Tuesday - Christmas Eve

. . . and here we are on Christmas Eve.  If you're anything like me, the fridge is bulging and you have a list as long as your arm.  No, a slight exaggeration there, but I do have a list!

Yesterday I walked to Morrisons and I'm glad I did as the car park was absolutely full and nowadays I feel guilty about parking in the school car park, even supposing it's still the same code.  Anyway, I didn't need much.  As always, I had several chats with people on the way round and another good chat with another friend on the corner by the pre-school building.

When I got home, I was just putting it all away when Beth and her little friend, L, turned up.  Beth had come prepared with parcels and a few activities.  We started off by decorating baubles, two of which are now on my tree and will have to go into the 'specials' bag when it all goes away again.  Then we put The Snowman on and opened a few pressies.  L loved the Father Christmouse so that was good.  hen it was lunch - a festive mix of cocktail sausages, chips and peas followed by Christmas cake and with crackers on the side.  Te sausages were Morrisons best ands were really very nice indeed, the chips were home made actifry ones and the only thing left were a few peas which went straight into the ham and lentil soup (now in the freezer).
While Beth and L played with the mini bowls set in one of the crackers, I cleared up and found, much to my annoyance, that the dishwasher needed rinse aid and I didn't have any.

So after they had gone, I had another healthy walk to Morrisons, had a few more chats as I went round and came home with the rinse aid and a - cough - few more items that I didn't need!

The turkey arrived and is now in the fridge ready for getting ready today.  I've decided not to brine it, I never usually do and it's fine, so it will just be a case of herbs, onion and citrus up its bum!  I think I'll do the giblets in the slow cooker; that way they are out of the war and won't need watching.

Today's list contains such exciting items as 'get food out of freezer pm' and 'ironing', do online cards, sideboard (candles need sorting out), make a few mince pies, etc.  Nothing too hairy really.  Usually I prepare the vegetables in the afternoon but I think I will leave the ones that need to stand in water until early tomorrow morning.  It's only for four so won't take too long and works better with the space I have available.  I'll just do the sprouts today.

Just before lunch, Dad arrives.  I've planned two light meals.  Cheese and crackers for lunch and one steak between the two of us with sweet potato chips and vegetables for dinner.

Today's Christmas music is that most traditional of traditional carols to start a Christmas service.  I love the way the soloist at Kings doesn't know that he is the soloist until the very last moment.  It's supposed to stop them worrying.  I suspect it just heightens the nerves for all the possibles!
Which reminds me - it's the service of lessons and carols this evening.  I always watch the telly one because, with my less-than-perfect hearing, the live radio one is lost on me, sadly.
Anyway - here it is.  Once in Royal David's City.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE TO EVERYONE