Minnie’s Musings

Winter sunshine is a beautiful thing. It is, however, accompanied by freezing temperatures.

So, instead of taking myself off on a healthy walk, I am sitting at my computer catching up on posts.

This has been a busy Christmas with a week of preparation and celebration, culminating in a lot of mess that has taken almost as much time to tidy away as creating it took in the first place.

I love Christmas for many reasons.

I like to shop, spending time thinking about what I really want to give to people I love. And I really enjoy the purchase of random garlands and baubles to add to my vast collection. We got rid of the mantle in the dining room, which caused a brief panic as I have a selection of silver decorations which normally adorn it.

I quite like to wrap cuboids in coloured paper and ribbon. I quite like wrapping bottles, creating a plume of ribbon tied with a bow. I am less keen on encasing mugs and other fiddly objects in paper that decides to tear. And I heartily recommend purchasing a Sellotape dispenser.

I like to cook – though I am not repeating the addition of breadcrumbs to my pork stuffing as it did not work. My turkey, however, was a resounding success as I poured a pint of water into the pan on the hour, which kept it moist (you’re welcome. I also have tips on souring cream and the application of streaky bacon if you want them).

This year’s repast was enhanced by some very good wine courtesy of my brother in law. I flambeed the Christmas pudding with enough brandy to keep the flames alight well past the point where the cooing and ah-ing had abated. I missed the cheese as I was flopped on the sofa snoring when it appeared, but I am told it was delicious.