Poncetastic Christmas 2021

[VivaJen]

Welcome to the 2021 Poncetastic thread. With a nod to Fellatio (wherever she is), at the stroke of midnight, let the poncing commence.

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.

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 jobs worth 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 canapés 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 Bessie’s' on the packet, this is not the thread for you".

Would anyone be willing to show any arrangements you have on your coffee table? Our table is huge, like a door, I want to do something down the centre of it but I'm not sure what.

@BigRedDuck, come in, come in. Someone will hand you a small glass of homemade apricot brandy soon.

(That's what I'm making tomorrow thanks fo starting the Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles readalong today, I can see a few of us on both threads)

My bulbs didn't arrive on Saturday, so am guessing they'll be here tomorrow, but I did do my orange slices.

@BunTooti

Would anyone be willing to show any arrangements you have on your coffee table? Our table is huge, like a door, I want to do something down the centre of it but I'm not sure what.

We do something like this (thanks google) . Depending on the table you can add as much foliage as required for balance

[quote DanceWithYourBalloon]@LaChatte if you're in France then The Trading Post have them in stock.
I also managed to get some in SuperU last year. [/quote]
Ooh I've never heard of them, are they good? The prices look too good to be true!

Hi all!🎄🎄🎄

Poncing has been on hold a little but I’m easing back in this week. Mostly been thinking about lovely things to eat and drink, tbh.

Reading The Christmas Chronicles and tonight made Nigel’s hot apple drink with brandy. Was very nice indeed. Will also be making apricot brandy as mentioned above by @Geamhradh.

I’ve just been reading the Nigella Christmas book I chanced upon in the charity shop today (thank you to the universe for that little bonus gift! 😊).

@LaChatte
I used Trading Post for the first time recently. I was quite impressed.
Prices are much the same as British Cornershop but you can pick up from a local drop off point for free.

I got my greedy mits on a load of Rodda's clotted cream. 😂

Ooh so much brandy! I’ve been saving my Sainted Nigel Book for my first day of mat leave on Thursday, fingers crossed there are some good soft drink ideas in there too. I’m going to spend all day with my feet up with hot chocolate and knitting

Christmas cake question!

Now I live in France I have to make my own Royal icing for my Christmas cake.

Last year I had to get the glycerin from a pharmacy and they gave me a massive glass bottle of the stuff.

So my question is will a year old opened bottle of glycerin still be ok or should I go and get a fresh bottle? Feels a bit wasteful

It will be fine to use your glycerine in your royal icing .

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule

Hi all!🎄🎄🎄

Poncing has been on hold a little but I’m easing back in this week. Mostly been thinking about lovely things to eat and drink, tbh.

Reading The Christmas Chronicles and tonight made Nigel’s hot apple drink with brandy. Was very nice indeed. Will also be making apricot brandy as mentioned above by @Geamhradh.

I’ve just been reading the Nigella Christmas book I chanced upon in the charity shop today (thank you to the universe for that little bonus gift! 😊).

You'll be having Royal Devon Stockholm envy now then. When I first got that, the year it came out I spent an eye-watering amount of money getting red snowflake ribbon from the US. It's in every Chinese emporium here in Italy now. I didn't make my brandy as my apricots and star anise only arrived about half an hour ago, but that's tomorrow morning sorted.

I've also discovered a massive ivy hedge round the corner from my house and want to purloin lots of it. Am determined to do real greenery this year.

@DanceWithYourBalloon

Christmas cake question!

Now I live in France I have to make my own Royal icing for my Christmas cake.

Last year I had to get the glycerin from a pharmacy and they gave me a massive glass bottle of the stuff.

So my question is will a year old opened bottle of glycerin still be ok or should I go and get a fresh bottle? Feels a bit wasteful

Yes, definitely fine. Mine was supposed to be used by 2019.

Also made the hot apple brandy drink. Delicious. Creole cake is soaking too.

@BigRedDuck yes do show your purchases!!

I second that! I’d love to see some seasonal purchases (I’m being very good from now on --famous last words— so I need to find my thrills vicariously).

If I wasn’t being good I’d love to have a Christmas apron and ovengloves.

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule I've got a lovely Sophie Allport Christmas apron - Robin and Mistletoe design. I bought it about 3 or 4 years ago in the post Christmas sale and bitterly regret not buying the matching oven gloves.

@TheWoollybacksWife 😭😭 my favourite apron is from Sophie Allport...I got very close to buying a set for Christmas last year.

When does everyone trim up for Christmas?

I popped into hobbycraft earlier and picked up a metal star wreath base for £5, wound some leftover Christmas wool around it and couldn’t resist hanging it straight away!

Hello you lovely lot ! Would you welcome a new fellow poncee ? I know it’s a bit late , but seeing as I’ve got my first Almost Whole Christmas off work in fourteen years , and have spent the last three lurking on the poncetastic threads reading in envy about your endeavours , I am determined that this Christmas is going to be bloody marvellous .

@plominoagain welcome. It’s never too late

@SevenSwansASwimming I love that pounced up star. The wool is really effective.

My news is I have a new oven that actually gets hot! Last year I had to bake my creole cake twice. ‘Twas very stressful. Here’s hoping I don’t burn everything this year.

Thinking of doing a trial batch of cinnamon buns. I cheat and use bread maker to make dough using the hot cross bun recipe minus fruit and spices. Then roll out into rectangle, brush with melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, roll up and cut into spirals. Yum.

@SevenSwansASwimming over the weekend I read an article in our local paper that was headlined something like "We Tell You The Official Day To Put Up Your Christmas Tree" and then proceeded to list about half a dozen different days and all their pros and cons. The conclusion being any day from the first day of Advent (28 November this year) to Christmas Eve 😂

For the past couple of years I have put our trees up on 1st December but I might hang fire this year and put them up a bit later. DS finishes school on 15th so I might do them ready for his last day at school.

@SevenSwansASwimming I am desperately holding back from starting to put up decorations!! We have a christmas trip away at the end of November and that will be when we start decorating. Id like to have some decorations up so when we come back it surprises the dc. That's the plan anyway but I get itchy fingers!!

I made and put up an autumn Garland to fill the gap! Well I almost finished it as the bits are roughly tied or pinned on rather than sewn or crocheted in. I may add to it next year.

@OnTheHillNotOverIt that’s fantastic! I soooooo need to learn how to crochet!! I’ve hidden away the wool and hook I bought because it’s too intimidating...

That autumn garland is bloody lovely!

@SevenSwansASwimming I usually decorate the first weekend in December. Although I bought some glittery foliage to put in a vase at my local garden centre yesterday and tried it out when I got home.... I was extremely tempted to leave it but have forced myself to put it in the loft for another month.

I've baked a second batch of gingerbread and put it in the freezer so am feeling quite organised. Thinking of making a batch of sausage rolls and sausage and stuffing balls with the Richmond meat free sausages.... purely in the name of research of course