Words that strike fear into any Brit, on a par with "We've run out of teabags."

Oh dear nyannie, guess it's just as well it did it now than Christmas Eve.

to find good birthday cards this time of year
is nearly impossible i have the same problem Hubs birthday is few days before xmas

Good luck with the shop
M&s had some nice stuff, i popped into the food court the other day

but you are not alone Lena ...... i still have a fair amount to do, no cards sent from
here yet either

keep well xxx

Always my biggest fear when I go into these shops. I always tuck my bag right under my arm and try and make myself as small as possible. It's so easily done. I'm sure the aisles are getting smaller, I find clothes shops particularly bad.

Did you look around as if to say, goodness who did that?

Off to rescue the lamb steaks, nice bit of mash, runner beans, lots of gravy and mint sauce. Sprouts for the o/h - I HATE sprouts, they stink quite frankly.

Have a good evening everyone.

I do the same thing - and I do think the aisles have been made smaller.

M&S is my final destination after the dentist today - been searching high and low for a large pannetone and a whole Stollen. There used to be a terrific deli that sold all these things, but it is now gone.

I have finished all my wrapping etc. Only have to clean the house, tackle the ironing mountain and make more things for our party.

Managed to wash floors and get some laundry done - we really do need a new washer/dryer.

Funny you should mention biscotti - I bought a large tin and I'm having it with my special Christmas tea.

Think I need to get out more as I've started singing Christmas songs out loud around the house!

Wish I were closer I'd invite myself over. I love lamb, mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. I slice them very thin and saute them in olive oil and better and throw in some bacon and chestnuts - or just saute them.

mmmm what lovely menus...

Im getting there with Christmas, some things are done, ...others not so much.

Crazy chaotic roads, loads of accidents and roadworks, both to and from work.....it seems crazy how busy everywhere ends up. Although I am probably almost as bad running errands all over the place, it will almost be a relief when we actually get to the holiday itself...

what time does everyone do their main food shop? we are planning to get up early on the Monday and go at about 6 am.....hopefully the shops will be empty......and then I can come home and have a nap.

did you know that you need 8 hours sleep a day to lose weight? My daughters learnt this at the gym. but I think they might be wrong, I try and sleep much longer than this, and never seem to lose weight!!

and we are back at the weekend again.......hurray......


off to get the xmas tree later, and decorate tomorrow....


have a lovely weekend everyone xxxx

Morning everyone.

Well, I am fed up. Washer/dryer still not working properly and other half refuses to get a new one. I have loads of sheets and towels to do this week and I really do not want to be spending £20 a load. Furious really.

Have given up on Strictly. Was surprised to see that in today's review section Strictly was considered one of the worst TV programs on TV this year.

Just watched Saturday Kitchen and the membrillo, stilton and squash tart left my mouth watering. Will print out the recipe when I finish here then on to the kitchen to make some meatballs for the party.

And it's hello from me! I see everyone's getting prepped for the Christmas festivities

I've done all the food orders and just hope that the things I want are still in stock on the day of delivery. I've placed two Ocado orders for us, and one for mum, and an order at M&S to be picked up in store. Will pick up a couple of frozen things at Cook. Don't think we'll starve!

Present shopping, now that's a different thing.....I have a few things but am now going to write my full list of things to get this week. Then will hopefully wrap them next weekend. And the following weekend......the prospective in-laws are coming to stay for a couple of days! Panic stations!!! Think I'll do a fancy casserole but that'll have to be made on Boxing Day really .....the same day as we have friends visiting. Oh joy....Seriously, I am looking forward to meeting them

Think I'd better get on...

