Christmas 2024 #4

[duckdinner]

I'm super behind schedule and am only just setting off to shops now 🫠

The bus I'm on and the roads are practically empty for this time of the day, which is definitely because everyone has done their shopping already and is at home, and not because they're all in Sainsbury's right now...

 

[Merida91]

Try not to stress yourself. Elderly people don’t eat much anyway and especially not when they’re just back from hospital. So in terms of the food you don’t need to go overboard.

Have your grandparents had all their covid jabs? Surely if your dad or brother wore a mask they could still come and help you out? Are there no other family members to help?

Granny hasn't because she was too ill to have the first round offered then the surgery was supposed to offer a home one but never arranged it. Rather pissed off that the hospital actually refused to test whether she was even negative before sending her home but apparently they assume you're negative after 10 days. Grandpa has organised a home test as they have been warned we won't come unless she's negative. Brother can't drive and Dad won't like to leave Mum on Christmas. Other family members are 6 hours away and spending it with grandparents on the other side. I'd feel too guilty to lie and say we have Covid

Also thanks for the tips on warming up turkey with gravy!

 

[DanDanTheIceCreamMan]

Sainsburys delivery has arrived with a few substitutes that I can live with so no more food shopping needed

(Might go back to look at the Christmas clothes because now sainsburys have reduced )

I've got a Click n collect with Morrisons later on... so who knows how I'll fare with that as their IT went bits up this morning. We're under instructions not to turn up until we've had an email

 

[JustHereForTheAgriculture]

Whoever posted on here a few months ago about saving up Tesco vouchers for the Christmas shop, I love you
Between the club card vouchers I’ve been saving since the summer and the ones you get for returning the bottles, we got a pretty good chunk off the shop this morning. My mam hosts everyone and won’t ever take any money towards it but was more than happy to take the vouchers.
Although it didn’t exactly work out how I imagined. I thought she would say she was happy to save a bit but once I showed her the vouchers, she said we can really go mad now

 

[DanDanTheIceCreamMan]

People who cook your meat the day before advice please - I've bought the stuffed Turkey crown from Aldi that has a bit of bacon on top. If I cooked it Christmas eve and carved it (love this idea) how do you successfully warm it and the bacon up without drying it out? Covered in microwave, bacon back in the oven? I have frozen dripping roasties from Aldi too so I'm hoping it can be a case of bunging those, pigs and stuffing in the oven for 25 minutes and veg in the steamer.

For the first time I'm facing having to do Christmas lunch for myself my husband and my elderly grandparents because my Mum has Covid so can't do it and even though my brother and Dad are negative they can't cook/won't come in case they're carrying it. Thing is I'm 35 weeks pregnant, very sleep deprived and if it was just doing lunch I might manage, as I am used to roasts, but Mum is already making extra demands in terms of care for Granny, and about the food to meet grandparents needs. Granny has just come home from hospital so can't do a lot for herself and might well make demands to fetch things as a result. Husband can help out a bit, but not if she's wanting personal care, and he's quite pissed off it's all been put on me when I'm not really up to it and we have our own worries with the baby.

I reheat it in the gravy (tends to actually make it moister - but that may be my cooking).

 

[lilyannrose]

Does anyone else get presents for their pets?

I was pleased the toy selection box I got for my cat has been delivered.

And there's some gormet cat food for her Christmas lunch just been put away in the kitchen.

 

[Suzesnooze]

Granny hasn't because she was too ill to have the first round offered then the surgery was supposed to offer a home one but never arranged it. Rather pissed off that the hospital actually refused to test whether she was even negative before sending her home but apparently they assume you're negative after 10 days. Grandpa has organised a home test as they have been warned we won't come unless she's negative. Brother can't drive and Dad won't like to leave Mum on Christmas. Other family members are 6 hours away and spending it with grandparents on the other side. I'd feel too guilty to lie and say we have Covid

Also thanks for the tips on warming up turkey with gravy!

The hospital don’t normally release elderly patients unless a care package is in place or do they just assume your Grandad is the carer?

it’s a shame you can’t get carers in to help with personal care but you’ve probably left it too late now.

You can only do as much as you’re able and all of them need to make allowances.

 

[lilyannrose]

Whoever posted on here a few months ago about saving up Tesco vouchers for the Christmas shop, I love you
Between the club card vouchers I’ve been saving since the summer and the ones you get for returning the bottles, we got a pretty good chunk off the shop this morning. My mam hosts everyone and won’t ever take any money towards it but was more than happy to take the vouchers.
Although it didn’t exactly work out how I imagined. I thought she would say she was happy to save a bit but once I showed her the vouchers, she said we can really go mad now

We've done the vouchers thing forever, it's such a big help.

 

[coconochanel]

Whoever posted on here a few months ago about saving up Tesco vouchers for the Christmas shop, I love you
Between the club card vouchers I’ve been saving since the summer and the ones you get for returning the bottles, we got a pretty good chunk off the shop this morning. My mam hosts everyone and won’t ever take any money towards it but was more than happy to take the vouchers.
Although it didn’t exactly work out how I imagined. I thought she would say she was happy to save a bit but once I showed her the vouchers, she said we can really go mad now

Is this Tesco and is it any bottles?

