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".

Ooh we need a sparkly new thread

I haven't felt particularly Poncetastic this year. Hoping to start in earnest this weekend with the first batch of mince pies and some crafting. I was meant to be at the Christmas markets in Vienna...oh well...

p.s. is it too late to make a Christmas cake? I want to mainly so I can decorate it in a hideous Fanny Cradock-esque way.

@MarisPiper92 it isn’t too late (unless you’re the type of person who likes a properly aged fruit cake) - just feed it weekly and it’ll be fine. Come join us on the Christmas Chronicles thread, you’re just in time as Nigel is going to do his any day now!🎄🎄🎄

Thanks @HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule - I've been on the Nigel thread since the start! Reading CC has become one of my enduring Christmas traditions.

@MarisPiper92 Ah sorry - I thought i recognised your name but couldn’t be sure (cant remember names unless I’ve seen them millions of times and if there’s an overlap between threads with similar topics I’ve not got a hope!!)

I think the Christmas cake is coming up in the next chapter, iirc. 🎄

I've brought the ingredients for the marmalade gin. Only know the idea of alcohol is making me (not envy) as I've gone and got a lurgy

@MarisPiper92
In the immortal words of Johnny Craddock “ I hope all your doughnuts come out looking like fannies”
In your case I hope your Christmas cake does !

@StormyCornishSeas. Plenty of time if you can’t face starting the marmalade gin off yet.
Good Housekeeping says at least two weeks.
HERE
Get well soon.

[quote Trumpton]@MarisPiper92
In the immortal words of Johnny Craddock “ I hope all your doughnuts come out looking like fannies”
In your case I hope your Christmas cake does !

@StormyCornishSeas. Plenty of time if you can’t face starting the marmalade gin off yet.
Good Housekeeping says at least two weeks.
HERE
Get well soon.[/quote]
Thank you! It's my aim for the weekend. I fancy a stress free potter in the kitchen

Not a huge amount of poncing going on here lately, though I did make my first ever Christmas wreath yesterday

Lovely wreath @SevenSwansASwimming. I’ve been full on poncing today:

• Christmas crackers (really trying to cut back on the plastic), so they are filled with a scratch card, a joke and some chocolate. Feel like they need something in the centre to finish them off, possibly some holly nearer Christmas.

-cooked up a batch of Mary Berry mincemeat, ready to make mince pies tomorrow -and made some calligraphy tags for presents for my relatives.

I'm nearly done with my Fererro tomtes. I've been very disciplined and have made 8 of each component before moving on to the next 8. I'm sewing up now and I've fully finished two so will either finish completely tonight or tomorrow.

Your calligraphy is amazing @Wildernesstips. I agree that holly would finish your crackers beautifully or maybe a green label with people's names on and then you could use them as place markers.

That is very disciplined @TheWoollybacksWife and they look great.

I woke up feeling unsettled after not sleeping well so I am cheering myself up by watching Nigella’s Cook, Eat, Repeat Christmas special on iplayer. She’s making a lovely looking gingerbread (cake not biscuit) with prunes in which is vegan.

Hello, I'm very Very late, but am wondering if I might bother with Christmas after all, starting with flavoured gin for gifts..... does it matter if it's very ordinary gin?

I suspect it's a bit like wine for gravy, and you're supposed to use decent stuff, but trying to budget.

Thank you!

I imagine it would be fine. I used supermarket vodka when I made chilli vodka and it was good.

Cheap gin is good.
I must strain mine.
I have just been out to the “futility” room ( out building) to check on the Paperwhites. I think I will move them into the house on Wednesday.
@TheWoollybacksWife I love your tomtes!
Stuffing cooking in oven at the moment. Sausage and apple and walnut with a veggie version for DD’s.
Also…. I emptied the glass cupboard and washed all 75 glasses. Then cleaned cupboard and painted the back of it. All the glasses are from our wedding in 1975 and yes they do get used!

I've just brought 3 bowls of hyacinths in; they were only planted a few weeks ago, so I'm quite surprised they're through already.

Thanks for that, very good news!!

Is there a new thread to follow? I havent been getting notifications about new posts so had to go hunting.
My paperwhites are coming along nicely, but I think the stones I used are too small as theyre going slightly wonky as the roots grow down, but the roots are too well grown to change it now Id say so I shall have drunk narcissi this Christmas. They'll fit in well anyway!
I need to get on to sorting crackers this week, and Id love to make little Christmassy hats for our little wooden gonk family, but Im not sure how I'll do it yet.
I'll have to look tomorrow at all the poncing I've missed out on the last few weeks

I’ve made us a new thread
As I’m sat here on night shift with little one

Morning all. Doing early shift at mil’s. She is declining rapidly and needing more care daily.
No poncing today but emptied airing cupboard ready for plumber to arrive.

@Trumpton sorry to hear about your MIL. You sound very kind.
I hope it went smoothly with the plumber.
Almost missed your message as gone over to new thread.

New thread reminder in case you think it’s gone quiet
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/4413730-Poncetastic-the-second-2021?watched=1