All the best everyone. Have a good week

Lindy xx

Morning Full of cold
and family stuff has kept me away

but i,m back and about to read back

but first got a busy week ahead
lots of xmas visiting to do, also have a hair
appointment at the end of week,
got the all clear from the dentist, so just had a polish and clean.

have a few lunches also this week, so will be running around
like a crazy mad person.

hope all are good xxx

well you sound quite organised Lindy,
i keep thinking i should pre order, but never do......... in some
ways i think, i quite like the supermarket scrum

The casserole sound lovely, and what a big occasion meeting your daughters
future in laws........... when my husband greets my parents he calls them the out laws....... they all find that very funny but perhaps not the best thing to do on the first meeting

Have a good week

p.s my lips are zipped on the Liverpool result

Me to with the strictly......... i've waited for weeks
for that prat Mark Wright to be voting off, he has spoilt it for me....... i really can't stand him.... i don,t know why.

why is your husband being so difficult with the washer and dryer..... it will cost more in the
long run having to keep going to the launderette ...... i hope he is carrying it all down...
you should,t have to do that as well, with your asthma and sore feet

hope your meat ball turned out well xxx

don,t forget the rules of decorating ones xmas tree
glass ball in one hand and glass of wine in the other

have fun

wow..... doorbell just went,
parcel delivery at this time....... can you believe it

morning all....

so busy weekend decorating and getting a new car.......


What happened on strictly? I didn't see much this weekend, and last night we watched The polar express instead and then found out the recording hadn't worked!!

Love this !

And my lips are sealed on the Man U result too Just Bournemouth to come on Wednesday now, and Arsenal at the weekend Who'd be a football manager?!?

Have a good week, you mad crazy thing x

Morning all

Well, new washer/dryer out of the question - it took 5 hours to wash one load!!!! I'm changing the bed today so hope everything works.

Glad to hear everyone is organized for Christmas. After Saturday I can relax. Made some cocktail sausages with cranberry and ginger sauce yesterday and they are now in the wash. Washed chairs, cleaned fireplace and hung up cards. Now all I need to do is vacuum the stairs and clean one final time and get the apricots with mascarpone and pistachios done.

I love casseroles - I do a beef casserole - like a beef bourginon but without the mushrooms - I even replace the carrots and onions as they have no crunch. I am sure Lindy that whatever you do it will be yummy!

As for Strictly - I'm boycotting the final - I agree with you georgy - Mark Wright, the awful props and music have finished it for me. Luckily we will have friends over so won't have to watch it. He talks too much to get sympathy vote and Karen with her crocodile tears was the limit. I was sorry to hear about Ola Jordan's accident.

I was all set to send my passport for renewal when I couldn't find the photos I had done. Will have to get them redone after Christmas. What a drag.

Anyway, o/h ready to leave so best get going.

Have a lovely day all.

Morning.......... and

oh shit ...... one of the knobs on the main oven fell of last night
husband put it back on with blue tack , of all things
and believe it or not ...... its working


husbands said..... its as good as new
did point out, that i don,t think thats true
after all....... don,t think new oven come with blue tack pieces


now the problem is do i risk keeping it for xmas
or get a new one, not sure i want to cook a large xmas dinner with a new oven
thats if we can get one bought and fitted in time

oh well........ have a good day all xxx

I just want to slap him Nyannie....... and thats so unlike me..... after all ...... i tend to like
most people

and why do things go missing....... put things down to keep them safe.......and the next minute gone

have a great day xxx

I,m starting to think i do most things with a glass in hand

the problem is i don,t think we played badly
just need our striker back

New car........ how exciting
ok ....... now a really girly question....... what colour
as for strictly
jake went........ and mark bloody wright stayed

This surely can't go on with the washer dryer nyannie Hopefully you'll get a new one in the new year.
Glad your party preparations are going well.. No overdoing it now!
I put bacon, shallots and artichokes in my beef casserole, and you're right.....no carrots!

Have a good day all

Lindy xx

georgy.....cant you find a different kind of glue to blu tac? something like superglue might work perfectly? it seems silly to get a new oven if there is a simple fix like this?

the car is black...and ...I like it.....

just waiting in for the dishwasher man to come and fix something..........its boring just waiting in isn't I!!!


I might watch the strictly final but im a bit confused as to how Jake went and Mark stayed? is it something to do with who is available to do the tour?