September Dryathlon

Hello, everyone, and Merry Christmas one and all (as my DGS2 keeps saying (nearly) Tiny Tim style )

I hope everyone's health is improving chez jg. Our baby has had a temperature and not been himself - as himself he is the smiliest baby in the world, so we have missed that. Poor DSIL has had sinusitis, and I have been warding off a chesty cough with alcohol and Fisherman's Friends (I smell delightful ). But we have had a fabulous couple of days, one of our best Christmases ever.

Anya, how lucky were you?! I'm sure your experience is a portent of better times to come

I might be hitting the online sales today, roses, but rather than heading for town we will be hiking off on a long walk later to blow away the hangover cobwebs and burn off a few of the calories from our traditional day-after-Boxing-Day brunch fry up (it's hard-core). We're out again tonight, so need to try to be a bit virtuous before then.

The steps aren't going too badly considering. On Christmas Eve we walked to a couple of local pubs and home via the Midnight Service, so around 5000. I gave the pedometer a day off on Christmas Day. Yesterday I walked around for 30 minutes in the rain when I felt a bit stir-crazy, but we were at a family party all afternoon and it sat in my handbag, so didn't record the manic steps taken in Charades. I think I'll claim that I met the target

Hello everyone, hope all your Christmas plans went well.We had a good time seeing all the family, and the happy little grandchildren.So much rain though and we want to get out and about for fresh air, so the minute it stops today will be out for a long walk.Hate the Sales, so keep well away from shops at this time ( don't need anything anyway.)Am sitting in the conservatory with a coffee and toast watching a spotted woodpecker pecking away at the nuts hanging in a tree ( woodpecker is upside down.)Still very mild here with some flowers in the garden.

Oh goodness me Anya - as Ana said - your guardian angel was certainly looking after you I really hope 2016 brings good fortune, health and happiness You deserve it!

Christmas has been slightly manic here - as I said before diva 2 has glandular fever and was rather poorly at times, DS who celebrated his 40th birthday today only just made it from his bed - he has been suffering from a fluey-type virus since he arrived and my lovely mum has struggled at times with where she is and what is going on around her
She has had an amazing time and has done so well but it has become very clear to me how the dementia is progressing On the positive side we have had wonderful chats and I have learnt a lot about her past. Her GC and GGC have been so lovely and caring with her but have also been shocked at times. I guess we have to see what her 89th year will bring!
I have succumbed to the fluey virus as well and feel pretty rough - but I am determined to be up and running (literally) to start the New Year off well
Enjoy the remainder of christmas dear gang and keep on stepping!! I gave myself a day off from the Fitbit yesterday but it was back in place today and I achieved nearly 7,000 steps without leaving the house

Ana I'm going to take this as a sign from above that 2016 is going to be a better year for us ?

Anya!

Your guardian angel must have been around last night...

Had a lazy morning and it wasn't until 11.00 am when I decided to walk the dogs.

Keys? Where were my house keys?

I knew I had them last night to get in, after walking back from DS's last night. Search of house failed to find them. Then ....a sudden thought....surely not?

YES had left them hanging in the front door all night, car keys and all, with the car parked outside this house which opens directly onto the street with no front garden. Anyone could have walked straight into the house or driven off with the car.

How lucky have we been?

dozy cow

Just dropping in to say I've had a lovely Christmas - the best for many years - and I hope others have too. I know there are reasons why this may not be the case, but I'm hoping that on the whole it's been a happy day

I'm having a day in today, sporadically doing bits of cleaning, hoovering etc ready for the mass invasion tomorrow (well, only the four of them but the twins make enough noise and mess for two more!).

You all sound very busy and festive Hope your meeting went well, Anya - like you I'm going to put all thoughts of houses and moving out of my mind until the New Year as nothing's going to happen in the meantime.

jg you seem to be the only one keeping up, step-wise - still, perhaps I'll manage to get a few decent days in after Boxing Day...(ever-optimistic! ).

Hope everyone has a good one with no disasters unless they're funny ones. Will probably pop in at some stage tomorrow

Just popping in from the total chaos that is my festive kitchen to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas - I hope Santa brings you everything you want and that you have a fabulous day of family, friends, fun and maybe even a little peace (if you're lucky ).

I shall be on the sherry as soon as the turkey goes in tomorrow (the only day I drink it, and the only morning I drink!), so I may well be incommunicado. I doubt if many steps will be taken anyway....

As jg put it, see you on t'other side.

X-posts!!!

