Friday Five!

Oh Wow, Merry Christmas Santa!!!!

1.) Made dairy free eggnog last night with Oat milk and lentil cream and it tastes absolutely amazing.  My husband's never had eggnog, hence why I made dairy free, and it worked a treat! 

2.) Working today.  Well I mean am I working if I am on UKY?      And I'm sitting in Christmas joggy bottoms and a Christmas jumper.  Still, hopefully all goes quickly today. 

3.) Made up a brine for the turkey last night, will submerge it overnight tonight.   

4.) Stayed up way too late last night watching my Dad (in the US) on Facebook live last night (He plays Santa this time of year). 

5.) Happy Holidays everyone at UKY!!! 

Merry Christmas, Santa and everybody!  Santa, if you visit here, please just find a safe corner to leave my present... we don't have a tree.

PB, that was so great of you to make egg nog that your husband could enjoy!

My five:
1.  We planned ahead and had a delivery slot for the lead-up to Christmas, so now we have all the tasty noms waiting for...

2.  My husband is finished with work at noon, because it's a half-day for him... then Christmas festivities can begin!

3.  A year ago, my husband was living in the campervan in our drive, covid positive (but not ill), and I was serving his food on disposable plates delivered to the garden gate.  This year, we are together.  This is my best gift this year.

4.  The coffee roaster guy and my husband's manager, whom I don't think I mentioned previously, both really liked the coasters we sent them.  The manager liked my "Escape to the Chateau"-themed Christmas card, too.  We did "Merry Christmas from the Sh!teau!" and it had an 'artist's* impression' of our house on it.  (* I'm the artist, and I took license... we had a lovely front porch and a Christmas tree in the lounge, and a tidy front path...)

5.  I've always wanted to try Chambord, but that giant ball of liquer just seemed like a too-big investment in case I didn't like it.  But Asda had a 20cl ball for £5, and I bought it.  I also bought a Ferrero Rocher dark chocolate hazelnut bar.  It is a good pairing.

3.  A year ago, my husband was living in the campervan in our drive, covid positive (but not ill), and I was serving his food on disposable plates delivered to the garden gate.  This year, we are together.  This is my best gift this year.

 Awww, yay!! 

Oh what lovely Friday Fives.  JF, Chambord was one of my first favourite alcohols.  I am happy with Chamboard in Sprite.  It's a grown up Shirley Temple.  Great in prosecco or most any cocktail that can have a splash of sweetness.  I've also heard a drizzle over vanilla ice cream is good as well. 

1.  We got ALL the wrapping done last night.  DONE!

2.  Bit annoyed at my husband.  I said "this is stockings, this is from Santa, this is from my parents, this is from us".  He then said, "What's from my parents and my brother?"  Huh?  I was supposed to buy for the inlaws who we are SEEING on Christmas?

3.  I'm also annoyed that we are going to the inlaws and cooking the entire Christmas dinner at their house.  Yes, I'm being a selfish baby but when can Christmas have something in it that *I* would enjoy?  I'd like to just spend the day at home with my kids and let them play, cook a frozen lasagna, and watch movies.  Honestly, last year was my favourite Christmas since we were locked in in my region.     I really don't want to cook in someone else's kitchen.  And I certainly don't want to spend the day cooking.

4.  Perusing sales a bit online!

5.  Think we will be allowed to do things next week or will we be in restrictions?

2.  Bit annoyed at my husband.  I said "this is stockings, this is from Santa, this is from my parents, this is from us".  He then said, "What's from my parents and my brother?"  Huh?  I was supposed to buy for the inlaws who we are SEEING on Christmas?

WTF 

3.  I'm also annoyed that we are going to the inlaws and cooking the entire Christmas dinner at their house.  Yes, I'm being a selfish baby but when can Christmas have something in it that *I* would enjoy?  I'd like to just spend the day at home with my kids and let them play, cook a frozen lasagna, and watch movies.  Honestly, last year was my favourite Christmas since we were locked in in my region.     I really don't want to cook in someone else's kitchen.  And I certainly don't want to spend the day cooking.

Ugggggggggggggh.  How did you end up roped into that? That sounds wretched to me!!!  (I love to cook, so I'm happy to host, but doing it in someone else kitchen whilst they're in the house sounds like hell on earth)

Jfkimberly - chambord in prosecco is delicious and deceivingly strong. But oh so tasty! And your coasters are absolutely gorgeous.

1. Drove the furthest I have in 2 years to visit family for Xmas. Hopefully husband will have his license by the next one.

