Countdown to Christmas 2021: the one where autumn starts (and Strictly - whoop!). Thread 5

[NoWordForFluffy]

119 (for ease tomorrow!)

Here we go. Couldn't think of a witty thread title. Soz!

You need to make your own pastry, @MeredithMae, else they won't be anywhere near as good as they could be!

I had 146 emails. I'm amazed. That's all I've done today. My task list is tomorrow's job (it was down at 61 just before 5 as I'd done some things due to emails knocking some off!). My head is mashed!

I'd love evenings to myself, Crazy. Excellent timing!

Well done Hairspray snuggly newborn baby cuddles await you

I use my Food Processor for pastry , do the fat:flour in the machine and tip into a bowl to add the water (sometimes an egg /half an egg) with a flat blade knife so it's touched as little as possible . Then roll into am oblong , wrap and chill .
Though when I make pastry for mince pies it refuses to work

I put my fleece jacket on this morning

Congrats hairspray! Xz

I'm too heavy handed, and my hands are too warm, to make good pastry. You could fill potholes with my efforts Another reason I am disqualified from the poncetastic thread...

I have a steady hand for icing, though!

146 is impressive Fluffy. Has everyone else been on holiday as well

We've been to Bolton Castle today; DS has a wooden sword and bow and arrow, and we went to the playground to try them out via a paddle up the stream. He is living a life 6 year olds can only dream of!

I think they must have been, Firefly. I certainly don't mind if they have! 😁

Hot hands is a good reason to use the food processor or mixer for pastry, then you barely touch it.

Sounds like you're having a lovely holiday. We were meant to go this week, until I clicked that the kids are back on Thursday. Fail.

146 is amazing Fluffy - I can't remember how many I had when I got back after 3 weeks off but it was definitely over 700 😱

Love the idea of Christmas music tomorrow chips - how did the kids react?

I can't make pastry either Firefly - I think I've said before absolutely nothing I've attempted to bake has ever come out the way it was supposed to - but I hope my crafting passes the poncetastic thread criteria.

DH and I had a bit of a bicker earlier because of his lack of getting shit done around the house since he's been back from his trip. It's not like him but today I'm just too tired to be a grown up about it approach it diplomatically. End result saw me walk the dog then come home to a clean kitchen, tea cooking and dog food down ready 👍🏻

It was bloody cold out - I wore a fleece but a coat wouldn't have been out of place tbh 🥶

I can't remember who's Christmas book it comes from, but put orange zest into the pastry for the mince pies. Game changer!

Yes, Nero! The recipe I linked above has zest in. And cream. It's very nice indeed! Much better than shop bought pastry. 😋😋

Morning all and happy Autumn 🍂 (I go by the meteorological calendar. For me this is my New Year's Day and I feel full of energy and new beginnings.

Many congratulations Hairspray! Perhaps it will be me with the thread baby next year

Had a fab weekend in Bath and Folly Farm. Had the best time :)

No news on house move, just waiting for the drainage search. Means DS will have to go back to school on Monday, was really hoping we would have moved by the end of the holidays.

I have Raynaud's so actually good at pastry.

Here is my finished wreath.

I use an orange zest pastry for mince pies too, makes them so much nicer

115

Morning!

Fellow Raynauds sufferer here too, Most! I still prefer to make pastry mechanically (particularly post-shoulder injury) as I'm not great at certain repetitive tasks anymore (I also can't knead anymore), especially if the arm needs to be slightly away from the body.

It doesn't get too hot during the rolling process though. DH couldn't make pastry...very hot hands!

Hopefully your drainage search comes soon, Most. Your buyers have been very patient!

I know fluffy, considering how impatient I am they must be going loopy. One of the reasons we decided to pay more and go with our EA was the reviews saying she is very good at keeping chains together through changes and delays etc.

Morning. Love the wreath most - is it hard to make it neat in a hoop?

Thanks to the other thread I've given in and bought the Christmas chronicles book (from eBay, money going to charity and for less than £10). Have never read anything by Nigel Slater before so I'm hoping this will be as good as everyone says it is!

Morning all! I'm so excited that it's September today. I love autumn so much. October will mark a year since DH's passing but I'm trying very hard to continue to see autumn positively as it's my favourite season and he would be gutted if I didn't enjoy it any more!

@Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear that is just gorgeous! I love it. How long did it take?

I'm a hot hander too. I have been known to have a bowl of ice water on hand for making pastry - put on some rubber gloves, immerse your hands for a few minutes, take the gloves off and then handle the pastry. Repeat as needed!

Fingers crossed for your searches, most. Has your DH booked his op yet?

DS isn't back until next Tuesday, Fluffy. I reckon we got such a good deal on the cottage because of a cancellation, probably for the same reason!

I'm still trying to persuade dh to let me book Edinburgh for December!

Asked the dd if I could get excited for Christmas now as it's September. Dd said no but ds said yes 🎄 ☃️ 🎁 🎅🏼

It was really easy actually crazy and went how I wanted first try when I had been expecting lots of readjusting

Thanks peach it took me one month :)

Haven't booked yet fire, waiting until we move and then setting the date!

Hello everyone- happy new year! @Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear this is my New Year's Day too!

I'm anchoring after this- not creative enough to make my own- yay or nay? DW thinks I'm mad.

Wreck, our kids are permanently excited about Christmas chips off the old block and ask me often about how many days there are to go!

Why won't your DH let you book Edinburgh, Wreck? You'll be able to buy train tickets very soon, so need to just get on and do it (assuming you're getting the train?). Are you taking the kids and going by train? The Friends and Family Railcard would be a good purchase if so.

No we would fly. It's because we haven't got any money I've found the hotel and everything!

114

Morning!

Money is a slight drawback! Flying is expensive too, isn't it? When are you looking at going? For Hogmanay?

Back to school for the kids today! DS starts juniors, so I'm going to go with them to drop him off. Thankfully all restrictions have been lifted, so no masks required on site. Walking outside with a mask steams my glasses up so badly!

Even if I had a family and friends card the train is the same price as flying (£250) only it's 8 and a half hours instead of just over an hour (plus, say, an hour to the airport and getting there two hours before, so half the time.

I'd want to go 19th-23rd.

Ah, you must be further from London than I thought if it's 8.5 hours, as the journey from London to Edinburgh is under 5 hours by train. I like trains as you arrive in the city centre too. I've never actually looked at flying, but I've no idea what the domestic flight situation is like from our local airport.

I'd be worried about bad weather and getting stranded in Scotland for Christmas! 🙈🤣

I bet it would be loads cheaper if the cheaper Advance tickets were showing as well, but it's too early for that.

Morning all. I had a real slump yesterday about how life is in limbo until we move. Hate that i am not planning my bulbs and Christmas etc. So so sick of waiting now.

DH has gone to London for work for the first time since Covid so 2 days of just DS and I. He isn't back at school until Monday, 7 weeks is a long holiday!

I love train travel, planning to get the Eurostar next year and start exploring Europe by train.