Good Morning Thursday (Christmas Eve)

Good morning All from a frosty Polmont. Lots of busy people this morning and lovely seasonal photos. I'm off out shortly to buy cream etc and sourdough bread. I hope you all have a lovely Christmas.

Good morning Mick and all GMs. Welcome newbies to this lovely thread.
Had a busy day yesterday which ended with A Muppet Christmas Carol watch with DD and DGSs
Today will have a quick visit to mum and dad for more present exchange and to wish them a socially distant happy Christmas. A long walk is planned to wear out dog, and DGSs. Some housework and another present exchange with xH and xMIL (who usually come to us for Christmas dinner)
DH has the butcher order collection and dig some veg from allotment jobs.
We shall be glad to sit down for our Zoom family Christmas quiz this evening.
Hope everyone enjoys Christmas Eve and can make the best of what it is.

Good morning to you lovely people. I'm not a poster on this thread but thought I'd make Christmas Eve the day I do! Same here, Lucretzia.

Good morning and happy Christmas Eve to all of you.

I was expecting a quiet one, what with no hosting to do tomorrow and all. But it turns out I have a telephone physio appointment in 30 minutes, two family walks, a treasure hunt still to prepare and to zoom to the DGS at teatime, then I’m the quizmaster for our family quiz tonight. In and amongst I’ve cranberry sauce, bread sauce, trifle and some little Christmas parcel cakes to make or finish off for tomorrow. I think I’d better get up now.

Best wishes to you all, whatever your plans for the day.

Happy Christmas Eve Mick and all. There's a glimmer of light in the sky over the Angus coast and it looks as if it might be going to be fair. But it is definitely Brrrrrr!
Thank you for the pictures Ash, Grandmattie and Kitty, and so glad you're feeling better Urms. It's like a cloud being lifted, isn't it.
And welcome to Lucretia. Lovely to have you with us.
I have a really busy day ahead and now, after a very disturbed night's sleep, I shall have to try to fit in a nap in the afternoon - I don't want to fall asleep as soon as DS1 arrives this evening! After the necessary enforced clamp down, it's been an uphill struggle to try to create a Christmas-at-home in three days. I did manage to keep my hair appointment though. Priorities!
Enjoy a peaceful, cosy and happy Christmas Eve everyone. Just one more sleep! ??????

Good morning from the NE where it is snowing and we have a good covering. I can't remember the last time it snowed at Christmas.
I did some cooking and then finished my novel while DH lay down for the afternoon.
No shopping today, we bought bread, milk and fresh vegatables yesterday, next delivery 30 th December.
Wishing you all a peaceful day.

Good Morning Christmas Eve Mick and Goodmorningers, old and new from a very frosty Glasgow.
I'm just awaiting DS, who has gone to pick up my turkey for me from the butchers. This is the first time in forty three years, I have neither taken my late mother nor gone myself. Changed times indeed.

I'm like a half shut knife, having been up half the night, feeling a wee bit unwell. However, the bonus is, I'm now au fait with all the latest technology gifts, having watched an IT programme at 3am! I told you I was a geek!
One of the suggested gifts was a basic Make a home TV studio pack, so watch this space, I may be setting up my own GN channel in the near future!

I had a lovely day yesterday. DD came and as I was very tired, I roped her into doing housework not her forte and making the stuffing for the turkey. It was my grandmother's recipe and I wanted to pass it on.
I was trying not to laugh when she tried to ask subtly for my tablet recipe (just in case) and assurance that I ddin't give it to my future DIL because my she would most certainly make it better than DD.

My oldest friend appeared with a gift, then DD opened the door later and another gift was on the doorstep from an ex colleague. Just as the Tesco delivery arrived, (worry over), my sister in law arrived with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. A lovely day of surprises.

DD and DH dealt with the Tesco order, but the driver had just left when I discovered someone's turkey breast in our order. This would mean that some poor customer would be deprived of their Christmas dinner. ?
I immediately phoned customer services to alert them and said that I knew that normally they won't take back fresh food that has been mistakenly deliveried, but this was someone's Christmas dinner.
I ended up having a three way conversation with the call centre agent on the landline and the driver on my mobile. After explaining I had been shielding, so no chance of having Covid and that the turkey had been put immediately in the fridge, the driver gratefully came back for it.
It wasn't until later, I discovered the biscuits for the Malteser cheesecake base were missing! Disaster!!! ? C'est la vie!

We havee always gone to Midnight Mass, which I'm very much involved in, so we will watch an online service at 6pm. My nephew in London has requested a video call at 4pm. I have tried to pre-empt his predicted request to ask his mum for Christmas dinner. I will sadly explain why she can't be in our home. I'm not looking forward to it at all.
Wishing you all have a pleasant, stressless day. My apologies for yet another lengthy novella! .

