BS: Christmas Preparations

Subject: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 07:36 AM

After having posted a gloomy and miserable comment on the 2017 predictions thread, I feel a bit guilty, so thought I'd start a Crimbo thread.
Tesco's today was excellent, as they were playing Steeleye Span's 'Gaudete' and Mike Oldfield's 'In Dulce Jubilo On Horseback'. I embarrassed my poor husband jigging about to the music, and he pretended he wasn't with me. Tesco aren't daft are they? It made everyone buy far more due to a bit of Crimbo spirit.
Got a huge free-range chicken (It just about fits in the freezer) and some sausage meat. Already have the puddings and a cake.
All cards are written, and being thoroughly childish, I've stuck a Santa stamp on as well as the normal postage stamp.
All presents wrapped and under the tree.
Lots of our neighbours have put up those flishy-flashy lights and Santa-on-the-roof etc. I was cheered to see the old couple whose house was burned out are back in and have their lights up too.
Have put a large wreath on our front door.
Husband keeps slyly trying to undo a bit of the wrapping paper from his presents to see what they are.
Have found our silver dragonflies tree decorations, so have chosen silver-and-turquoise this year, and the small silver fairy.
Have bought tins of sweeties, only to have opened them and scoffed them. How many times will we replace them before The Day?
We both feel quite Christmassy now. One more week and my tired husband will be on holiday from school cleaning.
How's everyone else getting on with their preparations for Christmas?

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Raggytash
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 08:13 AM

Humbugs, You have got any humbugs !!!

A Christmas without Humbug is just not a Christmas at all.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 08:49 AM

Bah! Humbugs! :) No doubt there'll be lots of stuff we've forgotten.
And we always feed the birds outside in the wintry weather. Plus our three Siamese cats, who get extra treats. (And usually sick them up ceremoniously on the kitchen floor)
It's funny, but every year I'm extremely anxious not to forget loo rolls. I seem to be obsessed with not running out of loo rolls. Is this at all normal??

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 08:55 AM

Speaking of which, I always look on the 'unit price' attached to the supermarket shelf. For the loo rolls, the price said '19.9p per 100 shts'. We fell about laughing, and the store detective came over to see what was afoot. He fell about too.
There's a dreadful rumour going about that there'll be a shortage of Brussels' sprouts this year. Gaaaah! We adore sprouts. Help!

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 09:16 AM

Two batches of fruitcake made and wrapped, ready for distribution to six lucky people who made The List this year; one more batch to go. The raspberry cordial I made in July is about ready for bottling, so today I must lay hands on half a dozen corks of the correct size.

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of two new pudding basins, the old one having succumbed to glaze crack and consequently unlikely to survive a trip through the new electric pressure cooker that is supposed to reduce the steaming time to something rather less than the traditional five hours. Why is it that kitchenware shops have every size of pudding basin except the size I need?

Apart from that, nothing done except for yielding, as usual, to dread of shopping for prezzies for people who don't actually either need or want anything apart from a good night's sleep.

I guess we're old.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Raggytash
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 09:54 AM

I've just returned from Ireland laden with Smoked Salmon, not only is it far cheaper in Ireland I prefer the flavour. Some of it is being scoffed now, some will be kept for Christmas.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 10:14 AM

I adore smoked salmon. I eat it nearly every week, just a few thin slices. If we got in a Christmas supply, it would be gone in a twinkling. I like it rolled up with cottage cheese inside.

Charmion, I often think back to my schooldays and Domestic Science lessons. The DS room had 'stations' with all the equipment needed for us pairs of girls (boys did woodwork) including those lovely huge china mixing bowls (brown outside and white inside), several sizes of wooden spoons, graded small white basins, flan dishes (fluted for sweet, plain for savoury) a large solid chopping board and so on. I never did appreciate all this super equipment, but now I wish I had the half of it!
Raspberry cordial - yum!
The trouble with this thread is it's making me terribly hungry...

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 10:40 AM

Senofou your comments are not even as gloomy as Buddhism. But they are revealing, reveling and inspirational.

Our tree is all wrapped and presents lighted complete with a fruitcake door upon our wreath.

