Ocado tips, hacks, Toblerone and Christmas

[GaryUnicorn]

Carrying on from the old thread....

Still no email about the Christmas slots.

Talking of sherry ... I'm about to buy the ingredients for our Christmas cake. I've just noticed the cream sherry we bought (and opened) last year says 'once opened, use within three weeks'.

It'll be ok, won't it? (And hopefully for the next couple of years too!)

Is anyone genuinely worried about the contents of their actual Christmas delivery? I've got one on 20th and one on 24th and I am starting to wonder how much of it will actually show up!

@shallwethree I'd consumer test that sherry before using it, you may need another bottle! Salud!

"Is anyone genuinely worried about the contents of their actual Christmas delivery? I've got one on 20th and one on 24th and I am starting to wonder how much of it will actually show up!"
Yes, me too! We fancied a Sunday roast this week but the joint of meat, ordered 2 weeks in advance, was a no show - not even substituted. I have zero confidence in the Christmas turkey turning up and will be making other arrangements!

I think I will be getting all the essential items over the coming weeks and storing/freezing, rather than risk a lucky dip on Dec 23rd...

I wonder if I'm best to order my turkey from M&S directly rather than chance it via Ocado....? There's one in town I could collect from

I don't think it is too late to put in a meat order with a local butcher or farm shop if you want to ensure you have some meat to eat at Xmas.

I hate busy supermarkets, so we made a tactical decision to get a 7am order from Waitrose on 23rd so we will have time to get bits from local shops. They usually fill the shelves overnight so they OUGHT to have food (and we'll reward ourselves with a cooked breakfast).

I am diligently feeding us on frozen food to make space for Christmas stuff that I can freeze and I'll pick up a few things over lockdown before town becomes rammed with Xmas shoppers.

Re out of stock items, I wonder if part of the deal, when Waitrose was ditched, was that all the old sales/customer behaviour data walked too? All the new customers can't be that different, surely!

Not only are they taking the piss, they’re delivering it too! Although I think this is an old story that the DM has dug up. This link is not for DM.
tounesnanews.com/2020/11/18/mother-42-left-disgusted-ocado-delivered-three-carrier-bags-urine-shopping-html-2/

@goldpendant

Is anyone genuinely worried about the contents of their actual Christmas delivery? I've got one on 20th and one on 24th and I am starting to wonder how much of it will actually show up!

No, not at all. They had a limited amount of stock, and it's now been sold - to us! If it's on your order, there is no reason to think it won't arrive. I do an Ocado order every Christmas and it's always been fine, I am sure it will be this year too.

Yes I'm getting Christmas dinner from the farm shop (as we do every year). But my mum is reliant on the fortnightly Ocado delivery I get for her, so we're both crossing fingers they will come through with her Christmas order. I'm not sure previous years are a yardstick, when there are so many more substitutes or missing items on normal orders these days than there ever used to be.

That Daily Fail article is very odd. My delivery always comes in crates with the bags all open/hanging in it.
I have to unhook the bags whilst the driver observes from a couple of metres away.

I appear to be getting an order with no subs tonight and only one item with a use-by date of Saturday.

My first ever Waitrose delivery yesterday was great, lovely delivery driver who knew it was my first time and was very friendly and chatty as I unloaded the crates. PLUS some free crackers which I’ll be enjoying with the cheese I bought.

@Madcats

That Daily Fail article is very odd. My delivery always comes in crates with the bags all open/hanging in it. I have to unhook the bags whilst the driver observes from a couple of metres away.

I appear to be getting an order with no subs tonight and only one item with a use-by date of Saturday.

None of mine do they take them out of box and puts them on my doorstep

None of mine do they take them out of box and puts them on my doorstep

I've had both, but the majority have taken them out and handed me the bags as usual.

@madcats - a few years ago we had to do our entire Christmas shop on Christmas Eve as we had to take a last minute decision on who was hosting the family Christmas for various complicated reasons. I went out for when they opened on the 24th and the shelves were groaning with produce, had no difficulty getting anything on my list. Obviously this year may be different.

In general I’m amazed that Ocado is so sold-out already - who is actually confident about how many people they’re catering for right now?

So a question about the M&S ultimate turkey.... I've gone for the crown with the two stuffed thighs, will it feed 6 adults and 2 kids?? What do you all think?!

The ultimate turkey is about seven and a half pounds including stuffing, so that should feed six adults and two children comfortably, I would say.

Fab thanks, it's my first Christmas hosting!

Oh how exciting!
It will help you if you make yourself a timetable of when your different items need to go into the oven, or start cooking on the hob. When you are drafting it, work backwards from the time you want to start eating.

I have no idea if I'm cooking Christmas dinner or not (if so it'll just be our household) or if I'm going to vulnerable in-laws. So, haven't ordered a single thing other than picked up three boxes of the excellent Waitrose lebkuchen.
If I cook I'll just make a roast chicken, turkey is overpriced! But obviously with loads of trimmings and a special dessert, and Christmas pud etc. I'm banking on being able to get a chicken and some sprouts a few days before if need be... right?!
No-one is expecting a showstopper from me this year so I'll just enjoy whatever we have.

Yes obviously it's hard to plan but I'm going to be hopeful and work on our plan of two bubbles together for Christmas Day.
I'd much prefer a couple of roast chickens @Quarantino that sounds lovely, DH is adamant that it has to be turkey!

Big delivery today and no subs!

We’re having party food on xmas day for two. I think I need to investigate how much of it is freezable and maybe have a back up freezer plan as my delivery is 4pm xmas eve!!

I had a dream last night about going for my vaccine. It was in a huge airport. Then this news. Perhaps I’m clairvoyant .

Oops wrong thread sorry. Must drink cofffee.

No subs for me today either!