Well the Christmas season is upon us. Or if you’ve been keeping score at home, the third month of the Christmas season is upon us (Jack o’ lanterns count as Christmas decorations now, right?).
It’s time to put away the pumpkin flavoring, double down on the peppermint, and steel yourself for the relentless gauntlet of anger and frustration that is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s a time for giving, a time for reconnecting, and a time for realizing who in your life has absolutely no idea what your interests are. (A Long John Silver’s gift card. Thanks.)
For me it’s time to make my annual “You Don’t Have to Buy Me Anything for Christmas, But If You Must, Please, No Mugs” decree to my students and then sit back and watch all of the D students who can’t remember to do their homework proudly offer me a mug the day before vacation starts.
This has always been my favorite time of year. I never really had any Christmas traditions to speak of growing up, but a few have sprung forth from the tinsel of my adulthood. Every year I make a thorough examination of my mother’s second Christmas tree, which is exclusively decorated with Star Trek ornaments, being sure to comment on this year’s additions (The U.S.S. Kelvin, Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott, and the Gorn trying to stab Kirk to death).
When I’m motivated, I set up and meticulously craft my Department 56 Christmas village, though sadly it will remain boxed this year due to my wife’s new Etsy initiative that is currently taking up all the space in our dining room. It’s the villagers who suffer.
And of course I settle in for my two favorite Christmas movies, Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story. Now if I had a cool blog (at the very least one with a nonstandard theme [I really need to get on that soon]) then I’d do a series of holiday posts all about the food products in my favorite holiday films. But as I racked my brain I could only come up with two. Lime Jell-O from Christmas Vacation and Ovaltine from A Christmas Story. If you can think of more, please let me know. And if I can convince myself anyone would care about a Lime Jell-O review, then maybe there’ll be more than one post in this series that is not a series.
A Christmas Story is amazing for more reasons than I’m going to be able to cover here, but I can think of no other scene in cinema that better captures the disillusionment and loss of childhood innocence than the Ovaltine scene in A Christmas Story. That moment when you realize you’re a targeted demographic and not a discerning receiver of cool kid-centered culture. I can’t remember when that happened for me, but as an adult who’s been reconnecting with a lot of childhood cartoon favorites lately, I’ve come to realize that all of them were garbage. Even the most beloved and fondly remembered. Garbage. Looking at you Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Nostalgia goes a long way, I guess. Long enough to make me forget how utterly annoying and moronic Michelangelo was.
What am I doing? Talking about the Ninja Turtles in a Christmas post? Sorry.
I have a very foggy memory of drinking Ovaltine as a child. Not drinking it as a staple of my weekly diet. I have one specific memory of being in the kitchen and looking at an orange-lidded jar. I think I was five or so. And that was the last time I had Ovaltine.
Having not thought about Ovaltine in thirty years, I figured no one else had either. I assumed I’d have to take to the onlines and buy a jar, but I’ll be damned if it wasn’t sitting on the shelf of the local grocer.
Fudge me, Chocolate Malt Ovaltine is pretty good, you guys! It’s chocolatey. It’s mildly malty. It’s good. I was expecting a ton of sweetness a la every major chocolate milk I’ve ever had, but it wasn’t. That’s gotta be good for the kids. It made an otherwise horrific glass of milk seem like an enjoyable treat. (I’m milk intolerant. Not lactose intolerant, like I can’t handle lactose. I’m not tolerant of milk as an entity because it’s gross.)
Snacklings, if you haven’t connected with Ovaltine in a while, maybe this winter is the time. Rekindling relationships with dairy-based beverages is what the holidays are all about.
Son of a bitch.
Food Junk 
Regular Ovaltine with no chocolate is great in many dessert recipes if you are a malted milk fan..here is a brownie recipe…..I tend to think the chocolate one is mostly used only in milk and maybe milk shakes but both chocolate and original are good in both too…yum!
http://www.recipe.com/malted-fudge-brownies/?sssdmh=dm17.638098&esrc=nwdr121512
Awesome! Thanks. Also which is the original? Just the plain malt?
>
Those are my two fave Christmas movies too! And more food ideas from each? Well, from A Christmas Story, how about meatloaf (double beatloaf…) red cabbage and Chinese turkey (aka Peking duck?) And a fruit basket, in case you want something a little different. Oh, Fudge for dessert of course. As for Christmas Vacation: eggnog served in Marty Moose cups and the driest turkey you will ever eat.
I gotta get some Marty Moose cups.
>
I always thought of Ovaltine as this drink that was supposed to taste like chocolate but actually tasted vaguely like malt. Your review actually made me get excited about it again.
