Single hen

[Lesley]

On another thread about rabbits to eat - he's been helping me take the meat off today's offering. He was fascinated by the spine

[Guest]

Lesley, we tell our children that, yes Santa brings them presents, but mummy and daddy still have to give him money for them.. It perhaps spoils a bit of the 'Santa is a magical an that brings all good boys and girls what they want' story, but helps given that their best friend is the only child of a succesful businessman, who is a bit of a spoilt brat, and get EVERYTHING he wants. We on the other hand, get what we can afford, rather than getting into a mountain of debt we can't pay off. This way, they understood that the shoeboxes were for poor families, and didn't really question why they had to do it.

[Lesley]

Yes, Shona - we've always told ours that as well - Mummy and Daddy have to help with the cost.

 

As a single Mum in the 70's I was paranoid about my two not receiving much so I used to pay into a toy club each week, starting in January. By December I had to be careful they didn't get too much

[Sheilaz]

Then he decided what he is going to put on his list - some smoked salmon and a rabbit's backbone.

I'd just love to see Father Christmas's face if Jake meets him & puts in a request. Will he be at the school fair perhaps! (or one of his helpers

[The Dogmother]

That's priceless Lesley! You can always bank on children to come up with the best ones

[Lesley]

He is such a clown - a laugh a minute

 

Completely 'off topic' now but i told him off earlier for making a noise while i was on the phone - he was most indignant "well, I was quiet at the beginning when I was cleaning your floor with my tummy"! I just thought he was being a snake

[Mrs Frugal]

Can Jake come over and clean my floor with his tummy too please?

[buffie]

I'll book him next please. Tummy cleaning could catch on

 

BBx

[Lesley]

I could hire him out for a small fee - just at the moment I think Mummy would probably give him away

[Cate in NZ]

Tummy cleaning sounds good, could catch on

Back to the Christmas topic, & I know I'm one of the biggest bah humbugs on this forum, but I'm horrified that the local major shopping centre, Bluewater, is open on Boxing Day I believe it was last year as well, but somehow that kind of bypassed me, I mean Christmas is surely a time for family & friends, to relax, catch up, eat too much, drink too much etc. etc. I love my Christmases, contrary to the impression that my postings sometimes give I think, I just can't be doing with it starting in October, and some poor souls getting themselves horribly in debt to keep up with the Jones's. My Christmas is brilliant, but it starts the day before Christmas Eve, and ends New Years Day. I put a lot of thought and effort into it, & we go all out to spend time with people who are important to us, and that does mean people of all ages coming in & out, chaos, noise, mess & loads of washing up, and everyone mucks in, and it's great. It's absolutely not about shopping on Boxing Day. Haven't people done enough of that in the run-up to Christmas

It's the staff I feel sorry for though, do they get any choice in the matter?

Both hubby & I are in professions that mean that we've both worked Christmas, & in the pre-children days I loved it, generally the atmosphere was great & we all went all out to make the most of it, but the year that I worked early shift, hubby worked late shift & the children (then 3 & 5) spent Christmas day with their grandparents was the year that I decided, eventually, to let go of my midwifery career.

I suppose though that shops wouldn't open if the customers didn't go. I just find it amazing that some people can't cope for 48 hours without a shopping trip.

[Guest]

Totally agree Kate. I don't think you're 'bah, humbug' at all. You make the most of your Christmas and enjoy seeing those important to you. We're much the same. It's my favourite time of the year but only because we're all at home for a good week without the pressure to be out doing things (like in the summer). We see people, watch films, go for walks and 'do' all those practical presents that the children are given. Best of all, I do a large jigsaw. It's great to have time to enjoy life!

[Mel (& Paul)]

I have nearly written all my cards and have "wrapped" all my presents (from send a cow and oxfam unwrapped, so really, just sealed the envelopes!) We buy our cards in the sales - that way we can get really lovely ones cheaper than those horrible value thin ones with yukky pictures on! I think I will put the tree up this weekend as we have friends coming. But I do get cross with all the decorations / etc., that the shops put up about 3 weeks ago. AND ITS NOT EVEN DECEMBER YET

[The Dogmother]

I won't put the tree up until 2 weeks before Christmas, otherwise there aren't any needles left on it at Christmas! I have to get going with the cards though and the wrapping too.

[Mel (& Paul)]

Best to do it with a large glass of wine - makes it so much more fun (especially when you forget to label the presents.......)

[Guest]

Agree with the wine bit, we had port this year Also agree that the shops should shut for the 2 days, dreadful greed I think.

 

I am now behind, loads to wrap and no cards written, ordered from omlet and BHWT so got to wait for them to arrive. Went to MK yesterday and finished shopping. Need to get back on track but it is fun having things to do in december!!

 

BBx

[The Dogmother]

I'm saving money and paper this year by wrapping them in the FT (fetching salmon pink) with spangly silver string. The wrapping only ends up in the bin anyway. My sister doesn't understand and thinks that I am weird; she spends a fortune on wrapping

[Guest]

My brothers do that too Clare and their presents look really attractive. I'm thinking I might too this year, but I've got to sort out the fact that I've wrapped some presents already in wrapping paper left over from last year. Will the children think I'm favouring one of them by giving them proper paper???

[Cate in NZ]

I love the FT for wrapping- I use it all the time for adult birthday presents, much nicer than conventional wrapping paper. Children I find don't appreciate it so much, but the adults either love the idea, or think I'm mad, mean or totally lost the plot. They may have a point , but I don't care.

Have to confess I don't tend to use it Christmas, I either go for gift wrap reduced in the January sales or plain brown paper, generally left plain, tied with raffia, and a home-made decorated gift tag, or a bauble, or holly leaf just to brighten it up a bit.

It's part of the fun, glass of wine, fire on, Christmas music warbling in the background and me in the middle of the floor, surrounded by s"Ooops, word censored!"s of paper, offcuts of raffia, sellotape stuck everywhere, pressies piled up high..... and generally screeching "has anyone seen those scissors- I'm sure they were here just a minute ago"

[The Dogmother]

Got the T shirt for that one too Kate

[Nicola H]

I have just finished wrapping over 40 presents and need a stiff drink................

[Cate in NZ]

Nicola, you deserve one

I keep looking at my pile... and putting it off

[Lesley]

Well - it's not even December yet is it?.......

[Mel (& Paul)]

No need to drink alone Nicola.

Cheers

(mind you mine's a cup of tea, maybe a little early (even for me ) for a proper drink.

I am glad I am not the only one who wraps presents in the FT - everyone thought I was mad

If I am not being a domestic goddess I use really cheap stuff from the markets or buy nice stuff in the sales. It all tends to get chucked out / on the fire anyway

[Sheilaz]

No need to drink alone Nicola.

Cheers

(mind you mine's a cup of tea, maybe a little early (even for me ) for a proper drink.quote]

.......here I am with the tea tray! Haven't started Christmas shopping at all yet...just 2 Advent calendars, one for 9 yr old, one posted to 18yr old, ahhhh!

[Mel (& Paul)]

Paul used to get an advent calender - normally Buffy the Vampire Slayer I put my foot down this year when he wanted a Charlotte Church one