Christmas 2018

[spacemunky]

Last year I stayed home by myself and got drunk. I quit drinking in February, so I won't be repeating that. Going to my sister's for dinner. Maybe like 10 of us in total. Long gone the days of close to 30 being there.

 

I am bringing wine for everyone. I bought a case of a nice red that the girl at the liquor store recommended. Itll be lost on the bunch of drunks that are my family so I probably could have saved myself a big chunk of money and bought the cheap crap they usually drink 

[KingsX]

 

There is a solution to the Xmas grocery shopping problem, which I hit upon years ago.  We moved to the Jewish part of town.

 

Reasonably uncrowded aisles earlier today.  And each and every Saturday.  Of course, I can’t get near the place a couple of days before Passover.  But why would I care?  Best, the Hasidics have their own stores to avoid the likes of me.

 

We’ll miss my family’s deep-fried turkey in the Texas Hill Country.  But my foodie brother-in-law will cook some magnum opus for Christmas Eve.  And my mother-in-law (the retired home-economics teacher) roasts a nice Christmas bird.  We’ll bring wine, a couple homemade sides, and do dishes. 

 

All credit to those of you who are doing the heavy lifting.  Heroes.

[Jattdogg]

Dads cooking a Turkey bringing it over to mine. We are making roast beef and some ham as well. Bunch of seasoned veges, stuffing, gravy. Snacks galore. Picked up some stella, got some other whiskeys and rum already, guiness and innis & Gunn for dad.

 

I miss the good old days of samosas, pakoras, tandoori chicken, curry chicken, gobi, rice , roti, salad, gulab jamun , kheer....Real punjabi style Christmas

[Guest the fox]

Btw, it's been a year since Izzy was in the hospital. It was good seeing him get back up from that.

 

See, @Izzy I told you that a person can't change his destiny. Sometimes rough times hit. But here we are, 1 year later, with much better health and your biggest worry as far is I know is your frozen food being defrosted. Lol

 

 

 

 

 

[Jattdogg]

17 minutes ago, the fox said:

Btw, it's been a year since Izzy was in the hospital. It was good seeing him get back up from that.

 

See, @Izzy I told you that a person can't change his destiny. Sometimes rough times hit. But here we are, 1 year later, with much better health and your biggest worry as far is I know is your frozen food being defrosted. Lol

 

 

 

 

 

And mary poppins.

 

Glad you are well @Izzy

[VLC86]

3 hours ago, Jattdogg said:

And mary poppins.

 

Glad you are well @Izzy

Izzy and Mary Poppins were in hospital together?

[ozleicester]

17 hours ago, Costock_Fox said:

Just have Christmas in the car park mate, you can be a modern day Jesus.

When we came back in 2015, we were on the way back from Wales to Liverpool for the boxing day match... Christmas lunch was spent outside a business park and consisted of leftover bread and lettuce and chicken sandwiches ...  who knew that EVERYTHING closed Christmas morning.

 

 

[VLC86]

2 minutes ago, ozleicester said:

When we came back in 2015, we were on the way back from Wales to Liverpool for the boxing day match... Christmas lunch was spent outside a business park and consisted of leftover bread and lettuce and chicken sandwiches ...  who knew that EVERYTHING closed Christmas morning.

 

 

Stay classy.

[ozleicester]

2 minutes ago, Costock_Fox said:

Stay classy.

pretty sure it was around Salford... so..

[Izzy]

4 hours ago, the fox said:

Btw, it's been a year since Izzy was in the hospital. It was good seeing him get back up from that.

 

See, @Izzy I told you that a person can't change his destiny. Sometimes rough times hit. But here we are, 1 year later, with much better health and your biggest worry as far is I know is your frozen food being defrosted. Lol

 

Bless you for remembering mate 

 

This time last year I was hooked up on a drip, tubes down my nose, less than 8 stone and couldn't eat. The operation on Xmas day wasn't a complete success and I was back in hospital on and off until February, but luckily I'm O.K. now. I was going to look back at all the posts of support from a year ago but I was so drugged up I can't remember which thread they were in 

 

I guess it's the time of year to remember those less fortunate than us and to be grateful for all that we have. Merry Christmas to you and to all the many, many great people on here who sent messages of support during my recovery. Love you all  

[Jones2406]

To all fellow foxes fans

 

i hope you and your families have a fantastic christmas and an even better new year

 

 

 

[lifted*fox]

I over-indulged on our Xmas karaoke get together, night before last and even though I spent all day yesterday under a blanket I'm still struggling to come to terms with everything and I have a mountain of wrapping to do and a family get together tonight. 

 

NO THANK YOU. 

 

Send help. 

[VLC86]

4 minutes ago, lifted*fox said:

I over-indulged on our Xmas karaoke get together, night before last and even though I spent all day yesterday under a blanket I'm still struggling to come to terms with everything and I have a mountain of wrapping to do and a family get together tonight. 

 

NO THANK YOU. 

 

Send help. 

I see your hang over and wrapping carnage and raise you being in bloody work. What’s this all about.

[lifted*fox]

1 minute ago, Costock_Fox said:

I see your hang over and wrapping carnage and raise you being in bloody work. What’s this all about.