It’s pretty good.
>
Christmas Story is one of the very few things that allows me to talk about my hometown with any sense of pride. Well, not so much pride really, but any sense of fond remembrance. Any time that movie comes up, I can humblebrag about having grown up with friends on Cleveland Street and how I used to play ball at the courts outside of Harding Elementary (They tore it down and rebuilt it about ten years ago– not sure if they left the flagpole.), or how I’ve had a beer at Flick’s Tap.
That’s cool. Do you ever visit? Do you still have ties there?
>
Yeah, still have family in the area, but I don’t really go up there much. I’ve been back three times in 11 years; twice for funerals and once for a wedding. It’s not really the kind of place you look forward to visiting.
On the bright side, two more deaths and I get a Rowan Atkinson cameo during the eulogy.
Haha, that’s not right
>
Reblogged this on coco's 5D Brew.
I love milk. Do you want to trade your lactose tolerance for my lactose intolerance? Because it seems like you’re not using it.
Let’s swap!
>
Hmmm bovine slime mixed with cocoa powder, sugar, barley malt and crushed multi vitamin right? Sounds uhhhh interesting. Maybe I can reconnect with dairy via a nice Tofutti cutie instead?
Haha, stop. You had me at bovine slime.
>
I was just joking. Although I am not a fan of milk (bovine slime). I do enjoy several other products that come courtesy of our friendly big eyed cheeseburgers walking.
Cheeseburgers are the best.
>
First of all, the only respectable lactose-induced coma during the holidays should be the sole responsibility of eggnog. With a ton of rum. I mean shameful amounts.
Second, produce a photo of that Star Trek tree immediately because it sounds way cool.
Third, lime Jell-O deserves a blog post. There is so much history and angst and hilarious storytelling connected to that jiggly, glowing monstrosity, you should consider it a moral imperative to post on it and then encourage people to stuff the comments section with personal anecdotes.
Lastly, screw “selfie.” I dub “snacklings” word of the year.
PS: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles blows. It’s Dungeons and Dragons or nothing.
Haha, Shameful Amounts of Rum is the name of my pirate-themed cover band.
>
Ha!
Damn, son. Fastest reply in the west.
Reblogged this on momreader and commented:
Martinandkatie
Whoops wrong blog sorry
way to cool I love it so real
ALMOST picked up a jar, Err… plastic container the other day. Have not had it since I was a kid, but a Xmas story has got it weighing heavy on my mind!
It’s worth a revisit
>
Let’s not forget maple syrup from “Elf”! Um, I have not yet been brave enough to try it on spaghetti, but maybe someday. Not!
I won’t even get started that film’s shameless product placement of Coca-Cola. Even though this bugs me, I suppose it’s not much different than Sunny Delite in “Juno” or FedEx in “Cast Away.”
Really? Been a while since I’ve seen Elf. I’ll have to keep an eye out for the Coca-Cola.
>
You know I’ve never tried Ovaltine, will have to try it now!
It’s pretty good. Not as kid-centered as I imagined it.
>
Oh, Ovaltine. I’m no coffee-drinker, so I am a (chronic) dependent on this stuff.
I just hate how there’s grits or something (chalk) after every cup. But maybe it’s just here. Formulation for Ovaltine (and everything else) varies around the world.
Have you tried Ovaltinees?
I have not, but I am certainly intrigued now.
>
They’re candies… well, Ovaltine tablets. I can’t actually find any other legit info on it, it’s not that popular after all. They only sell it in the Philippines and Australia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovalteenies. They’re really good. 🙂
I regularly bribed my toddler boys with Ovaltine in my early single-mom days on days when I had work to do past bedtime and was not available for a snuggle.
“You don’t want to go to bed? Fine, then give me your chocolate milk.”
“Oh, their teeth!” you say? I figured the baby teeth would be falling out anyway, so what the heck.
Haha, you are my kind of parent.
>
This cracked me up. In fact, I must admit to watching A Christmas Story for the first time ever in my life this year (at age 48!) and just loving it. The Ovaltine message scene so heart wrenching. Thanks for writing!
This year?! Wow, that’s kind of impressive.
>
hahahahaha I drink Ovaltine almost every day! I do not like the “malt” flavor though, just the regular. As a child we would have the :malt” flavored one at an aunt’s house and I thought it was gross. I LOVE Ovaltine. Great way to justify chocolate milk 🙂
Ok, the regular is just the chocolate?
>
yes..it’s a blue jar/canister and is called “rich chocolate”.
