Pass the mince pies- Christmas Chat Thread Part Deux

CheerLouth · 05-12-2018 9:45am

Same here Jude, Ive literally just sent my mam and sister a mail telling them that they need to let me know what they want for Christmas today or they are getting socks! :P

Beechwoodspark · 05-12-2018 9:53am

Really nice big Christmas tree up and lights on in Heuston this morning

DvB · 05-12-2018 10:43am

There seems to be no end to the pressies this year.
After taking Monday off to get the 'last of it' have just gotten an email from herself listing the 'last few bits to get' ... just like to point out we started the Christmas shopping in September!!

Neyite · 05-12-2018 11:17am

We've scaled back on gifts big time and it's great.

I buy: gift for each of my 2 godchildren, gift for partner, chip in for a gift with my siblings for parents.

Partner buys: Santa shopping, (I do the food shop) one god child, one sibling Kris Kringle, and something for his parents.

We've restricted gifts for our son to one present from either set of grandparents, one from godparents apeice, he'll get one from his parents, then Santa will bring him his main present, a surprise and a stocking. And that's loads!

Jude13 · 05-12-2018 12:13pm

We have done the same, no presents between siblings and just for my brothers kids. My brother is saving for a home and we are abroad this year so we'll get each other something nice next year. Pints usually.

My OH family are a different mater.

My main panic is that I know my OH is really thoughtful and remembers things so my present will be a surprise to me. It took her only a few guesses to find out what I got her, even though I denied it but she can read me Im sure.

DvB · 05-12-2018 12:16pm

Funny thing is we're the same, no presents for siblings. We get pressies for our nieces & nephews & our own parents, one another & our own kids... but for some reason this year extra people have made it on to the list or what we'd initially gotten people wasnt deemed anough so more was added...

either way I'm getting a tad frustrated at this never ending list! Definitely nipping this in the bud ASAP.

Dalomanakora · 05-12-2018 12:43pm

My family still very much likes receiving gifts (and giving them!), so my list this year was -

Mam
Dad
3 siblings
Friend
Friend's sister
Friend's two children
Sibling's partner
Grandmother
Godmother
One uncle
One cousin
6 child cousins

I forgot my siblings partner so I've to fly around and get his feckin present this week :pac:

freshpopcorn · 05-12-2018 12:45pm

We make a little bit of an effort amaongst siblings/etc. The amountwould be reasonable(But nothing expensive either) but we try to avoid very standard gift sets.
There are no neices/nephews.

tickingclock · 05-12-2018 12:51pm

We've nipped things in the bud also. It's not necessarily the money. Another factor us that all the adults I know have the few bib to buy what they like and nobody needs anything anymore

05-12-2018 2:45pm

I've 21 gifts to buy. Im about halfway through them and that's excellent for me. Normally I'd only be starting now. Hopefully by Monday that'll be halved again! Ideally I want all gifts done and dusted by 15th.

Edited to add: that's 21 people to buy for. Some of them get more than one thing. Like my gran aunt is very elderly and she's blind so Ive gotten her a few small things like lovely scented soaps for the sensory experience and a few other bits like that.

freshpopcorn · 05-12-2018 3:08pm

We also swop gifts with another family.
It consists of three gift sets, a tub or sweets and a tin of biscuits and a gifty item. It's sort of a nice tradition on Christmas Eve.

CheerLouth · 05-12-2018 3:44pm

I buy for:

Himself (we've a budget set this year)
Mam
Dad
Sister
Brother
Nieces x2
Grandmother
Godmother

I also normally help sort the presents for the inlaws & whatnot on the other side but this year, I'm taking a step back because I can't do everything!

ace_irl · 05-12-2018 5:05pm

This year I'm baking presents as well as giving them. So everyone will get a some sort of gift and then mince pies, chocolate biscuit cake and caramel sauce.

I'm off to Ikea this weekend to pick up all the jars!

freshpopcorn · 05-12-2018 5:22pm

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New Home · 05-12-2018 6:16pm

Does anyone have a good, tried and tested recipe for a vegetarian mincemeat (in other words, without suet), please?