 

[egg_fried_rice]

My mum had a knee replacement a few weeks back meaning she isn't very mobile, so my sister and I are taking up the mantle of cooking for everyone. First time doing xmas dinner - It's only a small gathering of 7 so shouldn't be too bad. Quite looking forward to it really. Having the classic Turkey roast - any last minute tips would be appreciated!

 

My aunt passed away about a month back, so will be a bittersweet occasion for the family especially my uncle. Cherish your loved ones folks, and try not to let any petty arguments escalate - easier said than done mind!

[stix]

22 hours ago, Costock_Fox said:

Yeah, if someone has have offered me a bed in dignitas 15 mins ago i would have gone.

 

I have been roped in to going there again in a minute. Let me know if you find any discount Dignitas vouchers online mate. 

[FoxesDeb]

19 minutes ago, egg_fried_rice said:

My mum had a knee replacement a few weeks back meaning she isn't very mobile, so my sister and I are taking up the mantle of cooking for everyone. First time doing xmas dinner - It's only a small gathering of 7 so shouldn't be too bad. Quite looking forward to it really. Having the classic Turkey roast - any last minute tips would be appreciated!

 

My aunt passed away about a month back, so will be a bittersweet occasion for the family especially my uncle. Cherish your loved ones folks, and try not to let any petty arguments escalate - easier said than done mind!

I roast my turkey upside down for at least half the cooking time, it means the juices run back through the meat and stops it drying out so much but you still get crispy skin 

[Alf Bentley]

30 minutes ago, egg_fried_rice said:

My mum had a knee replacement a few weeks back meaning she isn't very mobile, so my sister and I are taking up the mantle of cooking for everyone. First time doing xmas dinner - It's only a small gathering of 7 so shouldn't be too bad. Quite looking forward to it really. Having the classic Turkey roast - any last minute tips would be appreciated!

 

My aunt passed away about a month back, so will be a bittersweet occasion for the family especially my uncle. Cherish your loved ones folks, and try not to let any petty arguments escalate - easier said than done mind!

 

From one amateur to another.... 

- For roast spuds, don't overdo the par-boiling before roasting: spuds need to be STARTING to get soft after par-boiling (10 mins?), not fully soft or they'll fragment & turn to mush during roasting

- If you do parsnips, they only take about 2/3 as long to roast as spuds (30-40 mins v. 45-60 mins, depending on oven heat?)

- If possible, warm plates for a few minutes in oven just before serving: keeps food warm for duration of meal as the serving process can take a long time with multiple food items and multiple people.

 

Good luck!

[Mayofox]

My son uses a wheelchair, and we have a wheelchair adapted vehicle. In November we read about a woman in a neighbouring town who was looking for such a vehicle, just for one day, Christmas Day.  She wants to get her elderly father home for the day, out of the nursing home he lives in. She'd looked into hiring this type of car, but at this time of year the rental companies would only rent for a minimum of 7 days, costing €700 or more. They'd always had a family Christmas, but were worried that, since going into the nursing home this year, he'd be stuck there.  So, she's to drive over to us early tomorrow, and borrow the car for the day. No charge. Gives us a warm feeling that we're spreading a bit of Christmas joy.

[Buce]

10 minutes ago, Mayofox said:

My son uses a wheelchair, and we have a wheelchair adapted vehicle. In November we read about a woman in a neighbouring town who was looking for such a vehicle, just for one day, Christmas Day.  She wants to get her elderly father home for the day, out of the nursing home he lives in. She'd looked into hiring this type of car, but at this time of year the rental companies would only rent for a minimum of 7 days, costing €700 or more. They'd always had a family Christmas, but were worried that, since going into the nursing home this year, he'd be stuck there.  So, she's to drive over to us early tomorrow, and borrow the car for the day. No charge. Gives us a warm feeling that we're spreading a bit of Christmas joy.

 

That’s really decent of you. 

 

Good karma coming your way. 

[Izzy]

41 minutes ago, Mayofox said:

My son uses a wheelchair, and we have a wheelchair adapted vehicle. In November we read about a woman in a neighbouring town who was looking for such a vehicle, just for one day, Christmas Day.  She wants to get her elderly father home for the day, out of the nursing home he lives in. She'd looked into hiring this type of car, but at this time of year the rental companies would only rent for a minimum of 7 days, costing €700 or more. They'd always had a family Christmas, but were worried that, since going into the nursing home this year, he'd be stuck there.  So, she's to drive over to us early tomorrow, and borrow the car for the day. No charge. Gives us a warm feeling that we're spreading a bit of Christmas joy.

What Christmas is all about mate. What a lovely thing to do. Good on ya 

[Mike Oxlong]

Pueltide greetings to all 

 

Have a great one ? 

[Rincewind]

Happy Hogswatch Winter Solstice, Seasons Greetings Happy holidays or whayever your choice is to all

 

Tonight Sky One are showing an adaption of Sue Townsend's The Queen And I. If you don't know it deals with the aftermath after the Royal Family are turfed out of Buck Palace and forced to live in a council house in Braunstone.

Only read the book which had princess Margaret in as a chain smoking alchie and Charles as a voice of the people. Very funny read as I remember.

[Happy Fox]

Work is dead, I hope our line managers send us home soon.

[Guest Col city fan]

Happy Christmas for tomorrow to all my FT chums. @Izzy @Swan Lesta

@sylofox and Bobby Weasal and anyone else I’ve forgotten

Best wishes to all of you in fact x