What does Xmas mean to you?

Chris Morris · December 10, 2015, 09:55:38 AM

This is on my other railway - apologies for it not being the correct scale for this forum. I haven't tried it but I don't think you can run N gauge in real snow.

[smg id=32763 type=full align=center caption="xmas071"]

I do real ploughing as well. Apologies for going off topic as well as off scale!
[smg id=32765 type=preview align=center caption="DSC02918 (2)"]

MikeDunn · December 10, 2015, 10:38:25 AM

We seem to be ahead of the game this year, for a change !

* Christmas cards all posted on 1^st December (or was it the day before, so people got them on the 1^st ? No matter !)
* All presents for those other than SWMBO & myself bought, wrapped, and handed over
* 50% of the food shopping complete
* "Special treats" hamper looks quite full ! Was empty last year until 22^nd !

And to cap it all - the turkey just went into the oven to cook !

Newportnobby · December 10, 2015, 10:52:01 AM

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 10, 2015, 10:38:25 AM

And to cap it all - the turkey just went into the oven to cook !

At roughly 20 minutes per lb, are you sure SWMBO hasn't bought an ostrich?

Mind you, I've heard it takes a week just to eat one of the drumsticks

MikeDunn · December 10, 2015, 10:54:22 AM

damn small ostrich then - it fit into a small bowl (albeit standing up

) when carried into the kitchen after defrosting !

MalcolmInN · December 10, 2015, 11:05:26 AM

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 10, 2015, 10:38:25 AM
* Christmas cards all posted on 1^st December
,
the turkey just went into the oven to cook !

NPN beat me to it,, then my internet crashed !

I often do long slow roasts but that is stretching it a bit ?!

Two things about growing old and Xmas -
fewer cards to write
and no mother-in-law

We dont do turkey at Xmas cos we eat it quite often during the rest of the year, we usually have home grown (by daughter) goose, yummm.

MalcolmInN · December 10, 2015, 11:08:06 AM

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 10, 2015, 10:54:22 AM
standing up

Will NPN beat me to this one as well I wonder

Mike, you are supposed to kill them first.

MikeDunn · December 10, 2015, 11:16:47 AM

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 10, 2015, 11:08:06 AM
Mike, you are supposed to kill them first.

Oh, so that's why I'm pecked all over

Nah, afraid you fell into my fiendish trap - where did I say it was the Christmas turkey ?

We went shopping the other night (see 3^rd bullet above

) & ended up with a free whole frozen turkey - seeing as we already have the Christmas turkey breast in the freezer (alongside a nice joint of beef from Hereford), this was just a 'spare' ... so we're cooking it now to make pies etc we can freeze, without having the beastie taking up a whole drawer in the freezer. Talk about left-overs

MalcolmInN · December 10, 2015, 11:23:38 AM

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 10, 2015, 11:16:47 AMafraid you fell into my fiendish trap - where did I say it was the Christmas turkey ?
beef from Hereford

Nice one

Actually I did suspect an elephant trap but thought it was going to be along the lines of the discussion about the real date and pagan festivals etc. !!

We did have Hereford (the breed) beef for Xmas for a few years, but daughter has stopped doing that, two much paperwork and testing and restrictions and stuff for a small hobby.

Newportnobby · December 10, 2015, 11:36:01 AM

Quote from: MikeDunn on December 10, 2015, 10:54:22 AM
damn small ostrich then - it fit into a small bowl (albeit standing up ) when carried into the kitchen after defrosting !

Wouldn't you stand up so you could see over the rim of the bowl (note to fellow modellers - it is not hygienic to keep your turkey in the toilet

) to ascertain a heat source so you could get warm?

MikeDunn · December 10, 2015, 11:38:42 AM

Quote from: MalcolmAL on December 10, 2015, 11:23:38 AM
We did have Hereford (the breed)

This is both - Hereford beef from Hereford

Used the butchers in the Indoor Market too. Can't get much more local than that ! It probably travelled further to get to our freezer

Portpatrick · December 10, 2015, 02:13:10 PM

Indeed Karhedron. The date of the celebration of Christ's birth in December was emerging by the 3rd century. There are none in my own circles who have hangups about it either way. so for me also it is a core faith event in the calendar. And this year the privilege of preaching at the Christmas Eve Midnight Communion Service. As well as handling the 2 following Sundays.

So for a greeting I will unashamedly draw from Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens seasonal novel

May God Bless Us All

Jerry Howlett · December 10, 2015, 03:05:16 PM

Completely messed up here. The Brussel sprouts were put on a low simmer on the 1st of September as per usual, now we are christmassing in the UK we find ourselves with nearly 1 cwt of semi cooked accompaniments and no idea what to do.
Luckily Mrs "H" overslept that day so the turkey will not be ready until January 6th.
Help !!

Jon898 · December 10, 2015, 03:44:14 PM

I see your mistake. Nothing this year should have started before November 22nd...Stir-up Sunday.

Unfortunately over here, the carols started in the stores on Labor Day (September 7th).

Newportnobby · December 10, 2015, 04:07:21 PM

Quote from: Jerry Howlett on December 10, 2015, 03:05:16 PM
Completely messed up here. The Brussel sprouts were put on a low simmer on the 1st of September as per usual, now we are christmassing in the UK we find ourselves with nearly 1 cwt of semi cooked accompaniments and no idea what to do.
Luckily Mrs "H" overslept that day so the turkey will not be ready until January 6th.
Help !!

I believe the RAF are in the market for cluster munitions, Jerry

MalcolmInN · December 10, 2015, 04:27:11 PM

Sounds more like biological warfare ?
I hope it is 1cwt mixed and not 1cwt sprouts else all of europe will be off to Sy elswhere !

1/2 hr ago I put a Guinea Fowl in the oven, but that will be long gone afore Xmas. Infact I expect it will all be gone in a couple or 3 hrs except the bones which will be in a stock tomorrow.
Yummy.