Ashamed to admit to number of steps yesterday as didn't leave the house

Off to meet with builder in half an hour to check what's happening re house and likely schedule. Then I'm going to forget it all till after Christmas. Having been through this 'losing everything' (which is a bit of an exaggeration) and having to find somewhere temporary to live, I really do feel sorry for the people in Cumbria who face another storm over Christmas We so very nearly moved there when I retired and Cockermouth would have been my town of choice as my best friend lives just outside (happily on a hill!)

I'm missing you all from this thread, except for Roses......em.....I don't mean I wouldn't miss Roses because I would, I just mean....never mind I'm just digging a bigger hole

Suffice to say I hope you're all busy with Happy Christmassy Things and wish you all a great time X

Just popping in for an early chat - today's plan - collect meat order, collect DS's birthday cake (he celebrates reaching 40 on Boxing day), collect said DS from station, check in with DM that she slept well and understands that she is here with us. Hope diva 2 slept well too and is feeling better today and that she didn't snore too loudly and keep mummy awake
Crib service later and then let our festive celebrations begin

Yesterday's lunch for 10 went really well and I managed to keep reindeer antler hair band
on all day without poking anyone's eye out . It certainly amused the UPS man when I opened the door - he fell apart with laughter and said I had made his day

Hope the panto went well Anya and that DGS1 didn't take his role too seriously!! What a great idea - do you think it would work with two divas or shall I just donate them to you for next year's production...?

Maggie - no real estate received unless you can count the nearly finished gin palace summer house at the top of the garden

Enjoy the Yule log (s) roses - I have to confess to buying a fine looking specimen in Sainsburys - which, of course I will decorate and pass off as my own be honest about its origins

Hope all is well with you Ana and house move is looking promising for 2016

Managed over 7,000 steps yesterday - there was a lot of walking from kitchen to dining room !!

I wish the gang a very happy Christmas and hopefully see you all on t'other side

Good luck to all your little ones in the Panto Anya?
Another busy day in the Roses household but just popped in to say that we went to see the Star Wars movie last night, the place was packed, and although it was ok, it was much the same as the very first Star Wars movie and the only decent acting from Harrison Ford and the ( unknown to me) young female lead.Still, 'May The Force Be With You' at least until Christmas Day is over.?

Hope your anniversary went well JG and you dined royally on lobster. Last time I had lobster was in September, on Jersey. That seems so long ago How lovely after all this time you still feel you picked a good 'un

Sounds a tad wet where you live Maggie, though we did have a downpour here at tea time, it's been quite pleasant otherwise. Well done on the steps.
Managed 7702 when browsing the shops for nothing in particular. In fact quite a boring day all told.

Tomorrow will be pretty hectic as it's the final, dress rehearsal for our Panto of Little Red Riding Hood with GD1 (6) in the title role, GD2 (4) as Grandma and builders mate, GS1 (9) as the Wolf and Charlie and GS3 (5) as Father Christmas and Fred.

It's amazing what you can do with just a cast of four little prima dons and donnas Thespians

Happy Anniversary, jg! According to my pal Google, the modern US gift for you is improved real estate, so I hope your DH will be presenting you with the keys to your new condo at dinner

If not, have some

Just hit my target today, valiantly trudging through a monsoon to my pal's for lunch. I had to borrow leggings and socks to wear while my clothes dried off on her radiators. Hours of great company, yummy food, mulled wine and prosecco later, I was very glad to be offered a lift home. Quiz as usual tonight, but I have another fast day tomorrow (just as well!).

Oh No Anya I've got loads of those empty shells - collected from eating the same frozen crap delicacies you are currently enduring enjoying ...

Don't be desperate maggie - who's going to notice the shape of the holly leaves when it comes to Christmas tea anyway ....

I have a list sitting beside me of 'things to do' for today - really I cba will get round to it at some point.
Today is our 42nd wedding Anniversary and we intend to enjoy it - after we have ..... hung the new lounge curtains; done the shopping; laid the table for lunch for 10 tomorrow; opened the front door a hundred times to delivery people; changed the bed; prepared all rooms for Christmas and pre-Christmas guests; wrapped remaining presents .......

Thank goodness I married a good 'un in Mr jg and he thought to buy some ready prepared crap lobster for our 'special' dinner later....LOL
Have a great day gang

I am, Anya, allied with a feeling of desperation. As this was loading, it paused on a post of yours saying there were 114 days left to Christmas. I'd settle for about 5....so much to do, so little time to do it We have a full day with DGS2 tomorrow, and I'm out for lunch today and the quiz tonight, so I've basically literally got Christmas Eve. I should manage to stamp out those 96 holly leaf shapes for the cake this morning and make the cranberry sauce, if I get off Gransnet out of bed a wiggle on.

I could have lent you those shells, as my starter is of the Parma ham, melon, rocket on a plate variety this year, in line with my keep it simple determination.

