ?

Those Charles Bigham meals are good Anne.Even though a bit on the expensive side.James loves the Curries . We have a Sprout Stalk in the garage. You are quite right saying they keep for so much longer . Chris bought this one ,although I am not sure why as there are so many sprouts on it. It will be sprouts with everything for the next few weeks :-D :-D

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas with the family

Just sent more pics from Hannah

Evening all,

I seem to have been on the go all day ,son and family have just gone home with five very excited children :-D
The Elf had gone this morning and had left them a big chest with games in for them and a lovely note saying what a great time he had had and that he would be back next year :-D i think son and DIL really enjoyed doing things with the Elf .

Lovely photo's from the honeymooners Jane ,the pool looked beautiful ,i think i would have been in the boat too !!! what a size he/she is ,imagine if you had one of those wander into the house :-0

I use to buy the sprout stalks and keep them outside they would keep for weeks like that it didn't matter if they got the frost as they get that in the fields , but you do get a lot on them .

I had a terrible night last night i just couldn't nod off and was still awake at 1 o'clock so it will be an early night tonight for me

I've cooked my turkey crowns today and sliced one ready for tomorrow ,also made a trifle and prepared some veg so i'm getting there ,didn't get round to setting the table so that will get done in the morning

I hope everyone as a lovely day tomorrow will try and get on later when the family have gone .

<3 <3 MERRY CHRISTMAS <3 <3

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.

Its a white one here, sadly not snow but frost :-D. Enjoy today.Eat drink and be Merry xx

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Thank you for your Christmas wishes Jane.

Looks frosty outside!

OH got up to put the Turkey in the oven so he will be getting a COT soon. Then it will be time to open our pressies. BBL.

<3 <3 <3 MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL <3 <3 <3

Hope all goes well today with cooking the dinner.

Morning all,

Wish we had a nice frosty morning. Its so dull here and misty with it in fact I think its really very very fine rain.

Oh has Echo paying Christmas songs. Its playing All I Want for Christmas.

I have just looked at the pics you sent Jane. They both look like they are having a great time and it will be something to remember in the years to come. Bless them. Liked the kittens. Did'nt one have big feet.

I did get the chickens food and bird food and when I got back I cooked 26 sausage rolls and 18 mince pies. We had toasted cheese sandwiches for dinner and a coupl eof sausge rolls each and then a small Christmas pud with cream.

Its snowing in the kitchen today. I had my first present last night from oh. He set it up outside and its a lamp that shines falling snow flakes down the walls. Its on in the kitchen now so I can see it while I am cooking.

BBL

Just having a breather now and looking at my new camera instructions while the battery charges.........it's complicated!

OH got me some surprises this year, a couple of books that are really up my street. One is 'The Poisoner' and is about Palmer, the doctor who lived in Rugeley where my my gt grandparents lived at the same time. I wonder if they were among his patients! I have been to look in the churchyard where some of my ancestors are also buried and there is a plaque about Palmer but his burial spot is secret for obvious reasons. The other book is about 'Humans'. OH engrossed in one of his new historical books just now. I think lunch will be about 1.30pm, but I couldn't remember if I set it on the fan oven or ordinary one last year.

That's good your girls have plenty to eat now Mel. The snowflake projector sounds really nice. Can you use it on your outside walls as well? You cooked up quite a feast yesterday, as did Mandy.

H & G will have some lovely memories won't they. Those Monitor lizards have mouths full of bacteria and are nasty so I would steer clear as well.

Better go and check lunch, it is nearly ready. :-D

<3 <3 <3 MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE <3 <3 <3

Well, we've been up since 7.30am but had to wake Sandra up as she had a late night last night, so we've been opening presents and doing the ring around the family to wish them a Merry Christmas.

Sandra is cooking her very first CHRISTMAS DINNER today, she's a bit nervous but I said that it's just like a big chicken, it just takes a bit longer to cook, so that will be nice later on.

Sandra said to say THANK YOU MEL for her lovely presents. She loves them all. <3
She's just watching all the Starlings on the bird feeder and is thrilled to see them on Christmas Day.

No snow here, not even frost so no white Christmas for us, just a bit of drizzle.

Sandra loves her light up projector of the moon and stars and can't wait for it to go dark so she can see it light up her bedroom ceiling. We got her a couple of sequin pictures to make so when we've eaten and the dining table is free she's going to do one. They come in a frame so she's going to put them up in her bedroom when they're finished. At the moment she's doing some colouring in, we bought her a unicorn and mermaid colouring books and felt tips, they came with their own felts but I thought she might like a few more colours.

