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Afternoon all,
Office bound this week so nice to be able to do a bit of a blog other than just lurk!
Hope all are well and ready for the festivities .... I am now in panic mode wondering why others supermarket trolleys are so piled high with stuff and mine isn't!!? Is it me ????
Ha ha

Jox

Good heavens Mr Evans ..... when do you ever stop!?!?!

Not sure I fancy the new Daniel Craig fillum to be honest. To me, he's in the same category as George Clooney, ie, I just don't "get it".

Hoping for a fairly easy afternoon today before the ChezNic Christmas Countdown of cleaning, wrapping, defrosting, goose delivering and shopping begins.

Now ... for lunch!

Mange tout.

Deevs
x

Deevs ,
enjoy your chores!
I too have to defrost the freezer tonight.............dreading it TBH, its right at the top of my hate list when it comes to chores!
Throwing away all those odd ends of frozen chips, peas, bits of unrecognisable pieces of meat we thought we'd freeze and use again! Not to mention deep frozen ice pops - sticky messy ones that have escaped the plastic!
Yeuck!

Jo x

Bore da Chris.

So it's a day of choirs for you starting with the Welsh boys this morning and finishing with the carol service at Westminster Cathedral this evening. Apart from the Daniel Craig film of course. (He's a Wirral boy!)

Joran-I don't know why people have their trolleys piled high with stuff either, anyone would think that all the shops were closing down after Christmas.

MM xxx

Hi Maddy,
I remember about 30 years ago - newly married and my first Christmas. Being from a large family, my Mum bless her did the lot. Own Christmas cake, sack loads of mince pies, several choices of desserts, she must have been at it for weeks before hand. My first Christmas I drove myself demented doing all these things, only to realise nobody was around to eat it all!
I learned my lesson then, and try hard not to get carried away!
Am still loving the build up to the big day though!

Jo x

Joran-when I was newly married many moons ago I was eager to 'show off' and made the cake, mince pies,etc. myself but as the years went on I became less enthusiastic and now everything is bought ready made, frozen, etc.

I think maybe people prefer this to my home made stuff ha ha!

MM xxx

Busy man Chris, enjoy your carol concert mum Tash and all.

Ha ha Maddy!
Me too, anything for an easy life! Less time prepping more time eating and drinking I say! Last year we went out to eat on christmas day for the first time - I really enjoyed it but the kids never stopped moaning! so slave away agin this year I must, with promises of help I believe .....we will wait and see ?

Jo x

re: christmas dinner

I have never had to cook it, still being able to visit either my mums or mr bp's mums on the day, which is a relief.

Growing up we alwasy helped out with the veg on christmas eve, and then christmas morning my mum did an hours charity work so we got up and tided the house etc, so when she got back we were all ready to open presents - all very organised.

I remember as kids having to put presents in our bedrooms to make space as there was a lot of stuff around, now as grown ups we get told to put presents in the car to make space, some things never change!

Missed the choir this morning - small boy 'needed' cbeebies on! - but love love love male voice choirs, when we lived in Wales I used to walk pas the practise hall just to hear them!

New phone is here - Yay!! Once charged I will play properly.....

Off to physio now, so Advent guess....hmmmm......let me think........oooo I know....A candle please Deev!!

ebx

Sorry, meant to have a guess at advent window - 5 gold rings - we live in hope!
Jo x

I'm back ...!

I know what you mean about the freezer joran. It needs doing but I ain't looking forward to it. Hopefully won't take too long with my super-hairdrier ...!

We're not going mad with the food this year - after all, the shops are only closed on Christmas Day itself and how much exactly do you need?!?! As long as we're got enough beer and wine, chocolate and cheese we'll both be happy! We've ordered a goose which is due for delivery on Thursday (hence my having a house cleaning day). I've got to go to ELH at some point but it shouldn't take too long.

I've just watched last night's Cutting Edge about Christmas Lights - bonkers!! Some people planning them all year round and starting to put them onto their houses in August, getting celebs to come to switch them on. Madness!!!

Looking forward to tea tonight. I was feeling a bit cheefy so we're having duck breast with lime and chilli, served with roasted vegetables and mini cubed new potatoes roasted in paprika. Let's hope I don't burn it ....!

Not sure if we're going to the quiz yet as man has gone all silent, which means he must be busy.

Hey ho! I'd be happy staying in with a glass of red wine in my PJs!

