Vocal Voices

Just the two of us here
No real plan, but first we will have stockings (well, we'd better!)
Then a walk with Minnie usually, but the forecast is so bad it might just be a quick one for her and Bb
Present opening is spread throughout the morning, and sometimes the afternoon too - I love the anticipation almost more than the presents themselves, Bb would rip them all open in 10 minutes

12 o'clock signals popping of the champagne cork for bucks fizz, and sometime after that we'll do our canape-type lunch. Chinese mixed appetizers, smoked salmon for me, that sort of thing

Afternoon, might depend on presents but usually play games
A bit of telly, but maybe only Dr Who and Strictly.

Our Christmas dinner is a single rib of Aberdeen Angus beef, which will be cooked with a red wine jus, and served with frites, (that's what they're called on the box), salad of watercress, rocket & spinach, and bearnaise sauce
There will also be chocolates

Christmas eve we will have our meal, then the church goers will depart for midnight mass.

When they return we will open some presents then flop wherever we can.

On C-day morn we will get up, as and when, and make our own breakfasts: usually bacon, eggs, sausages, fried bread, grilled tomatoes, beans and mushrooms.

Come midday-ish, we will all go our separate ways leaving M&M to clear up the mess.

We went to the Carol Service at the local Church last Sunday, so we wouldn't be looking to attend Midnight Mass or Christmas Day.

Leisurely get up Christmas Day, turkey in the oven for 1:00 dinner, and Mrs O will be pottering around the kitchen masterminding the meal with "help" from Master O (back from London for a few days) and the Ostrich until the males are no doubt summarily dismissed for being gross nuisances.

My S comes over from t'other side of the city for around 12:30, hot trolley will be warmed up and microwave doing overtime .....

No starters, we'll go straight into the main course - turkey, roast pots, stuffing, cranberry and bread sauces, sprouts and carrots, pigs in blankets, gravy. Choice of non-alcoholic Schloer or low-alcohol rose wine.

Followed by individual Christmas puds with cream and flamin' brandy (if Mrs O hasn't drunk the bottle during the morning).

Dishwasher loaded up and on, Master O will disappear upstairs, and we'll watch the Queen's Christmas Meassage at 3:00, open family presents, (my S. traditionally gets a £60-ish food hamper from us, full of goodies, which we've been amassing since last October, plus some of the left-over turkey)

Then we'll have a light Christmas tea - small Christmas cake, shortbread, M&S jaffa cakes and mugsa tea all round.

The three adults will chinwag until about 7:00 when we will throw my S. out so she can get back home in time to see Downton Abbey. We'll watch it here.

And so to bed (the Ostrich accompanied by the remains of the Christmas Pork Pie, all being well ......)

Just the two of us here on our own as usual. We have a slap-up meal planned however. We dress up and dress the table nicely and do it all properly. We don't stint ourselves. Just a light snack in the evening and some very nice tV viewing, particularly Downton Abbey.

Just the three of us this year as Jacob is in Nottingham with Craig and Leilani.

We'll carry on the tradition though of sitting round the tree opening the presents.

Don will then make breakfast.

We've booked a table at our favourite Chinese restaurant for 3pm and will walk into town an hour or so before and have a couple of drinks first.

After the meal we'll probably go for a walk then Conor's g/f is picking him up at 7 as he's going to a party with her.

In the evening Don & I will walk back into town and meet up with our friends for a cocktail or two and there's a party at Pedro's bar.

I hope everyone has a peaceful and happy Christmas. xx

On my own so no plans
Family coming boxing day eldest son grandchildren plus kaylieghh and lilly
Dil will be working
J k and Scarlett the week after sometime as j has to work 9days straight of
This week planned visit had to be cancelled never mind
I have a very extended Xmas now.
Xmas menu revised
Salmon in a dill lemon sauce jkt potato sliced green beans fresh carrots a might make a trifle thanks freezer

We'll be up around 9ish I expect, I have some ready to bake croissants, with good jam, and some bacon with ready to bake rolls planned for brekkie. A pot of fresh coffee, tea and juice to go with it. We all sit at the table for this - It's become a tradition over the past few years, now the kids are past the 5am starts and selection box breakfast stage I peel my spuds and prep my veg the night before, but all cooking is accompanied by a glass of Bucks Fizz and I wear my Christmas red apron I get cross if I don't get topped up

Then we'll sit in the living room and open some presents, Becks and Harry will probably open all of theirs but Mick and I tend to eke ours out a bit, and of course this year we have D coming for lunch so I will save at least one so that she won't be unwrapping hers alone when she gets here, and I expect both Mick and thinking about it, this year most likely B will do the same The dogs have stockings!

Lunch is planned for about 2ish - we have turkey, gammon, pigs in blankets, potatoes, parsnips and carrots all roasted with herbs, and steamed sprouts Yorkshire puds even though we aren't having beef, as my lot love them with any roasts Fresh gravy and cranberry sauce to accompany I have Christmas pud, salted caramel cheesecake, or fresh fruit salad for pud, with ice cream, fresh cream or custard.

Then we will all roll into the living room to watch telly or I might get one of H's many versions of Monopoly out, if anyone fancies a game Phone calls to be made too, I always speak to my sister on the day, Aunty Rose ( we spoke yesterday, but will still speal tomorrow) and of course my Chris We won't eat much for tea, if anything, but there will be sandwiches and mincey spies available........

Rodo I am looking forward to Downton Abbey too

Oooh I forgot to mention our starter!!! I'm making goats' cheese and caramelised onion tarts!!

I will be up to have smoked salmon with tomato for breakfast. Used to have it with our grand- daughter when they came up for Christmas.

Will be having pork with all the trimmings for a late lunch. Christmas pud with lashings of brandy cream for afters. Wine to wash it down. There will only be the two of us and like Rodo we will be dressed up.
We then have chocolate to nibble while we are watching TV
If the weather is fine we will go to a carol service at a local Methodist church.

Just the two of us here on our own as usual. We have a slap-up meal planned however. We dress up and dress the table nicely and do it all properly. We don't stint ourselves. Just a light snack in the evening and some very nice tV viewing, particularly Downton Abbey.

Much the same happening here Rodo, except this will be our first ever Christmas Day just the two of us. Tbh after all the running around over our extended weekend we're really looking forward to it. Tea will probably be crackers and cheese and we'll definitely be enjoying a nice evening of tv, Dr Who, Strictly, Call the Midwife and Downton are a must. Boxing Day we'll be with Z and the boys so that will be a noisy fun day