 

[under the ivy]

Does anyone else get presents for their pets?

I was pleased the toy selection box I got for my cat has been delivered.

And there's some gormet cat food for her Christmas lunch just been put away in the kitchen.

My cat has got a Dreamies selection box, a new scratching post, some turkey & cranberry sticks and a Christmas tree shaped spinning ball thing She loves tuna so treating her on Christmas Day for her dinner

 

[JustHereForTheAgriculture]

Is this Tesco and is it any bottles?

It’s any shop that sells drinks but I’m in Ireland. Don’t think the UK has the scheme. It’s only new to Ireland this year.

 

[Spanor511]

I've got a Click n collect with Morrisons later on... so who knows how I'll fare with that as their IT went bits up this morning. We're under instructions not to turn up until we've had an email

Morrisons are a joke in general I find. I stopped shopping there years ago. They just seem so amateurish in everything they do. My Asda order came 15 mins early this morning, no subs, M&S done, just the butchers tomorrow morning for sausages for breakfast.

 

[lilyannrose]

My cat has got a Dreamies selection box, a new scratching post, some turkey & cranberry sticks and a Christmas tree shaped spinning ball thing She loves tuna so treating her on Christmas Day for her dinner

Ahh, glad I'm not alone in my cat lady thing.

Mine's had a grand time playing with the tree. Loves knocking everything she can off and leaving it all over the floor after a brief play!

 

[duckdinner]

I'm super behind schedule and am only just setting off to shops now 🫠

The bus I'm on and the roads are practically empty for this time of the day, which is definitely because everyone has done their shopping already and is at home, and not because they're all in Sainsbury's right now...

Update: everyone was in Sainsbury's

Aldi was also super packed, but the queue for the tills moved quickly. I need to head to M&S for a couple more bits, but there's one a few minutes walk away from me, so I've come home to take a tea break before heading back out

 

[Happy Lady]

Does anyone else get presents for their pets?

I was pleased the toy selection box I got for my cat has been delivered.

And there's some gormet cat food for her Christmas lunch just been put away in the kitchen.

Yes, I've always treated my pooch to Xmas prezzies and special treats. So this year he has a Christmas stocking from Pets at Home with a few treats and a couple of toys. We've bought him his own doggie Xmas dinner that includes dog turkey, sausage, veg and biscuits. My daughter usually wraps up a lovely new toy for him too.
---
The Happy Lady household is now ready for Xmas

New furniture been delivered and looks gorgeous. Old stuff travelling to local tip.
All presents bought and wrapped.
Food in fridge.
Dining room cleaned and table set.
Xmas music playing.
Marzipan on cake. Just finishing icing. Pouring sherry.

And I don't care what happens tomorrow. Out for a meal at night. Then on Xmas day just the two of us. Boxing Day the family are all coming over.

Have an absolutely wonderful Xmas Tattlers.

 

[Merida91]

The hospital don’t normally release elderly patients unless a care package is in place or do they just assume your Grandad is the carer?

it’s a shame you can’t get carers in to help with personal care but you’ve probably left it too late now.

You can only do as much as you’re able and all of them need to make allowances.

There is a carer in place apparently but I'm unsure if she's coming on Christmas day. Mum's already asked me to shave Granny's whiskers on her chin if she has any but I'm bloody hoping that will have been done by the carer today. I'm certainly going to be a bit assertive before we arrive and email to let them know I will be aiming for lunch at 12.30 (as it might end up being 1pm with their oven) rather than their usual 2pm as I MUST have a nap afterwards and if I leave it later than 3pm I can't sleep properly.

 

[DanDanTheIceCreamMan]

Morrisons are a joke in general I find. I stopped shopping there years ago. They just seem so amateurish in everything they do. My Asda order came 15 mins early this morning, no subs, M&S done, just the butchers tomorrow morning for sausages for breakfast.

Unfortunately, they're my most local supermarket. We've done the turkey order from them the last few years with no issue but they've merged the food to order with click n collect this year so I thought sod it lets just get it all from there...

Normally I'm Asda delivery all the way (and will be next year!). The best one I ever got was when I ended up with 2 Turkey crowns instead of 1 (the label had come off one of them so I think they just thought 'well we can't sell it so she might as well have it') we ate turkey for months! (just as well I really like turkey).

 

[lilyannrose]

My mum was telling me what she could remember of Christmas in the 1950s. She said everyone (in our family and those she knew anyway) all dressed up and her own mother was so concerned with everyone looking their best she even got new frilly knickers for her pre-school aged girls to wear with their Christmas dresses, awwwwwww.

But it sounds so nice in terms of everyone just spending time together and singing around the piano. I'd love to time travel!

 

[Merida91]

Update: Granny is still positive for Covid so we've all agreed to try again on New year's day. I feel bad but to say I'm relieved is an understatement...

 

[lilyannrose]

Update: Granny is still positive for Covid so we've all agreed to try again on New year's day. I feel bad but to say I'm relieved is an understatement...

Hope she gets better, Covid is the pits but at Christmas it feels extra bad.