Mudcat Advent Calendar

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: CamiSu
Date: 26 Dec 00 - 02:04 AM

Thank you. And a Merry Christmas to you!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 24 Dec 00 - 12:43 PM

Well folks, it's the 24th and last door of the Advent Calendar. Behind it we have to have those people in a stable, those angels in the sky, the animals all around and the Star shining over it all. Because it's traditional, and that's what Christmas is to me. I'm safe in the house where I grew up, the presents are under the tree, the candle is lit in the window, there's Christmas music on Radio na Gaeltachta, the Other Half has driven home to his family, and there's a bottle of Bailey's to be drunk (another tradition!). So Merry Christmas one and all to anyone who wants it.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 23 Dec 00 - 07:43 AM

...Just as I was about to post my message the damnable internet connect messed up. Curse you British Telecom!
Happy Christmas Naemanson (hope the Christmas party was a good 'un), and happy Christmas to all.
Yesterday's door had mistletoe behind it. Suitable, as the Other Half arrives home today. Not that I need mistletoe as an excuse...
And today's door? A man and a woman, at night, walking towards the glowing lights of a town, while a big star shines over them all.
Is it really Christmas Eve tomorrow? So much has happened this year.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Naemanson
Date: 21 Dec 00 - 12:52 PM

It occurred to me yesterday that Chrstmas was only 5 days away and I was a little late with my preparations. So I began in earnest to pursue the annual hunt. Fortunately a snow storm closed the base so I could go off into the blizzard to start my shopping. I arrived home, exhausted and footsore, determined not to move another step. Then I remembered that the next day, today, was the office Christmas party and I had to go back into the storm.

That was the downside. The upside is that my gift at the party was a 12 pack of assorted Shipyard Ales. And next Wednesday is the shanty party! I'm there!

Happy Christmas!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 21 Dec 00 - 11:36 AM

Oops, missed yesterday. My laptop was sick (note - don't try installing Linux on a laptop when you don't know what yer doing).
Yesterday's door (20th) had shepherds behind it. I went to a local primary school's nativity play and it was lovely. The shepherds all had the traditional tea-towels on their head, so this one's for them.
Today, December 21st (the 21st ALREADY???) are some angels smiling sweetly and playing some great tunes.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: CamiSu
Date: 19 Dec 00 - 11:03 AM

Thanks for reminding me. I need to make some pie... and mull some cider.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: MMario
Date: 19 Dec 00 - 10:05 AM

You know the nice thing about this calender. You open the door and pull out that nice goblet of mulled wine, and a mince pie - and 10 minutes later you open the door and pull out another goblet of lulled wine and MORE mince pie...*burp*'scuse me!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 19 Dec 00 - 09:48 AM

December 19th and the city centre is scarily busy with shoppers. Mince pies and mulled wine for them all behind today's door. I'm becoming warmhearted and mellowed by the festive season.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 10:30 AM

Camisu, thank you for the shooting star and happy birthday!
It's lovely to be home. My Other Half met me at the airport with a bunch of flowers - that's a first, perhaps he REALLY misses me! I arrived yesterday to my parents house where we had mulled wine and mince pies for friends, and then I went to an ecuminical carol service, and then on to the pub for a pint of Smithwicks. I'm now in Belfast (the "other" home as I spent the past 6 or 7 years there) and ready to meet up with my friends and catch up on all their news.
I would like today's door (the 18th December) to be some candles like the ones during the carol service last night - the beautiful holly and ivy candle holders caught fire during "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" but the choir coped admirably and pretended not to notice.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Dec 00 - 05:08 AM

Happy Birthday Camisu!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Matt_R
Date: 17 Dec 00 - 05:45 PM

Funny you should mention that, Fib. Oasis's video for "Who Feels Love?" is set in the desert, with awesome special effects..fast motion atmospheric conditions happening in time to the music..and the band silhouettes on a red sand dune in the Sahara...in front of a huge setting sun...very Star Wars-sh. The video is an art-lover's dream come true (as are many Oasis videos).

