The Christmas Fanta

[AlexisP90]

Lighthearted. I've become my mum.

I fondly remember mum screaming "don't touch that, that's the Christmas Fanta!" Whenever I so much nd breathed near the drinks cabinet around this time.

I've become her. Heard myself say this to DH about the quality street ffs 😂

Wondering - when is it OK to touch the Christmas Fanta? I told DH not until christmas day to which he, quite rightly, replied that there will be 4 of us and we cannot possibly eat/drink that much in one day and to chill out (visit family from boxing day to the 29th)

And he's right. But still, I stand firm on the not until Christmas day 😆 for 0 reason.

When do you start?!

We don’t have Fanta but this does put me in mind of the Christmas Cupboard in Derry Girls.

We've broken out cheese and crackers today, plus some crisps. Christmas cake will start being demolished on Christmas eve. I have some prosecco stashed for Christmas night but also a bottle that can be opened whenever, and I'll try and make sure DH and DS between them don't eat all the biscuits before boxing day but there's no stash anywhere that I'm guarding like a dragon for Christmas day 😁

I totally have a secret stash 😄 what's wrong with me?!

"Guarding like a dragon"! Love it!

Dh wanted to open the jar of paté but I told him it was for christmas day, so no. He took it well.

A week ago I hid 2 bottles of Procecco under the bed so noone would touch them.

Now christmas day it's me, DH (doesn't drink much and doesn't touch Procecco) DS (he's 2.5) and a friend of ours (only drinks beer and at a push a brandy) why have I become this!!!

DH has wondered off upstairs disappointed he couldn't have a quality street. I'm sat downstairs wondering when I became my mum!

I might gice my head a wabble and wander up in a minute with a purple one for him ....

Just 1 though...

Do it OP, it's Christmas!

I'm insanely ill but if I wasn't, I'd be breaking out the various forms of Maltesers we have on hand.

I've decided that this year it can be whenever ds asks. It's a tough Christmas and I've realised them being happy and feeling welcome is more important than having everything to eat on one particular day or afterwards.

I opened the celebratory Taytos yesterday! Dh was cross because it's not Christmas yet and they're trickier to get here but we do have loads so it's a guilt I can live with.

It's close enough in my book.

I was the same growing up. Mid morning on Xmas eve was when we were alllowed the xmas nibbles.

I just told DH and DD that they could have a quality St, they don't seem to be bound by the same rules as in my head!!

I tried a nibble of a quality St - remembered how sugary and vile they are and chucked mine in the bin.

Are you in the UK? Where did you get your taytos?!

I opened the Yule Log today and DH said “‘but it it’s not Christmas yet”

We were both brought up in that’s for Christmas households and the guilt and fear still reign strong. Hopefully I broke the cycle today.

I’m extremely irritated that I have a horrendous sore throat / cough / headache virus and I planned to start on the Christmas treats today. There’s no point as I can’t taste anything, can’t stop sneezing and my throat hurts 😭 I keep looking at my celebrations and crisps and things and feeling so annoyed !!!!

Nope, not Christmas yet, still doing chores! Collect the turkey in the morning and final Ocado shortly afterwards.
Christmas starts with the veggie prep on Christmas Eve and then my father arriving asking what he can do to help! THAT’S when Christmas begins and the stash is cracked!!

DH has no restraint so if the food and drink wasn't just for "viewing only" he would explode well before Christmas Day. He ate two whole tubs of chocolates last year as well as lots of other stuff.

I think Quality Street is fair game now unless it’s a gift , can understand the Fanta more as shops actually shut back then and I’d imagine it was a treat

DH was allowed to dive into the Christmas crisps last night and I’ve just put a bowl of celebrations out, so we’re slowly dipping in!

Everything in the fridge and all the baking are STRICTLY reserved for Christmas Eve onwards!

We generally start on the Solstice. It also means that we can nip out and replace things we may have pigged out on before Xmas day.
(Ahem, it is nearly always me 🤭 with the mince pies)

I am letting our and guest teen demolish a tub of heroes this evening because it's already Christmas for us, if we run out then shops are open 27th

Are you in the UK? Where did you get your taytos?!

We're in north east Scotland. Recently our local Scot-Mid Coop started stocking party boxes and sharing bags. Otherwise we have to stock up when we visit family in Fermanagh.

This always used to be the case for us too.
This Christmas adult dc have already opened the quality street AND the roses!

You used to be able to get them in Home Bargains, but I haven't seen them for a while.

I also like Taylors, the crisp formerly known as Mackies and have recently discovered that a local garden centre sells them. Previously they were only available in Scotland (I live in England) and occasionally in Aldi or Lidl, but again, not seen for a while.

@Bjorkdidit thanks. We don't have a home bargains here so no chance to check.

It's not really about the taste, it's about them being taytos for Irish DH 😁

AND THE ROSES?! That would have been ww3 in my hosue growing up!

DH has as 3 quality street and DS has found the squashies...

I've resigned. I've broken the cycle. Tomorrow let's cook the turkey

(Joking aside I am embtally thinking i need to run to morrisons to more quality street...)

Actually having said all that I have realised that this is the first year for a long time that we're having a quiet, low key Christmas and DH hasn't had to spend a week and a half in the run up asking nervously if he can eat something or if it's an ingredient 😆 For about the last 20 years I've done loads of baking for family and friends and scratch-made things like stuffings and sauces, plus cooked enough to have several days worth of leftovers.

So it's not usually chocolates or crisps, it's more a case of 'use my last lemon before I've had a chance to ice the cake and I'll shiv you with a holly sprig'🎅