I bought OH a bullseye game so we might have a play with that later if he feels up to it. He's been very poorly these past few days which is why I haven't been on here. He's got a chest infection and has tonsillitis so is on Antibiotics. He had to go to the our of hours surgery and when they gave him his tablets they said he didn't have to pay for them as they were a Christmas present off the NHS, they did wish him a Merry Christmas and hoped his illness didn't spoil the day. Luckily they have started to kick in and although he's still not 100% he's a bit better than he was a couple of days ago so said he could manage some Christmas dinner.

I'll try and pop back later. Haven't caught up with any posts yet so hope everyone is okay. Loved the pictures Mandy and Jane, it looks like Hannah and Gareth are having a lovely time. I don't blame Hannah for jumping on the boat I'd of probably done the same lol. Lovely note off Elf Mandy, I bet the children will look forward to seeing him again next year.

I love the sound of your snowflake lamp Mel :-D.. It will make things feel really Christmasy in your kitchen.

Ann your books sound interesting . They will keep you engrossed (once you have worked out your camera instructions :-D :-D

I have a new Kindle , another Paperwhite one but this one is even slimmer than my old one. It has just been set up and all my books from the old one are now installed.

We had a lovely chat with H&G just now on FaceTime. They have been on a bike ride this morning and got stuck behind a family of Water Buffalo. There was a chap on a Tuktuk who went along with them and he had coconuts which he sliced the tops of with what Gareth described as a Machete !,and then he popped bamboo straws in . They sais it was very refreshing as it is really quite hot. Then Gareth went of Birdspotting with the owner of the Hotel.Binoculars and Cameras slung round his neck. He looked quite the part.Gareth was saying there are 44 staff where they are for just 22 guests!.
The sun was just beginning to set as we were chatting.It looked wonderful.

My Turkey Roulade is done as are the Honey and Mustard Parsnips. Pis in Blankets have a few more minutes and the the Potatoes will go in. It is smelling nice now.

Thomas seems to be out and about a long time today. I wonder if he can smell Roast Turkey from all the different houses :-D :-D I am beginning to feel a bit on the hungry side now. I just hope I can eat it all without coughing and spluttering too much :-S.
I am quite glad in a way that it is just us today as I dont think I would have been up to doing the whole shebang for all the family.

Your new Paperwhite sounds good Jane and will take even less space being slimmer. It's a pity you cough is still hanging on, but it's a bit of a blessing in a way that you don't have your usual housefull today. At least you can just chill.

Gill, it sounds as if Sandra had some great presents and will be itching to start one of her pictures once the table is clear. It's a shame Glyn isn't well, but it sounds as if the antibiotics have started to work so he should get better soon now.

We have had our lunch and I don't know where OH put all of his! He's sold on having another Turkey Crown in future as he said it was delicious and he was really good as my 'maid of all work' this morning, getting things in and out of the oven etc. He's lying on the settee recovering from lunch now, but we will clear the kitchen up before the Queens speech.

I've seen the neighbour out on the front with the puppy. Mrs Overall was over like a shot. OH thinks she must be always looking out of the windows on the front. She misses nothing.

Just finished the best Christmas dinner ever, kindly made by Sandra. She was a bit nervous at first but with me keeping an eye on her she soon relaxed and made the most tender turkey I've ever eaten. She is as pleased as punch with herself now and has a beaming smile on her face. She said she wants to make it again next year.

It sounds like you've all had some lovely presents. I got quite a few kits to make things with, so I'm very pleased with those and Sandra got me some star gazing books and one about Tim Peake, which are just my kind of thing.

Sorry to hear you're still under the weather Jane, at least you don't have to run around looking after everyone this year so can now relax for the rest of the day. I hope you start feeling better soon. <3

Sandra's going to do her picture tomorrow now as she said she is to full to move....bless her. I think it might of been the Thornton's triple chocolate trifle she had after her Christmas dinner that did it lol, so we're going to settle down in front of the TV now and relax for a bit.

Well done Sandra!! :-D :-D No wonder she was chuffed......she did a great job with the Turkey. I bet you are looking forward to doing your kits Gill. I like those kinds of things too.