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: CamiSu
Date: 17 Dec 00 - 05:18 PM

Well since my son arrived home yesterday, that door was quite wonderful. Jessica (Wavestar) gets home tomorrow and then we'll celebrate the birthdays,(hers Christmas eve, and mine today). So today's window has a shooting star as all our loved ones prepare to travel.

BTW Jess asked me to be sure to let you all know that she wasn't dead, only her computer was. (It did work long enough for her to write a spectacular paper on Arthurian Literature and Legend)

CamiSu

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 15 Dec 00 - 11:57 AM

I'm off home to Ireland tomorrow (with my new laptop so I can keep up with Mudcat over Christmas), so behind today's door (December 15th) is a reindeer, and behind tomorrows (December 16th) is a sleigh. Although I'll be going in an aeroplane.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Naemanson
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 06:11 PM

OOO! Counting down the days til Christmas. I remember one year we got our younger daughter so excited that she barfed up her supper on Christmas Eve! We still tease her about that.

We got our tree in today. And our first real snow, about 5 inches. Then it rained. Tomorrow morning we'll be scraping the car windows.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: mousethief
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 05:59 PM

Advent calendars these days just run Dec 1 - Dec 25. Since Advent starts on a different day each year (in the West; in Orthodox countries it starts on November 15 every year), they just make 'em run through the advent days of December.

They originated in Germany, and if I remember correctly, the ones with chocolate were the originals, or came very early on in the process. The chocolateless ones are the cheap imitations.

Advent is a fasting season; or rather, is is a fasting season in the East, and used to be a fasting season in the west. This is why in Gawain and the Green Knight, when Gawain shows up on Christmas Eve, he is fed all sorts of fish dishes but no "meat" (ecclesiastically speaking). Also why Scandinavians eat fish on Christmas Eve (lutefisk).

But you don't have to be Christian to use an advent calendar, and many these days have non-religious themes anyway.

A delightful custom, and fun for kids to use to "count down" the days until Christmas.

Alex

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: CamiSu
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 05:41 PM

Oasis fans? I thought those were palm leaves!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 12:22 PM

Okay, December 14th - only ten days left....
Open the door -
It's about time we had some men on camels travelling through the desert. Perhaps they're Three Kings, perhaps they're Wise Men, perhaps they're just oasis fans (see! a little pun for you there cabbage-hating Matt!).

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Matt_R
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 10:31 AM

Cabbage family? Baaaaaaarrrffff

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: sophocleese
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 10:19 AM

So I don't like cabbage and brussel sprouts because I have refined taste buds? Makes sense. (grin) We got a little more snow last night and this morning. Its very pretty.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 09:16 AM

but I LIKE broccoli and cauliflower, and especially cabbage. Mmmmm, cabbage....

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: MMario
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 09:14 AM

I believe whatever it is is present in most of the cabbage family - but more so in brussel sprouts. Could explain why broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, etc are all "love 'em or hate 'em" veggies

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 08:52 AM

Well we had some hail this morning. Not quite as festive.
About the brussel sprouts - I was informed that on "Tomorrow's World" that scientific programme of wide renown (I never watch it) they talked about an enzyme in brussels sprouts that some people can taste and others can't. They isolated it or something, and put it in a glass of water and gave it to people. Some people said it tasted foul, others didn't notice any difference. Perhaps we could get genetically modified brussel sprouts that actually taste nice...

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: MMario
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 08:44 AM

we had snow, snow, snow snow SNOW! Lovely fluffy stuff. Okay, I've had my fix for the year, when's spring?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: CamiSu
Date: 14 Dec 00 - 06:54 AM

Well we got our snow. It looks gorgeous and maybe I'll get my tree in today! I'm afraid there is a plasterer's trowel behind a door for me, but there is new plaster on all four wall in Axel's room. Now paint and then him! Happy Thursday.

