The cost of Christmas

 We are sharing the cost of Christmas food and drink amongst the family, and all told there will be 5 people to feed, spread over the Christmas period.  Even so, my contribution was 3 figures.  That is mainly because of extra cat food (a fortnight's), several bottles of wine, a joint of beef from the butchers' for Christmas Day, and a kilo of Venison (butchers too) for the Anthony Worrall Thompson venison casserole on Boxing Day.  There is extra fruit, lots of veg (though that is pennies right now), double cream/good dark chocolate/raspberries for the roulade, a tub of Quality  Street etc.  I shan't need to go shopping until the New Year though.  I went into Llandod today for the veg and more fruit, and even though I was in Aldi by 8.30 it was still busy, and left Tesco by 9.30.  5 mins later people were queuing up for the Tesco car park!  

Tam has just messaged to say that Aberystwyth is totally gridlocked and she has been sat in a queue to leave the Tesco car park for 20 minutes now. . .  Madness!  

I wasn't going fast around Tesco (only needed 4 things) and happened to notice that turkeys are expensive beyond belief.  I was looking at Organic Bronze Free Range turkeys - the smaller ones were around £75 each and the giant ones - well, one was £117!!!  You'd need a blardy big oven to cook that in!   However, if you are vegetarian you can eat for peanuts as in Aldi they had a bank of veg all at 8p a hit.  I bought a red cabbage and a head of broccoli (Gabby's bringing the veg, cheese board, nibbles, Lemon tarts for Boxing Day, and more wine).  You could have parsnips, a bag of sprouts, a bag of carrots, etc - all 8p a time.  I feel sorry for the farmers, who obviously take this seasonal hit in their pockets.

I've done my round of friends and neighbours with home-made Christmas gifts - cushions and jam for my two local friends, and a Spicy Dorset Apple Cake and two jars of jam for the farmers up the hill.  I walked up the hill to them - every time I do that I forget QUITE how steep it is and how many times I have to stop to catch my breath!  Their mum was so pleased to see me, as she doesn't get much company, an she said to come up any time, so I will try and go up for a chat more often.

Last night I finished the embroidered present:

A close-up - I did a lot of it in the tiniest chain stitch.

Those French knots got a bit tedious towards the end, as there are lots of them in the pre-printed design.  Anyway, it is a useful gift.  It took me probably 35 + hours of sewing.  Love (and Outlander!) sewn into every stitch.

Tonight I shall start on the Felt Mistletoe and will need some of the craft wire which Tam bought to make Jon's present.  She has made an absolutely AMAZING gift for Jon, which is called "Alchemy".  It's inside a glass dome and is dried moss, tiny fern sprigs, tiny twigs, tiny Alder cones, dabbled with gold leaf, and a wee green glass bottle with Iron Pyrites in it, and a printed and scrumbled Alchemists' "recipe".  It looks amazing.  I did take a photo of it but it hasn't downloaded from my camera.  It's wrapped now so I will share it once Jon's received it.

Well, this won't do.  I know everyone will be busy with family and food over the Christmas period, so I will wish you all a special Christmas now.