The Day AFTER Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas

And all through the house

Were plenty of chocolates

Going in my mouth.

Some were all plain

Others white and milk

Some were bitter and

Others smooth as silk.



I opened the cupboard

And guess what fell out

But ooodles of biscuits

Oh I could shout,

But I kept very calm

As calm as could be

And opened a box,

And ate twenty-three




I daren't go on the scales

I dread what I'd find

I've probably gained weight

Oh what a bind.

Do not worry and

Do not despair

In a few days time

We'll be in next year

12 Days of Bad(man) Christmas

On the 1st day of Christmas Badman sent to me - a Handbook on Modern PC;

On the 2nd day of Christmas Badman sent to me 2 social workers and a Handbook on Modern PC;

On the 3rd day of Christmas Badman sent to me 3 CRB checks, 2 social workers and a Handbook on Modern PC;

On the 4th day of Christmas Badman sent to me 4 UNCRCs, 3 CRB checks, 2 Social Workers, and a Handbook on Modern PC;

On the 5th day of Christmas Badman sent to me 5 controlling things, 4 UNCRCs, 3 CRB Checks, 2 social workers and a Handbook on Modern PC

On the 6th Day of Christmas Badman sent to me 6 LEA Guidelines, 5 controlling things, 4 UNCRCs, 3 CRB Checks, 2 social workers and a Handbook on Modern PC

On the 7th day of Christmas Badman sent to me 7 UN Charters, 6 LEA Guidelines, 5 controlling things, 4 UNCRCs, 3 CRB checks, 2 social workers and a Handbook on Modern PC

On the 8th day of Christmas Badman sent to me 8 Registrations, 7 UN Charters, 6 LEA Guidelines, 5 controlling things, 4 UNCRCs, 3 CRB Checks, 2 social workers and a Handbook on Modern PC

On the 9th day of Christmas Badman sent to me 9 Ed Advisors, 8 registrations, 7 UN Charters, 6 LEA Guidelines, 5 controlling things, 4 UNCRCs 3 CRB Checks, 2 social workers and a Handbook on Modern PC

On the 10th day of Christmas Badman sent to me 10 dodgy curriculums, 9 Ed Advisors, 8 registrations, 7 UN Charters, 6 LEA Guidelines, 5 controlling things, 4 UNCRCs, 3 CRB checks, 2 social workers and a Handbook on Modern PC

On the 11th day of Christmas Badman sent to me 11 Government Policies, 10 dodgy curriculums, 9 Ed Advisors, 8 registrations, 7 UN Charters, 6 LEA Guidelines, 5 controlling things, 4 UNCRCs, 3 CRB checks, 2 social workers and a Handbook on Modern PC

On the 12th day of Christmas my shredder came to me and I shredded 11 Government Policies, 10 dodgy curriculums, 9 Ed Advisors, 8 registrations, 7 UN Charters, 6 LEA Guidelines, 5 controlling things, 4 UNCRCs, 3 CRB checks, 2 social workers and a Handbook on Modern PC

If you saw my original on Facebook - I've changed the last verse (and the 11th day)

The 12 days of Christmas words

From this website: http://www.carols.org.uk/the_twelve_days_of_christmas.htm

On the first day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!

The 12 Days of Christmas

I read about the 12 days a few years back and it is believed that they were written to remind people of some of the RC church teachings - not sure if it's true! (not sure what the partride in a pear tree represents!) Anyway I found this on a website...

Religious symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas)

1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese a-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans a-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids a-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords a-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

http://www.carols.org.uk/the_twelve_days_of_christmas.htm

It's nearly Christmas

It's time of year again when we remember the birth of Christ. Here are a couple of thoughts:

1. The Bread of Life was born in the House of Bread (Bethlehem)
2. He was conceived in a pure 'never before used' womb and placed in a 'never before used' tomb
3. He gave up His glory to become poor so that we might become rich
4. The wise men followed the star to find the Bright Morning Star
5. The King of kings wore no kingly robes only swaddling bands
6. The Great High Priest wasn't visited by any Jewish religious leader
7. The shepherds came to see the Good Shepherd
8. Herod wanted to take His life whereas He came to give His life as a ransom for many
   