Alas no presents except for one owing to splurging on transportation around Thanksgiving. How does one wrap an E Book titled 'Cure Lysdexia in 90 days ?

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Donuel
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 10:47 AM

90 days should read 90 years

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 11:49 AM

Ah yes, Domestic Science. In eastern Ontario, we knew it as two courses, prosaically called Cooking and Sewing, that seemed to be mainly concerned with ensuring that we could operate a kitchen range and a Singer sewing machine with reasonable competence. Real cooking lessons happened at home, largely through independent experiments with the Fannie Farmer Boston Cooking School Cook Book.

The brown and white mixing bowls you describe, Eliza, are known here as Gripstand bowls. I remember them fondly but no longer use them, as they are both heavy and fragile. Instead, I have a stack of stainless steel bowls that have no soul whatsoever but can be bashed around without leaving potsherds on the kitchen floor.

But nothing can replace a Mason Cash pudding basin. I know exactly what size to use with each pudding recipe, and exactly how to secure the pudding cloth on top with a lashing so I can lift it out of the canning kettle without scalding my knuckles. Alas, every other pudding-making housewife in Ottawa uses the same size I do, so the 20-cm size is always sold out!

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Pete from seven stars link
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 12:26 PM

My wife's been shopping , mostly mail order arriving for some time , and it seems like some time ago when she said she had finished , but still parcels arriving. My seasonal biblical songs came out the first open mic this month ......well , only got this month .... We like to watch the soppy family Xmas films when we get chance , that have their own channel on cable . As always , we will miss those we lost as I'm sure most of us do at this time of year.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 12:46 PM

All gift shopping done. We save Morrisons vouchers all year so have £120 to spend on Christmas luxuries in a week or two. Getting the tree tomorrow and putting the deccies up. Must say, as the song says, It's begining to look a lot like Cricklewood...

Foody bloke on the Simon Mayo show yesterday had an interesting salmon recipe - Cured in juniper berries. Not on the web site yet must try to remember to find it next week.

:D tG

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 01:46 PM

Goodness Dave, that's very efficient of you to save all those vouchers! We're still waiting for our Tesco Clubcard vouchers to arrive.
Charmion, are you anywhere near London, Ontario? I stayed with my aunt and uncle there in the summer of 1967, then we flew up to Montreal for Expo '67. I absolutely loved Canada; the people were so kind and friendly.
Mason Cash pudding basins are sold in Tesco and several other supermarkets and shops here.

Pete, we love slobbing around watching soppy old dvd's. My husband's favourite is Oliver, but he always cries buckets for the poor little boy. Then we have 'The Snowman' and 'Father Christmas', and various spy thrillers (yawn) and 'Mary Poppins' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'.

We took 'Oliver' to Africa and showed my in-laws on our portable laptop/dvd player. The trouble was, they all thought it showed life in UK nowadays; we couldn't convince them it was only a story set in the past. They loved The Snowman, but of course they didn't understand where he'd gone, as 'melting snow' is beyond their experience.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: MikeL2
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 02:37 PM

Hi

You all put us to shame.

Not really started with the Xmas chores. I have today unearthed the Xmas card file ( on paper as my lap-top went down and the chrissy card details with it.

Have today ordered on line our food requirements.

We are way behind because our No1 grandson casually strolled in a coulple of weeks ago and told us that he and his partner of 12 years are getting married on Christmas Eve!!!! They have three young children so life for us is going to be different this year.

It's lovely though as close relatives from near and far are coming.

After I post this I will be getting my booze requirements sorted. Our family like a tot or three.

Have a good one everybody.

Seasons Best

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Raggytash
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 03:55 PM

No decorations go up in our house until Christmas Eve.

When I was a child my parents decorated the house AFTER I had gone to sleep. When I awoke on Christmas morning "Father Christmas" had been all done all the work. Needless to say Christmas for me as a young boy was MAGICAL.

When our son was born my wife and I did the same, he would go to bed in a normal house but when he awoke ............ transformation !!

When at the age of 14 or so I asked him to help me trim up he refused, no that happens after I go to bed.