Deevs
x

Deevs,
Your tea sounds delish! Duck is what we are having on C day - one of my faves. We have had goose too in the past, so envy you that - and those roasties in the goose fat mmmmmmm.... I am supposed to be at a quiz tonight too, ours consists of a picture round then music and general knowledge/trivia. It was announced last week that tonights will be a "Christmas themed quiz" Oh boy, how many celebs dressed as Santa can I stand, Christmas no 1's etc! shall I too stay in with a glass of red or shall just bite the bullet!! depends if I get the freezer done in time, since it wont defrost itself ...............I'm going in!!
might pop by later, have a good evening all,

Jo x

Enjoy your quiz, if you go. Ours has several themed rounds, a picture round and 2 music rounds. The first music round is 1990s to now and we're usualyl lucky if we get 3 out of 10 in that round, but we make up for it in the fossils music round - 60s, 70s and 80s - we usually get 10/10 in that one!

x

Mantext. We are going to the quiz.

Wooo Hoooo!

x

Evening - late here today, still at work got the christmas meal tonight in Bridgnorth quaint little public house in the middle of no where, so thought it was easier to go from work.

Had to postpone the noel edmonds wardrob shopping trip till Thursday as I have my new tumble drier and the satellite man paying a visit tomorrow morning now.

Had a forced freezer defrost last week, had moved it to clean behind it and plugged it back but forgot to switch it on.... doh!

Hubby has just rung me as he forgot I am not coming home till later tonight, thats what happens when you speak to a bloke who is focussed on the computer when you talk to him.

Have a good evening CB xx

I can reveal that the duck was fantastic!

I can also reveal that Advent window #20 was hiding a group of carol singers ...... poignent, with all this talk of choirs today!

Have a very pleasant, warm and fuzzy evening.

Toodle pip!

Deevs
x

Evening each

Do you ever slow down Chris?

I loved the Dragon Tattoo books but not sure I really want to see all that violence on screen.

I'm not cooking at all this Christmas - it's all being done for me thank goodness. Christmas Eve at oldest son's with all the family, plus stepchildren, which will be lovely, then Christmas Day at daughters, where I shall watch them cook with a glass in my hand. Sorted.

Hope all those going to quizzes win a prize.

And lastly, thank you to all you lovely bloggers who sent me a Christmas card. I haven't sent cards this year - donated to Asthma UK in memory of my brother.

xxxxx

Ok Phase 1 of the shhhh, there's no one here - lets get wrapping complete!!

Honestly, next year everyone's getting books!! Or CDs!! Or shoes........in shoe boxes!!

I really need to remind myself not to buy such odd shaped things that I then have to try to wrap!

I don't think I guessed a guess today so my guess for tomorrow is an ickle mousie wrestling with some tape and scissors and paper!!

Sezza xxx

Sezza, I've been wrapping too - can only do it in short bursts. I've wrapped the ones I'm delivering tomorrow, and you're right - books next year. Just wrestled with toys for the 1yr old - nightmare.

xxxx

Annie, I keep looking at the time I've got and the time the boys are in the house and the two just don't add up!!

Your Christmas sounds lovely- proper family time!

Oh goody!! Just recorded Hairy Bikers so time for Christmas!!

Might need to join them in a drink while I'm watching!

Sezza xxx

Hi all Bloggers.

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas now, having got the dentist out of the way. (lost half a wisdom tooth over the weekend)

I was listening to CLPs show this morning and heard a Michael Wyn ( Wynne?) Jones chatting and would love to know, if he was the Michael Wyn Jones, formerly of Mynydd Isa? Chances are, probably not, but if you dont ask, then you never find out.

MTF :)

Hello Fairy Friend

Got to hear you survived the dentist!

I missed the end of the show due to lack of electrickery at work but what I heard of the Male Voice Choir sounded heavenly!

I suspect Lynn spend most of the show in a little heap on the floor!

Sezza xxx

Yikes, it wasn't Delias husband was it?

MTF :O

MTF - now I have to ask - who is Michael Wyn Jones?

A wee story - 9yr old came out of school today crying. He'd heard the other children talking about the Christmas party tomorrow and he knew nothing about it - he didn't get an invite!! How awful is that? Turns out there never was an invite - the information was in the school newsletter which came out a couple of months ago. Was all sorted when his mum (who knew all about it) came home. But for a short time I wanted to smack that teacher.

Then - 11yr old came home and said he'd had no lunch as he'd got shoved about, dropped his lunch and bigger boys had kicked it about on the floor.

Feel like I should be Supergran and go and sort them all out.

xxxxxx

MTF, that sounds familiar actually - I know the name from somewhere

btw that was good to hear etc!

The Hairy Bikers are making me hungry!!!!

Sezza xxx

LOL!