2. Forgot how bad the inlaws guest bed is. I've never been in so much pain, it's so soft it subluxed some joints while trying to sleep and kept causing intense nerve pain. They have a 3rd bedroom with a single bed so husband is going to try sleeping in there tonight in hopes I can find a comfy position. Every time he moved I yelped in pain from the bed shifting. (this is the only sorta fragrance free room)

3. People can be really cruel when you're just out here trying to live your best life with a disability. Learn about ableism so you can avoid causing the disabled people in your life emotional harm.

4. I made some cheeky cat bum coasters as a secret santa gift and it was well received.

5. Feeling exceptionally overwhelmed and it's not even Christmas yet.

WTF 


Ugggggggggggggh.  How did you end up roped into that? That sounds wretched to me!!!  (I love to cook, so I'm happy to host, but doing it in someone else kitchen whilst they're in the house sounds like hell on earth)

I 100% agree with the WTF comment.  I mean, WTF?  I should have known about the BIL and SIL, as they are buying for their kids from us and we are supposed to buy for mine from them.  So that was my screw up (and taken care of).  But I really don't understand why his parents are not capable of getting something for our kids.  We live 7 miles away, a bit of effort would be much appreciated.

So the Christmas dinner thing has turned into a big mess.  MIL announced she wasn't cooking this year (I can only think of 2 Christmases where she's cooked in the last 10 years or so).  BUT, our house is in two with the construction.  We haven't rented a storage unit yet (the double garage is gone, along with the loft space above it), so all those "things" are crammed in every corner of the house.  We don't have anywhere for people to sit (literally), so it would be a carpet picnic.  So, it was suggested that we go to theirs.  It was originally supposed to be that we did the turkey and they were going to do the other "bits".  But my husband told them not to worry about the other bits at some point and "forgot" to tell me.  I'm not a happy bunny.  It is what it is now.  But just ONE YEAR, I would like to be part of planning Christmas Day. 

I'm sorry KFD, that really sucks.  I feel so lucky not to be obliged to go anywhere.

I'm sorry KFD, that really sucks.  I feel so lucky not to be obliged to go anywhere.

I feel like a total b*tch because many MANY people would kill to have family to spend Christmas with.  But my kids are little and alllll about the Christmas magic.  They should be coming here for a cup of tea and to see the kids.  The end.  Instead the entire day is revolving around a roast dinner, driving, and the inlaws.  The timing means I don’t get to have a video call with my parents and the kids.  I’m just bummed.

I feel like a total b*tch because many MANY people would kill to have family to spend Christmas with.  But my kids are little and alllll about the Christmas magic.  They should be coming here for a cup of tea and to see the kids.  The end.  Instead the entire day is revolving around a roast dinner, driving, and the inlaws.  The timing means I don’t get to have a video call with my parents and the kids.  I’m just bummed.

 If you really can't get out of it this year, I'd make it really clear now that next year you are going to have Christmas the way you would like, whether they like it or not. Get everyone used to the idea early.

You guys all need to get out the red pencil and draw another line on the covid test.  "Sorry, positive test, now you can all F***k off and leave me with my family  to do Christmas like I want."  I was really lucky that the trip to France was cancelled by a bin lorry and I am not dead.  We've had a mellow Christmas with just our kids, including my daughter who we never see anymore.    Later, we'll have some random Latvian roommates visiting and then a road trip in the rental car!

You guys all need to get out the red pencil and draw another line on the covid test.  "Sorry, positive test, now you can all F***k off and leave me with my family  to do Christmas like I want."  I was really lucky that the trip to France was cancelled by a bin lorry and I am not dead.  We've had a mellow Christmas with just our kids, including my daughter who we never see anymore.    Later, we'll have some random Latvian roommates visiting and then a road trip in the rental car!

When we were taking the tests this morning it was like PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE be positive. My husband forgot to pack the gin, my in-laws had a very top shelf selection so I’m officially jolly. 

Sorry, but I think it is SO WEIRD that my in-laws don’t give us a gift.  Of course I do not give to receive but we got them their annual “calendar of the grandkids” and a giftcard for Afternoon Tea at the Ritz (a very nice treat).  And not so much as a card in return!

No gift!?!? WTF!!! 
Hopefully none of us give to receive but geeze, it’s Christmas!  Some people really go above and beyond in their generosity!!

No gift!?!? WTF!!! 
Hopefully none of us give to receive but geeze, it’s Christmas!  Some people really go above and beyond in their generosity!!

We bought all the food, cooked it, and brought gifts. A thank you would have been nice!  But I drank my fair share of a bottle of Bombay, so HA HA! 

We bought all the food, cooked it, and brought gifts. A thank you would have been nice!  But I drank my fair share of a bottle of Bombay, so HA HA!

YOU GO GIRL!!!