Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2025

Yes I think so @Ladybird4 - absence makes the heart grow fonder?

I was going to be doing the Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve, so it would be leftovers (bubble and squeak = my favourite) on Christmas Day, but as I’m not working now I can do it anytime so I’m thinking Christmas Day evening. There is just the two of us so we can be flexible. Being a grinch and a rebel, I wouldn’t normally bother but we actually like a roast dinner so I’ll make an exception.

 

Morning all.

I'm doing a roast chicken tomorrow, to get leftovers for sweet & sour chicken when the family are here after Christmas. Also onion-free stock so it's ok for our daughter. Nothing special (maybe pork chops?) on Christmas day, when we'll be just the two of us here, but we've got last year's Christmas pud to tackle. I checked it and it looks ok, though it's shrunk a bit. Then on the 26th we'll be fed at our daughter's, after which our son & family will be with us until New Year. Can't wait!

The Lurgy is hanging on a bit, but a few preparations have been made. Not yet ventured into the loft for the tree & decorations, though. Tomorrow, perhaps...

We did a biggish shop yesterday, by car even though it was just to the local shops. Energy levels are not yet back to normal, but we plough on!

I put out the hedgehog feeder last night, and some loose hedgehog biscuits on the path as usual. Only the neighbours' fat cat was interested in the feeder (though she couldn't get in), but one of the hedgehogs found the food on the path.

 

Hello all.

It looks grey and chilly outside. There were about 5 long tailed tits in the laurel bed pecking at the rose and plants this morning. They were so cute but I hope they weren't eating ladybirds. I haven't seen long tailed tits here before.

Nothing happening today, the monthly farmers' market has been moved to tomorrow. The Carol Service is tomorrow too, but in the evening. I will be handing out the service leaflets.

 

Have reservations for an early dinner at a lovely restaurant about 20 mins drive on Christmas Eve. Hoping to find some nice veal shanks to make Ossco Busco for Christmas day. so still need a trip down to another town next week in hopes they have some. Nothing planned for New Years Eve. Maybe this year I'll make it down the quaint town center at 12 midnight to watch the Duck drop, some strange thing this little town invented. Have to find the Youtube about it later.

Scrabble game yesterday with the group was lovely, a good group of folks indeed. The meet up will be on hold for the holidays and resume after January 2. They also have a lunch gathering organized on the 12th.

Husband has a list of upcoming car shows for the next 3 months he's reviewing so future trips will be planned. And then there is the usual paperwork struggles for getting taxes done.

onward.

 

Breaking news…
The Traitors board game, which has been sold out nearly everywhere, is finally being delivered today (apparently)!!
I made a Plan B in case it didn’t arrive before Christmas (present for niece) so if it arrives then Plan A is back on! Knowing my luck it won’t arrive or they’ll be a card through the door but let’s keep positive…

 

Sounds like everyone is busy getting organised for Xmas week. May all your plans go like clockwork and everybody enjoys themselves.
I've just got the small bedroom ready for a most important visitor - my daughter's cat. I've covered over the bed with an old sheet and moved the dressing chest to the window so he can sit on it and look out. Just got to put lots of old Ikea rugs down over the carpet as he's very adept at chucking cat litter all over the place. I did her bedroom last week so that's all ready and will clean the house on Monday.
We've been keeping well clear of visitors for the last fortnight as definitely didn't want to catch flu before Xmas but will meet up with family on Boxing Day. Fortunately we've had a couple of fine days so I've been able to potter round the garden. Hyacinths, daffs and snowdrops are all coming through.
I've just done a biggish online Xmas shop to be delivered tomorrow and booked another slot for New Year's Eve. That's us sorted, thank goodness I don't have to brave the shops this week.

 

Best laid plans....
Hub has been rather poorly and we've been on the brink of phoning 111, but he now seems to have turned a corner. I filled the car with petrol, in case we had to go to A & E. I suspect something that disagreed with him yesterday - or too much rich food.
Police were out in force doing random checks, and they pulled the car in front of me. Even though you 'know'/hope nothing is wrong, it's akin to going through 'nothing to declare' (when you have got nothing to declare) and waiting to get searched!
You all sound to be just about ready for you know what!

 

Do hope your OH will be ok @Penny_Forthem, fingers crossed for a calm Christmas.

I know what you mean about feeling 'guilty' even when you're not when there's a police car behind you. I think they are probably doing 'drink driving' checks or possibly checking driver's eyesight as I was reading about random roadside testing being rolled out.

 

Good evening all. Sorry to hear about your OH being a bit one degree under @Penny_Forthem and hopefully by the time you read this he will be on the road to recovery. The furthest outside I have been today is my dustbins. It has been dry all day but the temperature has plummeted this evening. @lizzie27 like you I have a big food delivery tomorrow afternoon so sorting all that out and getting things stacked in the freezer will monopolise my time. Meeting my friends at the GC tomorrow morning and it will no doubt involve hot drinks and cake. @redstar I like playing Scrabble too.
I am signing out for today. See you all tomorrow. Enjoy your evening and get ready for the Winter Solstice tomorrow afternoon (possibly when my food delivery is going to be made!). Enjoy your evenings.

​

 

We took our neighbour and dog to the donkeys for a Christmas treat breakfast, and it was noticeably quiet for a Saturday. Despite being pretty cold, especially in the wind, it was very sunny, and we managed a wander around. We did stop at the supermarket on the way home at lunchtime, as I had a parcel to collect, and it wasn’t noticeably busier than a regular Saturday. I suspect everyone must have gone into town to shop.
I’ve finished putting up my decorations, and found time to get two loads of laundry done as well.
I always vow to get things prepped early, so I can start to wind down before the big day, but it never seems to work like that. I’ve got a slot booked to pick up the turkey on Tuesday, and if all goes to plan, there will just be fresh cream for a trifle, and some bread to get. As it’s just the two of us this year, I’ll cook half the turkey crown on Christmas Eve. OH prefers cold turkey, so Christmas Day dinner will be easier to coordinate if I’ve only got to do the trimmings and vegetables. I keep reading that it is possible to cook roast potatoes in advance, and then reheat them in a hot oven. - a bit like triple cooked chips, I suppose. Has anyone done this, and does it work?
Glad your OH is improving a bit, @Penny_Forthem. Very sensible on keeping the petrol tank full, just in case. OH can be a bit blasé about letting the gauge get low, but I like to have a bit of back up reserve in the tank, just in case.
Did your parcel arrive, @lizzie27? Hopefully not in next doors flowerbed!