[Sarah Ann]

Veggie - Here's an easy recipe for Arrabiata sauce - works out cheap as well - I add garlic to it. I make it for DH's work pack-up instead of sandwiches sometimes just for a bit of variety.

[veggie]

I knew someone would say make your own I can't cook. Maybe my brother will make it for me over Crimbo and I can stand and see if it's easy.

[2frustrated]

I just watched O brother where art thou with my mince pie...

I'm even poopeder! I will get an early night, but if I go to sleep now I'll be awake at 4am again! I might have a bath or something...

[BritinNJ]

Hello luvies,

Sounds like British supermarkets are horrid... I'm sure my local will be just as horrid tomorrow when I pop out for the last minute bits too...at least I know three different ways to get out of the car park though...poor you Sarah, waiting that long to get on the road, I'd have complained too...

I've not got any mince pies, and I'm not making them..last year when I was at Mum's I ate so many so it's just as well I don't have any here...I do have a Christmas pud, made by my own fair hands though, so shall enjoy that after Christmas dinner.

Dave's on his way home with our commissary shopping, J set off for NJ this morning and they met on the way, so as J could have the EZ pass for the tolls...I'm waiting on him calling in a few hours to say he got there, it's his first long distance trip driving alone, he's so grown up now...of course, he should be, he'll be 20 next year, but I still worry about him.

Very mild here today, some nasty rain heading our way tomorrow though, but staying mild, I wanted to take Mum to a place where you go on a train and see the Christmas lights, but it doesn't seem as appealing when there's rain forecast.

I've been a busy bee all day so far, have swiffered, mopped, swept, hoovered, changed bedding, have a fourth load of washing going, and cleaned bathrooms...I'm feeling quite knackered. Mum is outside tackling moving a rose bush that's near the entry way, pain in the arse it is, cos all the leaves blow there and have congregated around it....so I'll leave her to that for a few more minutes.

I'd like a little nap, but can't really as when Dave arrives I'll have to help lug all the bags in and put the stuff away.

Michelle, glad to hear you have a nice warm cosy house again, there's nothing like not having heat, I hate being cold.

Helen, enjoy your hols, I shall have Mum buy me a copy of your mag when she comes back.

Veggie....glad you coped out shopping after feeling anti social yesterday my luv. Enjoy your Christmas with your Brother cooking.

Sarah, your dog walk with Ellie sounds fab, the link for the other dogs shows what a lovely dog the other one is, a fellow down the road from us had two mastifs years back when we first lived in AZ, they were huge, they had a doggy door in their house and it was waist high... the kids used to love walking them and roller blade, as the dogs would drag them all around.

Frus, hope you've stayed awake long enough luv, when does hubs get home? That's so sweet that he goes and spends time with his Gran...I love a bit of sensitivity and family values in a man

RSG, hope you're not to battered after being tackled yesterday, take it easy.

Ok, better check that washing again, I've got some on the clothes horse, some in the dryer, some hanging on hangers, chinese laundry it is here

OK, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL YOU LOVELY FAT GETTING VERY THIN CHICKS. HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME IF I DON'T GET BACK ON HERE BEFORE THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN FOR YOU ALL

[YP1]

I checked Tesco Express, and no new eve yet. I'll try again tomorrow at the station and the airport, if not at least I know it should be out by the time I get back from Spain (and if I log on here I'm sure someone will have read it )

I have mulled wine I may get a little tipsy tonight

I think I'll pack tomorrow. Tonight mulled wine and the rest of the chocolates are the priority...

[Clydegirl]

Hello everyone. Well we justhad chinese for dinner and very nice it was too.

Went christmas shopping today traffic was horrendous but I must be getting used to it as it didn't bother me that much. My shopping is not done yet I will need to go out again tomorrow with hubby and get a few more things.

I have not wrapped one thing maybe I'll do some tonight.

Veggie have you done your shopping yet/

Sarah I love penne arrabiata. My cousin makes a great sauce. I've never made it myself might try that's an easy recipe.

I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow it's going to be a busy weekend.

A very merry christmas to everyone that won't be around here.

[YP1]

Great, the fog is moving towards the north west apparently...

Must pack this morning, and possibly squeeze in a run. When I say I haven't packed, my case is almost full but that's all presents and I need to work out which clothes to try to get in there - I don't think there will be many!

[2frustrated]

Ha ha YOU'VE got fog...

We've got "mist" today! Really wouldn't wish that horribleness on anyone, it's been dire down here and all the cars are still driving at 80mph on the motorway and little old me was tootling along at 50 since at least I couldn't see... maybe all the car drivers had x-ray specs... Be careful out there!

I read a Stephen King short story about fog recently and so that added to the ickyness of it all! There were huge big dinasour creatures in the fog that ate humans and big spidery things and birdy things and all sorts of wierd stuff!

I'm waiting for a call about my kickboxing lesson this morning, Lee works for DHL and all flights out of Heathrow have been canceled for the last couple of days so he might have to work instead. I'm not too bothered since I haven't slept that well again and now I've got a headache which could be Bailey's induced... *cough*

Merry Chrimbo Helen and others who are going away Hope Santa's good to you!

[YP1]

I've been out for a run and it didn't seem foggy here, just grey. Fingers crossed Manchester will be the same.

