Gifts, awards and cakes

Busy busy at work – but then as we near year end there is always heaps to do.  I received a lovely box of expensive chocolates – to be honest I would have preferred something else I’m not really a chocy person; don’t get me wrong I really enjoy a chocolate desert but not into eating chocolates – boy I sound ungrateful – I’m not; they have been put in the Christmas box and I’m sure we will all enjoy them at Christmas, That was on Tuesday then on Friday I received a recognition award – formal company recognition award from one of the General Managers – Dinner for Two.  I’m really pleased.  I do work hard (DH says too hard), I get paid well so receiving this is lovely.

Question is now where do we go – no value has been mentioned - I need to ask as I don’t want to be extravagant but on the other hand don’t want to spend £50 and for them to say ah you could have spent £100.  I was told to choose a ‘nice’ restaurant – what does that mean?!

A colleague knows that I always make Christmas cakes and recommended Nigel Slaters Christmas cake – not tried that one before – it came out looking really good; I had trouble getting ground almonds; perhaps there's a shortage both Mr T and Mr S had none, DH ground some for me - I had whole almonds in the cupboard.

I will be away in Holland all this coming week – and I decided to take a Christmas Cake with me 

it sounded like a good idea at the time but carrying a cake in hand luggage – umm maybe not such a great idea; I did check with the airline and the airport and both said it was ok.

MummyHen X

Christmas cake

Yeahh – I set myself a target to get my Christmas cake made this week – well I sort of archived it. The fruit has been soaking for a few weeks

One huge 12” square cake which will be cut into four smaller cakes - I had to split the mixture into two bowls as my mixer couldn't cope the amount of mixture

One 8” round; I thought I had two 8” round deep tins umm I'm sure did but I didn't so couldn't make the two at the same time as I had planned. 

We are out all day Sunday so the second it will have to wait until Monday.

Looking back I seem to be behind this year – my cakes were all made by this time last year.

MummyHen X

 

It goes on and off and off and on…

Power cuts still on going. Power went at 7pm yesterday evening; workmen turned up at 10pm, lights came on for about an hour. Then the digging started, yes they started to dig up the pavement directly outside my house at midnight, why couldn't they do this when they came at 10am in the morning??!!

They continued digging and looking for the problem until 2:45. I did telephone to complain, but the thing that got me. You won’t believe it. The power company do send text updates during the power cut but they stop at 22:00 until 7:00 because of the noise nuisance. Yes, blogging friends they won't send updates because its (and I quote) 'it's against the law' as it causes a noise nuisance but its ok for them to erect powerful lights and for them to dig up the pavement in the middle of the night directly outside my bedroom. I am not happy.

Eventually got to sleep to be woken by the house alarm going off - you know what that means - yes another power cut. More workmen, another hole in the pavement a few doors up. Clearly the hole they had to dig in the middle of the night in front of my house was a waste of time and sleep.

The customer liaison officer phoned me this afternoon after the power had been off for 6 hours, to apologise for the inconvenience but they still hadn't found the fault and we should expect more power cuts.

 

Brilliant just brilliant!!

MummyHen X

Had a lovely Christmas…

Except for the power cuts.

 

Just sitting down to Christmas lunch and darkness, after stumbling around for mobile phone I managed to phone the power company – it’s not the same as the one we pay our bill to for power cuts you have to know who is the supplier of electricity.  Anyway got the number logged the call – they were already aware; I did point out that the auto messages whilst waiting do say to check the website or yellow pages or utility bill.  Yellow pages we recycle as we have the internet,  ah except when we have no power, and we don’t get a paper bill it’s all online.  Fortunately I have a phone that is internet enabled but what about those that don’t; anyway I had my whinge.  We were able to carryon eating and the day wasn’t really spoilt; just over an hour without power, but some of the neighbours where still cooking and they have small children – it can’t have been much fun.  One of the positive things is when you phone and report it you can get text message updates – that was helpful. 

Boxing day – quite day; visited MIL. Just sitting down to dinner and again - darkness – yes another blackout.  This time the number was already in my phone – the  man on the phone said I was the first to phone; and was I really sure it was a power cut and not my fuse box – deep breath; yes I was sure as we had one the day before.  Again just over an hour without power.