05-12-2018 6:18pm

ace_irl wrote: »

This year I'm baking presents as well as giving them. So everyone will get a some sort of gift and then mince pies, chocolate biscuit cake and caramel sauce.

I'm off to Ikea this weekend to pick up all the jars!

I think that's really lovely. Fair play for all the work that must take. Chocolate biscuit cake and caramel sauce?? I wish you were my friend!

jellybear · 05-12-2018 6:53pm

Just finished two scrabble frames

One for my neighbours and one for my KK

Heroditas · 05-12-2018 8:35pm

Loaded the kids into the car this evening just before bedtime and brought them to see one of the finalists in Ireland's Most Christmassy House. They were as excited as anything.
Sometimes it's the simple things...

Beechwoodspark · 05-12-2018 9:06pm

Nevin had his Christmas show (part 1) tonight.

The turkey looked absolutely unreal !!

rockwell · 05-12-2018 9:57pm

New Home wrote: »

Does anyone have a good, tried and tested recipe for a vegetarian mincemeat (in other words, without suet), please?

Hey New Home, i use Mary Berry's one. Butter replaces the suet. http://www.maryberry.co.uk/recipes/christmas/special-mincemeat

New Home · 05-12-2018 9:58pm

Thanks Rockwell.

freshpopcorn · 05-12-2018 10:05pm

The Odlums receive also looks simple enough!

https://www.odlums.ie/recipes/christmas-mincemeat/

New Home · 05-12-2018 10:18pm

Thank you, Freshpopcorn.

SleetAndSnow · 05-12-2018 10:44pm

And there we go, the Kellogg’s Christmas ad. No doubt about it now folks! Christmas is coming!

Posy · 06-12-2018 12:28am

I seen the Guinness ad for the first time tonight, hooray!

freshpopcorn · 06-12-2018 4:25am

I can't believe we're into the teens!

Jude13 · 06-12-2018 6:08am

I havent seen and ad yet! I need to get on to watching tv at some stage.

The main mall here has its Christmas stuff up now and Micheal Bubble playing.

OUTDOORLASS · 06-12-2018 9:20am

Friend took of the Santa in Heuston recently...Unreal !!! Perfect looking Santa !!

Got a 5 more presents yesterday.......but was gone from home all day so boxes of decorations all over the place. House looks like
bomb site !! I.v lot of work on today, so wont get to it til later.....My Teenager has so much homework she wont get chance to help...

Loving all the Christmas posts. xxx

ace_irl · 06-12-2018 9:25am

Deleted User wrote: »

I think that's really lovely. Fair play for all the work that must take. Chocolate biscuit cake and caramel sauce?? I wish you were my friend!

When it comes to Christmas baking and present wrapping, I have military efficiency

Naturally I will have to sample every caramel sauce I make.....for quality control purposes.....

I'll post you out a friend application!!

CheerLouth · 06-12-2018 9:27am

ace_irl wrote: »

I'll post you out a friend application!!

Send me one too :P

Freshpopcorn, those puds look amazing too!

I'm in the office today for the first time in over a week - they have the decs up, I sit at a hot desk and the tree is right in front of me and because there is no one else sitting here, I kinda feel like it's MY tree :P It helps that I have my Christmas dress on too

freshpopcorn · 06-12-2018 11:11am

New Home wrote: »

Does anyone have a good, tried and tested recipe for a vegetarian mincemeat (in other words, without suet), please?

We always use butter for making puddings.We were never into suet but this is available!
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06-12-2018 12:30pm

ace_irl wrote: »

When it comes to Christmas baking and present wrapping, I have military efficiency Naturally I will have to sample every caramel sauce I make.....for quality control purposes.....

I'll post you out a friend application!!

I'm the 'what you'd bring to the position section' , if I say I'm a pro at quality control taste testing would that work for or against me?!