I'm all packed, and I've run, and now I'm just sitting around waiting until I can set off. My flight is only at 8pm, so I've got ages to wait. I'm trying to resist the temptation to hit the Baileys (as there's no mulled wine left...). I never sleep properly when I've been drinking, so I might have a nap in a bit.

I think I'm going to give running a rest for a few days. My hip has started to niggle again (possibly I need new shoes), and just at the end of my run I got a really strange twinge in my back which I've never had before. A perfect excuse to do no exercise on Christmas Day I am taking running stuff though, I don't think I need two weeks off exercise, just a few days.

[micheleherts]

Good morning everyone

Have a lovely holiday with your family Helen.

Had a really good night danced loads had a drink here with my friends before
I went out. One of my friend's and I walked home and ended up in ASDA as she was bursting for the loo. WE ended up walking around ASDA obviously looking very tipsy and bought a couple of things like a cheese and onion pasty which we scoffed before we even got out of the shop. Got in had a cup of tea ate some olives and a bit of cheddar with caramelised onion in it woke my hubby up to pull my boots off and help me get my clothes off yes I was quite tipsy and then conked out!!!!!!

Got up this morning and found I've lost a pound what a shock got on the scales and they said nine stone 6lbs.

The fog has gone here Herts thank god. I have to face the shops again arggggggggggh!!!

Michele

[2frustrated]

I've been to Sainsbury's! I bought cottage cheese and light soya milk

I've got radio 2 on, Lee Mack is a bit pants on the radio... I prefer a good Johnny Ross

Take it easy with the running Helen, I'm thinking about taking a good rest from exercise over the holidays just to recouperate.

[Sarah Ann]

Chris - take it easy - you sound like you're working much too hard!

Veggie - you don't really need to be able to cook to do that arrabiata recipe - its really easy.

CG - good luck with your Chrimbo shopping today - mmmmmm - Chinese.....

Jen - hope you're feeling better. Is it whisky in Baileys - whisky always gives me a cracking headache.

Helen - have a great time on holiday - and I hope you manage to get all your clothes in your suitcase. Frus is right, have a bit of a break from exercise - you don't want to damage your back.

Michele - sounds like you had a great time last night


We had a great time at the seaside (Cleethorpes) this morning. It was the dogs' Christmas treat but we enjoyed ourselves just as much. There was quite thick fog which did something very strange to the accoustics on the beach - our voices bounced back to us like we were standing in a large tiled bathroom - it took a bit of getting used to. What was even stranger was that there wasn't much in the way of other kinds of noise - no birds or other people - so when we heard this deep rumbling noise which slowly got louder and louder we couldn't think what it could be... eventually we decided it was one of the huge container ships that sail up through the Humber Estuary - but it was very spooky at the time.

On the way back we stopped off at a Pets At Home and bought the dogs a new collar each - so now they all match. Yes... I know I shouldn't be buying stuff for a dog which isn't mine.... We took Ellie in to make sure we got the right size and she was totally entranced by the automatic doors - the first time it happened she nearly jumped out of her skin but then she worked how they operate and kept taking a half step forward to watch them open and then back again so they'd shut - she must have done it at least a dozen times and the staff and other customers all stopped to watch her and were in fits of laughter.

We couldn't get over how traffic free the roads were. They were even clearer than when we've been through Grimsby and Cleethorpes on a Sunday morning - everyone must have already done their shopping. The Pets At Home store shares a car park with a huge Morrisons and parking (and getting out of the car park) was very easy.

We decided to round off the dogs' special day by having McDonalds on the way home - big mistake - either they've changed the way they make their food or my tastebuds have changed completely. DH and I both decided on Big Mac and the dogs had a cheeseburger each - I had one mouthful of mine and decided the taste was certainly not worth the calories - DH ate more than me but still left half - he's right the fat does coat the inside of your mouth in a very unpleasant way - Ellie only ate the bun and cheese - but she's a picky eater. The boys scoffed theirs AND our leftovers but then Labradors eat pretty much anything.

Tomorrow is my busy preparation day - LOADS of cooking - so if I don't get here tomorrow then.....

Merry Christmas

[veggie]

HAPPY CHRISTMAS ALL



I'm sneezing my head off. I've been to morrisons much better than horrible busy tesco.

[2frustrated]

@ Sarah going to Mac D's to treat the DOGS Yeah, ok then... I haven't eaten anything from there (main meal wise, I think I've had a fruit bag once or twice...) for yonks!

Hope the sneezles go soon veggie!

I've been ironing today But I've had the radio on lots, been reading lots, been eating nice BfL apple pie and cranberries and generally just snuggling in the house - I've got the heating turned up!

DH is stuck in Wigan station since some overhead cables or something have come down. Dunno what's going on there... but he'll take a while to get home, about 3 hours he reckons but I bet he's not back for 4 or 5, specially if there's delays, and it's Christmas. Ah well, I can potter about a bit more.. I've already wrapped all his pressies, so nothing secret to do!

[Clydegirl]

Just got back from the food shopping. It was a breeze very quiet.

Will go out later with hubs for some last minute things.He's actually out just now shopping for me He always waits till the last minute and I have to give him a list.

I'm cleaning at the minute and doing laundry.

Have a lovely time in Spain with your family Helen.

Chris what are you up to?