CamiSu

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 11:03 AM

I would love some snow!
Okay, so dark at 3.30pm was a minor exaggeration - but it's twilight now (4pm) and will be very dark by 4.30.

December 13th. Open the door and you will see a Christmas Tree decoration. A nice homemade one, with glitter and paint and cardboard. The sort that droops from the tree and sheds sparkle on the carpet 20 years after it was first made, but that you'll never throw away because it's Christmas history dangling there. I think we're making Christmas decorations with the Guides tonight, so that's fairly topical.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: CamiSu
Date: 13 Dec 00 - 09:36 AM

Well Sophocleese, I'd happily take some. We ended up with zip here, though the sheep seem to like that, as they feel that even dry pasture is better than hay. I, too am enjoying the cyber calendar as my real one is in the kneewall space of the room I am currently plastering so Axel can move in as my eldest comes home Saturday and will want his room back... Then Jessica comes home Monday, (her computer is non compos mentis so that's why she hasn't been around lately) So I get KIDS for my birthday!(approx. It's Sunday, but I'll take a Monday arrival. I am SOOOOOOO excited!

CamiSu

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: sophocleese
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 03:08 PM

Anybody want snow? 53 cm last night. I looked out the window at 6:00 this morning to see if by any chance snow had filled in my footprints from the night before. There was my husband struggling to clear the comb left behind by a plow in the midst of more heavily falling snow. I went out and cleared the path. He had already cleared the doorway as the door didn't open when he first tried it. Later in the morning the news let us know that all the schools were closed today and my daughter and I watched the 16 year old boy on the other side of the street come running out of his house and dive headfirst into a snowbank. Later his sisters joined him out there and they had agreat time alternately shovelling the driveway and piling into each other in the snow. My kids went out to play as well and then I had to rescue first one then the other as they lost boots in the snow. We're making gingerbread men and shortbread today.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 01:37 PM

No snow here yet. Occasional showers and then bright sunshine. The snow is all up north and west. I knew I moved south for a reason.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 12:56 PM

You and me both, CamiSu, tho' no snow yet. Want to send some down to me? It's fun to watch the weather coming in from the west- the wind is ferocious!
MMario, I'm enjoying my daily cyber Advent calendar, since my kids are in charge of the real ones. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: CamiSu
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 12:43 PM

How far North ARE you?

Here it is dark around 5 with that incredible deep blue sky that you only see in the winter... though today the sky can't figure out what to do. So far we've had pouring rain, bright sun, more rain, and now bright sun with blowing snow!

Cami Su

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 10:52 AM

December 12th already, and dark by 3.30pm. So we have a little lantern behind todays door, reminding me to change the bulb in the one outside my house or I'll never get the key into the lock. See! Not only is this an Advent calendar, it's a memo list for me too.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 10:51 AM

Thanks guys!
Mmario - I humbly confess - I cheat a little and buy the pre-made twig wreath base and decorate it. I used to make them out of wire coathangers and holly and ivy, but it hurt and took too long, and looked crap. Also, I don't have access to vast expanses of countryside and free vegetation any more. I was seriously thinking of giving in and buying a ready made one, but I do like decorating them myself.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 09:36 AM

Congrats, FM! now you can say your wallet's "...beginning to look a lot like Christmas..."

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: sophocleese
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 09:25 AM

Great news on your insurance claim Fib. I'm eating up birthday chocolates (from yesterday) to get them out of the way for Christmas choclates. So I guess my mouth is wreathed in chocolate.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: MMario
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 09:16 AM

yeah! glad to hear your claim came through. How do you make your wreaths? I have been handmaking christmas wreaths for mumblety years or so - tho haven't done more then one or two the last few years. My record was 200 in 10 days (while working full time in addition) Boy were my hands sore after that, and it took another week to get all the pitch off and out from under my nails.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 11 Dec 00 - 08:27 AM

December 11th - a red and green Christmassy wreath on a blue front door, because I have to make one this week so my house looks festive before I return to Ireland. And some more presents, because my insurance claim came through this morning, and I have got my cameras and my stereo back!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 02:48 PM

Today is the perfect day for the Christmas tree to be on the calendar. Today I bought mine from the sale to benefit the Youth Theater at the Chocolate Church. I think I'm starting to get into the spirit of the season.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: CamiSu
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 12:52 PM

Yeah, we've been seeing them heading south for a month now, but I earned mine last week by riding on a wagon, singing "Dashing through the mud, in a two horse open wagon..." and "All I want for Christmas is a President!" So it's in my front yard.

