Countdown to Christmas 2020 (Thread 10): the one with the Very Important Participants!

[NoWordForFluffy]

Here we go!

I've got a busy day tomorrow, so I'm starting this now, ready for when it's needed.

70 Good luck on your cushion hunt!

Woolly they look lovely. I'm practically sitting on my hands as making presents is supposed to reduce my craft stash and save £ - but I want to buy stuff so badly!

Similar story here Biddy. New job is in full swing and random things from the old one keep popping up 🙄

Oh Wreck, you need to look after your health. I will absolutely help take those off your hands if that would help? 😂

Thank you puss. I may well take you up on that! I've just checked my stash and I don't seem to have many sequins. Not sure where they've gone - I thought I had loads.
Going to try the beads and see how they look first though.

Am having a lunch break now. Jacket potato with beans and cheese, how exciting...

Boots I have made mash and frozen it before. Just make it as normal and then freeze in bags or tubs. My problem is reheating it. If I do it in a saucepan it seems to leave a crust in the bottom of the pan and I have to be hyper vigilant that it doesn't catch and burn. It will reheat in a microwave but needs a good stir to incorporate the water that seems to pool (this might just be my mash!). I've had the best results when I've used it to top something like a shepherds pie and it heats through in the oven.

Ahh it looks like Biddy also has encountered the soggy defrosted mash. I like your solution though.

Biddy thanks. I'll have a go with a small batch to see how it turns out.

Crazy ok, let me know - the ones Woolly gave a link for look fab though, and would be better for your teeth than a bar of chocolate

Crazy

I've frozen mash before. I do it in a Tupperware container then microwave it and don't have any problems.

Woolly i have in the past bought pre-cooked mash then frozen it as it was going out of date (don't judge me too harshly) to warm it I spread it fairly thinly (max 1.5") on a pyrex dish in the oven, then stir with a fork and add butter and black pepper. Sometimes it gives a bit of a crust, but that's just like a pie top so isn't unpleasant once mixed in.
I really don't follow instructions on a packet

So if I do the spuds then freeze (so it's still quite stiff), then reheat and add butter and milk and seasoning it should be edible.

Wreck I think Crazy is being very selfless in her offer and hope she posts one to me

You'll be relieved or gutted to hear no cushion-ey objects d'art
Too early I think .

They had coats in but as you cannot try things on I wasn't tempted .

Well I've eaten half of them already puss Friday is treat day!

Can someone remind me of the date and time...
There are bloody fireworks going off - not just one, at least a dozen so far.
What a prick - you can't even see them, it's still daytime.
🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤬

That's what gets me too. Why do it in daylight? They're a bit expensive to do that with!

More money than sense or braincells tbh

I think fireworks should be banned from general sale. They're dangerous and unnecessary.

I couldn't agree more. Our old cat used to hide, these two sit in the window and watch the display

I used to have firework birthday parties when I was younger. It wasn't my birthday until gramp had singed his eyebrows off lighting the bonfire! 😂😂

There's someone near me who lets fireworks off randomley when it's light and nowhere near Nov 5th

There's also a Bird Scarer that goes off despite numerous protests on the local "Down My Street" app

And off course the single firework to let everyone know the local dealer has thei stash in

is that so 70? I never knew people did that.

Accidentally ended up with Chinese for dinner. Feeling guilty for the effects on my sugar levels and waist line. Oh and dh's wallet.

Fluffy the time the Catherine wheel flew off the fence was an epic firework night.

why sounds like fun 🤣

It was, Why! 😂😂

I hope you enjoyed the Chinese, Wreck. I'm sure it was worth it. 😋

Interesting re the single firework. We sometimes have that near us. Suppose it could be similar.

Chinese in this house also, courtesy of DH wallet (and trying to 2nd guess hormonal angry teen). Work week finished TG, next week will be and in equal measures on my part, and boss going as I fail to perform. But Cub parents told of change to no camp, so wine can be taken to relax before a 9.30am on the waterfront start tomorrow - DH and DD travelling to my DPs and DMIL to drop and collect various things so I'll have a quiet afternoon.

Did no one ever tell you the beneficial effects of ice cream for pain? (I can't even remember who asked sorry). Yup, it works!!

DH was looking askance at the bundle of packs of dried fruit in the kitchen today - and realised I have the Sarah Raven Christmas book (I only have it 15 years or so and it lives in the sittingroom bookcase in full view!!). For people who make a Christmas cake regularly - how long do you soak the fruit and in what (and what quantity) - is it tea or brandy or whiskey? And would Sarah Raven or Hairy Bikers recipe be better, or do you have your own recommendations (they're the 2 books I have that have a recipe). It will only be my 22nd Christmas in our own house....I'm such a bad housewife....

Gotta go drink wine and see if I am allowed into sitting room yet (apparently I don't watch DH and DD's programmes - sports strategy stuff - but she needed some quiet time to unwind with him before a family movie. At least by ignoring her and just getting her normal favourites, we still got it wrong but she eventually came down and ate something....). Definitely wine needed.

Fireworks are illegal here, but although ti's been reasonably quiet for a few years since they clamped down on shops just over the border, there have been a fair few going off in the past few weeks over the city here.

But I flew over the UK one 5th Nov and WOW the skies were busy!! I was really glad I normally look for a window seat that night (it was a relatively early evening but already dark flight).

Biddy I used to soak dried fruit in brandy for a week in a large pyrex bowl, cling film over the top, and stir daily. Some recipies will suggest you soak the fruit overnight, some for 2 wks or more.
The amount of brandy depends on the size of the cake really, it is possible to put too much alcohol in it apparently

Thanks Boots a week sounds good to me! (Especially as I've just realised I need to either borrow a tin of DM's or buy one - I have sponge tins not deep ones). DH can ask when he's there tomorrow....

Wasn't it a rite of passage for dads, to get the catherine wheel on so it wasn't so tight it didn't spin, but wasn't too loose so it came off?

Did my meat pie for tea, seemed to go down well! And more space cleared in the freezer! Going veggie tomorrow - either mushroom risotto or veggie tacos...

I've been sorting Christmas presents today, listing what I still need to get. I'm not too far off, to be honest. Apart from a few bits, it's mostly DDad and DH (and DH just wants a new graphics card for his pc, so that's his joint birthday/Christmas present, and I'll just get him something to open from DS).

I'm going to be very boring now - DM has asked for nice slippers, but I don't really wear them so I am not sure what would be the best ones to buy.

She likes hard soled, fleece-lined moccasins (she has MS so has to be careful what she wears on her feet to avoid tripping). She's had the M&S ones before and liked those, but looking on the website they seem to have an artificial lining, and I have found these which are sheepskin and even with delivery are only a couple of £ more. Are sheepskin ones better/warmer (and less sweaty) than artificial or are they much of a muchness? Or are there better ones I should consider? Any help appreciated before you doze off