Christmas 2023 #4

[Em_]

My husband always has the Quorn roast log thing.

I used to have that but now I have meatless farm chicken breasts, they are delicious. I've not found a better alternative yet.

 

[FenellaTheWitch]

My parents would always get Vienetta for dessert. The mint chocolate one. They always remind me of Christmas when I see them. Xxx

Top tier dessert and the height of sophistication at one time.

 

[duckdinner]

Oh, we picked that up reduced last year and didn't like it much though it had been sat in our freezer for about 10 months...

@duckdinner the beans were my downfall too! Very odd combo.

It really is a weird combo! M&S should definitely mention the beans on the front of the packaging, so that people know what they're getting into

Just texted my sister to ask what undisclosed trauma happened in her life to make her think this was an acceptable food combo

 

[Chocolategoggler]

Just watched the Liza Prideaux video about Lapland UK and wow it looked magical! How much are the tickets as I can't find this?
ETA I know they're sold out for 2023.
It's amazing how they set it up every year and at the end return it back to a forest like they'd never been there.

 

[peekachu]

We had a meat free turkey and stuffing joint from Sainsbury’s last year, it was great! I think we’ll get it again this year, we used the leftovers to have “turkey” sandwiches the next day Also Lidl does a vegan sausage and cranberry wreath thing which is very nice too!
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I don’t mind a nut roast if it’s the only option, but with so many alternatives these days it’s definitely not my first choice! It’s basically just fancy stuffing when you think about it

Speaking of vegan options, if anyone is looking for mince pies - Asda has plant based ones for £1.45 and Greggs’ regular mince pies are vegan too!

 

[WeepingCassandra]

Just watched the Liza Prideaux video about Lapland UK and wow it looked magical! How much are the tickets as I can't find this?
ETA I know they're sold out for 2023.
It's amazing how they set it up every year and at the end return it back to a forest like they'd never been there.

It's about £110 a person, I think. It's been cluttering up my tiktok feed.

Makes me wish I had some land that I could set my own one up on.

 

[strawb]

the first advent sunday seems like the perfect opportunity to watch love actually for the first time this christmas season!

 

[Orphan_Black]

Also Lidl does a vegan sausage and cranberry wreath thing which is very nice too!

It's bloody delicious! I'm not the biggest fan of fake meat, but vegan sausage rolls are lit, lol.

Adding to the advent calendar chat; I've got a Kath Kidson one with mini toiletries in it. Smells lovely.

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

Please can I have some advice, been invited to Christmas lunch at my brothers, he actually invited us months ago, for reference there is myself and my daughter (14) and my mum & dad, when asked what I could bring to contribute as I am more than happy to do so, as in bring an item of food etc, it was requested for me and my parents to each give £25 (£50 total) and he will get everything with this money If I’m honest I feel that’s a big ask, whilst I was happy to bring say something (I don’t drink alcohol) I feel that’s a bit harsh, given that we are family, funds are tight, cost of living etc and I’m also a single mom so things are already tight, for reference my Brother and his wife are well off, they earn decent money, drive nice cars etc but I feel it’s so out of touch with reality to ask family to pay! I hosted my parents last year and never dreamed of asking them to pay! I have very recently given there daughter (my niece) a used iPhone (as I had my daughters old one) I could have sold it but gave it her for free instead and I’ve helped them out so much with dog sitting their dog whilst they do the bare minimum for me (that’s another story entirely) am I being unreasonable at not wanting to pay this? I don’t know how to approach it as feel I should have mentioned it at the time and I also don’t cause an argument I would pull out and say I don’t want to go but my daughter really wants to be there I am just feeling rather annoyed at the whole situation this month is going to be so expensive as it is for many, have spoken to my parents and they agree and think it’s wrong of him to ask for money but they won’t say anything to him any advice welcome

It might be worth considering if their financial situation is as good as you think. Just because people look affluent doesn't mean they're not suffering as well with what is going on.
If you really don't want to pay then I would just say you'll stop by later but like another tattler mentioned £25 is not bad for a Xmas meal. If you had to cook it, that's probably what it would've cost you anyway

 

[Islawight]

I have the Mac advent calendar. Yesterday the box was empty seems like this must happen a lot!

 

[Orphan_Black]

It might be worth considering if their financial situation is as good as you think. Just because people look affluent doesn't mean they're not suffering as well with what is going on.
If you really don't want to pay then I would just say you'll stop by later but like another tattler mentioned £25 is not bad for a Xmas meal. If you had to cook it, that's probably what it would've cost you anyway

It's £25 for two people's dinner too.

Maybe compromise with the gifts you give them, just small stocking fillers to compensate the dinner cost.

 

[Silverback]

I have the Mac advent calendar. Yesterday the box was empty seems like this must happen a lot!

You should take that back! For the cost that isn’t on at all.

 

[Islawight]

You should take that back! For the cost that isn’t on at all.

Came from look fantastic. Googled and it was a brown lip gloss. Would’ve loved that in the 90’s but not now. Will email and hopefully get some money refunded instead. Certainly puts me off ever buying another.