CamiSu

BTW if they're picked right, Brussels Sprouts aren't rancid! If they are, I guess you could drown them in Hollandaise!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 10 Dec 00 - 12:35 PM

December 10th has a Christmas tree behind its door because they're being sold in practically every street near my house and now I want one too, although I still think it's a little early for them.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 09 Dec 00 - 02:07 PM

CamiSu - there is definitely a brussel sprout turnabout these days - at my dinner last night at least 3 people in my vicinity mentioned liking them. I ate 4 of the rancid little vegetables, just to maintain tradition.
Today on the Advent calendar, December 9th, shows a bell. I've just been shopping and the bells were ringing on the way home. Now I'm typing in time to The Chieftains "Bells of Dublin", so let that bell ring loud and clear!

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: CamiSu
Date: 09 Dec 00 - 11:05 AM

Brussel sprouts... maybe because they are harvested after frost? And all the 'more normal' veggies are gone?

CamiSu whohappenstoLIKEBrusselssprouts

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Dec 00 - 07:13 AM

Cranberry fluff is a kind of sweet dessert made with cranberry sauce. A cross between an American pudding and a jello dish. It's very light and very mauve with chunks of cranberry floating in it.

At least, I always think of it as a dessert dish but my mother serves it with the meal instead of afterwards.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Morticia
Date: 08 Dec 00 - 08:51 PM

what is Cranberry fluff?

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Naemanson
Date: 08 Dec 00 - 02:36 PM

Never heard of such a thing! In our family it's creamed onions and cranberry fluff.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 08 Dec 00 - 11:13 AM

Aha Mmario - it's the only time of the year when people voluntarily eat brussel sprouts. I'm not sure why it's traditional, but any Christmas dinners I've ever attended seem to have them. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without the foul, overcooked, mushy little blighters.

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: MMario
Date: 08 Dec 00 - 11:05 AM

brussels sprouts are christmas-y? whyfor? (curious)

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 08 Dec 00 - 10:57 AM

Today, December 8th, after searching hard for the tiny door, reveals a big table laid with turkey and roast potatoes and stuffing and wine and brussel sprouts and all things Christmas-y as I'm off to my first Christmas dinner tonight.
And today I found out that my insurance claim from the burglary will arrive before Christmas, so I may have a laptop yet....

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Fibula Mattock
Date: 07 Dec 00 - 06:57 AM

Well, all suggestions are greatfully received. I'll be going offline on the 15th December, leaving my computer behind as I go back home to Ireland - unless I get a laptop before then, but that would depend on a lot of the money I'm owed coming my way very soon. So I do need someone to take over Advent Admin and make sure that the good people of Mudcatville get mistletoe on the solstice and a bunch of people in a stable on the 24th. With a symphony of banjos, accordians, kazoos, bodhrans (insert instrument here or delete as appropriate).

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 07 Dec 00 - 06:38 AM

?"Haul the decks with disks by Lonnie"?
Apologies for double post. Road roller outside my window preparing route for crane to lift in Portakabin is making our buiding shake 4 points on Richter scale and made my mouse hand click twice!
RtS

Subject: RE: Mudcat Advent Calendar
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Dec 00 - 06:36 AM

Hey, are we alllowed to open windows too? That may open the door to an ugly scene around the calendar! Imagine a crowd of 'catters rapidly opening all the doors. I was never able to wait to see what lay in store...