Even now we don't trim up until Christmas eve, once it has gone dark, Sherry, Madeira or Whisky in hand of course.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 04:07 PM

We put the decorations up as early as possible because we like to look at them, especially the tree. And my husband loves his little painted wooden tree with numbered drawers in, a chocolate in each drawer, like an Advent calendar. I've noticed him eyeing the flashing lights on the houses round about, and he'll soon be asking should we get some too? I'm not sure, as I expect they put the electricity bills up somewhat. But they are jolly and the village children love them...
One neighbour has two lovely reindeer in her garden, almost life-size, lit up at night. And our other neighbour has those pretty hanging icicles in white lights. I can see us giving in!

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Charmion
Date: 09 Dec 16 - 08:49 PM

I like Christmas lights, too -- on other peoples' houses! If we put them up ourselves, we have to take them down again in deepest January, and I'm just not up for such a challenge.

As the days shorten (the sun is setting at about four o'clock now), the flashing garland on the neighbours' gallery lights up our sitting room.

Hmmm ... Maybe we can do without a tree ...

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: JennieG
Date: 10 Dec 16 - 12:14 AM

We're going with the "Bah - humbug" look at home this year because we are leaving here on 17th Dec to drive 700kms south to visit our older son, his wife and our grandkid Euan The Wonder Kid, who will celebrate his 2nd birthday on 19th Dec.

However I have purchased a small (very small, about 8in high) green, red and white metal tree with which to decorate our caravan over the festive season, and a string of tiny (very tiny indeed) little green LSD lights in the shape of weeny trees, for the same purpose.

On the way home we will be spending the new year weekend at a folk festival, what better way to send out one year and welcome another!

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Dec 16 - 06:35 AM

When I was in my mid-teens I attended a couple of midnight masses. Mainly because it was great fun listening to the Irishmen who had been in The Catholic Club all night singing the wrong words to the carols and nodding off on the pews, but that is besides the point. My Wife to be, Dad, Sister and Brother left the house around 11:30pm if I remember rightly. The house was devoid of Christmas at this point. When we returned, probably between 1 and 1:30am, my Mum, who did not go to mass, had transformed the house into Santa's grotto with decorations, lights, tree with presents under it and everything! No idea how she did it - It will take us most of tonight and 4 people to get to the same stage.

Eeeeh. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 10 Dec 16 - 09:38 AM

I used to go to Midnight Mass at Norwich Cathedral The choir and music were superb and the Bishop of Norwich officiated. But the highlight for me one year was at the very end. They opened wide the Great West Door, and there were several drunks hanging about in the street outside. When the Bishop, as is customary, shouted, "Christ is born!" into the night, he was met by a chorus of drunken voices bellowing, "Ah! F*** off you w*****!" None of us knew where to look, and as usual I was convulsed in giggles.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Dec 16 - 10:01 AM

Midnight Mass at St Mary's in Radcliffe could be a tribulation for young good Catholic pissed blokes. You were supposed to get there early for the carols which were led by a woman with a strident, warbly voice and a terrible organist. Then the actual mass took longer anyway because it was a "high mass" which basically meant more candles and sung bits which made the whole thing stretch out. Jaysus, those priestly moanings...You were busting for a pee by 12.10 so we stood at the back whether pews were available or not in order to be able to nip out for a widdle, risking arrest. Still, at least you could sleep off the sore head next morning...

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 10 Dec 16 - 10:44 AM

Hahaha Steve! High Mass takes forever. The only RC High Mass I've truly adored was Easter Day in Djoulou in Casamance, Senegal. I cried secretly through the whole thing with utter joy and pleasure. African drums, traditional African choral singing, incense and two interpreters from French to Wolof, and from Wolof to Djiola. I don't think I've ever felt so happy in my entire life, I didn't want it to end. Even the 'bong' bird outside in the grounds did its 'bong' in the middle of the Consecration, just at the right moment.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: MikeL2
Date: 10 Dec 16 - 11:32 AM

Hi Steve

As a Catholic I know all about Christmas Eve Midnight Masses. Used to go as a youngster with my mother and father. I used to wonder why he kept leaving the service.....!!!

You have described my later years when it was my turn to sheepishly sneak outside. I those days there were several pubs within a stones throw of the church so the lawn got watered generously.

