Countdown to Christmas 2023: get past the post-Christmas slump by thinking about the next one! (Thread 1.)

[NoWordForFluffy]

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Morning (just)!

I failed at eating yesterday which meant I got blotto far too early and wasn't well. Oops! 🙈

But we had a great time anyway and I avoided having to tidy up!

Countdown to next year is go go go! 🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻

I washed towels , hoping to hang them out but it went from dank to "need an Ark" by 10am. And it;s rained constantly .

I dropped a bag off at the Charity shop , got a Greggs order in (for DH,DD,DS and myself ) then did the food shop .

I'm trying to plan ahead food for the Easter weekend , and like the Christmas cooking , I don't want to make too much .
DD wants a chocolate cake (traybake) with chocolate and mini eggs . DS will want chocolate crispy cakes (he's a very plain eater , he won;t go for any fancy things).
Apple pie for Easter Sunday dessert .
I will have an Easter Fridge next week , at the moment its full of random things (and jars)

I think I might need a trip to Waitrose but it's a pain in the bum to get to

268

<<Pinch Punch Fitest of the Month>>

April Fools Day
Fortunately my DD won't surface early and my DS won't remember

I am at work till about 14.00 (maybe a bit later depending on handover) so should avoid any April Fools jokes.

At work, we once swapped a broken phone for a working one, then superglued the handset to the unit.
We also adjusted the inner straps of the hardhats so they were either too big or small for their owners.

Happy April everyone. 🐰

I pinch punched DH at 5.30 this morning. He hasn't beaten me yet this year (mwahahaha)

DD is upstairs "tidying" her bedroom and I am attempting to clean the kitchen floor - it feels like a Forth Road Bridge job as no sooner have I done it than it needs re-doing.

Still utterly awful weather here, it doesn't feel like spring at all.

DH is watching "Zombie Tidal Wave" from the people who brought you Sharknado

It is not even attempting to be scary at the moment the zombies are lurching about patiently waiting to be "killed" (in as much as an UnDead can be)

We have a dry, windy day <hoorah> bit cold but good for drying washing .

I'm steadily sampling Hot Cross Buns (so far M&S /M&S mini/Waitrose/Sainsbury) . Only fruited , no new fangled chocolate/banoffi/cheese&chilli/white chocolate&raspberry ...... No No and a thousand times No .
Might take a jaunt to Aldi timorrow and get vegan fish bites (I know ) and try some of theirs .

I totally agree, I'm not having a marmite cheese hot cross buns. They are an absolute abomination.

The chilli cheese ones are nice! <runs away!>

Definitely a good drying day today.

I bought a load of sourdough bread mix (for the breadmaker) and it is underwhelming to say the least
Tried with more salt , slightly better

Then decided (as I had loads to use up) to try adding chilli flakes and chunks of strong cheddar or herbs, olive oil and olives .
Sooooo nice .

Chili&Cheese Bread . Yes
Chilli&Cheese Hot Cross Buns. Unthinkable .

<Off to look at Booths website as I'll bet the farm they do bloody lovely Easter Foods , but not for us Darn Saarf !

I'll go to Booths for you. I'll be there in 15 minutes! 😁

Am I allowed to stay on the thread if I don't like hot cross buns at all and don't do pinch punch? 😬

We had a grey and rainy morning then a lovely sunny afternoon. Had a tidy around the garden and have realised I need to get my bum into gear and get a frame for a small clematis I bought in Wilko's 2 weeks ago. Its been in a pot in the garden for a week and spread like crazy <full disclaimer, I didn't know they were climbers when I bought it but don't want to admit to failing to do my research to DH)

It's been a boring day here. DH is so tired and I've been stressed about ddog so it was nice to just mooch about.

267

Am I allowed to stay on the thread if I don't like hot cross buns at all and don't do pinch punch? 😬

As long as you like Christmas 🎄 I think you'll be OK 😁

Am I allowed to stay on the thread if I don't like hot cross buns at all and don't do pinch punch ?

If you don't eat HCB then at least you cannot post about having them toasted with loads of butter ( my stomach heaves writing that !)

And do the Rudolph Days

I only like the flavoured HCB’s really. Always toasted with lots of butter 😅 had banoffee ones for breakfast today and cheese ones for lunch yesterday. Not a fan of fruit in bread.

Yes, any and all HCBs must be toasted with lots of butter. And jam on fruity ones we've still got a metric ton of homemade jam to get through.

Crazy, I don't do pinch punch either!

Phew, glad I'm not being kicked off the thread!

Had a very nice day, had lunch with ILs then took ddog for the first walk since being ill which he managed pretty well.

Home now. I'd turned the heating off but it's freezing suddenly so I've got a blanket on. Going to try and get my cross stitch mojo back for an hour or so.

Hello everyone delighted at last started saving now probably for Christmas, cold here sunny now but cold. Will get two stranger things t shirts one for a friend for Christmas the other for me I’ll put away as I don’t want him to see it and ask about it. But its there to look forward too.

Oh yes and hot cross buns must b4 fruit and non of this chocolate rubbish in them either, got Simmel cake too and it’s a proper one with the 12 balls depicting the 12 disciples.

266

Beautiful spring day here, although we did start the day with a frost.

Not a fan of simnel cake...I'm not keen on marzipan, so I tend to avoid it.

Tragically we have run out hot cross buns so I need to resolve this ASAP.

It has been a glorious day here. I managed to get a Dr's appointment but it was a waste of time really. Sighs.

I had some chocolate orange hot cross buns from the co-op and they were marvellous. I prefer the standard ones though.

Beautiful here too, but cold out of the sun / in the sun when the wind picked up. Washing got dry though!

Our starlings have gone very feisty. Must be because it's breeding season. Plenty of claw fights going on. 😱😱

265

Morning!

Another lovely day here, though freezing cold for the dog walk. It's set to rain the next two days, however. We're doing washing today even though it wasn't quite a full load, just to keep on top of it!

We have our electricity and gas bill today, and I can safely say that keeping the heating on all day has had a negligible impact on the bill, compared to on / off / on / off through the day. So that's me sold!

Lovely day here too. I did our meter readings on Friday and we’re £70 in credit paying £200 a month (not including the gov discount). About the only cheap thing here. Our rent has been put up £20 a month and I’ve disputed the £270 a month council tax so we will see what happens.

dd has physio in a bit then I need to do washing and essays.

Wreck we're in a band D and we paid £204 yesterday as the 1st of 10 payments. You do need to argue with them about their bill, it surely can't be that much. 😱

We're on day 35 of whatever bug this is. DH is feeling better, but is still coughing and tired (after 9hrs sleep). I woke up at 4 with a coughing fit so got up then. I've still got gooey eyes. I also think my hay fever is kicking in - so that just adds a whole new 🤧 level.

It's lovely here. I watched the sun come up (and the con trails) from 4, listening to the blackbirds and my robins singing their feathers off. Bliss.

I can’t believe long you’ve been unwell, poor you!

I know it’s ridiculous. We’re a band E. My friend has just moved into a detached house with a decent garden and is also a band E. Same district council too. I’m so cross about it but I don’t think we will get anywhere, although it’s worth a try.