Went to bed early as have been suffering a cold and sore throat; didn’t sleep well so woke late at just after eight; that’s odd the digital clock isn’t working – yes you’ve got it another power cut.  Phoned again – blah blah blah.  This time they will send out a gang to see if they can identify the fault and fix it.  This time is wasn’t as bad as it was light so we decided to go out and collect medicine for the cat – it could have waited but might as well do something useful whilst the power is off.  SonnyHens birthday next week so pickup up a few presents in the sale – shhh.  By the time we got home the power was back on.  First thing was to make sure all the phones are fully charged.

We will now put together a power cut kit and leave it in the draw in the hallway so we don’t have to rush around finding touches, matches, candles, radio with battery.

Do any of you have a land line phone that doesn’t use electricity to work – remember the days before digital phones; we don’t and it’s a real pain.

 

MummyHen X

Been on the go all day

Like most of you I’ve just sat down for the first time today.  Worked this morning, collected the final shopping, then started the baking and cooking.

I finished the gingerbread house – not great photos but want to make sure I got some pictures before it collapsed; it’s still standing!!!!

 

Boiled the ham, cooked the turkey crown, made mince pies, sausage rolls and then cooked tea.

The only thing I’ve not done is vegetable prep but that won’t take long in the morning.

I am now going to put my feet up and have a lovely glass of wine.

MummyHen X

Christmas preparation

[thought I'd published this yesterday - grrrrr]

Although I’m working next week – it’ll be much less busy and stressful as most of my colleagues are on holiday, so finishing work yesterday was a relief. 

Went to Mr S’burys today and to spend my nectar points and do a final shop before Christmas – it wasn’t as bad as previous years.  Speaking of previous years – I looked back at how much we spent last year on Christmas; everything gifts and food; it was a real shock, north of £3,000.  No, I can’t believe it – this year I have spent under a third of last year – just the butcher to visit on Monday and then we are done.

I received a lovely cook book for my birthday from SonnyHen along with a request for a gingerbread house

 – never made one of those before; ok I’ll give it ago; had everything in the cupboard except the decoration; so have started

  

What are you going to prepare over the next few days?

Tomorrow preparation
Bread sauce
Cranberry sauce
Mince pies
Sausage rolls

Monday preparationButcher – turkey and beef
prepare vegetables

Feet up, relax with a glass of ...

MummyHen X

Cakes wonderful cakes

Yeah I have finished my cakes – all done n’ dusted.

Cake Parcel – inspiration from Jane Asher Christmas Holly Parcel. Oh my I didn't notice the price wow.

 

White Star Tree – inspiration from The Pink Whisk – if you not visited Ruths blog then you are missing a treat. 

Holly Cake – inspiration Pink Whisk Holly & Berries Cake.

 

I have a stressful job and making these cakes has been relaxing and I really enjoyed it.  I hope all the recipients will love then too.

 

MummyHen X

 

It’s cold

Actually it’s freezing – the cobwebs in the garden – no I don’t have any in the house!?!? – are very frosty this morning.

Cakes are coming on but not finished – only the two large round ones to complete, large square is complete but can't post a picture as the recipient reads my blog.

Here are some better pictures - actually not that pleased with the photos.

 

 

MummyHen X

 

Icing afternoon

I need to buy some more icing as I ran out, four small cakes (5” square) all done well almost need some sliver ribbon to put around the base of each cake.

Large 8” round has had its base white icing - still deciding on the design; spent far too much time yesterday evening looking at some wonderful designs. I have some ideas so watch this space.

Large 10” square didn’t get to this one today – need to buy some more icing

And I did make another Christmas cake – which will be gifted; had all the ingredients in the cupboard so it was ‘free’

 

The artificial light is dreadful so apologies for the poor quality of the photos

 MummyHen X

Marzipan afternoon

All done and ready for the icing tomorrow

 

MummyHen X

Advent has begun

Four weeks until Christmas, I love Christmas – I had hot Christmases as child when we lived in Africa and cold Christmases here in England, both very different – the food, traditions, and obviously the weather but the constant was the family being together, carols and church. 

How do you prepare for Christmas?

I have ordered meat and poultry from the butcher – in previous years I’ve used high street supermarkets but in more recent years I like to support the local butcher.

I have made drink – mentioned here in my previous post.  This will be decanted in the next week or so ready for gifting.

I have made food and stocked the freezer for the days after Christmas and New Year before life gets back to normal in January.  I am hoping to take time off from work and have a rest so I little planning ahead will help.

I have been crocheting a table running – my poinsettia table runner.  I used 100% cotton and a 4mm hook. 

