Warning……SMUG alert, Christmas prep.

I would say you're a "sad little control freak" ... but only because I'm jealous! Well done you!

Sago, Thanks for the recipe.

I so admire you Monica, maybe because I do the same, lol! Drives most of my family nuts though because I want to plan things so far in advance. However, I would much rather have a plan in place and be prepared to deviate from it than flounder around last minute and be at a loss what to do next...

Perhaps there should be society for inveterate list makers. I also have spread sheets. I have a Christmas spread sheet, brought up on the computer every October, which guides me all the way to Christmas, not to mention the present archive that makes sure I do not give someone the same present several year's running.

I could go on, but I won't.

I think I can go one better. Not only have I cooked all my mince pies, I have eaten them too.

Photo

Trial run today with nut roast. Turned out rather dark and feels crumbly. I might have to try a different recipe after Sunday's tasting.

Mapleleaf if I didn't have a notebook I think our house would come to a standstill, I'm glad to meet another list maker. My SIL much younger than me is a Mrs Hincher and she makes lists as well so maybe it's not the Senior moments but that we are really up to date.

Presents are bought, cards are done and what food I can buy in advance is sorted. Still all the wrapping to do and to put up the tree, but that happens in December. I like December to be stress free so I can enjoy the run up to the big day by having a couple of lunches and coffees with friends. I normally live to go to the Christmas Market in Belfast, but giving it a miss this year as it gets very busy.

Already feasted on M&S mince pies and eaten some of their individual Christmas puds plus some chocolates meant to be a stocking filler. No point me being too organised foodwise or it will just get eaten.

I like to be organised too! My DD is hosting Christmas this year and when I offered to bake, gave me a list of stuff. Have now finished and have made:
Mince pies
Sausage rolls
Christmas cake
Christmas pudding
Cooked and frozen a large ham.

I enjoyed doing it, gave me something to do!

Have also got all the Christmas presents bar one.

Mince pies in Iceland (best buy in recent survey) and mincemeat is maturing in fridge. Have 3 freezers yet no way would be able to store all the food mentioned by Sago. Well done for being so organised. You should present one of those popular at the moment programmes on tv and show the folk how to organise their home.

Ooh dear, It's just the midwinter point - marking Yule and the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. If people are going to spurn you because you forget a card or haven't enough of some fancy food or other its a sad old world.

No just organised.Presents got, cards abroad sent.Tyrkey ordered l buy bits each week and put bye Unfortunatly we have scoffed a tub of chocolates need to replace them.

There is nothing smug about being sensible.

Well, just having read this thread I realise that I’m an utter failure in the Christmas stakes. Also finding it really hard to give a **. I’m like you georgesgran, I don’t know why I don’t like it and I strap on my festive face so hopefully no one knows I’m longing for January!

I’ve got about two thirds of the presents but need to buy some non glittery/plastic wrapping paper. About to start writing cards.
The only cooking I’ve done so far is the Christmas cake which this year is an experiment. Trying to save on energy I’ve baked it in the slow cooker. I have an ancient large six litre slow cooker which comfortably took the cake, in its tin, placed on a trivet with an inch or two of water in the bottom to stop the pot from cracking. It was done in three hours, about the same as the oven but much cheaper. It looks and smells good but I’ll have to wait to see how it tastes.

Well done to you, I wish I could be more organised. I do admire you.

Cake always made in the summer, pudding on Stir up Sunday, presents bought for my Australian relatives, most things bought for granddaughter. There are two Guinea Fowl in the freezer and some pigs in blankets. Some cards written. I will wrap the Australian presents this weekend and post them on Monday. Everything else… I don’t really feel properly Christmassy until December.

I’ve been a Bah Humbug doe years - I’ve tried to analyze why, but I’m none the wiser. An only child, I had lovely Christmases with Gran and Aunt living close by - it really is a mystery.
So, in reply - well done Sago - can I send you my list please?
Nothing bought yet, no cards to hand and my Sister in Law’s coming 10/12 to do a present swap! Roll on 2022.

There was one Christmas ages ago when I was frantically working to a deadline and didn’t so much as think of any prep at all until 10th December. With a lot of presents to buy, cards to write, decorations, not to mention 10 here for dinner.
Never again!

But the worst ‘last minute’ was probably when we were living in Oman, and because I worked at the airport, we were able to get very cheap standby tickets home for Christmas. So couldn’t tell any family in advance, in case the plane was full.

But we made it - arriving in London late afternoon on the 23rd.
I was then 6 months pregnant, and had just Christmas Eve to scour the shops for presents for everybody - there were a lot!

No doubt this accounts for the nightmares I used to have about suddenly realising that it was 4pm on Christmas Eve and I hadn’t bought a single thing, no,presents, no tree, nothing!
Thankfully I haven’t had that one for a while now.

Another thread proving how different we all are (and a good thing too). I just don’t understand all this fuss. As another poster mentioned, it’s not even Advent…
Christmas happens with the least effort I can muster and is very pleasurable. Modest gifts, the meal just a roast really, presents wrapped in already used paper from last year etc.
It’s usually men who are castigated for my their last minute attitude to gift buying, so maybe I should have been born a man.?

Sorry posted on wrong thread

Mind you last Christmas teetered on the edge of disaster. It was my turn to host the family do. In October I ordered the 7.5 kilo turkey, 1.5 kilo gammon, and in early Novemeber made cake, puddings and mincemeat.

Then, of course we had a lockdown over Christmas, which reduced the party to 3 and then DH had a heart attack, which reduced the party to DD and myself.

DD does not like dried fruit, so there was only one person left to eat the cake, pudding and great heap of mince pies. As all hospital visiting had stopped we could not take DH any.

DD and I decided, no matter what to do Christmas in style and sat at the fully laid up and festive dinner table, peeping at each other over the huge turkey that occupied the table between us. On Boxing Day I cut it in half and froze half, hoping that we would be able to get together in the months after Christmas - no that didn't happen either, and DH was still very ill when he was discharged and didn't feel like eating and didn't regain his appetite for about 6 weeks.

The turkey was finally finished over the May Bank holiday.

GrannyLaine

With you on that one Calistemon.

Except........ bought each the family cats a cracker pack of Dreamies from Home Bargains today. Priorities etc.....

I've been looking for presents for the dog - I know my priorities! ?