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charlie_cochraneThere are loads of good things to be won in the QTA bloghop.
I love it when the Christmas post arrives. Most of the time, anyway. Who’s written? What will the card be like? Will it have a stagecoach on? (I adore cards with stagecoaches.) Then you feel an envelope that’s slightly thicker than expected and you know...it’s the dreaded Christmas letter.
“Dear...
It’s been such a hectic year, what with our holiday to the Maldives, Ralph’s promotion and Jessica’s starring part in the school production. We barely had time to get to anywhere else – apart from Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix, as usual, and the company weekend at the Savoy. Well, we weren’t going to miss Michel Roux as the guest chef, were we, especially when we got the chance to be his guest in the kitchen. He was very impressed with our knowledge of red wine!
Of course, Jessica was taking her A Levels early this year and, as we were expecting her to get all A* grades, we asked the school to defer the production dates, which they did as they couldn’t not have her play the lead. Luckily that meant Toby was back from climbing Mount Everest so...”
There follows two A4 sheets about this perfect family and their genius children and all the amazing things they’ve been doing over the last year – along with pictures! – at which point I’m feeling like spewing up. Or I would be if I read the things any more. I now pick and choose: certain families I always read the letter, because I know it won’t be full of showing off. It’ll be funny and interesting and not induce the gag reflex. Others I leave folded up inside the card. Once bitten, twice shy.
Why do people do this? They may well have led a jet set life this past year and their children may well be going to read Maths at Cambridge at age nine but do they have to go on and on about it? Am I impressed? No. Am I jealous? No. Am I suspicious that they’re trying to hide something? Well. maybe...
Our Christmas letter has always been brief, at the most a third of a piece of A4. The last two years it’s been just four lines, to be sung to the tune of “Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly”. Here’s the 2012 version.
2012 was quite bellissimo, all our girls filled us with pride
In the stands for Greg and Jess and Mo – London 2012, oh how we cried
Graduations, celebrations, watching humpbacks off Cape Cod
Hubby’s inspired, now retired, do it all again next year please God.
Here's my bloghop question: What sort of whales did we watch in 2012?
I'm supposed to share a favourite cookie recipe, but instead here's a much more useful one, for making sprouts (or indeed any green vegetable people turn their noses up at) edible. And it’s simple.
Cook the veggies in whichever way you like best (boiled or steamed or microwaved). While they’re cooking, heat some olive oil in a frying pan, add a little garlic and either some lardons or chopped bacon (really useful recipe for using up leftovers). Add some chilli or paprika to your taste, then sauté until the meaty substance is cooked. Drain the veggies (if necessary) then add them to the frying pan. Sauté them a bit more till everything is piping hot then serve. Yummy.
I love it when the Christmas post arrives. Most of the time, anyway. Who’s written? What will the card be like? Will it have a stagecoach on? (I adore cards with stagecoaches.) Then you feel an envelope that’s slightly thicker than expected and you know...it’s the dreaded Christmas letter.
“Dear...
It’s been such a hectic year, what with our holiday to the Maldives, Ralph’s promotion and Jessica’s starring part in the school production. We barely had time to get to anywhere else – apart from Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix, as usual, and the company weekend at the Savoy. Well, we weren’t going to miss Michel Roux as the guest chef, were we, especially when we got the chance to be his guest in the kitchen. He was very impressed with our knowledge of red wine!
Of course, Jessica was taking her A Levels early this year and, as we were expecting her to get all A* grades, we asked the school to defer the production dates, which they did as they couldn’t not have her play the lead. Luckily that meant Toby was back from climbing Mount Everest so...”
There follows two A4 sheets about this perfect family and their genius children and all the amazing things they’ve been doing over the last year – along with pictures! – at which point I’m feeling like spewing up. Or I would be if I read the things any more. I now pick and choose: certain families I always read the letter, because I know it won’t be full of showing off. It’ll be funny and interesting and not induce the gag reflex. Others I leave folded up inside the card. Once bitten, twice shy.
Why do people do this? They may well have led a jet set life this past year and their children may well be going to read Maths at Cambridge at age nine but do they have to go on and on about it? Am I impressed? No. Am I jealous? No. Am I suspicious that they’re trying to hide something? Well. maybe...
Our Christmas letter has always been brief, at the most a third of a piece of A4. The last two years it’s been just four lines, to be sung to the tune of “Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly”. Here’s the 2012 version.
2012 was quite bellissimo, all our girls filled us with pride
In the stands for Greg and Jess and Mo – London 2012, oh how we cried
Graduations, celebrations, watching humpbacks off Cape Cod
Hubby’s inspired, now retired, do it all again next year please God.
Here's my bloghop question: What sort of whales did we watch in 2012?
I'm supposed to share a favourite cookie recipe, but instead here's a much more useful one, for making sprouts (or indeed any green vegetable people turn their noses up at) edible. And it’s simple.
Cook the veggies in whichever way you like best (boiled or steamed or microwaved). While they’re cooking, heat some olive oil in a frying pan, add a little garlic and either some lardons or chopped bacon (really useful recipe for using up leftovers). Add some chilli or paprika to your taste, then sauté until the meaty substance is cooked. Drain the veggies (if necessary) then add them to the frying pan. Sauté them a bit more till everything is piping hot then serve. Yummy.
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(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-08 05:17 pm (UTC)Recipe sounds delicious. :D
(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-08 09:22 pm (UTC)I wish FB/twitter and the like would replace the letters entirely...
rant rant rant...
(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-08 06:27 pm (UTC)O little bay mare of mine
You cost me money dear
Without your fees I have no doubt
Some gifts I would give this year
Your bills are truly staggering
They're really somewhat large
I think of you
I sigh and cry
And pull out Master Charge
*snicker*
Awesome post--you win on the hop so far in my book!
(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-08 09:24 pm (UTC)And you win for most amusing comment.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-08 11:33 pm (UTC)Then we're even! :-)
(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-08 07:06 pm (UTC)These days, of course, ours is mostly full of chicken & garden news, and this year will feature the cat.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-08 09:20 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-08 07:19 pm (UTC)I don't get many Christmas letters beyond a few lines about how many cats people currently have.
(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-08 09:19 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-09 01:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-09 12:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-10 12:25 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-10 10:59 am (UTC)Those humpbacks were brilliant. Been there three times now to see them (and the other whales/dolphins too!)
QTA Christmas Blog Hop
Date: 2013-12-12 05:29 pm (UTC)My mum gets one of those letters every year from an old friend I want to say "Yes we know your rich and travel when ever and to wherever you want and you have so much money etc please stop rubbing it in!!!"
ShirleyAnn@speakman40.freeserve.co.uk
Re: QTA Christmas Blog Hop
Date: 2013-12-13 09:40 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-14 04:05 am (UTC)And on a side note, I saw humpback whales this year too!
tiger-chick-1(at)hotmail(dot)com
(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-14 12:21 pm (UTC)Where did you see your humpbacks? And were there any baby ones?
(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-15 04:21 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-15 09:05 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-15 08:31 pm (UTC)I want to send a personal thank you for your participation in the xmas blog hop 2013. Thanks to you the Christmas Blog Hop was a great success.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish you, your family and friends a very happy holiday and joyful New Year 2014
All the best,
Anders
Founder/Administrations Manager
Queer Town Abbey
(no subject)
Date: 2013-12-15 08:56 pm (UTC)