Start with yellow, create a magic loop or chain 6 to form a circle/loop, chain 3 (counts as 1tr), 11tr in to the same space. Slip stitch into the first stitch to join.  12 stitches in total.

Change to red and work 12, 2tr & chain 1 clusters into each space. Slip stitch into the first stitch to join.

Change to green and work 12, 3tr & chain 1 clusters into each space. Slip stich into the first stitch to join.

Change to white into the next space work 2tr, chain 1, 2tr 1chain.

Into the next space work 2 dtr (double trebles), chain 3, 2 dtr, chain 1.  This forms a corner cluster.

Into the next space work *2tr, chain 1, 2tr 1chain*.  Repeat * *

Into the next space work 2 dtr (double trebles), chain 3, 2 dtr, chain 1.  This forms the second corner cluster.

Repeat until you get back to the beginning the format is two clusters [2tr, chain 1, 2tr 1chain] in between each corner cluster. 

I joined as I went along but you could create all the squares and then crochet them together. There are a few ends to sew in but its worth the effort.

 

 

I think I will block it as the edges look a little wonkie

 

 

MummyHen X

 

Cork Christmas trees

Work has been as hectic as usual – I longed for the weekend of doing nothing or crafty things.

We had some wine corks lying around – DaddyHen enjoys a glass of wine or two at the weekends – we had a few but not enough for my tree project.  I asked the local wine merchant and they gave me a huge bag.

I stuck them together with glue – waited overnight for the glue to fully dry and then wrapped either green or red ribbon over the top – simple.

The little cork people – I knitted or crocheted a hat and skirt; knitted pattern from here Korknisse. I made up the crochet pattern.

 

I need some to send the Bloggy Blanket to someone else – I have added a few more squares but it needs more; could you crochet a square or two to add to the blanket – let me know.  It can be a simple granny square or a more complex pattern. For more information about the Bloggers blanket have a look at Mums blog

 

MummyHen X

 

Back to reality

Wow these last two weeks have been just a blur – back after holiday work is just so so busy – not complaining as I love my job not to mention it pays the bills (and debts).

I am very fortunate that I work from home most of the time – I generally only need to attend the office once a quarter and the amount I travel outside the UK for work is also around once a quarter.  Working from home is great – yes there’s no travel (I spent years commuting up to London rail and tube – I don’t miss doing that), don’t have to dress smartly – most of the time its sweatshirt/jumper and leggings/jeans.  Bad hair days are the norm!!!.  If my nail polish is a little chipped it’s not going to matter.  Yes, I miss the face to face interaction with colleagues – but I have DaddyHen.  We have video calls most days but my camera never works !?!?!  shhhhhh  The big down side for me is when to stop – I generally start at 8am and finish at 7ish – and then if I need to catch a colleague in the US then I might have a call later in the evening.  Monthly reporting is my busiest time so for the first two weeks of a month’s its flat out 60+hrs each week. 

What have I been doing these past few weeks – preparing for Christmas.

I have made three cakes; one of which I’ll cut into four to give as gifts.  Last year I hired a tin to make 16 tiny cakes – but that was a bit of a nightmare much too fiddly for my liking.  I use the Delia recipe which has never let me down. 

 

Drinks – homemade lemoncello and mulled gin – I have used these recipes for a few years

Lemoncello

1 litre of vodka
8 unwaxed lemons – juice and zest – no white pith
800gs sugar
650ml water

Heat water and sugar until sugar dissolved then simmer for 10mins, leave to cool.  In large bottle/container add lemon juice & zest, vodka and cooled sugar syrup – mix well.  Leave for couple of weeks then strain thru muslin or coffee filters into large jug, then decant into pretty bottles (sterilised). 

 

Mulled gin

1 litre of gin
300g sugar
Cinnamon stick
5 Whole cloves and 5 green cardamom pods
1 vanilla pod - split

Dissolve the sugar in 200ml of gin. In a bowl add remaining gin, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom pods and vanilla pod mix in the warm sugar syrup gin and leave in a covered bowl, stirring daily then decant as above.

 

My tip for covering bowls that need some attention – soaking fruit for Christmas cake or making mulled gin that need stirring once in a while. Is to use a shower cap – I get 6 in the pound shop or sometimes hotels have them in the bathroom.  I also use them to cover the salad bowl if we are eating outside – keeps the insects off the food. 

 

 

MummyHen X