What a laugh you gave me Beauregard. I have to tell you our modest end of terrace house, with a fab view over the Thames Valley, is not up for sale. In the winter without leaves on the trees with my long distance glasses on, you can see the Thames floating by. As Kirsty and Phil would say ‘Location Location’. ??

Good morning all from the Scottish Borders. It seems warm here I left the heating on overnight by mistake

I'm having a Christmas cake disaster. The almond paste hasn't hardened and the almonds didn't grind properly. Should I scrape it all off and leave it un-iced? I'm supposed to be taking it to DD's tomorrow.

On a happier note: DS, who came back to help care for his dying father (and me) has been reunited with his family in NZ after 14 days quarantine.
I feel for those lorry drivers in Kent too.
Hello Lucretzia and Kim
Love the decoration grandMattie
Glad you are almost recovered Urmston
I hope you are on the mend pantglas

Happy Christmas everyone wherever you are.

Good morning Mick and all. Cold and dry here on the S Welsh coast. Mr Lins has taken the puppy for a walk but he brought me a cup of tea first, he's well trained.
Welcome Lucretzia.
Our local butcher delivered a turkey crown and pigs in blankets yesterday, looking forward to that. An easy day today, only the veg to clean and a walk later.
Thinking of all those in pain and feeling low. Keep safe everyone.

Posted too soon.
Weather permitting we have a ‘neighbours on the drive’ mini event at 3 pm.

Hope you all find a ?today.

Good morning Mick and All.

A cold, hopefully bright day here in South Bucks.

Love all the attached pictures especially the one of Mary and Joseph, thank you Ashcombe.

Our eldest DGS FaceTimed us yesterday to say he was sad we couldn’t be with him at Christmas but that he was over the moon to find his Christmas wish had been answered - 2 kittens for him and his bro. We were laughing and crying in equal measures.

Welcome Lucretzia you have come to the right thread for friendship.

Tomorrow I have invited a lone neighbour to come round for a glass or fizz or a hot drink. We will be sitting on the green in front of our house in 2 socially distanced chairs, in the freezing cold, wrapped up in our warmest clothes. We will certainly remember this Tier 4 Covid Christmas for a long time to come.

Good Morning. After the deluge yesterday it looks better outside. DD2 s garden was flooded but luckily she has a good step up to the house so no water got in.

Normally on Christmas Eve the house would be full of all the family. We’d all be buzzing around preparing for tomorrow and then eating out this evening.

Today will be much scaled down with just the two of us. We will collect a smaller Turkey and ham from the farm shop. Afterwards a quick driveway visit to DD3 and DD2 to drop off a few goodies. Will see younger DGS but I expect he will be excited today .
DH and I will have a takeaway this evening from the restaurant we would normally visit.

We’ll make the best of it all .

Good Morning all from East Staffordshire where it is still dark and feels cold.
Was awoken at 6.30 by the recycling truck, (oh dear my bin wasn’t out!) I got up and put it out and luckily as I am at the end of the estate they got it on the way out!
Yesterday we had a very wet picnic with DS, DDiL and DGS. My I was impressed with DS spread though, we sheltered in a bird hide for lunch! How did my children grow up so quickly, it was like being out with ‘grown ups’!!!!
A few jobs to do today, a quick visit to the care home front door to say hi to DFiL. A visit to the local shop to get some bread bit other than that I am watching TV all day.
Take care everyone and stay safe❤️ Have the best Christmas you can muster and smile as much as you can.xx

Good morning all from Stockport.

A very strange Christmas Eve for many of us I think.
No rushing round with last minute preparations for me, two reasons, I am past rushing about for anything and secondly nothing to prepare for, as in days long ago.
I haven’t been in a shop for nearly a year, not seen my D and GC since January and life has taken on a whole new pattern.

I wish you all a contented day and a lovely evening.

Morning Mick and all from a dry but dark north Wales where I’m enjoying the chamberpot ☕️ and listing things to do - culinary wise?‍?

Welcome to Lucretzia and Kim19 to the bestest thread, lovely to have newbies join in as some regulars are missing in action! I thought I’d missed Grandmafrench, Urmstongran- hope she hasn’t gone on a ‘trip’ - like me ?

As an aside, can I recommend Elemis SOS cream for cuts and grazes - I’m no longer the scabby dog ? and that Botox effect didn’t last!

Your Mediterranean festive table sounds lovely Susan56 - I do something similar when we Xmas at mi casa in Spain- send us a pic tomorrow before you scoff and quaff!

I’ll pop back later to read everyone’s doings......

Good Morning everyone from Severnside. Thank goodness it looks like it is drying up.

Your Christmas table sounds lovely Susan.
I’m glad you’re feeling better Urm and your house value always raises a smile from me.

I think it’ll be a day of gathering things up ready for tomorrow and trying to keep relaxed.

Thinking of you all ?

