This Christmas, like last, has not gone to plan. I was supposed to be down in Saint Reatham A.K.A Streatham with a few Kiwis and the odd Irish person thrown in for cooking purposes. This was supposed to happen last year as well and had to be cancelled. Covid has ruined it again.
The PCR came back positive on Monday night so I had to quickly jump online and get one of the last delivery slots if I was going to eat anything decent on Christmas day.
I managed to get an Ocado slot which was the only one available for the week out of all the main supermarkets. This is fine though as Ocado is now in cahootz with Marks and Spencers and who doesn't love Marks and Spencer.
I thought to myself, if I'm having Christmas alone, I can do what I like. I'm going to go rouge! Who really likes dry old turkey anyway, and Brussels sprouts are hardly a treat. Don't get me wrong, I actually like them, but I eat them all year round.
So, I ordered up all of my favourite treats and was set for the big day.
A few days into isolation and the government announces a change. One may be able to be released on day 7 of isolation if one has a negative lateral flow on day 6 and 7. Of course this is the UK so obviously you couldn't get tests for love nor money. Luckily the Streatham crew sent a box special delivery which arrived the next day. So up until Friday, there was a glimmer of hope that Christmas would be saved and all my treats would be post phoned until new years. Alas, the lateral flow lines were as strong as ever. The Streatham crew were desperately trying to get me there, wanting me to repeat the test every hour. I'm not sure if they were after the Nigellas coca cola ham I was supposed to bring, the Heston's Christmas pudding, my dog, or my company? I have a feeling it was the sausage dog they wanted. I was now resigned to Rhonda's individual isolating Christmas extravaganza.
It's Christmas day, and I'm onto the 6th day of isolation. I'm not completely gross and do have a shower each day and put on a clean pair of pajamas. Today, I have treated myself to a shirt for the top half for face time purposes. Me and the Greggy boy wake up early as he is itching to open his presents.
First food of the day is Cinnamon buns. Now this was never part of the plan but I just woke up feeling like them and as the diet starts tomorrow and I have had to forgo the real Christmas and I am the boss of myself why shouldn't I have cinnamon buns. Im not sure I've ever made cinnamon buns except for the ones that pop out of the packet ready made. The recipe I used was this one https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/cinnamon-rolls They do look rather rustic but were absolutely delicious.
The next snack of the day at about 10.30am were some truffle crisps. Obviously its not really crisp hour or I shouldn't even be hungry but I have a lot to fit in so it all needs to be spaced out evenly throughout the day. Anyone who knows me, knows that these are my favourite crisps of all time. They are quite hard to come by but as luck would have it they had them at Ocado. Janette had also dropped off yesterday some mature cheddar with relish dip, courtesy of Lidl's which they went perfectly with.
Next up, It's now about 12.45pm and snack time again. I make my self a plate of nibbles and pour myself the first drink of the day.
I have my favourite big green creamy olives and some simple smoked salmon on blinis. I put some rocket on my plate just because this may
be the only vegetable I see today. However, I am the boss of myself so this is also acceptable. I put a few anchovies on top for flavour which came in the hamper from the boss along with the wine. Thanks Lucy! It was all so good and the wine offset the saltiness perfectly.
It is now looking like nap hour and this delicious wine is making me sleepy. I might just have another little tipple and a sweet treat to tide me over. It is only 1.20pm so I daren't drink too much right now or I wont enjoy the rest of my treats. Although, it has to be said I am the boss of myself.
Fry's Turkish delight is one of my favourite chocolates of all time. Thank you Janette for delivering these to me. Coming in at only 55 calories per bar it would be rude not to have two. Although this is merely a drop in the ocean for what is about to happen today.
After nap hour, obviously I woke up a little bit peckish. Again, anyone who knows me knows my love for buffalo wings, the best ones ever can be found in Chicago at Pizza Uno and I am all about the bone usually but these firm freezer favourites are pretty good. You can get them at Iceland from the TGFI range. Sounds really bogan and I guess they are, but whip up a blue cheese sauce and they are just what the doctor ordered. Tomato for scale and also to get part of 5 a day into Christmas diet.
The time is now 5.30pm and I think it is wine o clock again. I've poured myself a glass of Kylie's Sauvignon blanc. Its not that Im a huge fan of Kylie but her wine is pretty good and goes nicely while catching up on a few missed Eastenders episodes.
Usually at Christmas I like to make my own duck liver parfait. Ocado didn't have any livers but I got this duck liver parfait with poached plum which is going rather nicely with a few slices of Gails bakery toasts from the freezer. Also washed down with another glass of Kylie.
So the plan was after this to have cheese and then Heston's Christmas pudding with custard, however a spanner has been thrown in the works. The lovely Caroline from downstairs grandkids have just deposited a massive roast dinner on my doorstep. I am going to have to re access my evening and wait for some space to arrive and then this blog may carry on over to tomorrow.
So time is now 8.40pm and I made a good go of Carolines roast. I cannot see cheese or Heston's Christmas pudding happening. However, never say never, and we still have the Eastenders special on at 9.35pm. I won't publish this just yet incase there is a small corner of room for something else.
Time check is now 10pm and there was infact a small window of room for a little bit of cheese. Thank you Bonnie for the chutney. It hasn't been a bad day as far as Christmas's go. Just a bit different. I have eaten a lot, chatted a lot on face time, played with the puppy, had naps and watched some Eastenders and of course written this blog in real time. Merry Christmas everyone and hopefully 2022 will be a better year for us all.
Maybe just one more Turkish delight for the road............
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