It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas Off Topic Chat

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120421979#Comment_120421979

Aye, we've 3 short weeks in a row, next week we have Good Friday off, then the week after its Easter Monday off & the week after that we're taking the weds, thurs & Fri off as its the kids confirmation on the Friday & we're hosting family for it that are across from the UK (ie loads of cleaning & prep to be done)

Means my workload will be off the charts when I come back in towards the end of April, but I'll worry about that at the time!!

DvB

Last year’s most common Christmas disasters revealed!

The top most common Christmas disasters from last year have been revealed, from burning the turkey, undercooking the roast potatoes and forgetting the gravy, making the list. So what else made the list, here’s the full breakdown here:

A study of 2,000 adults by St Pierre found that the things centred around food with soggy vegetables and undercooked greens both make the top five in the list.

Other mistakes include forgetting vegetarian and vegan alternatives, not having enough plates and running out of wrapping paper.

“It’s safe to say the majority of us have experienced some sort of unplanned mishap at Christmas,” said a spokesperson for St Pierre. “A lot of the list of disasters are food focused because food is such an important part of the occasion and it’s something everyone wants to get right to impress others.

“That said, it’s always useful to have something in the cupboard as back-up and there are clever ways to cheat your way to a magnifique Christmas spread.

“No matter how bad it might feel messing up on Christmas Day, those who have experienced such a thing agree that it’s all part of making memories.”

Here are the top 20 most common Christmas disasters in 2022:

Burnt turkey

Burnt stuffing

Undercooked roast potatoes

Soggy vegetables

Hard, under-cooked vegetables

Forgetting gravy when serving up

Food being served cold

Forgetting to supply vegetarian/vegan alternatives for guests

Forgetting Christmas pudding

Lumpy gravy

Watery gravy

Fridge/freezer breaking so all food is ruined

Not having enough plates to serve dinner to all guests

Oven breaking

Waking up late, meaning dinner will be late

Running out of wrapping paper

Not having enough chairs to sit all guests

Microwave breaking

Not putting name tags on gifts and forgetting what is for who

Kid’s seeing me wrapping presents intended to be from Santa

pigtail33

Oh no @gidget hopefully your symptoms are mild and you can make the most of the downtime. I was reading during the week that Covid has spiked again in the UK, although most only have cold like symptoms. A friend of mine was at the rugby over Paddy's weekend and picked up Covid at it.

Another damp, grey day out there today. And looking at the forecast, it's pretty much going to rain for the next 48 hours. Sigh...

CheerLouth

Hope you are on the mend @gidget & can take advantage of some down time.

The rain is starting to get on my wick. Although we did have a nice bright evening yesterday which was great as we had the start of the GAA season so it's always nice when the first training session isn't a wash out. Busy weekend ahead with kids activities. Trip to Mullingar on Sunday for the Scór semi-finals.

Loughc

Last day of March!!

What a quick month. April no doubt will fly in too with Easter as a little distraction.

Princess Calla

March really went with a blink!

Posy

It really did, especially since it was a 31 day month!

tscul32

I'm sitting looking out at the rain. I had an online class all day and now have to go join my cub scouts on a camp out. At least I missed out the set up, the photos are of nothing but mud where grass used to be.

But now I'm trying to steel myself to actually get up and out🥺

Posy

I think the weather gods are the ones fooling us today! So awful out. 😵‍💫

Loughc

April can’t be any worse than March for weather. Right?!?

tscul32

This is where my tent was supposed to go...

DvB

Truly rotten day weather wise. Got loads done around the house though which was a bonus.

Think it's to be better tomorrow.

BK5

Same as everyone else, was supposed to go to the bottle bank, the clothes bank and clean the decking and none of these jobs were achieved today.

The only thing was I relaxed all afternoon which is something I struggle to do at times.

My youngest son picked up his first car this morning so proud Dad moment right there.

Heroditas

Went to the Leinster match yesterday. Decided at lunchtime to drive and parked by the Pepper Canister. So glad we did because the weather was horrific. Couldn't have faced getting the bus there and back and the walking on top of it in that miserable weather. Nice to get home by 8.30 and warm up on the couch with the cats acting as hot water bottles

Loughc

One thing no one really warns you about when having kids and especially when they start crèche is how sick you’ll end up getting.

Im on my second bout of conjunctivitis this year, had a throat infection and covid as well this year not to mention about ten bouts of man flu.

jellybear

@Loughc I couldn't agree more!

Just finished a course of antibiotics today thanks to a very bad throat infection...I blame the 3 year old. He was 6 months old when covid hit so never really mixed and he only started naíonra this year so he is catching EVERYTHING!! Only saving grace is that our 8 month old should have a fantastic immune system thanks to her brother 😆

CheerLouth

Hope you are on the mend @Loughc - kids are germ magnets!

@tscul32 hope you didn't get too mucky, I'm not a camper so that photo fills me with dread!

Busy weekend here; Saturday an absolute wash out but the kids had friends over for the afternoon which left me in peace and quiet for a bit :) Long day at Scór yesterday & although we don't advance to the Leinster Final, we had a lovely day. Some talent in those young people is all I can say. On a countdown now to 5pm on Friday for my week off!

BK5

Just noticed from keeping an eye on the countdown that it is 100 days since last Christmas.

Does it seem more or less than a 100 to you guys?

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120437893#Comment_120437893

For me it feels a lot longer. Due to being away I cant help feeling we didnt really get a christmas last year so it feels like a lot more than 100 days.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120437893#Comment_120437893

Feels like a hell of alot longer than 100 days ago, it feels like a distant memory.

