General Chat

Mary

I am indeed talking about Purdy's!

They have the most wonderful "new" chocolate, developed about 18 moinths ago ...... at least I'm told they're good


milk or dark covered caramels with pink Himalayan salt crystals sprinkled on the top.

Daughter thinks "they are to die for" ........... and we now have to take them over to Nova Scotia whenever we go. I have to take 2 boxes, one for each of them, otherwise they get into discussions about who ate more than the other


Honestly, one would think they were 10 years old, instead of close to 40!




sylvia

oooH Sylvia are you talking about Purdy's chocs? How fortunate you are to live close to them. When I worked iun a home for the aged, I had a patient whose family lived in Vancouver and every year they sent us (the staff a big box of Purdy's, oh gosh I can taste them now, please enjoy one for me!!!!!
Mary
:-)

I am definitely cutting back, haven't got the message through to my one granddaughter who has asked for "puppy, laptop, guitar" not necessarily in that order. She is more likely to get clothes from me!! 3 of the grandkids are still having to do Christmas gifts for their teachers, and having spoken to a few teachers about what they prefer to receive, this year the g'kids and I are together making "gifts in a jar" ie cookie mix or soup mix, layered in a canning jar with a pretty ribbon and instructions for completing the recipe. No more teacher ornaments, they like consumables such as things to eat or notelets etc.
I am knitting a few gifts (Jean Greenhowe clowns), but not baking up a storm as I usually do, just too expensive. A big turkey doesn't last long when feeding 7 people daily, but leftovers and turkey stock will go into the freezer for later use. I make up a tray of goodies for neighbours, or a pie.
My daughter's job is ending on Dec 15th, which has also influenced our decision to be as frugal as possible, we will have some strays for Christmas dinner, hate to think of anyone being alone that day if we can fit more in, "throw an extra spud in the pot" as my Dad used to say.
Mary

my brother used to love coffee creams, and then I got a taste for them as well :-D

It used to be an effort to find them for Christmas!


we have a local chocolaterie here in Vancouver, and they make the most wonderful chocolates, including coffee creams

and not too expensive either.

but I can't eat them any more (dairy intolerant)


instead I buy their crystallized ginger coated in dark chocolate ....... yummy!



sylvia

What about Thorntons? Half price either Tesco/Sainsburys

Hi GinaS , they had some last year in Poundland, but i like them with milk chocolate

this comes up on google
http://www.confectionaffection.net/whitakers-plain-chocolate-coffee-cremes-200g-656-p.asp

Coffee Creams with Dark Chocolate - yummy

Where can they be bought???

any idea's Rambling Rose

Chris

what a good idea!


we do charge items to our credit cards ................ but the money is there in the bank, and we pay it all off as soon as the bills come in.

Sometimes, in the past, it has been a bit short commons after Christmas, but the bills have always been paid off immediately.

I find that works, as I don't like to carry too much cash around with me ...... having had my wallet stolen one day with around £250 or so in it, most of which I had been saving up for something special. :-(




sylvia

Grocery shopping after Christmas for a few weeks is usally bread/milk/butter/fruit and veg.

As to spending at Christmas - I have - ever since I got married all those moons ago saved a sum each month - has increased over years as we could afford it and come end November - there it is and no bills after Christmas.

DetEcTive, I totally abhor POST Christmas Supernarket runs, so I always guage my shopping PRE Christmas, to avoid this.

Anyway, never any left overs at this houseLOL. I know how to Rechaufe (sp) In fact, I am a past master at this LOL

Julia in Derbyshire

I've cut back on the present buying budget per person, but there are now 2 x +1's that need a token gift.

As this year we have been invited to Sis in Laws for Xmas Mark 2, we won't have to cater for that. However, I suspect it will mean that we will have to host it next year!

If we do inadvertently over stock food-wise, if passed experiences are to go buy, it ought to last for 2 weeks meaning no trip to the supermarket.

i am spending about the same as last year
the food will be paid for on my necter points this year
and my turkey is always a gift from a really good friend
to be honest i have told most people not to buy me this christmas
as i know they are feeling the pinch
i will know the thought is still there you cant buy love

the only worry i have is the sons girlfriend is making everybody fudge
and i worry about breaking my teeth
as i am sure she got the recipy from our kitty lol x

I think I will be spending less!

