Cooks Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 I've bought a part of someones present already, but apart from that I only have the children telling me they want playstation 3's each. Haven't seen any cards on sale yet here, although I haven't looked too hard, I do send a lot so I always buy charity cards, so if anyone knows of any really nice charity cards for sale I will always take a lookie. I only get one day off a week so this is going to be hard to shop this year. I might do it all online like the year before last, I had parcels coming all the time, sent to parents, here, was quite fun remembering what I had ordered. My SIL always wraps and then forgets to put the tags on so my boys got the wrong gifts one year and they swapped them after opening them.. I did buy wrapping paper in the sale in January, so I have that, and some crackers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 the battery hen welfare trust have some FAB cards www.bhwt.org.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 I love Christmas too. Haven't done much yet...I wait until Halloween is over as well. First weekend in December we go and choose our tree and put the decorations up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 cool thanks Mel, order placed. I buy from a few charities each year as I get guilty helping just one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 You are all making me feel incredibly inadequate. I have done nothing at all and am pretending that it is not going to happen this year. Bah humbug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 This thread is getting me in a Christmas mood! Countdown to Christmas for me goes Halloween, Bonfire Night, family weekend in Center Parcs, my birthday , work Christmas party, Christmas! Now that I'm thinking about it already maybe I will get my cards organised properly this year! I would love to get them in the post at the end of November. This weekend I plan to make Christmas cake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 1, 2008 Share Posted October 1, 2008 Oh please, please .. what are you all putting in your Christmas hampers? I have a large group of girlfriends, and I try and do home-made because I want to get away from the 'spend, spend' thing (apart from being short of dosh!). Last year I bought BHWT bags, and put chutney and marmalade in and some biscuits. Baking is my 'thing' but that means leaving it all till the last minute. I've made some apple chutney, and I usually do marmalade using MaMade but adding my own secret ingredients. What else can I make? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 I use newspaper bags from the india shop online, then put in some preserves and little cellophane bags with home made biscuits, truffles and nice choccy things. There were some good recipes posted in the all things nice section in the run up to last Christmas, Olly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 I've already put in my order with my mum for christmas cake and puddings. I could make them myself, but my Mum has so many more years experience with them they are a blissful joy to eat and are a vital part of my Christmas. Yum! I have also started my prezzie shopping in earnest (in addition to bits and bobs done throughout the year), but I really must start sorting out the christmas cards. I am hoping to make some, if not all of them, this year. I also need to plan the design for this year's stained glass novelty. I usually make one each for us, my mum and my 2 brothers and their families. Last year was a figgy pudding. I have an idea for a Santa Chicken, but not sure how that would go down. Maybe just a prototype for us on that one. Thanks for the thread, buffie. It's great to know I can come and wallow in all things Christmas here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 Nigella's book arrived today, looks really festive Buffie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Mine's been dispatched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted October 2, 2008 Author Share Posted October 2, 2008 I did the free trial of next day delivery Buffie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Purchased pressies for niece and 3 nephews today, so feeling very virtuous. It's the first year I've made them stick to a budget and all have been paid for with Tesco vouchers, except for about £8, so Prudence is well happy . Also bought Yankee Candle gift bags for the neighbours - at about £5 each, they look lovely and are currently making the spare bedroom smell great. They'll be getting bottles of wine as well. Still loads of friends and relatives to go, but at least I've made a start. I am so in admiration of all of you that make things . By the time I get home I'm so exhausted I want to go to bed at the same time as the hens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Hooray! Christmas! I have ordered our goose from the free-range farm, who also do wonderful rare-breed pork so Mum has ordered a ham from them too. Dried fruit is piling up in the cupboard as I am the family pudding - maker (although I still have two left from last year - you can never have too many!) and I have jars of apple jelly and quince jelly stashed, also was planning a batch of apple chutney. My girls are not laying much these days so I will have to buy eggs for cakes etc., I always make mince pies on Christmas eve and fill the house with the smell. We have an annual garden centre light-buying expedition (you cannot have too many) and we're the vulgar ones in our street - no-one else has young children so we're the only ones with a large family of inflatable snowmen on the front lawn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Have stolen this address from