All the best

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Dec 16 - 03:00 PM

Well, the tree is up and lights on. My work is done! Rest of the crew are now happily decorating while I skive in the study:-)

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Dec 16 - 07:33 PM

Tree goes up in time for our anniversary on the 18th. It's our ruby one this year, but she dislikes rubies apparently and is settling for perfume instead. Suits me. Haven't looked into it but rubies sound outside my price range. I have never understood perfumes, scents and jewels. No scented soap, shampoo or body spray is allowed about my person and I would rather hack off my gonads with a rusty machete than wear deodorant. In my view these things don't stop you from stinking - they just make you stink differently. I will brook no bodily piercings nor will I sport any ring, medallion, bracelet or other trinket. My most expensive piece of jewellery is a Casio all-plastic watch, five quid on eBay, and I have a spare (just showing off now). We shall imbibe a bottle of Sainsbury's Blanc de Noir champagne (twelve quid on offer), I shall cook summat nice and we shall have a perfumed canoodle under the Nordmann Fir. Well we'll sit next to it anyway...🙁

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: BobL
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 09:09 AM

By (self-invented) tradition, my Christmas decorations go up on or around Dec 18th. Reason 1, I consider the "official" Christmas season to be the one observed by the Church, namely from sunset on Christmas Eve until Twelfth Night. Don't agree with those who decorate at the beginning of December, then take everything down, dying tree shedding needles all over the carpet, as soon as Christmas actually - from my point of view - starts. Put it this way: if it were your nipper being born, would you put up balloons a month beforehand and take them down the minute it actually arrived? Anyway, what is there to celebrate before the Winter Solstice?

Reason 2 is that my birthday is on December 6th, and as Christmas cards stay up for twelve days, it seems appropriate to leave the birthday cards up for eleven.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 09:24 AM

I'll swear I once read somewhere that Jesus was born on or about 25 July. "In the bleak midwinter" my arse!

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 09:24 AM

I'm afraid we're big babies, and put all the decorations and the tree up in early December. We don't take them down until around 6th January.
It's only a silly little artificial tree, so we don't get needle-drop.

Steve, one of my husband's stocking-fillers (yes, he has a stocking, which he loves) is a selection pack of FIVE Lynx deodorants, and also a bottle of David Beckham cologne. I expect you'd be throwing those straight in the bin :) He has quite a few rings too, but only wears two at a time, one on each hand (including his wedding ring)
Congratulations on your Ruby Wedding!

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 09:58 AM

Cheers! I haven't got anything against rings and all that, but they're not for me. I wore one about forty years ago for a while but couldn't resist fiddling with it (the ring - duh). I can just about tolerate other people's applied whiffs, though walking through the perfume dept. in those big shops makes me swoon so that I almost require an ambulance. There's a woman round here who wears some extremely potent chocolatey/vanilla-y scent that makes me yearn for a gas mask. Not exactly what you'd ever call "subtle..."

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 10:12 AM

I only wear a very light rose-scented eau de cologne. I hate strong whiffs on men or women. There's an Estee Lauder one called 'Youth Dew' and it makes me gag.
I just have my wedding ring and engagement ring. My joints are a bit swollen now, and rings go on with difficulty and then I can't get them off.
Husband took over the presents for the little ones across the road, carefully disguised in a black bin-bag so as not to spoil the Santa surprise. I told him NOT to say 'Here are some presents for your children' but instead to hand over the bag and wink, tap his nose and say, 'This is a secret for you.' When he came back I could tell he was sheepish. I made him recount what he'd said, and it was, (wink, tap nose as instructed) 'In zees bag are Chreeestmas presents for your cheeeldren.' Gaaaah! I'm trying to make him less shy, and to speak English a bit more, but blooming 'eck, it's an uphill struggle. He said the little ones were right at the door with their mum :(

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Stu
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 10:24 AM

Our tree always has a little Charles Darwin on top! I do enjoy carols and hymns though, and our local market is always great at Christmas with a real community feel to it. We don't really do pressies any more, I'm just glad to have my family and friends and so celebrate that.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: keberoxu
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 01:54 PM

What you all have called Domestic Science, was called Home Economics at my junior high school in the U.S. I have some fond memories of that class.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 02:56 PM

