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

[NoWordForFluffy]

365

Evening!

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

Round 2 tomorrow with the roast dinner!

yes well done 70, how did we miss that???

i think it is because January is going on forever..............

It's SO rainy here and has been for weeks. I really hope February is better.
On the plus side, I got some gorgeous Nuxe bits in the John Lewis clearance!

You were sympathising with Fluffy's dodgy shoulder .

We can blame the over zealous and powerful FluffyPup , he no doubt has impeccable manners on the lead but he looks like a strong chappie .

Oh my goodness; it’s the end of the monthies isn’t it?

January is never my favourite month , I used to take a week or so of annual leave and go and visit my DParents when they weren't able to travel. (DBro saw them round Christmas and I did in early January )

I learned many many years ago to keep some money handy for January , not loads , but enough if I needed it .
Being cold, rained on, post Christmas and skint is not a good combination.

329

into the three hundred and twenties

Excellent January strategy!

Morning! My kiln has arrived and I am now in possession of something that will allow me to make Christmas presents for people! Hopefully not too wonky 🤣 but I’ve got 11 months.

Afternoon!
I hope the damage to your shoulder isn’t too bad Fluffy!
Also agree with you about Sophie Allport. Beautiful stuff but £££ and unlikely to show up in TK Maxx so I won’t get them as presents from dm with her staff discount

Strange day here. LO isn’t ill but has been under the weather for ages like me and was just exhausted this morning so we’ve kept him off school.
He slept until gone 9 then sat watching tv and barely moving until half hour ago.
Normal service has resumed now though and I’m being driven slightly mad with the repetitive music of one of his toys 😩 - and I’m trying to work!

While he was asleep on me this morning I arranged my internet favourites and sorted them into little bookmark files (craft, LO, home shopping, me (jewellery/clothes etc, Christmas). I’m very proud (and I took the time to just browse various Christmas tables for ideas)

You can be creating pots like that scene in "Ghost"

M&S had tins of Judgey Hare Shortbread for Easter , I might have purchased a tin,
Bought some Pistachio Eggs to try out .They are nice but really messy as the pistachios come off really easily

Fluffy 60% off the Christmas Dogs range - there's not much left, but...

https://www.sophieallport.com/collections/christmas-dogs?_pos=1&_psq=christmas+dogs&_ss=e&_v=1.0

The Portmeirion website has 50% off their various Christmas ranges including Christmas Tree. I love the Sophie Conran Mistletoe stuff.

https://www.portmeirion.co.uk/christmas-dining-and-gifts/christmas-dining/shop-all?p=2

Ooh I like the chip and dip bowl, I might try and make one.

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Ohh they are lovely . The Guinea-Pig bauble keeps pinging up on my advert side-bar now
You could make a rustic Chip'n'Dip bowl @FurForksSake to use for leisurely tortilla chips and salsa in the garden , then decide on a Christmas theme one .
Christmas side plates and mugs for hot chocolate and mince pies

There was a plate and milk bottle set that was gorgeous.
When mine were little I bought those tiny milk bottles from Lakeland , about 200ml ,glass with a screw top lid . I filled with milkshake for their breakfast .

Afternoon.

Crap weather here. The forecast changed overnight after we'd already set the washer going, so we're waiting for an alleged 3 hour dry spell which is apparently imminent!

I've just been out to Home Bargains to fill the snack cupboard for the gannets kids and to get some dog bits (kibble, sprats - dried and frozen - and some dried sausage which cut up into treats for walks). I spent a fortune! 😩

My children are apparently bottomless pits...

Ive just made (another) batch of the condensed milk flapjacks, I mixed in chunks of dairy milk left over from Xmas this time........oh my goodness the yumminess! 😋

What is dairy milk leftover from Christmas? Does. Not. Compute.

IKR - what even is this 'leftover' chocolate ?

My last batch of flapjacks were a bit crispy as I didn't want to over cook them, thought "oh they look a bit raw still , I'll leave them in the oven with it switched , off...."

It went slightly golden , more like a granola bar . Still edible but not gooey flapjack .
Note to self - take it out of the oven, watch it like a hawk.

I have cleaned the oven doors , there are three glass panels in each one . Had to make sure I didn't mix them up . Only the inner two are removeable but much much easier to clean .

Hahaha! Im trying to cut back on sugar so its been shouting my name every day but ive been good and resisted.....until today when its been baked into yummy, sugary, gooeyness!

Leftover chocolate doesnt usually ever exist with me but my cholesterol is through the roof so ive got to cut back!

Great minds, ive cleaned my oven this week too. Used one of those oven boxes and actually very impressed with how it's turned out! I use Elbow Grease on the glass door after every time its used so that wasnt an issue, it was the walls and metal shelving but theyve come out like brand new!

I made some Brownies and put chunks of mini Toblerone -the dark chocolate ones nobody eats- in the mix .

Melted leftover chocolate into some single cream to make a chocolate sauce if nice . There's always some random ones from Celebrations or Heroes .(Not Twix though , they don't melt and they taste like pencil shavings ) . Usually the eclairs meet the melted fate .

I don't really eat much chocolate. I leave that to others in the house! (See: the bottomless pits from before.)

I try not to make sweet stuff that I like, else I'd eat it all, like a total piggy! 🐷

I've just made a shepherd's pie and will be eating it shortly. 😋 Could've done with a bit more potato, but it'll be fine!

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<Pinch Punch First of the Month>

It seems like For Ever since we had New Years Eve and New Years Day . But I have put the dismal January to good use with the Shitty Jobs Thread on Chat and did a good few things round the house .. including some things off to the Charity Shop.

One job I will foist off to my DS is cleaning the lines on the rotary airer . It is really old but massive so until I find a replacement that fits the bill I;ll keep it . I;ve got a rubber glove with a scrubby but on the palm so its a case of soapy water and grab the line in the glove and continue till all are done ( boring and arm knackering so DS can do it !)

Once the trees are done then the patio and path can be cleaned and the garden will look better

Morning! and happy Feb, pinch punch right back at ya 70

It was DD's birthday yesterday, she had friends over and they went out for pizza - no need for mum and dad to join just money on my card to pay please!! They came back here for cake. I made a 3 tier chocolate ganache covered sponge with maltesers, chocolate shards, giant chocolate buttons, mini whips, matchmakers etc etc sticking out of top. DS said "is there a theme?" 😂

so no, no leftover chocolate in our house ever... and its lent mid february when i give up chocolate so have to get my fill now.

Off to Boots later and I am hoping there are still some sales things left.