Bringing in some light

[Lidlfix]

It's hard for everyone right now, by varying degrees granted, and sometimes it's nice to blether. I'd like a thread that doesn't turn into political debate. A Chat if you like with a Scottish perspective that has a gentler vibe. I admire the posters with strong political views, knowledge, interests and thick skins - qualities I lack. But it's not for everyone.

My fig and blackberry candle is lit and my nice coloured gin bottles have wee LED lights in. I feel refreshed after my two week hols but worried about the term to come. Come share what you're doing to bring in some light, your wee treats, autumn booze concoctions or just blether.

Just made the mistake of joining a "virtual" winter festival and it's really upset me cause watching someone sing a christmas song in their bedroom really isn't the same as watching them doing it on a stage with hundreds of other folk around - that experience goes with a nose that feels like it's about to drop off...

Anyway - walking still feels normal and #tier4stilllooksprettyfromadistance

Well.. it’s a Saturday afternoon at DPs and he’s making us Old Fashioneds. I think I’ll keep him.

Beautiful @Sturmundcalm

We were late opening the Lidl bar yesterday as we were lighting up! It's gorgeous my new cosy corner is so colourful and lovely . It's going to be a permanent fixture as once the Xmassy stuff goes it is just a cheery part of the garden. For once DH and I didn't fall out when he was up a ladder at a height where a fall would be serious - result. Topped with a Xmas film. We will finish off outdoors today and then it's a mulled wine outdoors for me

OohIt's a good day for mulled wine too. Well pretty much any winter day but it's suitably cold. We are at 90 percent decc'ed up here.

Got red cabbage and red onions in my veg box delivery so have now bought the mustard seeds and red wine vinegar to make and freeze a suitable recipe for christmas day. Will probably do on Sunday - might need to force down ice cream on Saturday so there's room in the freezer... It's a nightmare!

@rookiemere, @S00LA and @WouldBeGood - I've PMed you both re South African wine , belatedly following on from your requests for me to send you info.

Anyone else interested in South African wines, let me know

Christmas tree up in our newly decorated room. Ds now home from Aberdeen and still whinging that's the room isn't still orange/red . Apparently, we've irredeemably lowered the value of the house

We've told him he can change it back to orange when he inherits

@prettybird - that tree is lovely but a bit too tasteful... planning on getting all our stuff out of the attic tomorrow and putting tree/decs up Fri/Sat - later than planned cause our decorating all took longer than expected (and we're still waiting for a carpet delivery!).

Thanks @prettybird will have a look once all the Christmas madness has died down

@prettybird did your DS get the lateral flow test x 2 before coming home?

Dd got hers and came home a week ago. But her best friend at uni has just tested positive yesterday - she has no symptoms and was just doing the test to come home. So although shes not looking forward to the next 10 day in SI she’s jolly glad she got the test and didn’t take it home to her family.

She been very careful too - hasn’t been to any face to face classes and has only left the house to go to the supermarket and out running / cycling ( alone ). So she doesn't even know where she got it.

He only did one test to our disapproval on Friday - and wouldn't tell me if it was lateral flow or PCR . He didn't go out over the weekend and dh picked him up on Monday morning. From the speed that he got the result, I think it was lateral flow. His grandfather tried to explain to him the importance of the two tests if it were lateral flow, to no avail. But he's not going to be seeing his grandfather for 10 days anyway, until Christmas Eve.

I wonder if your dd's best friend had asymptomatic friends from whom she caught it? That's what makes this virus so difficult to contain

I love a tree in a bay window, giggling at your DS Prettybird and your devaluing paint job but you knew he'd be like that.

My secret Santa was a big hit with a lovely (Covid secure classroom compliant) cosy but stylish scarf and I could see my gift being equally well received. Our well being group and S6 council really went beyond to give a socially distanced visit from Santa and his sanitized elves. Lovely.

Been feeling rubbish as a tough term comes to an end, denying that I still have 2.5 days next week.

But DD3 had her negatives and is home and appreciating my cooking. Some outdoor catch ups are forthcoming and will be uplifting. Have added hot spiced apple gin to my outdoor hot drink selection. Not for your fancy craft gin but definitely good for a super market special.

If he got the result super quick it would be the lateral flow from DD3's experiences. We call her The Vaccine as she has been a close contact so many times but doesn't get it. She even tried when her SI was being extended due to her flatmates getting it and her isolation being really prolonged.

She's a dab hand with a swab now!

Hot spiced apple gin sounds a good shout- any particular method worth following? I’ve sickened myself of mulled wine already, probably because DH doesn’t like it so I end up having more myself.

@Lidlfix

If he got the result super quick it would be the lateral flow from DD3's experiences. We call her The Vaccine as she has been a close contact so many times but doesn't get it. She even tried when her SI was being extended due to her flatmates getting it and her isolation being really prolonged.

She's a dab hand with a swab now!

That's my thinking too - but he refused to wouldn't confirm. He knows how to do the PCR swab test (twice, as he and his flat mate cocked up packaging the test first time and had to order a 2nd test) as he got a home test when Aberdeen went into its Lockdown and his flat mate had been in one of the affected pubs.

Apple juice, gin, cinnamon, honey, tangerine with cloves in. Quantities vary with how "warming/lethal" I want it to be . This is probably a good starting point, then just chuck in whatever

Lovely trees folks, I'm behind on my arrangements due to my lost weekend. Baby boy coming home from Aberdeen on Friday, can't wait!

It is lovely getting them back, washing and all! Hope you feel well enough to liberate the artisanal twigs soon.

Twig is up, takes 30 seconds and did it the weekend before last so it does look a bit festive and stockings are up, just haven't done my wrapping or cards or cleaning and organising.

Re washing, I have just established that he hasn't changed his bed since he was dropped off at the end of August. Not sure how much it's been slept in right enough. He says he has a pile of washing. he has a washer/dryer in the flat and bills are included but hey ho...

I had been contemplating making a homemade dessert rather than just buying but don't think i'll have time now as still struggling to cook/eat/think about food. Plus I can't bake :o

@Lidlfix lovely, thanks. I’ll start gently, try to work up to lethal

I made a batch of tablet today and while I think it might end up slightly softer than my preference (although still too early to tell) it tastes fab - really smooth and mellow. Might not bother with dinner and just snack on that instead

I've been making mince pies: running total 99 full sized ones and 2 mini ones . And I haven't even had one yet I've been giving most of them away to friends and family to dh and ds's disgruntlement

I've also made 4 batches of tablet over the last 2 weeks and didn't even taste the soft ball test! - I get dh to confirm that the texture is up to my usual standard.

We got a big wine delivery in today so dh is happily writing wine notes and drinking a Cape Ruby (a port style wine) while I finish off the latest batch of mince pies and the sourdough croissants.

We've just had 20 year old ds come downstairs and complain that the music (an Amazon Christmas selection) is too loud as he wants to sleep

Those look amazing prettybird.

My DM is busy making our annual packs of tablet and millionaire's shortbread. She let me sample some with my outdoor coffee as chittering would absolutely burn those calories.