My Christmas preparations are finished. In fact, they were finished eleven months ago. We keep a few strands of white miniature Christmas lights stapled up inside our screen porch because we prefer their more ambient light over regular bulbs. I replaced them when they went on sale after last Christmas. We use them year-round, but if someone wants to think they're special for Christmas, that's okay.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 06:56 PM

We haven't called it domestic science for many a decade. Just thought I'd mention it.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 07:05 PM

Our Grammar School in the fifties thought it was being very up-to-date calling it Domestic Science. Prior to that it was just called Cookery. Needlework was a separate subject.
The Secondary Modern in our area called it Homecraft. Nowadays I believe it's called Food Technology.
As I was a year younger than all the other pupils, I sat my Domestic Science GCE at the age of fourteen and passed. I like to think it was my magnificent Victoria sponge...

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 07:27 PM

Old and new traditions are in the making like; the decking the hall with boughs of holly, the hanging of the mistletoe, the draping of the garlands, the hanging of the wreath, the placing of the tree, the placing of ornaments with care, the untangling of the lights, the tip toe placing of the star, the tipping of the tree, the singing of the carols, the watching of ITS A wonderful life and Christmas story, The hunting of the extension cord, the ringing in the new year, the grabbing of the pussy, the walking of the dog in the cold, the meticulous frustrating search of the start of the scotch tape, the appointing of the corporate war Cabinet, The Grinch parody of the President, the patient hearing of the little drummer boy and 12 days of Christmas, The eating of the cookies, the drinking of the wine, the gaining of the weight, the baking of the pies, the setting of the tables, the less patient hearing of the 12 days of Christmas, The trips to the airport, the crushing of the crowds, the surprise at some commercials, the making of the cards, the misplacing o the cards, The eating of more cookies, the rapture of a choir, the gaining of more weight, the losing of the keys, the visit of the holiday plumber, The wrapping of the presents with a stick-on bow, the recriminations about turning off the music of the little drummer boy, the losing of the car between all the SUVs in the parking lot nearest the door. the nutting of the cracker, the spilling of the wax, the seeing of old friends at long last, the touch of a special hand at a special moment, the return of the kids that makes it all special and worthwhile.

As well as the gaining of more weight from the left overs..5 Golden Ri... click.

The finding of the present you hid too well.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: leeneia
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 08:50 PM

Senoufou, I love the sound of the silver dragonflies on your Christmas tree. Also the silver and turquoise theme.

The DH will be putting up lights outside tomorrow. Most years I put electric candles with colored bulbs in our windows, because I hate to go out in the cold, but this year he wants something different.

He's talking about 3-D lights, but that has me baffled. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with.

At present 'tis Advent, a season with so much beautiful music. I took my tenor recorder to church today and played a duet with the flute on the Taize song "Wait for the Lord". People seemed to like it.

Donuel, I love your list. Stick-on bows! I'd almost forgotten about them.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Dec 16 - 08:50 PM

I'm very glad you never had to endure a soggy bottom, Senoufou.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 04:23 AM

I adore the music of Advent. I particularly love 'O Come O Come Emmanuel' and 'Most Highly Favoured Lady'. (Which as naughty children we changed to 'highly-flavoured') Trouble is, I well up with emotion in church, which is rather feeble of me.
I've always loved dragonflies leeneia. We get lots of different types here, as our village is situated beside a string of small lakes and a very unspoiled river. I like the idea they spend most of their lives under the water as a larva clinging to a stem, then one day emerge triumphantly, beautifully transformed, and soar aloft. I've lots of cushions, artwork and embroidery around the house on a dragonfly theme.
My husband too is still gazing at outdoor lights in the garden centres. I don't mind, as long as he's prepared to go up the blooming ladder and attach them. I'll secure the base for him so he doesn't have an accident. I make a very good ladder stabiliser.
Steve Hahahahahaha! My bottom is definitely saggy I don't know about soggy! hee hee.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 04:28 AM

The French word for dragonfly is 'libellule' which sounds so liquidy and just right.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 08:32 AM

Well Christmas in Rouge Towers is conspicuous by its absence. Cards are gone, mostly E-cards**.
But I did attend a Christmas Irish Set Ceili last night. The final dance (Baile Bhúirne*), time being short, was done without instruction at breakneck speed. To my credit, I sort of managed without serious error.

