Earlier and earlier!!

[Eric]

Originally Posted by dotti34

Anyway, hope you are all enjoying the good times now, and can actually afford a pair of matching socks – without holes, and maybe a bit of meat to go with the turnip.

And don[t forget the new penny and the sugar pig.

[Eric]

Come to think of it, it wasn't the whole pig ... it was that bit of string that stuck out of its ass ... but, luxury of luxuries, there was a hint of pink on it. And I didn't get to keep the penny. But I did get a peek at it before it went into the gas meter.

[Rowlf]

Anyone have a goose for Christmas dinner ? We did some years but unfortunately mum used to save the fat and smother me with it to prevent colds. HORRIBLE.

[dotti34]

We used to have a goose at Christmas-time. My mother plucked the goose herself as it was cheaper to buy it unplucked. Plenty of meat on it and also my mother could replenish her supply of goose-grease which she used throughout the winter. It might have been horrible but it did the job. Quite a few uses for it, including preserving leather - that's if, of course, you had anything leather to preserve!

Him indoors tells me he used to rub it all over his body before going out to play soccer (he was a goal-keeper) as it kept the rain and the cold from his body.

[Eric]

Originally Posted by dotti34

We used to have a goose at Christmas-time. My mother plucked the goose herself as it was cheaper to buy it unplucked.

Cheaper to go out and shoot one Just push the little bits of lead to the side of the plate

[Rowlf]

My dad played a lot of football and used olive oil to keep cold and wet out. I used it on my legs in winter for hockey at school. Much preferable to goose grease.

[dotti34]

Ah, but that came as a free extra when you had a goose....

[dotti34]

Eric, can you please explain further about the sugar pig...haven't heard about that one. I vaguely remember something about a new penny - is that to do with the New Year?

[MargaretR]

I recall sugar mice - pink sugar compressed into a mouse shape with a string tail.
Sugar pigs are still made today
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boynes-Indiv...rds=sugar+pigs

[Gordon Booth]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

I recall sugar mice - pink sugar compressed into a mouse shape with a string tail.
Sugar pigs are still made today
]

So are sugar mice. Must admit I never fancied the bit of string coming out of their bottoms- still, if it's all you can get?

[Rowlf]

There is a little old fashioned sweet shop in Haworth that always has both sugar pigs and mice. I remember having them at Christmas. What about the silver threepenny pieces in the pudding ? Does anyone still put coins in their pud?

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Rowlf

What about the silver threepenny pieces in the pudding ?

I remember that ... much better than finding little bits of lead in the goose.