[Vivienne]

Following on from a small discussion in the Chatroom regarding MINCE PIES, do you believe these should only be eaten at or around Xmas time?

Someone has just told me they have had their first pie of the season, yet I know I eat them all year round.

Just wondered.

[MK Chris]

I'm not keen on them at any time.

[claradooblue]

Those puff pastry mince pies are the best and they're a bit like mini-eccles cakes, so i suppose they're sort of eaten all the year round

[MK Chris]

My mum makes sublime eccles cakes, I won't touch anyone elses. They don't have mincemeat inside though, she makes her own mixture of.. well, I don't know, but it's good.

It's the mincemeat I'm not keen on.

[Yudster]

It was me! I just had my first mince pie! I like them, but someohow I only want them at Christmas, it doesn't seem right at other times! Mind you, I'm not going to try to marginalise anyone who wants to eat mince pies in July, not a bit of it!

[MK Chris]

someohow I only want them at Christmas, it doesn't seem right at other times!

...but it does seem right to watch a Muppet's Christmas Carol?

[Yudster]

Well yes. I hate your good memory Topher.

[MK Chris]

I'm sure we were only talking about it two or three days ago...!

[nade]

Love some nice fresh hot mince pies during christmas. I think it makes it feel a bit more festive eating them at that time

[Vivienne]

D'you like mulled wine too?

[claradooblue]

Ooooh yes. Have you ever tried mulled cider, it's dangerous but gorgeous.

[Yudster]

I like the mulled wine my friend Mary makes - she does it from scratch with decent claret, cointreau, brandy, and all the spices, then mulls it on the stove (she usually makes a cauldron full - about five bottles of wine, half a bottle of cointreau and a whole bottle of brandy goes in there!) . The stuff you buy ready made in bottle is disgusting though.

[Vivienne]

Never tried mulled cider. Mulled wine is to die for though... as is ginger wine. mmmm

[Andy B]

I love mulled wine, there's a pub near me that serves it all year round which is great, they keep it in a thermos flask (other brands of temperature retaining flask are available). They don't serve it with mince pies though as I'm certain they're a seasonal dish.

That said I have pancakes all year round. Proper ones, not American or Scottish ones.

[Vivienne]

Pancakes all year round...mmm.. have you tried them with cream sploshed all over them... mmmmm. and hot cross buns plus cream... mmm

[Yudster]

Ah, ginger wine is the other thing Mary puts in her mulled wine! At least a bottle and a half.

[Andy B]

Pancakes all year round...mmm.. have you tried them with cream sploshed all over them... mmmmm. and hot cross buns plus cream... mmm

Nope pancakes are only allowed 2 out of 3 of the following: lemon, sugar and golden syrup. Some insist on banana or chocolate but they are misguided fools. The joy of pancakes lies in the pancake itself.

Hot cross buns yes, cream no. Lightly toasted with some butter (not margerine) is how they should be eaten.

[Console]

You've never had a Corned-beef Hash Pancake then?

[Vivienne]

what the hell is that.

[Console]

It's a pancake filled with Corned-Beef Hash; the clue's in the name really.

[Vivienne]

I can actually hear you saying that in a really sarcastic voice, you know. A tinny little "bot voice". Did you know that Alice creature you have created was composing a private message this morning.

[Yudster]

Say goodbye Mr Fish! He's waving!

[Console]

I can actually hear you saying that in a really sarcastic voice, you know. A tinny little "bot voice".

I just knew you'd be one to hear voices in their own head.

Did you know that Alice creature you have created was composing a private message this morning.

Yes, I did, Chris was checking something out, although your obsession for checking the "Who's Online" feature is a little worrying, almost like you're trying to follow people around on the board.

[Vivienne]

How is that following people round on the board? I'm curious to see if I can predict what others will say, or do, that's all

I could hear you speaking, I'm sure in a very nice voice, because I had such a strong feeling about it at that moment.

[S4B]

I don't like mince pies, I don't like Christmas pudding or Christmas cake, I don't like mulled wine and I'm not a huge fan of turkey. Christmas just means hard work (which I enjoy), one day off (Christmas Day, which I spend cooking and then sleeping) and finally more hard work when the Sale starts on Boxing Day (where loads of people will come in and say how dreadful it is that I'm having to work and don't get it when I point out that if they weren't shopping I wouldn't be working!)