* a more pedestrian example at a 60th birthday - same band

** card on Farcebook - enjoy.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 09:03 AM

That 60th birthday dancing looked ever so good Mr Red. I wanted to be joining in! But tell me, what were people wearing on their feet? Their shoes looked enormous. Were they special shoes for dancing perhaps?

We just gave the binmen their Christmas Box in a card, and the driver of the bin lorry (he always waves to me) jumped out of his cab, grabbed me and gave me a huge hug and a peck on the cheek! He shook my husband's hand and we all wished each other a Merry Christmas. And the postman was given his Christmas Box too. It's a bit early, but sometimes their shifts change and it isn't our regular ones, so we like to make sure they get their small token of appreciation. I feel all warm and fuzzy now!

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 09:04 AM

Many moons ago I was an 'A' level examiner for the University of London biology exam. I nearly fell off my chair laughing one day when I was marking an essay answer on the diversity of feeding methods in insects. The candidate had written: "The dragonfly catches its prey on the wing. It then uses the wing to transfer the prey to its mouth."

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 09:11 AM

Hahaaha! Did it use a knife and fork too Steve?

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: DMcG
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 01:11 PM

I went to see The Lock In recently which is led by Damien Barber. The is Christmas version is a mixture of the standard show, Scrooge, Christmas party games and who knows what else. Tremendous fun. Anyway, Damien says we will all do a Christmas Song where *everyone* knows the first and fifth verse, even if they don't know the rest. Any ideas? "Um, Away in a Manger?" comes the response ....

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 01:31 PM

I've just watched your link twice over and it's fabulous! Is it touring? (Nurses faint hope it might come to Norwich!)

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Thompson
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 01:33 PM

Adeste Fidelis/O Come All Ye Faithful, which everyone knows either in English or in Latin? Silent Night? The First Noel?

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: DMcG
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 01:35 PM

Too late! It was in Norwich on 10 December.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: DMcG
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 01:38 PM

The "any ideas?" was the question Damien asked, not what I was asking. Sorry for the lack of clarity. The Christmas Song with the fifth verse everyone knows? 12 days of Christmas.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 01:44 PM

Oh no! :( I see it was at the Norwich Playhouse. Maybe next year ("If we're spared")

Hark the Herald?

I have to say I love all the Crimbo songs and carols but NOT 'Away in ah-ah bloody Manger'. I think it's the two notes on the word 'a'. As in 'We Plough the Fields' - "...for it is fed and wor-hor-tered...".

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Janie
Date: 12 Dec 16 - 09:35 PM

14 small Fresh Apple Cakes made, and most already gifted, tied up prettily in cello wrap and red ribbon. 44 dozen assorted cookies made, some gifted already and some waiting until I see folks, but most going to Mom's house as she is no longer up for her historically epic baking marathons but is distressed to disappoint friends and neighbors who received her cookies and apple cakes every holiday season for many years. I only made 4 different cookies, whereas she typically made 8-10, and probably a couple of hundred dozen. So there will still be some folks left out.

No tree for me this year. My son will be going to his partner's family for Christmas and I will be at Mom's so not worth the trouble, but 2 Christmas cacti blooming well, a big poinsettia on the table, and a big vase of red roses, red and white lilies and white mums given to me by a dear colleague when I retired the first of the month.

Minimal Christmas shopping (my family draws names) but what gifts I have are wrapped and ready to be loaded in the car for the trip home to Mom's.

Trying to sit on my hands and not spend more than I can afford on my son - a perennial affliction of mothers everywhere when it comes to our kids until they are well on their own 2 feet.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Charmion
Date: 13 Dec 16 - 08:47 AM

Janie, you are so lucky that your family has bit the bullet and gone to a name-draw for Christmas. I wish my in-laws would.

