mince pies in shops already

Our Home Bargains branch has had several aisles of C……… merchandise for a couple of weeks already. Really annoying as some ordinary items are no longer available. Love Home Bargains though.

Oh Golly, that reminds me that I must start accumulating Christmas cake ingredients. Usually make 3 at round about half term.

Yes I noticed Christmas displays a couple of weeks ago in Costco - and now in local Sainsburys and cards in all the Charity shops too. I have to be mega organised this year as DD2 gets married on 11th December and the rest of the family are coming over from Australia from end of November til early January (staying with us!) - so will get cards done before they arrive. I confess I have already bought a few presents, if I see things I think people would like I buy them. But however much planning I do I am sure I will still be wrapping presents on 24th December!

A Christmas tree and other lights up in the lobby of a hotel spotted yesterday. Cards, yes, everywhere. Haven’t spotted mince pies yet but then I don’t look for them as I too never buy them.
Any day now our branch of John Lewis will clear away the outdoor furniture, BBQs etc and the area will be magically transformed with trees, decs etc. Just as the summer weather is returning!!

I was offered £20 off a £60 purchase with Very, l didn't want anything inparticular but thought it was yo good an offer to ignore so l bought some Nintendo switch games that l knew my grandsons would love for presents Christmas presents. Guilty of thinking of Christmas already sorry 🤶

I've seen Chrismas cards in my local Oxfam Charity shop recenly - also loads of Chrismas suff in B & M when I was in there yesterday. I'm not amused. Who is going to be buying Christmas stuff in the heat-wave later this week - hands up.................................

I can't bear Halloween, my GC don't seem to enjoy it much, just stuff themselves with sweets.

MrsKen33

Did they ever go away?

I'm not convinced they ever do.

I love the fact that Christmas items, cards etc. are in the shops now. It helps me to budget my Christmas spending. Not sure about decorations in restaurants though.

I’ve bought all of my Christmas presents just have to prepare the handmade treats.
I think we’re looking forward to it earlier as currently life seems so miserable! 😢

Yes I saw them in Sainsbury’s yesterday 1.50 for six was a pound last year

I find it mildly offensive, as though the shops don't think end of summer and autumn events are important.
It's spoiling having seasonal treats to mark the passing of the year - I saw hot cross buns in supermarkets recently.
So no mince pie scoffing for us until December, and no hot cross buns until March/April, etc.
Absolutely NO Xmas shopping for me until mid November.
And, I do the season properly and my Xmas trimmings stay up until 12th night!

I purchased my first Christmas gift in January, people get a better present as I spend the same amount of money on an half price gift 👍

This is Spekulatius. A cinnamon-y flavoured biscuit.

I feel hungry now, you rotters 😄😄😄

Yesterday I bought a packet of Hot x Buns in M&S I couldn't resist them
They also had their special tins of sweeties & fruits in the collectable jars.
Morrisons are selling the C-------s Chocolates in 2 x tins for £7 which I buy for family gifts all far to early imo as they are so tempting to open

I love speculaas, buy them all the time as they are available year round in certain shops here. I notice Aldi has hot cross buns available year round now,too. Next thing you will be able to get all the Christmas stuff in April !

Oreo

A friend makes mincemeat and apple crumble, leaves it to go cold in it’s tray then cuts it into squares (it has a pastry base.)
It’s to die for.

This sounds lovely, will definitely have to try it. 😋

It’s getting far too commercialised in this country and it puts too much emphasis on people to buy far too much of everything. What a waste of money these Halloween outfits are.

We’ve been in Spain for Christmas and there’s far less in the shops than in this country. We are forgetting the true meaning of religious events and succumbing to the trends in the USA.

That’s very likely the reason.

I have just come back from a very large M&S.. They already have a select of Christmas decorations on display. I did consider but another little voice inside me, said No!

The only concession that I make to Christmas during autumn is to make my Christmas chutney which tastes better after a couple of months maturing and later in Oct/Nov all the ingredients for stir-up Sunday.

The rest of autumn is taken up with birthday bashes, bonfire night with family tradition of sticky chicken and chocolate fondue with dipping fruits and wafers and also we have a type of harvest supper with autumn decorations, candles and an autumn type menu.

Christmas can only start after these - usually last week or two in November .

Oreo

A friend makes mincemeat and apple crumble, leaves it to go cold in it’s tray then cuts it into squares (it has a pastry base.)
It’s to die for.

Ooh, that sounds delish! I’ve made apple and mincemeat pies, pastry top and bottom, they’re nice, too.

A friend makes mincemeat and apple crumble, leaves it to go cold in it’s tray then cuts it into squares (it has a pastry base.)
It’s to die for.

Spekulatius?
What be that please? Sounds like a character from Gladiator😄