Here we go again...Countdown to Christmas 2026 (Thread 1)

[NoWordForFluffy]

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Evening!

I'm a bit tipsy and very tired, but it's been a good day.

Round 2 tomorrow with the roast dinner!

Oooh I love Easter too , I love all the planning and traditions , bit like Christmas but less pressure . My SiL says that Easter is more important than Christmas in the Catholic faith (our family were all Baptists) .,

We don't go anywhere , it is way too busy . We have done when the DC were little to meet up with my parents and family .
Now it's a time to look judgily at the garden and decided what to grow .
Too early for serious planting till May but good to tidy up .
And of course a roast dinner but no sprouts , we have broccoli instead .

DH and I were away last Easter -our Wedding Anniversary. I did buy the DC their Easter eggs to bribe them, they were Cat'n'House Sitting

I need to watch that C4 programme about Browns Hotel at Christmas .

70 I'm sure I read somewhere that brussel sprouts are like coriander and some people just taste horribleness (like me) and they shouldn't be made to eat them. I told my Mum that anyway 😂

Sprouts have been bred now to be less bitter, they are lovely now

I love sprouts but hate coriander! I hate it when restaurants throw loads of coriander on top as a garnish, it then overpowers the rest of the dish!

Another sprout lover here!

@70isaLimitNotaTarget Yes, Easter’s the biggest deal in the Christian/Catholic faith. I’m a church go-er, and Easter Sunday service is like a massive, celebratory rave 😂

You HAVE to watch the documentary about Brown’s at Christmas- it’s gorgeous. I also watched one about the Christmas decorating Company and all of the gorgeous hotels and landmarks that they do up. Again, on C4 catch up.

The Christmas decorating Company are Liverpool based (Like me!) My friend works for them, setting up props, sorting things in the warehouse, and then from November she’s on the decorating team.

They have decorated for Mariah Carey, no less!

I think I've watched every Christmas themed documentary on C4. The alpine hotel one is lovely too!

I love sprouts and coriander. Get me!

70, I was brought up Baptist too. It's very low key all round!

I love sprouts , they do need cooked correctly though ( peel the scabby leaves , cut a cross in the base to let Satan out and steam till just tender )

I don't think I've tried coriander but our two males guinea-pigs had a massive fight after eating too much . Parsley is Guinea-Pig Crack Cocaine , one of our boars would've sold his granny for a bag of curly leaf parsley . His little brother turned into a fur coated delinquent after coriander !
They liked the remains of a brussels sprout tree but it did give them wind ! <not envy !

I love sprouts too!

DH and I have just booked his Christmas present to me: an overnight stay in Bath and his parents will have DS!! I can't tell you how excited I am.

@ChopstickNovice Oh this sounds fabulous! I’ve never been to Bath but it looks beautiful. When do you go?

DH and I went to Bath a couple of years ago for a Christmas Market ( Coach Tour ) , stayed in a hotel overnight then Oxford for a day .
It is a lovely town , very busy when we went -it was the last weekend of the Market .

Not this coming weekend but next! A cute guesthouse that says its breakfast is FABULOUS.

I like Oxford too! But Bath is closer to the in laws who are looking after DS.

My city of birth 🥰. I live just outside Bath now, but still venture back regularly. You will love it there. Enjoy!

Oxford is nice to totter about pretending to be Inspector Morse

Enjoy your time in Bath it's a lovely historic town . And there's a shop that sells the most delicious fudge ,

Handmade Fudge Gifts | Luxury Fudge Delivered to Your Door – Fudge Kitchen UK

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I'm watching some Classic Eastenders , I don't think I watched these episodes first time round ( I went off it for a while )
Heather Trott is very pregnant (Baby George will be arriving soon)

Sorry about your MIL Fur. We're dealing with the big C in a family member here and it's awful.

I haven't tried any of the C4 Christmas stuff you mentioned (Ive stuck to Kirstie and JO). Which do you recommend I start with?

Easter was always a non event in both mine and ILs family however for the last couple of years my dm has made it 'a thing.' She decorated the table, does a lamb roast and gets the kids a little present - like a mini Christmas I guess. I thought she was bonkers at first but it is really nice.

That's so funny about the guinea pigs 70 😂

chopstick I went to Bath for the start of the Christmas market in November, and have been a few times for shows and things. It really is a lovely place to wander.

I am still a bit under the weather but am busy this weekend. We have 2 sports clubs for LO then I'm travelling an hour to stay with my friend overnight - home tomorrow for lunch with ILs and the whole 'getting ready for the week' thing.
Plus we have a decorator in this weekend painting the new room and the kitchen.

I would quite like the world to stop so I could just fully rest and catch up on sleep, just for a day. Sigh.

Bath is lovely (and Oxford).

I'm also feeling under the weather, had a cold for what feels like weeks and it's now affecting my eyes which are feeling sore, itchy and runny. Joy.

I still went to the gym just squinted a lot.

I'm glad we are over half way through January as I am absolutely gasping for a glass of wine.

Feel better soon, @NoCheesesForUsMeeces and @Magnoliasunrise !

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Magnolia, I've had a low grade lurking thing for ages now. I did put the itchy eyes down to early hayfever though. Maybe not.

I don't bother with dry January. It's bad enough as a month as it is, without adding extra awfulness to it! We are only drinking at the weekend, however. December seems to have lots of drinking involved!

Meeces, can you take a day off and sleep? That would be lovely!

Morning! Hope those who need to feel better

I live very close to Oxford and regularly visit the hospitals but haven’t been in or to the museums in years. Perhaps I should plan a day trip for December for a wander.

Where’s the frosty, winter weather? I love it when it’s dry, cold and crisp. Today is just that awful grey, miserable, rainy weather 😫

Cooking pie, mash and veg for tea - but I’m also not feeling great. I’m so tired and have no energy.

70 will have a word for today's weather: dreich! Bloody miserable...our forecast is for 100% humidity even when it's not raining! 🌫️

Dreich indeed @NoWordForFluffy

I started watching the C4 programme about Browns Hotel but couldn't get into it . The dog eating at the table Ewww .
I like dogs well enough but not a the table thank you .

The cakes for the Afternoon Tea was interesting so involved and created !
I had Afternoon Tea in London a few years back and was completely underwhelmed it put me right off them.
We have Afternoon Tea a couple of times on a cruise holiday , it's nice but I'd miss out lunch for this and have a couple of sandwiches and cake , then they come round again with more sandwiches and more cake

Next Sunday is the first Rudolph Day , I have an appointment on the Friday ( dental) then I'll do any housework on the Fri afternoon and Saturday.
I'll plan something nice for the Sunday ,

I'm at the dentist next Friday too, 70. #twinning