Ask the Person Below You a Question: Thread Four! Countdown to C********! ?

Yes, and we watched our favourite yesterday - The Muppets Christmas Carol

Will you tune in to the Queen's Speech on Christmas Day?

Most probably. Or at least record it.

Are you good at opening tins and bottles etc? I have endless problems with this.

I have a gadget to open bottles and open ring pull tins using a teaspoon.

Do you find carrying heavy items more difficult as you get older.

Yes. I walk with a stick so carrying anything in both hands is a no no. To take something up or downstairs I have to put it into a bag with long handles. Life can be a bitch.

Do you ever buy christmas or birthday presents for pets?

My nephew is buying his cat a present for christmas.

Yes,a catnip mouse and Sheba. Also a dangling toy fish on a string which sends her loopy. Catnip again.

What was your favourite childhood sandwich?
(Jam butty?)

Mashed egg and tomato mixed with salad cream made by my Mum. They don’t taste the same made by anyone else.

Have you ever thrown a surprise party for anyone ?

Yes a milestone Birthday party for my other half. It went off brilliantly and he said he had no idea about it.

Would you complain if restaurant service or meals were poor?

It would have to be really bad. I hate complaining. I'm such a wimp!

Do you like surprises? How do you react?

Good ones, yes!
Gosh, I haven't had any for awhile. Depends on the surprise, but I'm introvert rather than extrovert so I don't jump around.
But, if someone surprises me by, say, jumping out and going 'BOO'! then I generally scream then laugh!

Will you, Covid permitting, be having guests round for Christmas or/& New Years Eve?

Depends. We are doing the cooking for part of our family, but whether it gets delivered on a plate at the table or boxed up like takeaway and delivered in an insulated carrier remains to be seen. 4 adults all from different work places and 2 teenagers fresh from school - what a mixture of infection that will be. But then, they were with us for dinner last Sunday.

Would you do more exercise to avoid medication?
A man has daily walked/run up and down our steep hill since the start of lockdown. He now looks much fitter and says he no longer needs medication for class2 diabetes.

That's great, I loathe exercise but if it gets such good results it's obviously worth the effort. I think I'd do the same.

For those with cars - do you have any dangly things on your rear view mirror?

No I find them a distraction.

Do you enjoy the run up to Christmas? I like Christmas Day but the few weeks before I find tedious. Lots more traffic. Queues in shops and wondering what to get for presents.

As I’m a last minute person and try to keep things simple, it doesn’t bother me too much. I’ve been known to pop into the village on Xmas Eve for all sorts. When we had a really good chemist with a wonderful array of goods, I ticked off most of my presents. (Apparently this is a male thing so maybe I’m the wrong sex!)

You have 30 minutes to spend £10,000 in one store.
Which do you choose?
(Harvey Nicks)

Poundland!! ?

Are you really looking forward to Christmas?
(I’m not)

Not really - I just go through the paces, it’s a ritual….Family get-together today in a nice hotel, from where I’m posting this. Adults tolerating each other. Teenagers, not really wanting to be there. Cranky toddlers, who’d rather be at home, playing with their toys. I wanted a nice photo of all of us - but didn’t manage to get that.
And I paid for it all….?? Actually, it was ok.

Not a lot. I find all the fuss rather over the top. But I am hoping my son and partner will be able to spend it with me.

What do you hope for most in 2022?

I hope that covid will become no worse than a cold and we can all enjoy having no restrictions on our lives.

Do you order presents online or buy from the shops?

A mixture, online shopping is handy for specified larger presents, but I enjoy buying stocking fillers and some smaller items in the shops.

Anyone you love or admire born in December?
(My DD)

My nephew was born in december and he does a lot for me.

Have you ever walked out of a family get together after a row?

I walked out on the night after my father's funeral. got a taxi into the city center and stayed in a hotel because there were not trains back to my city. The rest of my family had no idea I had gone they thought I had gone to bed.

No, can't say I have though I have thought about it sometimes in the past.

Do you still wear high heels or have you gone with flatties?

I have never worn very high heels. Kitten heels are probably the highest I’ve had. Mainly flat these days

Have you or are you planning to go to any public Christmas displays or events ?

Was thinking about it, then Omicron arrived, so definitely no .

Apart from Covid, has 2021 been a good or bad year for you?

A good year for us. We gained a beautiful granddaughter in February and our daughter and her partner got engaged a few months ago. So we have a wedding to look forward to next April (hopefully that is)

Would you choose to live in the country or the town?

We had previously lived in a large town north of London. Noise, dirt, litter, cars, cars and grumpy people. Now we are in SW Wales, semi rural. Clean air , space and people who will stop and talk. Best move ever.
Do you have a favourite gateau.? Mine is Black Forest.

Lemon drizzle especially home made.

Are you planning any meals out over Christmas? ( as long as we still can by then)