Posy

This week already feels 100 days long. Pre-Easter chaos. 😵‍💫

Smell the glove

Sick since Sunday. Head cold, cough, aches and pains..seems like everyone has that or the vomiting bug. Hopefully be fine for the weekend. The shortage of disprins etc is not helping matters!

CheerLouth

Decided to throw in the towel early this week & book Friday off. So I'm off from this evening until April 17th - really looking forward to the break, hoping to chill out for a few days!

pigtail33

Was anyone in Ranelagh over the last few days?!

Posy

Someone I work with seen something with union jacks and a red postbox being filmed in Dublin City centre today- I wonder was it related.

pigtail33

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120445663#Comment_120445663

Must have been related. I hope we can find out the name of the film to be able to watch it!

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120445711#Comment_120445711

I think it’s something along the lines of “Christmas in Notting Hill”

Hallmark channel original.

BK5

I logged in this morning to put up a post about a Christmas Hallmark movie being filmed somewhere in Dublin in the last couple of days and I've been beaten to the punch 😄😄

They are not my thing but I might actually have to watch this one.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120446461#Comment_120446461

You're a braver man than me 😀 I cant sit through those Hallmark Christmas movies at all.

gidget

Ah Freedom ✊🏻

Seven days of self isolation completed & thankfully a negative covid test this morning. Still feel slightly congested though I expect it’ll be a while before I can breathe through my nose completely, so tiptoeing back to the real world - although I’ll be taking it easy this weekend at home, avoiding outside contact for next few days 😷. Many thanks for the well wishes 🙂

Aisling(",)

Glad you're feeling better Gidget just in time for the bank holiday weekend even if it just means you enjoy the lounging a bit more!

I've no plans for Easter but I'm going to Six the musical tomorrow. I've seen it before but the girls from college were going and it's worth seeing again.

Indestructable

A glorious Good Friday morning. I hope some of you are off work today and can enjoy our first taste of Spring.

Happy Easter to all in my favorite forum, another milestone to tick off on the big countdown!!

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120450898#Comment_120450898

Happy Easter to you!! 😃

Loughc

Lovely weather lately great having the bright evenings managed to fit in post work walks all this week. And the dogs are loving the play out the back while it’s still bright.

Princess Calla

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120430335#Comment_120430335

I've been meaning to reply to this.

My eldest got really sick in creche a simple virus that would have a "normal" child on a spoonful of calpol had mine in hospital for a few days... absolute disaster.

Roll on covid (and then being that bit older) the lockdowns etc no sickness came into the house.

They started primary school then and school requested uniform change each day....so I'd put on fresh clothes each day when they came home, so basically two outfits a day.

The younger sibling then started creche following September, same guidelines fresh clothes each day....again I changed the clothes as soon as they got home......so between the two of them we're on 4 outfits a day.

However......neither of them have missed any time off school maybe the very odd day. Talking to the other creche mum's their kids have had constant runny noses etc. In and out of creche. Same with primary school class some of the kids have missed a fair few days. Out of both classes we were the last to get covid....which happened last summer at a summer camp when I let my guard down 😂.

So I don't know, I understand each kids immune system is different but when you think of it,kids wipe their noses in their sleeves, in their hands and then onto their trousers or their friends top.....so they are basically walking tissues.

I fully appreciate that amount of washing is no one's idea of fun....but either is sick children. Something to ponder anyway.

BK5

Just packing up to head home. Hope everyone has a great weekend. Happy Easter!!!

SCOOP 64

Lovely weather, i got the grass cut 🙂, its seems such a achievement just cutting the grass with all the rain we have had, Happy Easter everyone.

Posy

I did the same, unboxed and used my new mower for the first time to finally cut my 4 foot lawn after 7 years of constant rain. 😁 (might be some hyperbole in there)

Also did some strimming, a lot of weeding and a bit of raking, and planted geraniums in my fancy new planter. I'm glad I have 3 recovery days after all that work!

tscul32

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120450994#Comment_120450994

On the other hand, mine wore 1 uniform and 1 school tracksuit each week, only washed at the weekend, and between 3 kids and so far a combined 31 years of school, the total days missed for school could probably be counted on my fingers. Even the one that got covid had it over a mid term break. I don't know why, but mine never get sick. Even when they started creche, everyone warned me but it never happened. I'm incredibly grateful for it, but does go to show that they're all very different. I'm not big into housework so maybe they just had no choice but to develop good antibodies 🤣🤣

Autosport

Happy Easter weekend 🐰🐰 Beautiful sunny day here but still a chill in the air

Cork Lass

Happy Easter weekend everyone, I had a very very Good Friday so I'm pretty hungover this morning.

Caranica

Happy Easter everyone. I'm thinking this is the weekend my Christmas decorations go back in the attic 😂

DvB

Up nice and early today, grocery shop done and car washed. Now to cut the grass and paint the window cills and plinth, that should keep me going for a bit. May have some easter drinks later tonight too!!

Have a great Easter weekend everyone!

BK5

Happy Easter Sunday everyone. Go easy on the chocolate!

Posy

If you're going easy on the chocolate, you're not Eastering right! 😄

freshpopcorn

Happy Easter 2023!

Sorry, I haven't been as active here lately. Lots of things going on.

Will catch up with the thread later.

Just finished a turkey and ham dinner.

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120457496#Comment_120457496

Agreed.

And I ate ALL of the chocolate. No regrets.

Loughc

Weather was wild in parts today. Did manage to get a couple of walks in with the dogs.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120459884#Comment_120459884

overindulged myself... currently not feeling guilty, may do tomorrow however when attempting to squeeze back into work clothes!

Loughc

Are we all hanging in there? MISERABLE weather today!