Mince pies!

Glad you enjoyed the holiday, where were you? You got the best week- weather has turned today.

I've just come back from holiday in France and it's still like summer there and here too, so how crazy can it be to care about the Christmas stuff when we're all still wearing summer clothes (well I am, and enjoying it!).

Stock up at local supermarket today revealed shiny tiny chocolate santas lined up along with batches of Xmas pud. All seemed out of place but then for me they always do until it's dark and cold and late November. So I shall enjoy the unseasonable warmth and ignore any Christmas fare for as long as possible

I've just made a batch of mince pies for a rehearsal tonight of Christmas songs to put us in the mood. They smell gorgeous!

I never eat mince pies, Easter eggs, hot cross buns, it takes away the excitement of having them at a special time.

If others want to that's fine, but not for me.

I don`t like the boxed ones in the shops, I buy from Curtis the bakers, theirs are cooked in the shop, and really do taste home made. I buy them all year round, and always order two dozen for Christmas Eve.

I've noticed mince pies on sale here too - did all the usual tutting when I saw them; then bought a box I normally make my own but I really fancied one, but when I got home and opened the box to eat one, I discovered that they must have half a bottle of booze of some description in them - they tasted awful. Ah well, a few less calories taken in I suppose.

So we are pretty divided on this one then, lol.(makes a pleasant change ;) )

At least it is one 'problem' I don't have to deal with- not a mince pie in sight around here- and the only ones at Christmas will be the ones we'll make a couple of days before - a couple of dozens to share with friends and neighbours, and then basta- until next Christmas.

I did buy a Christmas pudding in Aldi yesterday, but only because DH really, really, really likes them.

I love hot x buns and mince pies and don't mind eating them all year round. I remember when I was a hard up young mum of 4 liking the fact that Christmas stuff came early as I could buy a little bit each week from about October 1st and put stuff away so I was all set by the time Xmas came. You don't have to buy it early if you don't want!

Asda has been selling mince pies for about 6 weeks now and Ive been buying them yummy !!! not good for my weight loss though.
Our local heart foundation shop has been selling xmas cards since beginning of august. Apart from the mince pies I don't buy a lot of stuff until nearer xmas but I do have to start buying presents as cant afford to get it all in the last few weeks, I have to spread the cost.

Our Tesco has had a Christmas aisle for about a month. It makes me so cross! Let us enjoy a beautiful autumn first.

Love M & S Gold box mince pies but does the sell by date matter when they are already in the shops for Xmas. Have resisted so far.

I have just wrapped and packed C presents for DGDs in Australia in order to send them snail-mail - last day to post is 29 September. Surreal experience, but had to be done - saved about £30! Everything is now back in the attic until December when I will start again.

I'm only going to buy Advent calendars before Dec 1st. Everything else can wait, including the mince pies!

It's my birthday next week. In Horncastle, when I lived in lincs, I went into my bank to pay in a birthday cheque and they were putting up a tree and decorations. I lost it and spoke crossly to them through very gritted teeth, I was so angry! It must have been a bad day... Anyway, they received so many other complaints that it was down again the next day!

Same here, nothing Christmassy until late November- and the Christmas tree comes into the house on Christmas eve.

Some people I know in the UK put the tree up in November- they are all sick and tired of it by the time the 25th comes

Far too early to have Christmas things in the shops. Wish it was more like in The Canary Islands where they get Christmas things out late Nov/early Dec. I feel it takes the enjoyment out of Christmas as by the time it arrives I'm sick of the sight of food, cards etc.,

I hated just seeing the title of the thread!

I bet the staff who work in these places Christmas lasts forever for them!

Went to work this morning to discover that Waitrose had part of the Manager's office stacked from floor to ceiling with Christmas Crackers, and part of the warehouse taken over by selection boxes with Santa Claus all over them. DH, who has worked there for a few years says that from now on there will be so much Christmas stock they will need shipping containers to store it in. There is already one in place in the staff car park.

Same here anno- got a box full hidden in the cupboard here. Glad to hear about time and place for everything- if those goodies become just the same as any, they will just lose their specialness.

Just as I could never eat a cheese fondue in a restaurant in the middle of Summer. It has to be a beautiful winter's day, lots of snow, bitter cold and a couple of hours walking or x country skiing!

I must confess: I often buy my cards after Christmas when Oxfam or the National Trust have them on offer.

Christmas cards have been on sale at a local charity shop since mid August. 3 months too early for me.

Luckily I do not like mince pies but I am rather fond of home made Christmas cake, not made by me of course.

I dump the gift catalogues in the recycling bin without looking at them, whether or not they come from one of 'my' charities. I try to avert my eyes from the card display at the entrance to the garden centre. And I only buy hot cross buns just before Easter. Much as I like them! There's a time and a place for everything. It's just a pity retailers don't observe this.

Next years calendars have been for sale for a while in our local Cardshop along with christmas Cards,I have bought some to go into my xmas box as I send them across the world and need to have them ready to post when the "post by dates" are released by the Post Office.