Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Have not seen any thread on Christmas yet and as it's St.Nicholas today, thought I'd start the ball rolling with an open discussion on anything to do about Christmas 2008: your cooking tips, present ideas etc etc

But here's a fine idea for a tree...not too pricey either!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/chris ... splay.html

And I mis-read the thread title as.....

CHRISTMAS TIME AND AND ALL IT ENTRAILS !!

Went carol singing in Jèrriais in Town yesterday evening (late night shopping). Managed to avoid the showers - just a few spots started coming down just as we were doing our last carol on the programme "J'vos souhaitons un jouaiyeux Noué (We wish you a merry Christmas)". We had a good crowd of children along with the adults, and did "Sonne les clioches (Jingle bells)" three times during the set because that's one of the children's favourites.

We were shaking the bucket for charity. Unfortunately we had to evict another charity collector who was squatting on our allocated pitch - the sight of people glammed up in tinsel and festive headwear getting into a slanging match in public probably must have struck witnesses as less than charitable...

We've got a Marchi Nouormand (Norman market) on this weekend as part of the Fête dé Noué. A chance to stock up on some mainland specialities - although the exchange rate is unfavourable. Luckily the stallholders managed to make it across yesterday - lots of boats are cancelled today due to weather.

The other highlight this weekend is the Battle of Flowers illuminated Christmas parade on Sunday evening.

Fête dé Noué in Jersey: http://jersey.com/English/sightsandacti ... fault.aspx
Christmas carols in Jèrriais: http://members.societe-jersiaise.org/ge ... iques.html
(we were singing from the book: http://members.societe-jersiaise.org/sd ... noue2.html)

St Nicholas Day is the 6th i.e.tomorrow. We moved into our house in St Nicholas Close 23 years ago tomorrow.

englishangel wrote:St Nicholas Day is the 6th i.e.tomorrow. We moved into our house in St Nicholas Close 23 years ago tomorrow.

Interesting that you've been in the same house for a long time, we have too as have a couple of other Old Blues I'm in touch with.

Is there some kind of deep seated Freudian reason that because we were dislodged in childhood we have subconsciously sought stability in adulthood or am I spouting nonsense?

I will hopefully be out carol singing on Friday 12th December if I can get home in time.

One of my daughters is presently working in Switzerland and St Nicholas Day is a really big thing over there apparently.

[quote="Mid A 15

Is there some kind of deep seated Freudian reason that because we were dislodged in childhood we have subconsciously sought stability in adulthood or am I spouting nonsense? [/quote]

You're right, Andy. At Hertford, round about Christmas I deeply craved all my family's Christmas activities; even if they were over-the-top Evangelical. And stability, yes - I've frequently stuck it out in a situation where I should have made an exit. Just like as in the DR Administration. Also, in tricky employment situations!

Not me. Moved to the US 89-94 and let the house. Would have sold but market conditions similar to now. When we came back husband was out of work for 4 years and have never been able to afford to move. He has worked in Central London for the last 12 years and the schools round here are very good so no point in moving. May do so in a couple of years if the sons ever move out.

Some of the ladies got off topic there!

Nice to see that Jersey is in full festive cheer, Geraint.

Talking of singing, anyone remember the Christmas No.1 "There's no one quite like Grandma?" St Winifreds School Choir.

Now there's a Christmas memory from year's gone by....

Let's not forget the compulsive TV viewing with the Queen, a Bond movie and the 2 Ronnies.....

Over to you all...

englishangel wrote:St Nicholas Day is the 6th i.e.tomorrow. We moved into our house in St Nicholas Close 23 years ago tomorrow.

Quite right...mea culpa but as it was the last week day there were mnay things going on at work and also at sons creche...

I've got my decorations ready to put up - will probably do it this weekend - and cleared out a couple of old trees and got rid of them on freecycle.

Does anyone not use freecycle? I think it's brilliant for stuff that's not good enough for charity shops but too good to throw away!


All cards written except for close family, just got to think about presents now. Partner is sorted as I bought him something for his birthday last month that covered Christmas as well. Nephews and nieces always get money, by mutual agreement. So fortunately not too many other people, though it's always difficult thinking of ideas.

And today I went and paid for our Christmas lunch and gave them our menu choices. I've cooked at home the last couple of years but it is nice to go out and have someone else do it all for you

the christmas tree and decorations are sat in the living room waiting to go up! still a fair few presents to buy and of course the then mass wrapping session!

I am now stocked up on garlic (smoked and unsmoked) for the next few months thanks to the Marchi Nouormand. Business at the Christmas market has been slow - partly due to the smaller number of stalls than usual as not all the traders managed to get across with the weather. The weather of course hasn't helped and the market has moved location and is rather more exposed (mind you, last year I was dancing in the square for the market in a howling gale and the stallholders were having to hold their canopies to stop them being blown away...)

In other retail news in Jersey - I bumped into someone in the street today who told me that Woolworths has sold out of Christmas decorations.

Still I did manage not to resist the temptation to buy some cidre bouché from my friendly Cotentin supplier at the Marchi Nouormand (so friendly, he asked if we were going to dance again this year...), so the cellar is stocked up.

Alleged to have been a mad rush on all things Christmassy at Woolies yesterday. Stories of waiting an hour at the checkout. We didn't have quite that crowd in the charity shop, but we did take about £350, but would probably have been more if the light-fingered brigade had stayed at home.
Some cards written, and we have promised each other we will get to the Post Office (if they haven't closed it down) before the last date for posting. Since they closed 2 local sub post offices it's always murder in there.

My daughter is making a nativity out of lego. At least she was.. the cat jumped on it and it now looks like armagedon.This will be difficult to expliain in the morning.

dinahcat wrote:the cat jumped on it and it now looks like armagedon.This will be difficult to expliain in the morning.

A cat-ivity?