Michael Wyn Jones lived opposite me in Park Avenue, Mynydd Isa back in the 60s/70s. I know that he was quite 'musically talented' but have no idea if he took it any further, we were all in high school at the time. Like I say, chances are....

Annie, for some reason, I can see you in the role of Supergran. LOL! No offence and all that! Kids are just so nasty sometimes eh?

Sezza, hope all your probs with teen, are improving.

MTF :)

MTF - just googled MWJ and he is Delia's husband.

No offence taken - I am Supergran!!!!

xxxxx

Annie, there must be more than one MWJ in Wales?

I wonder what became of the MWJ from my childhood, he was very good looking, he might be 50 now, but I seem to think, that his birthday, wasn't long before mine.

Happy Days.

MTF :)

MTF, teen will be paying off his debt for ages - his only income is his pocket money - so we have sort of shelved it for now - I think he has had enough grief over it for a while!

Annie, I wouldn't want to get in your way!!;-)

xxx

MTF - no, he doesn't look 50 - much older. Although there's other MWJ on google. Have a look.

xxxxx

Sezza, you'll get your own back eventually. You just have to bide your time. Trust me, I know.

xxxxx

Having a look Annie... xx

Chris,
Hope you enjoyed the Carol Concert at Westminster Cathedral tonight. My wife (Lisa) and I certainly did and were standing almost next to you as you were all waiting to leave...
She wanted to tell you that she loved the show but just missed the chance - please give the concert and her a mention at about 8am if you can - would make her day!
You are much taller than you sound on the radio ;-)
Jack&Lisa

Morning All,

Happy Hump Day - I feel like I am on the home stretch now :)

As Chris said this morning, Christmas begins for me when I am at my Mum and Dad's on Christmas Eve and my Dad has Nine Lessons and Carols on the Radio. I always get a lump in my throat when the little boy sings the first solo and think how proud his parents must be.

Chrissie, Where are you? I hope you are ok xx

Sezza, I must admit to being a little curious as to what Boy2 did! Teenagers eh, who'd have 'em xx

I am off to the physio later to try and get a bit of relief on my neck and shoulder pain, lets hope it works!

I have never cooked a Christmas dinner as I have always been at my parents, but I am very good at helping and tidying up :)

Advent guess for today - a holly wreath.

Slaters
AliB
xx

Morning fluffies!

How the devil are we all today?

It's all go here at ChezNic - cleaning marathon in full flight (just had a break for breakfast), a trip to "the catalogue shop" later to pick up some stuff for the little one (Danish building bricks), a freezer still waiting to be defrosted ..... the fun never ends!

Nic is stoooopid busy at work so I see my role as Domestic Goddess as my way of contributing to the house in the run-up to the Christmas break.

Back later - loos to clean!

Deevs
x

Mornin' all.

Thank you for your kind words about my uncle ... there's no news yet on when the funeral will be so things feel slightly as if they're on hold. I'm having real difficulty getting into the spirit of things at the moment, but I hope when I leave the office tomorrow for the holidays it might just start to happen!

My brother and family are in NZ and I posted their pressies three weeks ago, but they still haven't arrived. I'm disappointed but I suppose it'll give the kids something to look forward to after the festivities are over. Mind you, it must be weird having Christmas in what is their summer! We're going to be Skyping them on our Christmas Eve to watch them open the pressies that have arrived(!) which will be lovely.

We bought most of our Christmas dinner food a few weeks ago and it's now sitting in the freezer, so just some fresh veg and treats left to buy. It's just the two of us Christmas Day and Boxing Day this year, so if we want to stay in our PJs and eat beans on toast, then we will ! Doubtful though .. I love turkey and all the trimmings! Seeing mum and dad on the Tuesday and then it's relaxez-vous until New Year's Eve.

In case I don't get the chance to pop back between now and Saturday, I'd like to wish each and every one of you and those you hold dear a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

jillygoat xx

Morning all

Am really looking forward to the nights drawing out - can't believe how dark it was this morning

All my boys - big and small - have gone off walking today - hope it brightens up for them soon

Ali, You know those big, custom-made logos places like schools have on the glass doors at their main entrance? Well, it's amazing how easy it is to peal them off if you pick at the corner!! And if you go back 2 more times to do it......! (Oh and in the interest of his good name, best say it is Boy1 in trouble not 2) ( well, not that I know about! ;-))

Jilly, the only thing "extra" i have to buy is a yule log or similar for "the children" as Mum is cooking Christmas Day

I'm not sure what we're doing for the rest of the time so not sure what else I need to buy as Mr Sezza's family have not arranged the annual get-together this year. I fear it may be a last minute declaration!

Sezza xxx

BTW new blog