 

[Rachel the reader]

Please can I have some advice, been invited to Christmas lunch at my brothers, he actually invited us months ago, for reference there is myself and my daughter (14) and my mum & dad, when asked what I could bring to contribute as I am more than happy to do so, as in bring an item of food etc, it was requested for me and my parents to each give £25 (£50 total) and he will get everything with this money If I’m honest I feel that’s a big ask, whilst I was happy to bring say something (I don’t drink alcohol) I feel that’s a bit harsh, given that we are family, funds are tight, cost of living etc and I’m also a single mom so things are already tight, for reference my Brother and his wife are well off, they earn decent money, drive nice cars etc but I feel it’s so out of touch with reality to ask family to pay! I hosted my parents last year and never dreamed of asking them to pay! I have very recently given there daughter (my niece) a used iPhone (as I had my daughters old one) I could have sold it but gave it her for free instead and I’ve helped them out so much with dog sitting their dog whilst they do the bare minimum for me (that’s another story entirely) am I being unreasonable at not wanting to pay this? I don’t know how to approach it as feel I should have mentioned it at the time and I also don’t cause an argument I would pull out and say I don’t want to go but my daughter really wants to be there I am just feeling rather annoyed at the whole situation this month is going to be so expensive as it is for many, have spoken to my parents and they agree and think it’s wrong of him to ask for money but they won’t say anything to him any advice welcome

Maybe it's just me but I don't think that it is unreasonable to ask you to pay £25.00 towards the meal. I obviously don't know the specifics of yours or your brothers situation but I know £25.00 doesn't really go that far when buying the Christmas meal and your brothers situation may not be as rosy as you believe as working couples are being squeezed by cost of living as much as everyone else.

I assume your getting a traditional 3 course meal with starter mains and desert and possible turkey rolls and snacks plus drinks (soft for you) and maybe a table present or chocolate. If you were to go out for just a three course Christmas dinner but that would likely cost you double or even triple that.

If it is really unaffordable for you speak to your brother and be honest offer to buy items or as others have suggested do your own dinner and go over later although I don't see you making dinner for less money than that myself.

 

[WeepingCassandra]

I would fully recommend the EXIT escape room advent calendars btw. We love ours. We did the Golden Book last year and have the Ice Caves this year (we're cheap and didn't want to pay full price for the new one ) - fab. Really nice for a family with older kids too, as the puzzles range from fairly easy to solve to a bit more difficult.

 

[Islawight]

Maybe it's just me but I don't think that it is unreasonable to ask you to pay £25.00 towards the meal. I obviously don't know the specifics of yours or your brothers situation but I know £25.00 doesn't really go that far when buying the Christmas meal and your brothers situation may not be as rosy as you believe as working couples are being squeezed by cost of living as much as everyone else.

I assume your getting a traditional 3 course meal with starter mains and desert and possible turkey rolls and snacks plus drinks (soft for you) and maybe a table present or chocolate. If you were to go out for just a three course Christmas dinner but that would likely cost you double or even triple that.

If it is really unaffordable for you speak to your brother and be honest offer to buy items or as others have suggested do your own dinner and go over later although I don't see you making dinner for less money than that myself.

I would love to have the option of not shopping and cooking the Christmas dinner for £25. Sounds like a bargain, restaurant around here is £55 a head.

 

[Nosymum]

Got a lovely spiced Mirabelle plum jam this morning. What are other people who have the jam advent calendar doing with theirs? For the apricot and banana one (which I quite liked) I put it on crumpets but have about half the jar left. Today I put it on some porridge but have over half the jar left. My OH suggested getting some pastry and making jam tarts at the end of each week with the 'leftovers' but I'm sure there must be something more creative than that?

Also, what are non-meat eaters having for Christmas lunch? I really liked the Sainsbury no-turkey and stuffing parcels the last couple of years but wondering if there's anything different.

I’ll have the Richmond sage and onion sausages with my version of a roast dinner which would horrify I suspect all of you

 

[OnlyHereForTheLolz]

I’ll have the Richmond sage and onion sausages with my version of a roast dinner which would horrify I suspect all of you

I'm the family embarrassment by having ketchup with my roast

 

[Geranium]

Maybe it's just me but I don't think that it is unreasonable to ask you to pay £25.00 towards the meal. I obviously don't know the specifics of yours or your brothers situation but I know £25.00 doesn't really go that far when buying the Christmas meal and your brothers situation may not be as rosy as you believe as working couples are being squeezed by cost of living as much as everyone else.

I assume your getting a traditional 3 course meal with starter mains and desert and possible turkey rolls and snacks plus drinks (soft for you) and maybe a table present or chocolate. If you were to go out for just a three course Christmas dinner but that would likely cost you double or even triple that.

If it is really unaffordable for you speak to your brother and be honest offer to buy items or as others have suggested do your own dinner and go over later although I don't see you making dinner for less money than that myself.

I just can’t get my head around asking family to pay cash for Christmas dinner. If you can’t afford to host don’t offer. It’s reasonable to accept contributions like wine or puddings or sides or even the turkey but asking for the cash seems cold.

 

[GoldSilver]

I just can’t get my head around asking family to pay cash for Christmas dinner. If you can’t afford to host don’t offer. It’s reasonable to accept contributions like wine or puddings or sides or even the turkey but asking for the cash seems cold.

This is my thinking too. Why invite people if you’re going to ask them to pay.

It’s different if everyone agrees they want to spend it all together and only one house has enough space. Then everyone should share the cost. But if you invite someone then don’t expect them to pay.