Monthly Archives: December 2008

200 things to do with left-over turkey…

Posted by Wendy on December 26, 2008 No comments

I wonder if I penned such a book if it would sell at this time of year…?

I splashed out on a four kilo bird this year for the sole reason that it would do over the next few days as quick and easy meals; stir-fry tonight, curry tomorrow, as well as sandwiches for lunch. I got to know that turkey on such intimate terms yesterday – cleaning it out, stuffing it, roasting and basting it over several hours then carving it up, that I feel I will miss it when the last shreds of meat have finally gone. 

Hope you all had a wonderful day :)

Related post: What to do with that leftover turkey

Copyright © 2007-2012 Cultured Views. All rights reserved.

Santa comes a bit late for Baby Peter

Posted by Wendy on December 26, 2008 No comments

It is a scene which reminds you of the sea of flowers that adorned the road outside Kensington Palace after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Except this is a growing sea of toys and gifts left at a cemetery outside London for a little boy who only spent one Xmas on this earth.

Well wishers have been leaving gifts at the Islington and St Pancras Cemetery in North London for little Peter, some have even left small Xmas trees at the site. All by complete strangers that the baby never knew but who feel that they owed this child something, in their own way, for the terrible tragedy that befell him. 

Some cynical journalists have pointed out that the toys would have been better taken to a hospital for sick children – some have even claimed people are doing this to justify their own conscience. It is funny how when decent people seek to do the only the right thing and in their own way, it brings out the critic in others.

We know that no amount of toys will bring Peter back, and yes, those toys would put a smile on the faces of many sick children in hospital – but here is a thought…

Few sought to put a smile on little Peters face when he was alive – maybe, just maybe, he is smiling now.

And it’s nice to know that people do care.

Copyright © 2007-2012 Cultured Views. All rights reserved.

T’was the night before Xmas…

Posted by Wendy on December 24, 2008 No comments

And with another 18 hours yet to go the turkey shows no sign of defrosting, I have a mountain of presents to wrap and only four rolls of paper and one roll of scotch tape. That’s the last time I allow a man to decide how much gift paper we will need!

The kids have already made inroads into the crisps and nibblies I had placed aside for Xmas lunch, some of the Xmas lights have stopped working and I tripped over the cord of the optic fibre Xmas tree yesterday which pulled out the wire and now it no longer ‘glows’…

I broke my promise to myself not to buy too much food this time round, as two sons have left home this year, and yet I have enough food to feed the third world and limited oven space (and people) to cook and eat it…

I also vowed not to splash out on alcohol this year and yet two bottles of Vins de Pays Blanc are chilling away in the fridge as I speak. I also vowed I would treat myself to an Orovo detox after Xmas in order to justify the wine and all the food I will consume over next 48 hours – the turkey (when it defrosts) will be a lovely roast tomorrow, a curry on Boxing Day and possibly a stir-fry on Saturday.

Meanwhile my family in Australia are soon to wake up to warm sunshine and prepare for an outdoor Xmas lunch around the pool. My brother-in-law will light the BBQ (fire restrictions allowing of course), my sister will lay the table with salads, seafood, cold meats and fruit salads and a pavlova you cannot jump over. The flies will bother everyone, the heat will cause the beer to affect everyone before it should and Mum will need an afternoon nap. My son William (spending the day with them) will consume a whole box of chocolates before breakfast and then feel sick and no-one will make to the 9.30am Mass…again.

Here, it is cold and overcast and the kids are worried about Santa and the weather; they have already changed into their pj’s and put out their Xmas pillow slips (xmas stockings dont do the job…); they have prepared Santa’s snack and are waiting for the sky to fall dark so they can watch for his sleigh.

I see their faces and feel their excitement – I love this time of year.

Copyright © 2007-2012 Cultured Views. All rights reserved.