another thread but thought the lovely lady would appreciate the good word - have just bought a load of these for stocking fillers and hen-keeping friends.... http://www.folksy.com/shops/Angelina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KimmyCustard Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Have DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!! Youre all so virtuous, wish I was too! Would love to make a Crimbo pudding but have never done anything like that before. Him Indoors loves it. Brother is a butcher so will request a small turkey as we're working all through the holidays but his small is usually about a ten pounder between 2 people! Even I cant eat that much turkey...... Love Crimbo and have to put the deccies up after Dad's birthday (4th Dec). Have agreed with OH to spend £50 on each other this year as we go to Thailand in Feb for 3 weeks so will save our pennies for furious bartering for a nice fake Rolex and 25 handbags - Hurrah!! Kimmy xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Meant to mention that I begin to get really Christamssy when we go to the Tatton food fair in November - full of festive treats and really gets me in the mood. Would recommend to anyone within shouting distance of Cheshire.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Well Mum and I already have our Xmas pressie - it's the new greenhouse - it didn't seem right to wait as its at it's most useful over winter and would wouldn't have been able to take cuttings etc at the end of summer (What summer?) if it wasn't already in situ. I've already bought a few little bits for James, from the charity shops. He hasn't indicated any main present but he knows he will be getting little bits on Xmas day as Santa has already mentioned that although he will be delivering to Disney World he is aware that we can't bring home lots of stuff on the plane.....I think he bought that! The way I feel about the rest of the family they'll be lucky to see a card from me (Dad's side that is!). We don't need to buy other pressies. Granny will get a bottle of Scotch and some home made jam. James teachers etc will get jam and eggs. People look strangely at me when I say we are doing it on a budget - they don't seem to understand that's HOW we can afford to go to Disney. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Oh please, please .. what are you all putting in your Christmas hampers? I have a large group of girlfriends, and I try and do home-made because I want to get away from the 'spend, spend' thing (apart from being short of dosh!). Last year I bought BHWT bags, and put chutney and marmalade in and some biscuits. Baking is my 'thing' but that means leaving it all till the last minute. I've made some apple chutney, and I usually do marmalade using MaMade but adding my own secret ingredients. What else can I make? If you like baking then mini stollens are great for hampers. I think Kate posted a recipe last year in All Things Nice. I'm adding the Cranberry Curd this year......... and Piccalilli Sweetcorn - although what those two colours will look like next to each other...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Oh yes, Lesley. Mini stollen make a lovely addition and they are delicious!! I think the recipe is in All Things Nice somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Purchased pressies for niece and 3 nephews today, so feeling very virtuous. It's the first year I've made them stick to a budget and all have been paid for with Tesco vouchers, except for about £8, Not paying is always good but I hope you didn't buy them IN Tesco's the vouchers are worth a lot more if you use them elsewhere! Last year I paid for my trip to NY on Tesco vouchers (I had to add a little as I came back on QM2). Next year I'm hoping to go to NYC again on them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Thanks, I will scamper off to All Things Nice, sorry should have looked in there first! Thanks for the tip about the stollen, that would be an easy one to do. I am impressed with the forward-planning on here. I always buy cards in the January sales, and I've always bought presents throughout the year as I have a lot of people to buy for, but some of you seem to have it all done and dusted! I do often find it all quite stressful but that's mainly because of family pressures and expectations ... one year I'm going to go to a desert island on my own and spend Christmas there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Can we all come - on our own?! The stress of having my hubby & my sis in the same room, with afire blazing & 11+ people plus 3 dogs sitting on 2 sofas & 2 chairs really doesn't appeal!! Forced politeness is not great to watch/live through! Just remembered, that scenario is out, we'll either be in my parent's mobile home - 2 cramped for words - or my front room - almost as cramped - as they are ripping the guts out of their house to put a massive extension on! Do you have an address for this island, I'll plot it into satnav & see where we end up.....!! Promise I won't tell anyone !!!! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted October 3, 2008 Author Share Posted October 3, 2008 Oh this is lovely to wake up to. I'm off to MK today and I am also planning to go and get my fruit for the cake and decide what else I'll bake. Also going to call Kelly's about a turkey Buffie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Oh yes, Lesley. Mini stollen make a lovely addition and they are delicious!! I think the recipe is in All Things Nice somewhere. I'm sure I put it in Omlet Cookbook the Wiki. Off to find a link. Yes I did. **Here** I made this last year and it was absolutely divine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