English/American recipe translator

Taken from: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~mbishop/engfood.html

• aubergine : eggplant
• back bacon : similar to Canadian bacon
• bake blind : bake a pastry case empty, by covering with wax paper and weighing down with beans
• baron of beef : two sirloins in one roast
• bap : hamburger bun
• beetroot : beet
• biscuit : cookie or cracker (sweet biscuit or savoury biscuit)
• boiled sweet : hard candy
• brill : something like a small turbot
• broad bean : fava bean
• brown bread : wholemeal bread
• brown stock : beef stock
• bully beef : corned beef
• candyfloss : cotton candy
• caster sugar : finely granulated sugar (not as powdery as confectioner's sugar)
• Channel Island milk : milk that's almost as thick as light cream
• chicory : endive
• chipolata : small pork sausage
• chips : french fries
• chocolate vermicelli : chocolate sprinkles
• chump chop : a type of lamb chop
• cider : hard cider
• clingfilm : Saran wrap
• coal fish / coley : black cod
• coffee sugar : sugar in large brightly-coloured crystals
• coriander leaves : cilantro
• corn : almost any grain (see maize and sweetcorn)
• corned beef : canned pressed ham (see salt beef)
• cornflour : cornstarch
• cos lettuce : romaine
• courgette : zucchini
• crisps : potato chips
• crumpet : something a bit like an English muffin ("English muffins" do not exist in England)
• custard : custard sauce, or sometimes baked custard
• cutlet : chop
• demerara sugar : light brown cane sugar
• Devonshire cream : a particular type of clotted cream
• digestive biscuits : something like Graham crackers
• double cream : heavy cream
• doughnut : jelly doughnut
• endive : chicory
• faggot : meatball
• fairy cake : cupcake
• fillet steak : tenderloin steak
• fish fingers : fish sticks
• French beans : string beans
• gammon : large, thick, round piece of ham
• garibaldi : hard rectangular currant cookie
• ginger nut : ginger snap
• golden syrup : something like corn syrup
• greaseproof paper : wax paper
• green pepper : bell pepper
• icing : frosting
• icing sugar : powdered (confectioner's) sugar
• jacket potato : baked potato
• liquor : (in some contexts, notably in eel-and-pie shops) parsley sauce
• liver sausage : liverwurst
• maize : corn
• marrow : squash that looks like a giant zucchini
• mince : ground beef / hamburger
• mincemeat : mince pie filling (dried fruit, peel, brandy, etc; very occasionally contains meat)
• mixed spice : a mixture of allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, coriander and cloves
• offal : liver, kidneys, tongue, tripe and any other animal organs
• perry : hard cider made from pears instead of apples
• plum duff : plum pudding
• polony : bologna
• porridge : cooked oatmeal
• prawn : small shrimp
• ring doughnut : doughnut
• rump steak : sirloin
• salt beef : corned beef
• silverside : top round
• single cream : light cream
• sirloin : porterhouse steak
• sherbet : powdered candy
• sponge finger : ladyfinger
• squash : juice drink
• sugar crystals : see coffee sugar
• sultana : white raisin
• sweetcorn : whole-kernel corn
• swede : yellow turnip
• tart : pie
• toffee : taffy
• treacle : similar to molasses
• whipping cream : halfway between light and heavy cream
• whitebait : small silvery fish, usually deep-fried whole
• white stock : chicken or fish stock

Peppermint Creams

Ingredients

450g (1lb) icing sugar
1 egg white
a few drops of peppermint essence
food colouring (optional)

Method

1. Sift the icing sugar into a bowl
2. Whisk the egg white in a bowl until it's frothy, then add the pepper essence and icing sugar gradually, mixing well with a wooden spoon until it becomes a very thick paste. Knead the paste with your hands until it is very smooth. (if you want coloured creams, add a small amount of food colouring and mix well).
3. Use your hands to make small balls of paste and flatten them into discs. Put them on a wire rack to harden slightly.

If you want you could dip the creams into melted milk or plain chocolate and leave them to set.