Season of mist and mellow fruitfulness...and ramping up those Christmas preparations! Countdown to Christmas 2024 (thread 3) (title edited by MNHQ @request of OP)

[NoWordForFluffy]

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(Saves us checking the old thread tomorrow!)

Here goes, folks. New thread to see us through autumn!

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Constantly, my DH isn't Christmas-averse, but he does generally leave it to me. He sometimes surprises me with some decorations, but generally not!

I bought lebkuchen last night in Lidl, together with crackers (eating), pretzels and a few other bits which are now in the garage.

I got some Bundaberg ginger beer and no alcohol Brewdog in my Sainsbury's shop. I'm definitely getting there!

Getting ready to leave for the airport.

My Christmas Woman and Home edition arrived yesterday but I've snuck it way in a drawer ready for my delectation when I get back...oh the will power!

Hopefully, Good Housekeeping and Prima will arrive soon.

Have a lovely holiday, @MonkeyTennis34!

Impressive willpower!

I’m a teacher and back at work on Monday. I was thinking of doing a side dish/accompaniment for the freezer before I go back to the craziness of next term! Anyone got any recommendations that freeze well? It’s for 13 people. Thanks!

Red cabbage freezes well. Maybe that's not what you're after though. I've only seen bloody 'fun size' cabbages as well for now!

Happy Holidays @MonkeyTennis34

Good idea on the red cabbage freezing Fluffy. Anything to have less pans on the hob on the big day.

I agree with Fluffy that red cabbage freezes well as will stuffing balls and also cauliflower cheese.

You can also freeze your roasties - I prefer to part cook them (par boil and then roast for just 20 minutes, then freeze when cold) then they can go in hot oil on the big day straight from frozen and cook until done.

I also part cook sprouts, plunge into cold water and then shred and freeze. These get finished off on the hob with a knob of butter and some pancetta.

I bought a big bag of carrots and a bag of parsnips today. Some of those will end up in the freezer (just peeled and chopped into chunks like thick batons) and they get roasted from frozen and finished off with honey.

I do the same with roasties, Woolly. I have loads in the freezer right now!

Great ideas thanks ! Definitely stuffing and cabbage. My husband is great at roast potatoes so I’ll leave those to him on the day.

I also recommend red cabbage :)

My clearing of the garage so that I can access the Christmas decorations is going well, two trips to the tip so far!

Will try and start my Christmas shopping online today.

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Enjoy your holiday Monkey

I am going to empty and organised the utensils drawer ( bit of a Drawer of Doom)
Need to find the gingerbread man cutters ( I have regular and a mini one ) that are in there (somewhere )

I had a beautiful autumnal walk to the station this morning with golden leaves and light mist - reminiscent of the thread title Fluffy.
Have a good holiday monkey. Here comes the sun- I break up for half term today , do am planning lots of Christmas prep and a trip to Costco. Good idea about the red cabbage- it seems to triple in quantity when cooked, so could be used for before Christmas as well, if I freeze it in portions.

This weekend will be a flurry of tidying and cleaning, getting out winter clothes, making the flat visitor ready, and practicing driving on the wrong side (I have to drive to the airport an hour away on Thursday to collect DPs and have a few mad work days before then). Oh, and buying 4 birthday presents!

I need to get moving on my knitting (cardigan for DNiece) and finding Christmas cards to write (not such a thing here as at home). And buying a tree somewhere. I've almost no shopping done this year yet - and most will have to be posted onwards so I need to be done earlier than normal.

Ahhhh forgot - Happy Rudolph Day

I have washed a load of jumpers -not Christmas Jumpers but a couple of fairisle types so I can pretend to be one of the members of ABBA in my dreams

Well remembered 70 and Happy Rudolph Day too!

Half term now yipppeee, pizza tonight then some serious decluttering tomorrow then off up North to visit the famalam.

Nothing christmassy today but might squeeze in a trip to the garden centre tomorrow to buy some more amaryllis bulbs and get them potted for xmas flowering.

Evening!

I'm sitting on the train platform waiting to get train 1 to Wigan. From Wigan I'm then going on to Glasgow for the weekend. My friend is getting married and we're off to a Biffy gig as well. Actually getting out out for a change!

Enjoy the trip north, Magnolia!

Oooh sounds exciting Fluffy, have a lovely time.

I'm on my third train today! But I'm almost there! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 ❤️

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Morning from Glasgow! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I wish I could sleep better though. I drive myself mad!

I bought DD's Christmas present yesterday, so something Christmassy on Rudolph Day! Makes a change.

Safe travels up north, Magnolia!

I'm a poor sleeper too Fluffy but at least the early bird catches the worm and all that. I'm off to the gym shortly.

You'll have a lovely time in Glasgow and at least you're up early so plenty time to enjoy it.

Have a lovely wedding and gig!

Enjoy Glasgow @NoWordForFluffy it;s a matvellous city .
and Biffy , of course ]

Sixty Days .............

How far up North are you heading Magnolia

My DH is going through the last minute things fir the Christmas Market trip ...I need to buy a couple of pairs of warm socks and some thermal base layers , I don't want to be all heavily rugged up but I need to be prepared !

Just up to Bolton 70.

Is that your Bruges trip that you're heading off to? Have a fabulous time.

70 how did your organising of the utensils drawer go? Only asking as I recently bought some of these and it's sorted ours out so it stops annoying me.

Jealous of your Scotland trip Fluffy - I love it up these, although have never done Glasgow.

Hope everyone who is away has a great time.
My Christmas progress has been deciding that LO is getting a wooden kitchen and narrowing down my choices to 2... not great progress admittedly

A wooden kitchen sounds like a fantastic idea. My daughter loved hers.
One year when my nephews were little their parents bought them a wooden kitchen and asked friends and family who were buying gifts to get them things for it. One sister bought a set of little pans. I got some wooden chopping fruit and veg and a baking set with pretend cookies, tray and an oven glove.
They were spellbound.