CHRISTMAS TIME AND AND ALL IT ENTAILS

[CHAZ]

Yes Anglea we have a 26 month chap called Elliot. This is actually his third Christmas (2 in France already and one here in Lux) but the first two he was too young to catch on to all the glitter. This year however he is enjoying the potential of
"cadeaux" from Father Christmas.

I must say that in the Germanic cultures, Christmas is always special. We have great markets here in Luxemburg and we have snow which just adds to it all. St Nicholas was a big day and children received presents then too.

At the creche they decided not to have (St Nicholas) and le Père Fouttard as last year some of the younger ones got a little scared of the latter with his dark robes and whip!

Ironically we shall be in UK for Christmas, so he will have Lux build up followed by good British fayre and all.

It has been real fun introducing him to it all and it's been nice for us too to discover the pelasures and meaning of it all
again...

[Katharine]

Please take care getting down your decorations from the loft!

See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/330 ... -hour.html for how NOT to do it!

[dinahcat]

The lego nativity is now complete. Mary ,Joseph and the baby Jesus arse relatively respectable but sadly the three kings are a raggle taggle bunch as a limited number of cast members were available for this particular gig. Harry Potter , Darth Vader and an unknown with a ferocious expression and matching horns have stepped up to the plate.The shepherds , being bereft of sheep, have a bat, a spider and a snake. The donkey looks remarkably like a dinosaur. She meant well...

[Katharine]

Have you seen this Lego Nativity? If you click your way through you get the whole story - including a couple of gory bits! I'm sure we never had Lego knives!

http://www.thebricktestament.com/the_go ... 01_26.html

[CHAZ]

The lego nativity is now complete. Mary ,Joseph and the baby Jesus arse relatively respectable but sadly the three kings are a raggle taggle bunch as a limited number of cast members were available for this particular gig. Harry Potter , Darth Vader and an unknown with a ferocious expression and matching horns have stepped up to the plate.The shepherds , being bereft of sheep, have a bat, a spider and a snake. The donkey looks remarkably like a dinosaur. She meant well...

Oh dear!!!!

[blondie95]

Presents have been bought and i have started the mammoth wrapping session...i could get the fiance to do his families but the mess he makes of wrapping and then no ribbon/bows or labels well it just simply is easier to do it myself!

[midget]

Mammoth present wrapping session yesterday, thank God for a husband who is good at that! Today a trek to the Post Ofice. 20 minute wait in queue, HUGE sum of money to send, but IT'S DONE FOR ANOTHER YEAR

[CHAZ]

Mammoth present wrapping session yesterday, thank God for a husband who is good at that! Today a trek to the Post Ofice. 20 minute wait in queue, HUGE sum of money to send, but IT'S DONE FOR ANOTHER YEAR

I used to send presents all the time by post to USA to my two godsons but the cost was sometimes more than the present itself. Now and thanks to Internet, all is ordered online and sent directly. This year I used Amazon USA and so was billed in Europe but had American delivery address. Upgraded the price saving into the present which is always a good feeling.

As Alan says it takes out a lot of the hassle buying online....

[jhopgood]

Made the Tamales today, can't get the banana leaves so we have to do with aluminium foil.

[CHAZ]

Does anyone on this illustrious Forum still make Christmas Puddings or are we all victims of supermarket offerings?

My mother years ago used to start about September on this but hasn't made one now for over 30 years. I remember also
at prep School chef used to prepare a pudding for the end of term feast and each of us had a spoon stir of the thick mixture.
Ahh memories.

[MKM]

I make my own. Any family member sampling commercial pudding (at an office Christmas lunch, for example) is expected to report back on its inferiority. I was a bit late this year, and only made them at the beginning of December. There are two from previous years left in the larder, but I thought they looked too small for Christmas day.

I do like cooking things that aren't eaten immediately. You get a much better ratio of satisfaction to effort.

[CHAZ]

Do you still put in a coin into the pudding, Mary?
Sounds great to have two in the larder as you can eat at anytime of the year.

[Ajarn Philip]

Do you still put in a coin into the pudding, Mary?
Sounds great to have two in the larder as you can eat at anytime of the year.

I remember threep'ny bits and sixpences from my childhood, so you had to eat carefully!

But the most delicious Christmas pud I ever had was in Thailand in July, completely on the spur of the moment.

[jhopgood]

Does anyone on this illustrious Forum still make Christmas Puddings or are we all victims of supermarket offerings?

We have always made Christmas puddings, too late in my opinion, but my job is to measure the ingredients and make sure the water doesn't boil dry. I have no say in the timing.
We make 2 and serve one to our Spanish friends on New Years eve.
Not making Christmas cake this year as I am still eating it at Easter.

[MKM]

I've never put coins in Christmas puddings, but last week we were in a junk market and I bought some Victorian silver thrupenny bits. So maybe next year.