Daughter, her husband and child live over 5,000 km away (and still in the same country!). We're not going over there this year ............. so I have bought a couple of small gifts (books or desk calenders) for each that OH will pack and mail over. Then we'll send each of them a cheque, and they can do what they want with it.

OH's sister lives about 900 km north of us, and still have to get something for her ............ small in size and weight again, but not necessarily cheap.

She has 3 children, but we stopped buying or giving them anything when they turned 21. Two of them have two children each, and we do send each of them small cheques at Christmas and for their birthdays.

We're going away for Christmas to friends, so we won't buy anything special for here. We discovered some years ago that one of our supermarkets makes a lovely dark fruit cake that they sell in 8 oz or 1 lb slabs ................ and its just about the right size for us, so OH no longer makes one, but we will buy one to have as "snacks" during Christmas week. . OH will make a Christmas pud for dinner over there. They (there are 5 of them, 2 couples and a singleton) are difficult to buy for because they all have everything. I think I've solved it ... and have spent less than last year.

I bought OH an exepnsive camera this summer ........ his anniversary, birthday and christmas presents.

My present will probably be a subscription to the new British newspapers .... I got an fmp sub for our anniversary (although I still haven't taken it out!).


so it will be spending less .......... partly because travel alone costs us about £2500-3000 when we go to daughter's for Christmas, and close to £750 if we go to OH's sister! Travel to our friends involves a ferry ride(close to 2 hours), and that trip will cost us about £90-100



sylvia

I love Christmas! There will be 12 of us this year, I always stay home and invite all stragglers. The most we ever had was 17.
Everyone gets to choose whatever they would like to eat - so as well as the traditional stuff we have some other dishes too! After all, it's only once a year. I usually buy in enough stuff to last 4 or 5 days and do as much preparation and freezing as possible in advance because I like to enjoy Christmas Day too!
As far as presents are concerned I think I am cutting down this year, simply because the children are older and have more specific requests. I always get everyone socks, undies, choccies and mini smellies for their stockings. Then whatever they have requested as a main gift, within reason. We do lists to help others which we blu-tac to the inside of the front door. This year even m-i-l came up with a list!!!

We love Christmas and haven't cut back, we are fortunate in that so far we don't need to. Having said that we have had our years when we scraped along so know what that is like. We still buy for each other, and he wraps his for me. We buy for the children and grandchildren although the older boys do get a cheque as their main present then stuff for the house and store cupboard for extras as they all have their own kitchen and cook for themselves. We are on our own this year so will have a small turkey and a piece of gammon and all the trimmings but just about enough for a couple of days. We have a Christmas pudding because our neighbour makes us one but don't bother with a cake. I have bought bits such as savoury breadsticks, special cheese biscuits, chutneys etc (Plus I have some of our own) so we don't go mad but have a good feed (and drink).

My daughter's request that we don't buy the children lots of little gifts has led to us buying them one good present each. We know what their interests are so it was easy and took less than half and hour to choose a gift for each of our four grandchildren. The adults like gift vouchers so that's easy and OH and I usually buy a joint gift of something we both want for the house.

I love Christmas Day - we all get together at our house and will have another year of four generations. We laugh, eat and hug all day with friends and other family members dropping in at different times of day. I only buy what we need for two days of Christmas so no waste.

Sue

lol Hayley

Good for you Uzzi make xmas what YOU want and not what is expected.

Some said today that in hell its christmas all the time!!

Not at all . :-D we will have our duck breast dinner OH will get his xmas pud AND mince pies. I will get my wine AND white port. I may even splash out on a salmon and scrambled egg breakfast. !

As for the rest of xmas Bah humbugs we are.

The headache comes more with knowing what to get others,,,,,,,,plus 3 birthdays christmas week and 2 at start and mid Jan,,,,,,,,

as the years have gone on it sems easier to get one nicer pressie than a few that will be gone in no time,and always get g/diddies a vintage momento to put in their boxes which is better value than any tat thats about today,,,

food dont increase much from whats normally bought and lots in freeze already........and am out for 3 lunches and one dinner so wont need masses.
we dont buy earch other as |'d rather see something while out an about later on and buy it.