They are now quite a tribe: four surviving siblings in mid- to late middle age, with children in their 30s and 40s and grandchildren ranging from toddlers to voters. My husband, who normally loves to shop, just gives up in confusion once they pass the crayons stage, and he never knows what to get for his own generation -- but he never stops fussing and fretting over it. Now, if The Sisters would organize a name-draw for the adults, we could each focus on one family member without bracing ourselves to be thankful for a carload of stuff we neither need nor want. It has to be one of The Sisters, not only because they are the progenitors of most of the children and grandchildren, but also because they run the family. As the childless Come From Aways, all we can do is enter a plea.

And of course, I will now conduct the ritual of self-kicking and reminding myself that this is a truly wonderful problem to have at Christmas ...

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 13 Dec 16 - 08:56 AM

Charmion, my sister has the same problem. She was widowed many years ago, but has faithfully kept in touch with all her late husband's enormous family. He had five siblings, and they all now have children, and even grandchildren. Every year she buys, wraps and posts enough gifts to sink a ship. It all gets a bit excessive.
A long time ago, she and I made a pact NOT to but any Christmas presents for each other, but to donate to a charity of our personal choice. She really prefers this, and has helped all sorts of overseas projects to provide good drinking water, support clinics etc. We do much the same thing, and it benefits so many.
If only she could summon up the courage to say the same thing to her enormous bunch of in-laws! I'm sure they'd be happy too, as all this present buying for quite distant relatives gets ridiculous. She's no longer young and I think it exhausts her every year.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 14 Dec 16 - 09:19 AM

My sister just alerted me to the impending postal strikes planned for next week. Oh Lord! I have two people's Birthday cards to get to them before the end of the month. I've just put them in the post box; they'll just have to receive them a bit early.

And a mysterious little parcel arrived this morning which my husband whisked away secretively. Wonder what he's got me?

Sister-in-law in Ivory Coast is very ill with malaria. We sent some money for her to go in a malaria clinic for re-hydration and treatment. This makes us focus on what's important, as opposed to all the materialism and greedy buying that goes on at this time of year. Her mum is feeding her 'rice soup' but she can't keep anything down, poor soul. Hope the clinic will make her better.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: mg
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 01:45 AM

1. Plug in Christmas lights. 2. Write check to charity. 3. Consider a chocolate peppermint drink at McDonald's.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: DMcG
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 08:49 AM

Family convention is the tree goes up on the Saturday before Christmas.


a) Discover half the tree lights have blown so nothing works.
b) decide we are very short on the decorations front.
c) go to shops to discover they have got rid of all sign of Christmas and are now selling Easter bunnies.
d) Repeat the following year.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 09:30 AM

Had an old friend round this morning and offered my home-made mince pies. I'd done a dozen, and the two of us scoffed the blooming lot! And had coffee with double cream in. Pair of gannets.
Husband stuck his head round the door and looked a bit miffed when he saw the empty plate, so I've had to make another dozen so he can have some!
Am considering making my own sausage rolls and doing puff pastry (the old roll-and-fold-eight-times method) We've tried supermarket sausage rolls and they're ghastly. We chucked them into the garden, but even the birds outside weren't keen, except for a pair of seagulls and a crow.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 11:04 AM

All behind as ever. Husband does decorations: all in boxes in spare bedroom, but at least down from the loft. Usually puts them up about 20th or after.
On a slow-down thanks to a heavy cold draining the energy levels, so several evenings out also declined. 3 out of 6 Christmas gigs done: 2 next week out of doors so praying for clement weather (and cold to go away!)

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 15 Dec 16 - 12:57 PM

Oooh Tattie, hope your cold goes away! And also hope you get some fine, not-too-cold weather for your remaining gigs.

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Charmion
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 08:09 AM

Mince pies. I loves mince pies, but Himself claims that he hates them. He likes fruitcake and chutney, so how can he hate mince pies?

Subject: RE: BS: Christmas Preparations
From: Senoufou
Date: 16 Dec 16 - 08:19 AM

Isn't it funny Charmion? People who say, "I don't much like..." and then scoff the lot like anything. I always keep a couple of biscuit tins in my husband's study for him, with biscuits, mince pies, sausage rolls etc for him to snack on while he's watching his African films in the evening. Also mixed nuts and fruit. He always says, "That's nice of you but honestly, I'm not hungry and 'don't really like' etc" Of course, the blooming tins and bowls are empty next morning. I wonder if the Christmas Elf has eaten it all....