Good morning Mick, morning all from S Lanarkshire where it’s dry but cold as far as I can tell.

I had a disaster yesterday with the ham I was cooking for DD. For some reason I didn’t notice that it wasn’t encased in netting, nor tied in any way as is usual. I was cooking it on the hob with the intention of glazing and finishing off in the oven however after I drained the water the ham just fell apart. Not only that but the fat and rind slid off the meat leaving me with several large chunks of very tasty boiled ham but it’s a million miles away from the impressive glazed centrepiece I usually cook. I’m now rushing out to the supermarket for a replacement

Hope everyone has a peaceful Christmas Eve.

Good morning mick and all from Inverness where irs turned much colder and it’s a frosty icy start to the day. There’s a bit of snow in the forecast for today so will see if we get a white Christmas...
A very warm welcome to Kim and Lucretzia I hope you enjoy waking up to this lovely thread each morning.
So pleased you’re feeling much better today urmston
Today I might pop into town for a walk by the river as there’s lovely Christmas lights to enjoy. I could pop in somewhere for a last Christmas coffee before everything closes here, the same as many other places, for at least 3 weeks on Boxing Day. This evening we’re getting together with our neighbours on our doorsteps similar to what we did in the first lockdown on Thursday evenings. There’s a couple of neighbours playing musical instruments and we’ve all been given carol singing sheets to join in! Bring your own mulled wine and hot water bottles to keep warm - should be fun!
Hope everyone facing any worries and struggles has a kind gentle day today and finds something, however small to enjoy.
Take care all whatever the day brings ?

Good morning all from a dry but cold Derbyshire.

Still lots to do today as we didn't get the cleaning and tidying done yesterday. Then I have a gammon to slow cook, presents to deliver and a too good to go bag to collect from a local bakers. Later we'll set the table and do some of the prep for tomorrow. Tonight's dinner will be what has become a Christmas Eve tradition for us over the years - cheesy leek and ham bake with jacket potatoes - not sure what started it, probably because it can be prepared in advance and cooked later.

Glad you're feeling so much better Urms just in time for Christmas.
Hopefully Grandmafrench will be along later. Perhaps she's been called upon to give some of her sound advice to Pres. Macron. Seems to have helped!
NanKate thank you for offering to sell me your house (in my strange dream last night!!). Unfortunately Urms I woke up before I found out it's value!!

Hope Christmas Eve is a good day for all.

Good morning from Essex by the sea where it is still dark, but my goodness it was windy during the night.
I had two lovely surprises yesterday, a box of flowers from DD2 and then about half an hour later a parcel of goodies from DD1. I had a few tears as I haven't seen either of them for months and I miss them and my granddaughters very much.
The gammon was cooked yesterday evening and now resides in the cool utility room along with myriad boxes of sweets and biscuits.
We are hoping to get out for a walk later this morning, so long as we don't get blown away.
Have a happy Christmas Eve everyone ??? xx

Good morning and happy Christmas Eve Mick and the GM team from east London where it is pitch dark.

The grocery delivery arrived safely, with everything we had ordered, except pigs in blankets. They had been substituted with chicken wings!! I hate chicken wings.

It’s so nice to read about everyone’s plans for present deliveries and meet ups. I especially loved Kittys ‘I must nip next door with 2 chocolate elves...’

Lots of kitchen bits for me today. The presents are all wrapped and safely delivered. There’s quite a significant pile under our tree too.
We’re having Confit Duck with red wine and cranberry sauce for supper this evening, with a bottle of something nice.
Christmas Day for two and some family zoom tomorrow.

Thinking of those with worries and poorly loved ones. Hope Maryd and Cherry had a good night. Hope Iris has a fun day today. Good morning gilly. Have a good day, all. ?

Just had a peek out. My goodness, the cars are so white and it's not snow. Thank heavens for my CH. Definitely linger a while longer in bed now. Oh yessss.

Good morning from Shropshire.It feels much colder this morning so still in bed waiting for the heating to come on before I go down to make a cuppa.

Welcome Lucretzia??

We finally finished the Christmas jigsaw so the dining table is now free and I can get it ready for tomorrow.I have a lovely festive tablecloth we bought in Sorrento many years ago and napkins from Tenerife.I have always bought an ornament for the tree from wherever we have been on holiday so lots of good times to remember.

DGS is thankfully starting to feel better?

Hope that Grandmafrench is ok and that Cherry and Mary both had a restful night, also that Mr Doodle is continuing to improve.

Thinking of all our absent good morningers and wishing everyone the best day possible.

I'm in the far north, U, and my house is undoubtedly worth millions!! Merry Christmas!

Urms, you forgot to ask me how much Chateau Mattie cost? Well, FYI it’s about £2.5m, set in glorious Kent countryside. Bob Geldof is a near neighbour as is Barry MacGuigan. (I wish)?