Ship of Fools: Advance Warning

Thread: Advance Warning - the C Word 2012 Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

Just a little heads up for you all - it will be Christmas Day in just another 11 months!

[ 25. January 2012, 02:47: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]

Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :

I'm flabbergasted.

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

Thanks, Wodders. And I was just recovering.

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Lyda*Rose:
Thanks, Wodders. And I was just recovering.

Too much time on your hands, Wodders?

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

I don't know, I do what I can to help people and all I get is abuse - mumble, mumble...

A prophet is never honoured in his own land...

mumble, mumble...

Perhaps I'll close this thread for a while in the hope that later I shall be appreciated.

[ 25. January 2012, 10:16: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

There is only just over 6 months to go - it's time to start making those lists!

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :

Am I allowed to bring lumps of coal into India?

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
There is only just over 6 months to go - it's time to start making those lists!

and order your Brussels sprouts. These must be cooking by the end of September to get the authentic taste. The easiest way to remember is that they must be on by the time you have finished making your Xmas puddings.

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :

quote:
The easiest way to remember is that they must be on by the time you have finished making your Xmas puddings.

Thanks for that useful bit of information. I think the cook at the hospital I was in some years ago knew about this rule and had adapted it. Every morning by 9:00am the smell of sprouts or cabbage for lunch wafted through the hospital. Lunch was 12:30.

My MIL used to pressure cook wedges of cabbage for 30 minutes.

However, I'll bear your rule in mind. Will cabbage do instead at Christmas? December is summer here and sprouts are a winter vegetable.

[ 31. May 2012, 23:38: Message edited by: Lothlorien ]

Posted by Robert Armin (# 182) on :

I think it was Fay Weldon who talked about the first job she had, working in a restaurant. When she came in at 8.00 in the morning she had to put the cabbage on for lunch.

Posted by Zacchaeus (# 14454) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Robert Armin:
I think it was Fay Weldon who talked about the first job she had, working in a restaurant. When she came in at 8.00 in the morning she had to put the cabbage on for lunch.

Yes my old school the first job in the kitchen of a morning was to put the cabbage on to boil!!

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

I don't think I've put water anywhere near cabbage for donkeys years, apart from washing it. Sweat it gently in a littleoil or butter, add grated coconut and a little spice.

YUMMY!!

Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :

If I were to start feeding a cake now, would it explode before I could cut it on Christmas day?

Cattyish, experimental cook.

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

quote:
Originally posted by cattyish:
If I were to start feeding a cake now, would it explode before I could cut it on Christmas day?

Cattyish, experimental cook.

Depends on the cake and the dose. You could start feeding a good fruit cake little and often, but if you're even now contemplating something for the festering season you could make a Rumtopf.

Posted by James the Confident (# 9678) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
There is only just over 6 months to go - it's time to start making those lists!

So much to do, so little time... [Ultra confused]

Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :

Still have some time until I have to make the Christmas cakes then. That's a relief, [Biased]

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
There is only just over 6 months to go - it's time to start making those lists!

You're sick man, Wodders. I like that. [Smile]

Posted by PataLeBon (# 5452) on :

I've been buying things already!!

(OK, not presents.....)

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :

I started making presents at Easter. Alright so the instructions say "Leave to mature for around nine months"

Jengie

Posted by Steve H (# 17102) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
I don't think I've put water anywhere near cabbage for donkeys years, apart from washing it. Sweat it gently in a littleoil or butter, add grated coconut and a little spice.

YUMMY!!

Or steam it.

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

Steamed with water chestnuts is good - you can add bamboo shoots if you wish then dress with a little butter and some black pepper from the garden.

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :

quote:
Originally posted by PataLeBon:
I've been buying things already!!

(OK, not presents.....)

I tend to start to look for presents when on summer holidays - you are somewhere you aren't normally seeing things you wouldn't otherwise - you are bound to see things that would be just perfect for... The only problem then is putting them somewhere where you can find them again. A couple of years ago I bought a present for a close frind's birthday. I finally gave it to her this year

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

ONLY SIX MONTHS TO GO!!!

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :

Thanks for the reminder I have just gone and shaken the Christmas pressies.

Jengie

Posted by PataLeBon (# 5452) on :

I better speed up my shopping then....

Posted by ken (# 2460) on :

Today is anti-Christmas Day! The farthest away you can ever be from Christmas.

[ 25. June 2012, 17:07: Message edited by: ken ]

Posted by jedijudy (# 333) on :

quote:
Originally posted by ken:
Today is anti-Christmas Day!

It's called Leon. My nephew's birthday is today, the very best time to have one. Six months later you have Christmas! Not like some of us who have to wait eleven and a half months after the birthday for Christmas. [Waterworks]

Posted by Darllenwr (# 14520) on :

Is this what is meant by, "Post early for Christmas"?

I'll get me coat ...

