The Brexit Arms. The home of friendly chat & laughter.

[surferjet]

Only 1 rule.
No c&p posts a mile long, they’re just boring & no one reads them.
Keep it short, sweet, & to the point.

Peace & Love ❤️🇬🇧❤️

Icing a Christmas cake. Fear not, go for a 'rugged' look (peaked icing) with prancing reindeer and Christmas trees, maybe other 'artifacts'.
As it's MN, get the children to have a go. Swig the sherry that might have gone into it, loosen up for goodness sake!

time4chocolate nah, it’s really straightforward. Marzipan is easy to make (stick it to the cake with apricot jam) and then you can do royal icing and dolly it up with ribbon and snowmen and reindeer etc. I’m not a cook and I can blag it

LIGHT HEARTED reminder that is also NORMAL that there's a leavers pledge to not stockpile.

Do people actually like Xmas cake? I find its one of those things I'll eat out of politeness because someone made it.

@hazard, pass it over here then please!

It goes nicely with a chunk of Wesleydale.

1tis don’t worry I’ll be loose

Thanks both for the cake tips. I think I would prefer rough (peaked) icing as it’s a bit more forgiving, if I went for royal icing it may require a lot more dollying up and be very top heavy on the ‘artifacts’

Time you could always avoid the marzipan and icing fiasco and serve it deconstructed , so a slice of cake with a sliver of marzipan and a sliver of icing ( you can buy both in ready made blocks ) and a sprig of holly and an additional side plate with a whacking great chunk of cheese on

I on the other hand will be rustling up a simple little affair

Bloody hell Frumpety you’ve got too much time on your hands .

‘Deconstructed’ cake - I can’t be doing with that, I’d rather leave it out completely and just go with the cheese

Time there is no way in hell I have the skills to even attempt anything like the picture, I usually buy a ready made affair from M&S

Talking of deconstructed cake , I think you could just soak the fruit in alcohol and then use it to make Christmas cake inspired cocktails ?

i think you are all being 'spoilsports'.
This is MN with the focus on children.
Make the cake (or cheat and buy an uniced cake).
Get the children to ice the cake (premade marzipan, mix their own icing)
You drink the alcohol to 'steady your nerves' as they trash the kitchen.
To round off the family experience tell DP to clear up the mess.
Job sorted!

Moving on from Christmas cakes

ec.europa.eu/commission/news/state-union-2018-hour-european-sovereignty-2018-sep-12_en

No idea if it’s linked anywhere else on here and it is very long (sorry Surfer) but it could make for interesting reading if anyone has the time/inclination.

Disclaimer - I haven’t read it yet as I need to get to work but will have a look tonight.

I hate Christmas cake. I actually do.

time4chocolate
Thanks tumw4, will have a read tonight < also at work >

@bellinisurge
Don't feel bad about it, just pass your piece to someone else. Hate is a bit 'strong' an emotion for cake.

Continuing the theme Bellini I think Christmas pudding is a bit claggy and I am not mad keen on mince pies either, unless you pour enough cream on them so you cant see the little bleeders

Mince pies I can cope with in a window of mince pie eating. No pudding either. Yak.
Fear not, I make up for it by eating crisps and chocolate.

I think the 'edited highlights' of Mr Junkers speech appeared a couple of days ago.
I am afraid, despite being English that I would prefer to be 'ruled' by Brussels. Laws emanating from Brussels have been massively scrutinised by the democratically elected heads of 27/8 countries all with differing viewpoints so are likely to be pretty well balanced.
The stated aims are to the benefit of all. Of course it has failings and problems, everyone would like a slightly bigger slice of cake.
Random thought, why does NO ONE ask for an extra helping of spinach?

Fruit cake (of the edible rather than governmental variety), mince pies and Christmas pudding are at least part of your '5 a day'.

I like my spinach raw

Read the speech, sounds all very joined up and sensible

True fact: eating mince pies on Christmas Day 1644 was banned.

I am afraid, despite being English that I would prefer to be 'ruled' by Brussels. Laws emanating from Brussels have been massively scrutinised by the democratically elected heads of 27/8 countries all with differing viewpoints so are likely to be pretty well balanced.
The stated aims are to the benefit of all. Of course it has failings and problems, everyone would like a slightly bigger slice of cake.

This ^

Random thought, why does NO ONE ask for an extra helping of spinach?

I do. I heart spinach.

I'm dehydrating my home grown spinach . And I've got more in the go for winter salads. Still voted Remain, though. And I like chocolate.

I am afraid, despite being English that I would prefer to be 'ruled' by Brussels. Laws emanating from Brussels have been massively scrutinised by the democratically elected heads of 27/8 countries all with differing viewpoints so are likely to be pretty well balanced
The stated aims are to the benefit of all. Of course it has failings and problems, everyone would like a slightly bigger slice of cake

That’s it in a nutshell though isn’t it? You choose your ‘ruler’. Your preference is Brussels, mine very much isn’t.

Spinach 🤮

Much of the UK legislation of the last 40 years or so is 'harmonised' with EU legislation and there are similar mechanisms to challenge either, both being democratic.
There are those in the ERG who want to water down or remove legislation to the detriment of the 'common' people in the UK. The EU seeks to improve matters and move forwards and not backwards.
The EU is bringing in regulation about offshore taxation. The ERG are desperate to get out of that, hence leave. How much of the millions the ERG individuals are proposing to save (personally) will filter down to improve the lives on council estates?