Whilst checking my e-mails, I have come across an offer from "YouGarden" and I have just made a Christmas Impulse buy, namely, a fresh pot grown Nordic Pine Christmas tree ready for decorating together with a fresh garland which can be used as window/mantlepiece/table centre and the traditional wreath for the door. As a member, there is a good pre-order discount and delivery dates from the first week in December.
After Christmas, it can join the other tree in the garden until next year. This specific type is pot-grown and not ripped from the ground like some of the seasonal versions. It is reflected in the price. The tree is about 1 metre/ 3ft plus pot and with care will keep on growing at around an inch or two per year.
Have been on my shopping trip to Lidl in the hope to get some extra bits for the Christmas cake and to my surprise, there on the shelf where the banking things are stocked, I came across "Brandy soaked cake fruit" and large jars of Mincemeat. I bagged two bags of the fruit and shall adapt one lot for the mince pies because the commercial stuff does not look very appetising in the jars and are loaded with sugar and preservatives. I also managed to get a whole duck, there were three small turkeys, a couple of turkey crowns and half a dozen of ducks. I think the stuff goes as soon as it comes on the shelves. No panic buying as yet, I think.
The tree sounds good as does your other Lidl buys. We've started to buy the odd bit for Christmas. Got a box of 'After Eight' mints and six marzipan 'fruits' the week before last and a Christmas Pud this week. We have to rely on Lidl mince pies but they are BB early November and I don't know if they would freeze successfully - anyone any idea?