Hello dear readers.  Sorry I have been away for so long.  So busy at work and with the kids (QT2 has been sitting his mock GCSEs these past few weeks and has also had plenty of rugby and hockey commitments,  QT1 has been rehearsing both for school production and Stagecoach production).  Term finishes on Friday and with it most of the activities cease for a couple of weeks as well.  With a whole week off at Christmas (because of the way it falls) perhaps I may get a small break (although we are entertaining both of our mothers on Christmas Day).

I have been doing lots of cooking in the past few weeks.  Including making 6 dozen mince pies (very short shortcrust pastry using half butter and half lard,  delicious) most of which have been eaten either by work colleagues or the men’s hockey team!  I believe that QT1 has pinched the recipe for her website and there may be a link to here (check out Sophies Suite).

This year I have also made my own Christmas cake although I have no idea how whether it will be nice.  I used a recipe out of Marguerite Patten.  Sad that she passed away earlier in the year but she was a good age.

The sloe gin is also marinading nicely (shaking it every single night).   I shall decant and bottle it early next week.  As well as the usual bran loaf, I made a soda bread loaf for Older Daughter the other weekend when she came for a flying visit (we went en famille to a wedding on the Saturday) and made a packet carrot cake in the bread mixer.  I have made carrot and coriander soup (from scratch although being short of time I did buy two packs of ready peeled and sliced carrots from Asda) and my staple tomato and flame grilled red pepper.

So who thinks Christmas is too commercialised?  The gifts which the kids apparently “need” are becoming more prohibitively expensive by the day ( both QTs want a Go Pro – one each,  obviously and incidentally unfortunately they aren’t getting even one) and possibly studio lighting and and and (etc).  But QT1 has in fact had to ask everyone to give her money because of the huge long and expensive kit list for her charity Peru trip next year.

Raising the money to reimburse her Dad for the £4000 cost of the trip has proved virtually impossible.  We have tried selling crafts and hand made cards but people don’t really seem interested in what we think are attractive and lovingly crafted items.  I guess £1.50 for a card is way too much when you can buy 7 for a £1 in a chain shop in the city centre.  But the price reflects not only the attractiveness of the cards but also the materials and hours of labour put in by me,  QT1 and older daughter when she has been here.  We have tried boot sales but those only raise a few pounds at a go and people are really keen to haggle you down to nothing at all.  Which gets rid of the items which you cleared up and are no longer required but doesn’t achieve the intended aim of raising significant sums.  Any ideas for serious fund raising (given that as well as the kit she has to pay for a new passport and some of her injections) gratefully received.

Older daughter is home from Uni for the hols now and although the house now seems suddenly to have descended into chaos she does help with hanging up washing and other minor household tasks.  She has also said that she is cooking Christmas dinner.  I am too much of a control freak to release all of the reins but some company and assistance is something to look forward to.