Staying, And Going, At Christmas

Lots of magazines have a regular feature with titles like "What's Hot, What's Not" and "This Week Going Up, and Coming Down"  listing popular trends and products. Here are four items that appeared at Cornerstones between the end of November and the beginning of December. Two will be staying, one definitely not returning, and the fourth is more complicated.

That strange pink silicon star, a 'flat gift' from Kirsten. Cleaning out plugholes is a gross job which I dislike - whether food in the kitchen sink, or hairs in the shower tray. Having had houseguests over Christmas, so more shower use, I can say this has made the whole task so much easier. Thanks K!  

My wonderful little mitten tongs. About 4½" ;ong, with silicon ends. I got them for £1.99 in Lidl. I thought they'd be good for serving finger foods. They have proved incredibly useful for all sorts of foodstuffs, the children loved them - and we have kept them with our regular tongs, on the hook over the hob. I can see them being used all year round. So hand-y! staying

On the other hand, I was a little disappointed with my JusRol croissants. 25 years ago, we used to buy this cardboard tubes of pastry and make croissants or pain au chocolat for Sunday breakfast. Nowadays I keep Aldi frozen ones in the freezer. But I saw these, and thought back to those happy times in the kitchen with the girls, rolling up the pastry. And they were on offer...I have to say we were singularly disappointed with them. None of the buttery flakiness of our current pastries. going

The final item on the list is a little bit sad. Steph generously bought both Bob and Jon a hamper of cheeses from her local Cheesemongers shop. A lovely idea - and there was a good selection of fromage. She wrapped the boxes in Christmas paper, and brought them across to Norfolk. Now this ticks many boxes - I don't like cheese, so that is definitely Bobs gift to enjoy, a gift to be consumed is better than another item to take up space in our home, and finally, supporting small local businesses is a good thing all round.

BUT the award winning Chorlton Cheesemongers partners with an award winning Manchester Cheesemaker called Mrs Kirkham to be her main stockist. Sadly during Christmas week, it was necessary for some of Mrs K's cheese to be recalled as there was an outbreak of e-coli, and sadly someone died. There was a block of Mrs K's cheese in Bob's hamper. 

Bob was all for eating it anyway [he hates food waste] - but we refused to let him even nibble the dodgy cheese. It went into the bin. The remaining cheeses were greatly enjoyed.

The consensus was that although we were entitled to return the cheese to the shop for a refund, we were not going to bother. The shop, and Mrs K have clearly been distressed by this whole business, and done their very best to put things right. The cost of one little block of cheese is not much of a loss to one customer - but the potential loss of many customers can seriously affect the future of two small business and the livelihoods of their staff. [older readers may remember the food poisoning incident in The Archers, BBC, August 2011!]

So yes, the iffy cheese has definitely gone but Steph intends to keep patronising the CC, and Bob wants to visit next time we are in Manchester.

Have there been any Christmas delights which will be staying on in 2024 for you?

Or Christmas disasters you would prefer not to repeat?