Cosey up, the kettle's on

[BibiBelle]

here we go, before I head to bed

Thanks Santa. Just hoping this new courier gets through now.

Made it there and back! Got stuck in a ditch blocking DF's lane but we brightened up her builders' day by letting them dig the car out for us. Think the hunt for the handbrake tickled them somewhat as I forgot to warn them it's not where you'd expect it to be. Also screenwash must have been frozen as visibility not so good on the way there.

The massive spooky house is not so spooky anymore and the kids had a v noisy, v happy time chasing each other about her enormous empty echoey bedroom. Have been offered free accommodation in Corfu this summer which would be lovely but don't think we can afford more flights this year. COME ON LOTTERY! (must buy tickets.)

Ursula Second thoughts, I would do a big veg chili on the stove, a ton of rice, salad and all the bits people need to make their own dinner as they fancy it. Bonus is they only need a spoon so can eat while standing.

BBBB 9 inches of snow in Brum i'm afraid . We have had snow since 10.30am and it is still falling. Looks like mine and DH's 'day out' will have to be canx

silks eek re ditch, but well done on getting there and back

Ahem

Dear Hots,

It's Santa here Your present is on it's way (a tad late, apologies but Rudolph has been playing up something terrible of late )

You have been a very good girl and I hope you like your present. It will be blatantly obvious who I am when it arrives so please open the box - the hoisery, however, must hang on the tree till the big day. And no sneaky peeking because I'll know

Ho Ho Ho Hots Darling

Thanks Crispy - unfortunately for her Air France are only delaying flights not cancelling so if she does not turn up then she loses the whole outward bound flight. She has the passport in her bag which is somewhere accessible to the taxi, 4x4 taxi booked and he has done the Brum run twice today so fingers crossed!

We have a stunning 5inches today of great big fluffy flakes but our lovely Postie still turned up (in his shorts!) Hipps, thank you for the stockings, you are amazingly talented!

Silks - you are very brave for driving anywhere today and very cunning to get the builders to dig you out.

we're not had too much but didn't stop it being a busy shift at work! finished now till after the new year - yipee!

evening all

Yay Bibi Yaay :)

although I've a head cold that makes me feel like my head is about to burst!

It's only because your body knows you are about to relax! Have a nice hot bath and a medicinal bottle of Rose and you will feel much better

Good news re. finishing for Christmas. Enjoy your days beebs :)

Gosh your poor sis bbbb, sounds as if she is properly sorted out now, let's hope the bits of the plan all work together now, sounds as if they will. Good work team bbbb!

Thanks for food suggestions. How do you do mini pork rolls, what bit of pork are they? Quite like idea of something unChristmassy like that, though ILs are quite trad.

Re. smoked salmon, blinis, yes, might do that. Pot of chili etc means troops through kitchen which will be general bombsite, wouldn't mind keeping em coralled in other room.

Oh dear re. snow adventures - it is still here too.

Good news re. finishing for Christmas. Enjoy your days beebs :)

Gosh your poor sis bbbb, sounds as if she is properly sorted out now, let's hope the bits of the plan all work together now, sounds as if they will. Good work team bbbb!

Thanks for food suggestions. How do you do mini pork rolls, what bit of pork are they? Quite like idea of something unChristmassy like that, though ILs are quite trad.

Re. smoked salmon, blinis, yes, might do that. Pot of chili etc means troops through kitchen which will be general bombsite, wouldn't mind keeping em coralled in other room.

Oh dear re. snow adventures - it is still here too.

Good news re. finishing for Christmas. Enjoy your days beebs :)

Gosh your poor sis bbbb, sounds as if she is properly sorted out now, let's hope the bits of the plan all work together now, sounds as if they will. Good work team bbbb!

Thanks for food suggestions. How do you do mini pork rolls, what bit of pork are they? Quite like idea of something unChristmassy like that, though ILs are quite trad.

Re. smoked salmon, blinis, yes, might do that. Pot of chili etc means troops through kitchen which will be general bombsite, wouldn't mind keeping em coralled in other room.

Oh dear re. snow adventures - it is still here too.

STOVIES!! they're the way forward for these situations served up with oatcakes

Ursula - your message was so great you said it 3 times

Yes it really was worth reading three times wasn't it?

Stovies are smoked haddock, cream, etc?

Oh no that's smokies.

Stovies are meatbally things, yes?

stovies are mince/potatoes in a big pot and help yourself

Rrright shall ponder eaty suggestions and discuss with dp and review budget after I have coughed up for last pressies tomorrow, including dp's and one niece. I would like to watch It's a Wonderful Life with dp on sofa, crackling fire, glass of wine, pile of presents neatly wrapped under tree, but it is not on, he is at worky dinner, I am out of turf, cba opening wine, have wrapped nothing, etc, so shall wrestle ds2 into bed again and prise ds1 off whatever computer game he is playing.

Mini Pork rolls - I would slow roast a pork shoulder for hours and hours then use a fork to pull it apart and whilst hot put it in little rolls (dinners rolls would work well) with a dollop of apple sauce in some.

Oh I see I was imagining little trussed rolls of pork with appley stuff inside, not bread rolls! Sorry - I am not very switched on tonight!

I think that is what Crispy meant but she could have meant something posher. Me I'm a bit of a peasant! If you want something a little posher you can get ready boned and skinned you could put a little stuffing in the middle and wrap with a bit of streaky bacon, stab with a cocktail stick and roast them.

Yes BBBB is right, but we roast a pork joint rather than shoulder, making sure it is crispy on the outside (not me BTW ). Then carve it into slices, provide a bowl of apple sauce and some soft floury baps and it is delicious and everyone helps themselves rather than you having to assemble. Simples

I have wrapped 3 lots of stocking pressies and Xmas eve PJ's. So now only family and a couple of DD's friends pressies left to wrap

IL's have said they may not make it for Xmas yippee

bibi agree with BBBB's suggestion. Yay for finishing work, you deserve a break

Which channel is Wonderful Life on?

Oh yes, and a dish of stuffing too. Nope to something posher, but it is lovely & simple and tasty

bbbb you sound like you are a lovely big sis. where is your dsis trying to get to

Bb yay on no more work for a short while

mum meant to be over on weds to have O (comes over once a week to have him on a thurs for us) but has phoned today to say the snow is too bad . Not a friggin flake here! She lives 55 miles away and they have a light dusting. Good job dh is at home (for now). Not sure why I'm so angry with her tbh.....

At the Christmas party we went to yesterday, my friend had done a Peking duck with all the trimmings on the side (pancakes, hoi sin sauce, shredded cucumber and spring onion). It worked brilliantly, everyone stuffed themselves and all she had to do was roast the bird and shred some extras.