DGS2 and rain combined yesterday added up to 1100 steps. Good job I have some banked from Paris.

Oh no fears on that one. I'll certainly eat it The DiL is the baker in our family, I wouldn't want to make her feel inadequate (fat chance)

Just got my 5000 steps in somehow. Very frugal intake too

Suffering from an excess of lampreys seafood. I'm in charge of starters and I've decided on various seafoods, from the simple prawn cocktail, to more elaborate mini clam bakes, but all to be served in clam type shells, some big and some small. But having failed to buy any shells (they can't be had at a reasonable price this year for some reason) I've resorted to buying them as part of a frozen ready meal from Iceland and the likes, so DH and I are chomping our way through all sorts of frozen crap delicacies just to have the shells at the end of it all

Hope you are all well and feeling Christmassy????

Yes indeed, Anya. But delicious...

Easy? That all sounds Very Complicated

I am so tempted roses

Making Yule Logs is easy, but just time consuming and the kitchen always looks like the DGC have been baking afterwards ( unless you are Mary Berry)
I use Dove Flour which is wheat and gluten free,
6 large eggs,
150 gram caster sugar
100 gram flour,
2 tablespoons Green& Black cocoa powder.
Whisk the eggs up with the sugar, then fold in flour and coocoa powder, and pou onto a lined and greased large swiss roll tin.Bake for about 12 to 15 mins at about 170 .
The tricky bit... Spread a clean teatowel on the worktop with a bit of granulated sugar sprinkled over, and then slide off the cooked cake upside down on it, so you can peel off the lining ( wait about 10 mins out of the oven to do this.) Then carefully start rolling it up with the teatowel inside it pressing down as you go. leave it all wrapped up until cold. make a lot of choc butter icing, as it needs a lot ? And then unwrap and discard the tea towel, spread the butter icing and roll up again, save a few spoonfuls of the icing ( important) in the bowl. melt quite a lot of a mixture of dark and milk baking choc and then add that to the bit of butter icing, this makes it thick and when you spread it on the log it instantly looks like tree bark. leave to cool and set then press on bit of holly and a little bird, and sift on a light dusting of icing sugar. That makes one large Yule Log. Now make another one!

Roses I'm really not a baker. I tried a Yule log once but it all cracked when I tried to roll it up. So the next year I bought a Swiss roll, made butter icing and stuck a robin and a holly leaf on top and bingo! As DH saw me icing it he naturally assumed I'd made it and was most impressed. For you to make two fills me with shame wonder.

Murphy is not upset at being called a 'mutt' but he did ask me to point out his grooming lady came on Saturday so he's looking rather dapper just now. Yes, JG I realise how lucky I am having family so close I too was a smoker and partook of many a stinky French cigarette on the pavement cafés of Paris - ah "those were the days, my friends we thought they'd never end" ?

Ana that must mean you are a day ahead of yourself and can sit down on Wednesday evening and just relax or doesn't it work like that?

Maggie you made me choke on my morning cup of tea with your description of Yorkshire folks! And as for the selfie with JC .

I have to confess we never got to the carol service. The invite next door said 4.00-7.00 so we trotted along at 5ish (which seemed appropriate) and we, and the rest of the street, were still there till 11.00 and a good time was had by all

Sorry, that last Ana should read Anya. Time I was asleep.

roses, you put me to shame with your two Yule logs! I used to love making Swiss rolls, turning them out onto a sugared teatowel, etc. I even remember learning how in Home Ec, as it then was. I shall add one to next year's Xmas to do list.

Anya, I do hope you enjoyed your carols. I just love them. Our local church used to do a fabulous candle-lit Midnight Mass, but due to the combination of naked flame and alcohol having been partaken of, there were incidences of carol sheets being set alight....

When we were in Sacre Coeur today, I was intrigued to see a young girl taking selfies with a statue of Jesus . I was puzzled as to why she was genuflecting with her back to him, until the DDs explained that she was bobbing down to fit them both in the picture. Do you think it's on Facebook now - "Me and JC innit"?

Our arrival home was hilarious. If you've ever seen Hale and Pace's Yorkshire Airlines, you'll relate to the overhead locker that wouldn't open till a lovely man came to our rescue - "Don't worry, love, I'll just give it a raht good thump" - and the conversation between our airport bus driver and the attendant trying to get the vehicle going once we were all crammed in "There's summat wrong wi't'middle door, Cath". "Somebody's pressed summat again, Lewis, ah'll sort it." It's good to be home!

jg, phew, your Christmas schedule is hectic - I hope you enjoy it all. I was inhaling disgusted by the smoke too. Nearly 36 years since I gave up, Ana, I could still murder a Gauloise!