All we've had is lunch, no pudding and chocolates Gill.......no room for anything else yet! It's hard to resist a nice trifle so no wonder Sandra was full!

Back to a bit of TV now and an early night I think.

I'm still full up with dinner. we did have a nice COC and a gingerbread star or two or three this afternoon, naughty but nice.

We still have loads of presents to open but I have had a lovely tiny drill with all the trimmings from oh and a new hand whisk, a 7 needle felting tool and other bits and bobs. O rechargeable batteries. Aunty Joy has given me a nice long calender for the kitchen and a wall plaque and I still have 5 to open of hers.

Hope you have all had a wonderful day and nice presents.

Jane I hope the cough is easing now a bit.

Morning All

I have spent most of the night barking again :-S.It is soooooo annoying . I have to dash over to Rushden Lakes M&S as soon as it opens at 9 as I think the meat I have got for today is OFF !!.Juices from the plastic bag the meat is sealed in has been leaking out into the cardboard box the joint is in and when I took it out of the fridge at 4am(when I let you know who out) it smelled a bit fishy :-S :-S. So I cant risk it.
I am just having my cuppa and then will have to be up and away.

BBL

Morning Jane and all.
,

I hope you got some satifaction with taking the meat back Jane. You don't want to be upset by that if its off.

I got up at five past elevan !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was up at 7am for the little girls room and went back to bed and fell asleep right away.

I had a lovely little present from Em and family next door yesterday. It is a tiny silver hedgehog pin. Its so nice and such a surprize when I took the paper off the box I wondered what could be inside.

I had to put the meat in the boot of the car triple bagged . It was really stinky. I was home again by 9.30 ! with fresh meat and a free lovely bottle of wine.
So now we are just waiting for Janice and Larry .They will be here around 12.
I've just got a big tray of Charlotte potatoes cut small and mushrooms with a nice sprinkle of Italian Herbs ,so that is ready to pop in the oven ,the same as the Lamb. Ready to microwave Creamed Spinach and a bag of mixed veg.

It was really foggy when I drove to M&S and there were some right idiot drivers.One overtook me so close he almost had my wing mirror !!!!!. It isnt foggy so much now but just a very dismal and dreary day. The fire is lit and I am hot already and the oven isn't even on yet. I have changed into a thin short sleeved top now.
Im reallylooking forward to J&L coming.I am sure there will be lots of talk about the wedding :-D,and I have lots of pics to show them of that and the Honeymoon ones.

I just looked in the mirror just now and I look s**t. So many bags under my eyes from a week of sleep disturbed nights.I look like I have been out on the town for a week !!!

What are you all up to today? I hope our Frank is having a good time down in Devon :-D

Earwigging Jane, when did you buy the meat, I did see a lot on line about rancid turkeys and spoiled Christmas lunches but they were from all the other supermarkets not M&S. Did they suggest what caused it? Luckily you realised in time to change it. Hope it is not too foggy for Janice’s journey to you and they get there safely. We are hoping this weather dries up a bit by Saturday.

Afternoon All,

Back to dreary and drizzly here! I didn't get of to sleep till gone 4.30am this morning. I don't know why, unless it was because I needed to be up early to go to Boundary Mill sales! OH suggested he came with me so he could stand and do any queueing and look at the men's things which was good. It was much foggier further north, but still people were driving with no lights on and we saw one bump between 2 cars. Sadly I thought it was a very poor sale this year and they seemed to just be selling off winter stuff, most of which is too hot for me to be able to wear so I hardly bought a thing. As so many shops have had poor Christmas sales this year, it may be better when some of that stock has sold and they bring other things out. OH has his long johns on now and has gone to a local match.

Jane it's a good job it was noticeable the meat was off.........you don't want to be adding food poisoning to your ailments!! I had to take some chicken back to M&S once and they changed it no quibbles, but I didn't get a bottle of wine, so you did well with that! :-D It will be nice for Larry and Janice to have a nice lunch with you. It sounds very tasty and just what I fancy!

Mel, is your tiny drill like a Dremmell? I have one of those and it is good. I said ages ago that I fancied doing a felted landscape after I saw some of poppy fields at a craft fayre. Now after seeing those beautiful felted Robins on cotton reels on Kirstie and a lady who does realistic dogs on FB, I would like to try animals!! I kicked myself after not getting one of the brush things for the wool at a charity shop for 50p a couple of years ago. I didn't really know what it was for then! I shall be interested to see what you make.