This Christmas I learnt........

I learned not to be a snob about frozen food. Iceland Luxury Frozen Turkey Crown had come out best in a blind tasting on TV and also top in Good Housekeeping. So I bit the bullet, bought the turkey crown and cooked it according to Iceland's instructions. No more garlic and parsley butter smoothed under the skin, or streaky bacon rashers adorning the breast.
Result - it was yummy. Turkey sandwiches the next day, still moist, followed by turkey and ham pie the following day. Carcass and scraps made a delicious turkey and veg soup. And all at half the price for what I would have paid for a Fresh Turkey Crown.

I learned that having to postpone the full Xmas celebration was OK. Our son tested positive for covid the Monday before Xmas (2 days before he was due to have his booster!) and was keeping himself hidden away in his room to protect husband and I. I was putting his meals on a tray on the landing outside of his room and scuttling back downstairs before he came out. We decided we would wait until he was clear to come out of hiding to do Xmas dinner and all the works, as it seemed wrong that he would be alone in his room having his meal on a tray. He was also very down at being apart from his girlfriend, who tested negative. Having cheese toasties for Xmas lunch felt a bit odd, but actually postponing Xmas Dinner until the start of this week was fine, I wasn't running in and out of the kitchen so a much easier day. The icing on the cake, quite apart from the fact he is clear now, was his comment "I thought I was going to have a horrible Xmas, but Mum and Dad, you have made it all OK for me, thank you". Aww, love him!

That none of us eat as much as we used to, and to remind DH what we've ordered from M&S so he doesn't make his own!

He managed to make sausage rolls, boiled a ham and made mince pies, despite chosing the order with me

That it really was worth buying a few things from the Dukeshill catalogue that I’ve drooled over for years but never bought from. We don’t have M&S or Waitrose within 30 miles and it was all wonderful! A real treat.

That the best laid plans of mice and (wo)men ..... can be foiled (once again) by covid.
We haven't seen our grandchildren for 18 months, and the whole family were due to descend upon us at last on Boxing Day. Until our daughter texted 4 days before to say she had tested positive ... Oh well, maybe in the New Year!

I learned that if I am invited to a Christmas party which is going to be attended by someone's Grandad, to refuse politely. Suddenly all the younger guests had decamped to the kitchen/diner, and I was sitting alone on the sofa with a 92 year old man who had forgotten to put on his hearing aids.
I had planned on making a strategic exit, once the party reached the noisy, out of tune singing stage. A few times the old chap's son popped his head in and asked if he was ok/did he want anything/did he want to leave? Each time he was told that he didn't want to spoil their fun, or break up the party.
I didn't have the heart to abandon him, so it was almost midnight before I made my escape. My head was buzzing from listening to the party racket for 5 hours, and my b** mas numb from sitting for so long.
Next Christmas I will, I think, party alone! ?

I learnt that when cooking Christmas lunch and letting everyone help themselves to take out roast potatoes for myself first so that I’m not left with the smallest, least crispy roasties, lol!

I learned that i can't be all things to all people and sometimes you just have to step back.

This Christmas I learned that if I leave the par boiled potatoes in the fridge and forget to roast them no one goes hungry :-)

Also going 10 pin bowling with DGD on the 27th after years of not doing it left me with a sore shoulder and a pain in the b*m but it was a fun thing to do.

jane1956

that son and daughter in law are really ungrateful and put £50 gucci perfume and £50 gucci aftershave/giftset on ebay on Christmas day.

Wow! Bet that stung, Jane

Just a card next year, then. With maybe a tenner in it?

I make my own, it is very different from shop bought and so easy to make. Must see if I can buy some more cranberries!

I have discovered if you transfer a large pot of yoghurt into a glass jar it lasts for ages in the fridge.

I am group O and I'm fine with peanuts and peanut butter.