Ahem. It's the 25th September, which means....

[FellatioNelson]

That I hereby declare the Fellatio's Poncetastic Christmas Thread Part 4 open for business.

For those of you who do not know WTF I am on about, read this from 2010 by way of explanation:

OK, first of all, I know it's still September by we need to start this thread now because as you all know, having a truly Poncetastic Christmas involves precision planning, strategy, bravery, heroics, and frequently martyrdom. A bit like the war in Afghanistan, only with nicer food and sparkly shoes.

So, if you, like me, actually want to make the next twelve weeks of your life a misery by hand-crafting your cards, finding a huge bucket for Nigella's turkey in brine, pickling pears, shrivelling oranges in a low oven for those rustic au naturel decorations, dragging half a holly bush back from the woods, and just generally being a smug annoying jobsworth ponce, join me on this thread.

Feel free to post photos of previous tree-trimming, cake icing or table centrepiece triumphs, discuss this year's bauble colour themes, debate the merits of Delia versus Gordon, road-test a selection of canapes and cocktails, (all in the line of duty) and link to lovely inspirational photos/craft ideas for a truly Poncetastic Christmas.

Warning: If your idea of a good Christmas involves Pizza, ITV, gravy granules or anything with 'Aunt Bessies' on the packet, this is not the thread for you.

If you want to read the previous three threads for Christmas 2010, 2011 and 2012 search my name in the Christmas topic.

In the words of the great Mike Reid from Runaround, G-G-G-G-G- GO!

[TheOneWithTheHair]

Right I've caught up. May I apologise in advance for being the poster that asks the stupid questions. Anyone that was on the Sewing Bee thread can attest to that.

So I'd like to know if any of you reuse the decorations, stockings etc that you made last year?
I made some that I want to keep and eventually build up a good stash.

Also, those doing biscuits and cookies etc, do you make them now and freeze it or all in a rush at the end?

Does anyone have recipes for ones that freeze well and are Christmassy?

Last question, I promise . When you talk about your Christmas organisers, are they specifically sectioned 'cause I want one?

[oxton]

Cannot believe how excited I am by this thread.

In fact, so excited, that this is the first time I have ever added a message

Don't have anything useful to contribute thus far but am looking forward to a Poncetastic Christmas.

[ethelb]

Brilliant! I got the fabric for DPs Christmas PJs I imported from the US today.
It is perfect and a weight I just couldn't find in the UK so the massive surprise import tax is hugely justified
Luckily I got the vintage Don Draper pattern free from my aunt's vintage shop.
I will be going yarn shopping for sone knitted gifts. The shop is so posh they will have a natural dyed yarn pop up shop and offer tours to a local alpaca farm that supplies them with yarn.
Oh, and I got a prize in the village fete for the piccallili recipe i shared on the last thread.

Is that poncetastic enough for you?!!!

[ethelb]

And anyone wanting to lighten their wallets further.... William Sonoma now deliver to the UK.

[TheOnlyPink]

TheOneWithTheHair This is the Christmas Organiser that I had seen people on here talking about. I am waiting for it to be dispatched.

[TheOneWithTheHair]

Thank you TheOnlyPink. I've just ordered one.

[OliviaMMumsnet]

Hello
I just wanted to come on and say, cos I have never been able to do so before and probably won't again
I won't be having a ponce-tastic Christmas in any way this year because I'm upduffed (Will be 35 weeks at start of advent) and don't even know if I'll be at home for it.

BUT BUT BUT I have done all my preps - and bought a v tasteful faux (i know that technically thats an oxymoron but it does look loverly) pre-lit
tree for hassle-prevention

Though I will be having a lovely natural wreath for my door made by a friend.

Baubles will be navy and gold this year.
Bought my glittery advent calendars
Done everything for stockings except the Naice chocolate coins which I haven't seen yet.
There are some damsons in my freezer but since I won't be able to enjoy it this year I may make the gin/vodka and save until next.

I did find some GORGEOUS fabric on eBay today and then thought it would wait until next year

Happy Poncetastic Prepping all of you



PS nice thread about poncerific wrapping here

[SugarHut]

Bastardos. Not only do I not require another bloody Christmas folder, I'm also now going to have the hassle of transferring everything out of the old one and into this new one I have just ordered too. All because the deer on the front is cute. I don't even bloody like Cath Kidston!! Do NOT tell my friends

[TheOneWithTheHair]

I hope you have a good Christmas Olivia but please could you make the link clicky.