Posted by Janine (# 3337) on :

I was Christmas shopping @ the recent OKC/Santa Fe/Four Corners Whirlwind Shipmeet. Never too early to buy jewelry. For the kids. Hmm, yer, for the kids.

Posted by Og, King of Bashan (# 9562) on :

Just to make everyone feel inadequate (or to convince everyone that they have more active social lives than me), I am brewing my Christmas give away ale tomorrow. In my defense, it is an Old Peculier clone, so it needs some time to mature. Get that baby in bottles in August, let it sit there and get nice and peculiar, and kick back and enjoy Football season without anything left to worry about.

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

Oh, Og -- I want some! I love Old Peculier, and I haven't been able to find it my last two trips across the Pond.

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS TO GO, PEOPLE - NEVER SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!

Posted by FooloftheShip (# 15579) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS TO GO, PEOPLE - NEVER SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!

Thanks for that, WW. I shall start limbering up my Xmas*-ignoring muscles now.

* please note that Xmas and Christmas are very different things.

Posted by JoannaP (# 4493) on :

I've already had two catalogues with Christmas cards in. [Frown]

Posted by Vulpior (# 12744) on :

I just closed this thread, after noting a recent post and reading it, only to see that the top of my Twitter timeline was a post that read:

quote:
For f***'s sake, Woolworths, it's AUGUST

The image linked was this one.

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

You see, my warning is a timely one!

Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :

quote:
Originally posted by JoannaP:
I've already had two catalogues with Christmas cards in.

Got my first charity Christmas card catalogue more than three weeks ago.
Christmas cards were being displayed in local charity shops straight after the jubilee weekend.
[Roll Eyes]

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

I suppose that means people will start thinking about circulating menus for office Christmas lunches shortly: I checked last week and some menus are available now.

We always used to have to sort it out in September because the restaurants got booked up pretty quickly, and it always seemed bizarre sitting there on a warm, sunny September day trying to make a decision on what you'd be in the mood for eating on a cold winter's day in December. These days we tend to leave it until rather later in the day, as nobody can stand the hassle of organizing it any more (which means choices are sometimes defined by what places still have space available).

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

I have started making my Christmas wrapping paper.

[Big Grin]

Does that make you [Projectile]

?

Hehe!

Posted by daisydaisy (# 12167) on :

Nope - only because I've already made most of my cards and am busy knitting in readiness. [Devil]

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

No - I bought several rolls of wrapping paper a couple of years ago which will do for probably the next 5 years.

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :

Ok, Ok - we're off for a week next week and then I'll start the Secret Santa lists. HINT:This will give people plenty of time to register, be allocated a Santee, get a present and post it so it arrives before Christmas! [Paranoid]

Posted by Surfing Madness (# 11087) on :

I made my first Christmas decoration of the year tonight!

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

quote:
Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
Ok, Ok - we're off for a week next week and then I'll start the Secret Santa lists. HINT:This will give people plenty of time to register, be allocated a Santee, get a present and post it so it arrives before Christmas!

Hope springs eternal!

and

Deadliners of the World Unite!

[Two face]

Posted by jacobsen (# 14998) on :

Hey, my Rumtopf is full and festering nicely. After six weeks, can I start to eat it? Please please please, can I? Can I?

RE- cabbage, - shredded and lightly steamed, with butter, lemon juice and freshly ground black pepper. Channel Isles butter with sea salt crystals is particularly good.

I shall be sending the cards I bought but couldn't find last year, and which resurfaced during decluttering this summer. If I can remember where I put them. [Eek!]

Posted by Deputy Verger (# 15876) on :

Jacobsen,

I reckon, especially if this is your first-ever Rumtopf, given that you have plenty of time to make another, it is well in order to call this one an experimental taste-test. After all, if six weeks is good, 12 will be twice as good, right?

I'm happy to help... [Biased]

Posted by Ferdzy (# 8702) on :

I was grumbling about all the stores that had Halloween stuff out in the last week or two, and then today we went to Costco.

That's right.

They have Christmas stuff out on display already.

[Killing me]

Posted by Campbellite (# 1202) on :

My wife LOVES Christmas. We came to an agreement that Christmas could not begin any earlier than (US) Labor Day. That is this coming Monday.

She still has a half dozen little mangers (creches) out from LAST Christmas. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Meg the Red (# 11838) on :

Christmas ribbon and paper appeared in our local Costco in mid-July. And one of my co-workers and I have already made plans for a workplace cookie exchange. I dibsed these chocolate snowballs - if you use butter instead of shortening and omit the nuts, they taste just like chocolate donut holes. (Hmm - a test batch may be in order [Biased]

)

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

THREE MONTHS AND COUNTING!!!

Posted by Taliesin (# 14017) on :

I'm actually living in baby jesus land, which is weird. Everything is manger this, star that and angel the other thing. Apparently the whole place turns into a circus for December. Thank God I'll be gone by then!

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :

But can still take part in secret santa! The thread is up and running.