Toto Wolfcastle · 06-12-2018 1:27pm

Just back from Tiger. All Christmas items are a Euro.

freshpopcorn · 06-12-2018 1:31pm

We're unsure about putting up our living room decorations. We have Sky calling to install television just before Christmas and we're afraid if we put up decorations they might be in the way or get damaged.

Loughc · 06-12-2018 1:36pm

freshpopcorn wrote: »

We're unsure about putting up our living room decorations. We have Sky calling to install television just before Christmas and we're afraid if we put up decorations they might be in the way or get damaged.

A good engineer can work around anything. Furniture, decorations, etc.

freshpopcorn · 06-12-2018 1:37pm

There is a compition here to win a €200 voucher for a butchers in Cork.
It might be useful for your Turkey/Ham.

https://www.ocrualaoi.com/festive-feast-competition-18/?utm_source=Email

TK Lemon · 06-12-2018 1:56pm

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

Just back from Tiger. All Christmas items are a Euro.

I bought some today as well. They kept restocking and I kept going back after I paid for my first lot, and so on. :P

CrowdedHouse · 06-12-2018 2:16pm

I'd love a slice of Christmas cake just now, with my cuppa!

jellybear · 06-12-2018 5:16pm

I've invited 4 of my friends round the week before Christmas for some food and chats.
Plsn to stock up on M&S party food and some bits from Dunnes too. Really looking forward to it now

freshpopcorn · 06-12-2018 9:14pm

I was in Heatons Today. Well something similar to Heatons.
It's has a floor of dessigner clothes.(Lacoste, Levis, etc) and very little Christmas stock.
When did this happen?

miamee · 07-12-2018 9:42am

This gave me a lovely chuckle this morning. A guy in Boston dresses up as Buddy the Elf and randomly challenges passersby to a pillow fight

LINK

(If anyone can find it on Youtube, please do, that link is on Facebook)

CheerLouth · 07-12-2018 9:45am

Ha! That gave me a good chuckle!

kitten_k · 07-12-2018 12:02pm

Anyone else seeing little flurrys of snow??? I'm based in D2

redmgar · 07-12-2018 12:18pm

Does anyone have suggestions on a vegetarian alternative of a main course for Christmas dinner? An where to buy it?

Loughc · 07-12-2018 1:00pm

We have now surpassed our busiest year by over 550 posts already.

Our next target is 8,000 annual posts which we are 236 away from

Loughc · 07-12-2018 1:01pm

redmgar wrote: »

Does anyone have suggestions on a vegetarian alternative of a main course for Christmas dinner? An where to buy it?

I think M&S do a nutroast.

M&S booklet had lots of vegetarian options

DvB · 07-12-2018 1:03pm

And I've just put the christmas forum top of my all time boards.ie posts in terms of numbers... no surprise really as I spent most of my time in here practically all year round since last christmas. Great to see the popularity levels rise though especially as there seems to be no shortage of 'bah humbugs' around these days to make you think christmas was a chore rather than something to be celebrated.

Loughc · 07-12-2018 1:15pm

DvB wrote: »

And I've just put the christmas forum top of my all time boards.ie posts in terms of numbers... no surprise really as I spent most of my time in here practically all year round since last christmas. Great to see the popularity levels rise though especially as there seems to be no shortage of 'bah humbugs' around these days to make you think christmas was a chore rather than something to be celebrated.

Surprisingly as Social media warriors are now more than ever determined to ruin Christmas with either PC gone mad or trolling, this has been the quietest year ever for the Christmas forum regards Bah-Humbugs.

I've prob gone and jinxed myself now...

jellybear · 07-12-2018 1:16pm

I'm currently putting up my tree and decorations

DenMan · 07-12-2018 4:39pm

Watching Neven Maguire's Kilkenny Christmas episode 1 on the RTE Player. It's really good. Episode 2 is on RTE ONE tonight @8:30pm.

https://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/nevens-kilkenny-christmas-30006560/10973515/

Pass the mince pies- Christmas Chat Thread Part Deux

Comments

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year" - Charles Dickens