Sadly no @Fairygirl. my local Co-op became Sainsbury's many years back and the two near my daughters are now fast food outlets - what is going on!
I am quite happy to cook for myself although some meals are easier than others but 'bought' Christmas dinner became a bit of a tradition after I returned to work in the 80's and we finally had some money to spend on frivolity. My daughters decided I had made enough Christmas's to have earned a rest after they married and the 'tradition' just carried on. More time to play games with grandchildren and laugh at my brother dozing on the settee Â
Somehow it would make the 'virtual' Christmas a bit more usual if you know what I mean. I don't eat meat very often but if I have a chicken every bit is used including the boiled bones just was hoping for a 'treat' this December. Been a bit of a bleak year hasn't it?
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."Â Sir Terry Pratchett
Indeed @herbaceous. That's a good idea - if only you could get one. Very annoying. I think your dinner should just be what you bl**dy well want - three puddings and a box of chocolates if you fancy it! Our Christmases are shared - the girls go to their Dad alternate years, and although we do the usual roast, they both work, so they're often not around much. We just take it as it comes. I don't know if the guidelines here will change before then anyway, so no idea what'll happen, as they can't mix with his household at present. Having done the 'big dinners' for many years in the past, I can't get too excited about it any more, and the girls aren't that concerned either. Youngest would prefer a Chinese takeaway Â
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Obviously Christmas changes over the years @Fairygirl but since my husband passed away I must confess to enjoying those 'big dinners' shared with the family. Empty chairs get filled as the next generation grow up and join in and I always enjoy a shared meal anyway.
Shared meals this year have been few and far between and most of the activities that I get excited about at this time of year are not available. No Christmas craft fairs, no seasonal farmer's markets actually no travelling as the bus is out of bounds. It would just be lovely to have some familiar thread running through the Winter festivities.
Oh dear, now I'm starting to sound more maudlin than curmudgeonly Â
All these restrictions make any kind of forward planning difficult don't they, in view of the uncertainty your daughter's Chinese takeaway sounds perfect! Plenty of honey beer and a big box of chocolates while you do whatever you like as an after dinner activity
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."Â Sir Terry Pratchett
I think whatever you can do to have some normality is exactly what you should do @herbaceous. Your circumstances are slightly different from mine, and I can understand how a family get together is important. When the girls were small, it was great, even though we had nothing much financially. It was the little rituals that mattered most -putting the carrot out for the reindeer and the mince pie for Santa, and the tree decorating, with all the baubles down at 'small child height'. Their excitement in the morning opening the stockings and presents. I still do the stockings - with the same things they always had in them, and maybe a couple of additions that are more suitable to their ages Â
I hope you can get a compromise of sorts that works for you, and most of all - I hope you are healthy and well enough to enjoy whatever that compromise might be.Â
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Not sure whereabouts you are @herbaceous, but a lot of farm shops are doing Click and Collect and some are even delivering to town residents. Have a google of farm shops in your area ... nowadays a lot of them have their own butchery and bakery and can do stuff to order.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
The nearest farm shop is about a mile away @Dovefromabove and easily within cycling distance. Windsor Farm Shops (dubbed ER Patel by my late husband) has been scoped by my youngest daughter who described the queues as ridiculous and the customers unclear about what 2m looks like in real life. Also it is completely indoors and the prices make delivery unrealistic even if I thought it worthwhile.
I much prefer the open air market in Windsor High Street, always seem to find something new and tasty, have lovely conversations with the stallholders and generally manage to collect a few items as presents. The enjoyment is in the interaction as much as the food.
I'm going to miss that. Anyway I'm not giving up and I'm off to try and get a delivery from Tesco before next year Â
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it."Â Sir Terry Pratchett
If all else fails with SM deliveries, our farm shop has now opened a takeaway in their car park selling carvery roasts and other hot meals as people can’t go into their restaurant. they have been the most enterprising business I’ve ever known, just gone from strength to strength.  Click and collect, deliveries and all meat and veg grown on their own land.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.Â
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I am quite happy to cook for myself although some meals are easier than others but 'bought' Christmas dinner became a bit of a tradition after I returned to work in the 80's and we finally had some money to spend on frivolity. My daughters decided I had made enough Christmas's to have earned a rest after they married and the 'tradition' just carried on. More time to play games with grandchildren and laugh at my brother dozing on the setteeÂ
Somehow it would make the 'virtual' Christmas a bit more usual if you know what I mean. I don't eat meat very often but if I have a chicken every bit is used including the boiled bones just was hoping for a 'treat' this December. Been a bit of a bleak year hasn't it?
I think your dinner should just be what you bl**dy well want - three puddings and a box of chocolates if you fancy it!Â
Our Christmases are shared - the girls go to their Dad alternate years, and although we do the usual roast, they both work, so they're often not around much. We just take it as it comes. I don't know if the guidelines here will change before then anyway, so no idea what'll happen, as they can't mix with his household at present.
Having done the 'big dinners' for many years in the past, I can't get too excited about it any more, and the girls aren't that concerned either. Youngest would prefer a Chinese takeaway Â
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Shared meals this year have been few and far between and most of the activities that I get excited about at this time of year are not available. No Christmas craft fairs, no seasonal farmer's markets actually no travelling as the bus is out of bounds. It would just be lovely to have some familiar thread running through the Winter festivities.
Oh dear, now I'm starting to sound more maudlin than curmudgeonlyÂ
All these restrictions make any kind of forward planning difficult don't they, in view of the uncertainty your daughter's Chinese takeaway sounds perfect! Plenty of honey beer and a big box of chocolates while you do whatever you like as an after dinner activity
Your circumstances are slightly different from mine, and I can understand how a family get together is important. When the girls were small, it was great, even though we had nothing much financially. It was the little rituals that mattered most -putting the carrot out for the reindeer and the mince pie for Santa, and the tree decorating, with all the baubles down at 'small child height'. Their excitement in the morning opening the stockings and presents. I still do the stockings - with the same things they always had in them, and maybe a couple of additions that are more suitable to their ages Â
I hope you can get a compromise of sorts that works for you, and most of all - I hope you are healthy and well enough to enjoy whatever that compromise might be.Â
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
And the same back to you and your daughters. Hoping they can shake off the abuse of ignorant customers and enjoy their stockings to the full!
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I much prefer the open air market in Windsor High Street, always seem to find something new and tasty, have lovely conversations with the stallholders and generally manage to collect a few items as presents. The enjoyment is in the interaction as much as the food.
I'm going to miss that. Anyway I'm not giving up and I'm off to try and get a delivery from Tesco before next yearÂ
they have been the most enterprising business I’ve ever known, just gone from strength to strength.  Click and collect, deliveries and all meat and veg grown on their own land.
http://www.goodiesfoodhall.co.uk/
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.