Posted by Taliesin (# 14017) on :

so is there anywhere else with no postal service? If I lived here, I couldn't be part of secret santa. Are there any shipmates living here, who'd like a present before I go home??

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :

I went to our local discount store and got some GREAT Christmas presents - 4 London themed china mugs for 0,95€ each; a mini coffee maker & 2 espresso cups for 3,95€; a tiny tea tray, mug, tealeaf globe and holder for 2,95€; a pair of salad servers for 2,90€ and a couple of lovely scarves for 2€ each. I was buying things without really knowing who they were for because they were SUCH GOOD VALUE!!!

Posted by The Intrepid Mrs S (# 17002) on :

I'm finding that all this de-cluttering is ruining my Christmas- and birthday-present shopping. After getting rid of so much Stuff, now I only buy what someone has specifically requested, or something they will use up (eat/drink/spray on themselves). Makes it very much more difficult though (see Dormouse's post, above)!

Mrs. S, scratching her head and looking puzzled [Confused]

Posted by Roseofsharon (# 9657) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Dormouse:
got some GREAT Christmas presents - 4 London themed china mugs for 0,95€ each

Gosh, that's a thought - there's a load of Jubilee/London 2012
'stuff' around at reduced prices for those who've got people in foreign parts to buy presents for.

[ 28. September 2012, 11:13: Message edited by: Roseofsharon ]

Posted by ecumaniac (# 376) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Roseofsharon:

quote:
Originally posted by Dormouse:
got some GREAT Christmas presents - 4 London themed china mugs for 0,95€ each
Gosh, that's a thought - there's a load of Jubilee/London 2012
'stuff' around at reduced prices for those who've got people in foreign parts to buy presents for.

To be honest, they all sound like the sort of things I'd put straight in the "charity shop" box as soon as the gifter had gone home.

Posted by Dormouse (# 5954) on :

I can understand what you mean, Ecumaniac, but I have the mugs for a French friend who is an Anglophile - she loves English tea, so I thought the mugs would be a good gift. They are tasteful - I'd quite like to keep them!

Posted by Thyme (# 12360) on :

Has anyone else noticed that if you hover the mouse over the scroll button on the post history underneath the post a reply box, or on the blue area next to the scroll button and sof logo - pause for breath, are you with me? - a little message says 'roll on Christmas'? If you click on the link it takes you to the Gadgets for God page.

[Big Grin]

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :

Just think, my little dears! Just 35 days to go!

Have you finished your Christmas preparations yet? Is Christmas musik bubbling away in the background as you type?

More importantly, and seriously, is your Christmas pudding ready?

Never despair! Marks and Spencer to your rescue! Or Walmart. Or someone else better organised.

Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :

I've planned one of my Christmas presents during November. By my standards that's superb forward planning.

Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :

quote:
Originally posted by jedijudy:

quote:
Originally posted by ken:
Today is anti-Christmas Day!
It's called Leon. My nephew's birthday is today, the very best time to have one. Six months later you have Christmas! Not like some of us who have to wait eleven and a half months after the birthday for Christmas.

I have a December birthday and I hate it. [Roll Eyes]

It's a pain for friends and family having to think about buying a present when they're trying to concentrate on Christmas and when you try to go out to celebrate everyone's doing holly and crackers. Last year my birthday was jiggered completely, due to a family bereavement, and we celebrated my half birthday in June. It was great. Henceforth I plan to be like the queen and have two birthdays every year. [Big Grin]

I do love Christmas! [Axe murder]

I don't do much about it until December but the anticipation... the lights... the tree... the carols...

I have a dilemma this year. We've always gone to friends for drinks at midday on Christmas Day and had our meal around 5.30pm; it's so lovely, candles, carols, lights... Then we clear up the kitchen and have Christmas pudding (shop bought [Biased]

) and more wine at around 9pm.

This year Nenlet1 and her husband, who got married in the spring and live quite close by, have said they want Christmas morning and lunch on their own together and then will have open house in the afternoon. So when do we have our meal? Lunchtime is awkward as we're with our friends. Evening is awkward as we'll be out in the afternoon at Nenlet1's. Unless we eat really late on Christmas Day and we'll be stuffed with food by then and won't really want it. [Ultra confused]

Such a dilemma. What routine do other people have on the day?

Nen - just starting to feel festive. [Smile]

Posted by Boogie (# 13538) on :

I have started writing the cards to be posted today - this will be the first time I've posted them second class since I had my children!

[Big Grin]

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :

It can't be nearly Christmas yet - the Haggis Hunt hasn't started - or has it and I haven't noticd?

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :

quote:
Originally posted by St. Gwladys:
It can't be nearly Christmas yet - the Haggis Hunt hasn't started - or has it and I haven't noticd?

The Haggis season starts on St Andrews Day, November 30th. The season closes on January 25th, Burns' Night.

Posted by St. Gwladys (# 14504) on :

Just wrapped my first present and written my first card - well, it has to go to my American "daughter" in Texas for her little girl, and I'd like it to get there before Christmas.

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