Good luck with the twins.

[OliviaMMumsnet]

@TheOneWithTheHair

I hope you have a good Christmas Olivia but please could you make the link clicky.

Good luck with the twins.

Done
And thanks

[SuperMuddle]

Ooh, I've just found this thread, but feel I belong here...

As I am upduffed with DC#1, this will be my last child-free Christmas, and would love to make it as ponce-tastic as possible!

I will probably mostly lurk, but wanted to say hello to all. Right, so I'm off to draw up lists of presents to make, mostly food/booze-related, naturally.

[TheOneWithTheHair]

Thank you.

[TheYamiOfYawn]

TheOneWithTheHair - I reuse the stuff that can be re-use, eg stockings. Salt dough decorations usually last a couple of years and go mouldy. Biscuit decorations get nibbled throughout the Christmas period until they are all eaten by Twelf Night.

[MrsBeeZed]

I'm in. Marking place and ready to ponce

[LIttleMissTickles]

IsaacCox I just spent an hour looking through your recipes - they are fantastic. I've bookmarked the chilli jam, chutney and chocolate and banana jam, although I'm not sure about the latter!

[MisselthwaiteManor]

I am going to make that strawberry and champagne jam, it looks amazing! Not sure I can be trusted with a pot of edible glitter, glittery sprouts anyone?

[Editededition]

Isaac loving your recipes! ....and found myself in hysterics after checking your glitter link:
These non-toxic glitters are not harmful when eaten but are not EU classified as a food product as they are not digested when eaten but pass through the system undigested

Surely you get the award for most poncetastic concept ever ......glittery poo!! (the gift that keeps on giving?!?!)



Loving it

[IsaacCox]

I saw that Edited which is maybe why I'm making it

@ glittery sprouts. I think we could have a lot of fun with this!

[girlywhirly]

Olivia, we like Divine chocolate coins (fairtrade choc) which are sold in the local Oxfam shop. There are lots of other chocolate treats available as well.

This year I am poncing modestly. But I shall be making fig and sherry mincemeat as usual for sugar crust pastry mince pies, vanilla ice cream in my machine to go with them, and my favourite chestnut and bacon stuffing to freeze in advance for the Christmas lunch.

Last year I made an alternative wreath for outside in the shape of a five pointed star, made from red dogwood stems bound together in bunches, and decorated with ivy trails and bunches of variegated holly. I may do the same this year if there are enough straight stems, if not I shall re use the old one to make up the numbers of stems.

[aliciagardner]

Hello poncers. Looking forward to another Christmas of full-on poncetasticness! When this thread starts I know it's time to get the vodka and lemons ready for the homemade limoncello. I'll be making chilli jam again this year, as it was fab (nigella recipe).

I've bought some scandi looking wrapping paper from b&m (bargain poncetastic Christmas needed in my household) and will be using garden twine and attaching a candy cane to all pressies this year. Thinking about treating myself to new tree lights as I got fed up and shoved the old ones away last year all tangled (after trying to untangle for an hour!). So now I have to decide - coloured or warm white? I have some time to think about it :)

Still on the hunt for the perfect red berry wreath that doesn't cost a fortune and is not too fake looking. If anyone sees one, please let me know! Wilko looked promising last year but turned out to be fakey close up. No money for beautiful, expensive ones, must be beautiful and cheap.

Looking forward to getting poncing! Pinterest board is slowly expanding..

[SuperMuddle]

I've just rediscovered my Pinterest! Wedding-related boards have been removed, to make way for all things poncerifically Christmassy. Many happy hours to be spent...

[IsaacCox]

My Cath Kidston organiser has arrived! Off for a look :)

[IsaacCox]

I forgot to say the edible glitter has arrived too

[MrsHoratioNelson]

Popping in to say that I have just received Aldi's special buys email - A3 and A4 laminator and pouches available from Sunday... details here

[chicaguapa]

This thread makes me feel a lot better about having spent the entire evening yesterday watching Japanese people wrap gifts on youtube.