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oh-oh....that's how it starts...can't find the mood, then it progresses sometimes slowly and insidiously to 'can't be bothered'....then headlong into a general dislike of the festivities....tolerating them for the sake of others.

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I do hope not -I'm quite a romantic at heart - it wouldn't take much to lift my mood...

Have received my first 2 Xmas cards today which is a start, from 2 Aunties -hope more are on their way. Hearing from the ones you love is important when you live abroad as I do...but mum's stopped sending cards and so has my sister (sigh)...will have to hope I hear from other family and my friends...

I really am in a pensive mood today...a cup of tea is the remedy -best drink of the day:D

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Funny that, I'm normally a tea drinker as coffee sends me haywire. The only place I can drink it is in Italy, in those tiny cups that are so small you can hardly get the spoon in.

Shame about the cards, I don't do much for Christmas but I do like to send and receive cards. I decorate with lots of greenery (ivy mainly) and Richard and I always have a proper Christmas dinner, sometimes with an aged relative, but not this year, so we don't have to have turkey (she would turn her nose up at anything else) and can treat ourselves to duck instead. Hooray!

You're right, I keep up some traditions from way back, just for the two of us...

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I am THE tea drinker "Par excellence" and get the shakes if i don't have it at regular intervals during the day.:rolleyes:

Had to give up the "Espresso" as it was making me a nervous wreck (together with the tea) and could be found wide awake at 2 and 3 in the morning with eyes as big as a Bush-babies!!:D

I also like to bring in fresh greenery at Xmas, it's a throw-back to the middle ages when it signified the hope that Spring would prevail over Winter....

I never do a "full" Turkey -my "Italian" family don't appreciate it - usually get a Capon given (hand-reared by a local farmer) and we do home-made ravioli stuffed with braised beef, cooked in beef stock for Xmas day -this is typical in N-Italy.

Xmas Eve is always a fish based meal, as is New Year's Eve -I have celebrated the last "umpteen" NY Eve's alone at mid-night, on the phone to family and friends, as my husband always works on these holidays, Xmas and NY, -in order to let the other men on the farm have a day off.

I do still love the traditions that my family had when I was young -like stockings on the bed for the boys first thing and then all opening the main presents together later -and I do take the stockings in when they are in bed even though they are now 24 and 19! (SAD)

Guinea Fowl is a nice aternative to Turkey , quite like duck and recently had Goose for the first time which was really good...

Love Devil's on Horseback too -but that's because I'm evil at heart. Lol!!!

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Cracked open the dates today and tangerines -that's a sure sign that Xmas is around the corner. Have been innundated with guests -a couple and their 3 little girls -they've just decided to stay for dinner too plus I have my 2 boys coming one with veggie girlfriend ----aaarrrgh!

Thank god for pasta.....! No peace for the wicked -i really am paying for my sins....

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Years ago we had a goose and were horrified when it was cooked to find how little meat there was on it. Good job we had some beef as well as there were quite a few of us. Still like it though. Anything but turkey...

Two possibilitys there, was it a small goose? (unlikely).
Or
Was it cooked wrong? The meat on a goose seems to shrink away to nothing if cooked at too high a temperature.

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Don't know Less but will bear your points in mind if we ever have another.
Meanwhile better luck with this year's duck, I can usually manage those.:)

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The goose I had recently was excellent but it doesn't seem to have as much meat for the size of the frame of the bird as other poultry....

We generally get a Capon at Xmas -reasonable size and everyone seems to like it -no turkey here either Sue!

Our Robin has just returned -saw him for the first time today - that's a sure sign of winter and Xmas coming.:)

Will be late putting the tree up late this year (Sunday probably) -still not feeling festive though...

One thing the above two posters should remember is, cook your goose on a rack above a tray capable of collecting all the fat.
Not because that makes the goose less greasy,
But the next time you get a chest cold you have an excuse for your loved one to rub something into your skin.
(Doubtful that it is a cure, but what the hey, it will take your minds off the flem filled handkerchiefs!).

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And it will stop people sitting next to you on the bus.

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Goose fat is sold in Asda
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It makes roast potatoes crisp and tasty

Is that before or after you have rubbed it on you chest?

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you shouldnt rub roast pototoes on your chest, it makes a mess of a string vest !:silly:

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Dead right Less, temperature is very important ... too low doesn't do it, and you're right about having the temp too high. I'm having goose for Christmas this year ... gotta eat it 'cause I shot it;) But I'm going to ask for help from a friend who knows exactly how to do it ... he got the knowlege from his Mohawk grandma. Anyone can cook a turkey; it takes an artist to cook goose.