Those are my two favorite Christmas movies as well! & nothing beats a yummy glass of Ovaltine to wash down some lime Jello from Aunt Bethany! Ha!
Aunt Bethany is the best.
Try MILO, with cold real milk, shaken not stirred, unless you enjoy the chocolate raft on top that refuses to disolve, yummy.
Lol, so I saw this scrolling down my Freshly Pressed feed & I was like “A Christmas Story.” Haha ;3 it’s my sisters favorite movie & I was in love when they had the marathon on TV the other night. My mom says ovaltine was her first husbands favorite drink, but I have never tried it yet lol. But nice post 🙂
Thanks!
>
I like Ovaltime, too! But Milo is my favorite chocolate powder mix for milkshakes, though. Mmmm, Milo!
That’s two mentions of Milo! I’ve never heard of it. I have to find some!
>
“I’m not tolerant of milk as an entity because it’s gross.” Agreed. The most slimy, mucusy horror of a beverage. I’m not sure Ovaltine can change that but perhaps, on the strength of this review, I’ll give it a shot.
I’ve never once had a craving for milk. Ever. I wonder many of us there are.
>
“…relentless gauntlet of anger and frustration that is the most wonderful time of the year.” Hilarious. ‘Take this elbow to the face so I can swipe that last Furby from the shelf…oh, and have a Merry Christmas…”
Excellent post all around. I too would love to see the Star Trek tree.
Haha, thank you!
>
I remember Ovaltine with fond memories. The only question was what direction did the spoon turn. Left to right or right to left?
Always to the left!
>
A person of high intellect.
Have you ever tried Hershey’s 1% chocolate milk? It is a reduced Calorie chocolate milk, meaning it contains less sugar to cut back on Calories. I think it’s good because it is not as sweet! They also have a white chocolate milk which reminds me of a rice pudding flavor. It sounds weird but is delicious!
While chocolate mix sounds great! I’ll be on the lookout.
>
ciao
I was raised in Brazil, where the 2 biggest fast food chains are McDonalds (yup. worldwide crap) and Bob’s. Bob’s is a national (Brazilian) chain and the only iteam it had that was better than McDonalds was it’s Ovaltine milkshake. Yum….. sometimes we would choose to handle the crappy burger there just to be able to enjoy the best milkshake ever! I also used to have it sometimes at home and loved it. (and BTW, in Brazil it has a slightly different name: Ovomaltine ;o)
Ovaltine milkshakes. Yes please. And Bobs was worse than McDonalds? My god.
>
Hard to believe, huh? But I must say that McDonalds in Brazil is much better than the original version in the US…. Go figure!… Bob’s is maybe same level of the American McDonalds. 😉
McDonald’s, the origin of all shame: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YDTfEhChgw
Wow the last time i had Ovaltine was about a year ago, but sadly it never tasted the same from when I was a child…weird
Perhaps the Ovaltine was the same and it was you who changed. Whoa. Things just got deep. And obvious. 🙂
>
touché my friend..touché 🙂
Love it! I recently got back on the Ovaltine train a few months ago as a post-run or lifting drink and it is definitely way tastier than you’d expect.
Love this. 🙂
Oh the memories of Ovaltine and Horlicks. I loved eating the bits that never mixed with the milk. My wife’s childhood was with Milo and she did the same thing with the unmixed bits.
You could even a comparison of the three.
For some reason my mother had bias against Ovaltine and would never allow us to have it. But we were allowed to mix Hershey’s syrup with milk. At that time it came in a metal can, which we opened by poking two triangular holes into the top with an old fashioned metal opener. Talk about nostalgia. Thanks for your post.
Old school! Nothing wrong with that
>
Definitely. But as a child I felt deprived, and thought that Ovaltine must be expensive and exotic if I was not allowed to have it. Turned out I was wrong though.
70 comments? Holy crap, someone’s gunning for the Tampa Bay Times. Even more impressive, 70 comments without any blatant racism? That might be some kind of internet record. Unless maybe that chocolate vs malted discussion had some subtext that I didn’t pick up on.
Haha I censored all the maltists. The review was on the Freshly Pressed page of WordPress.com. Hence the unusual amount of comments.
>
Breakfast beverage apartheid rears its ugly head.
I combine Ovaltine and Milo. Guess you would call it Mivoltine. I find it offers more depth of chocolate and everyone loves chocolate. Love Actually is our Christmas story. Maybe we are all just grateful to be able to share wonderful laughs and emotion at such a happy time.
I second that!
>
Warning! Ovaltine is dangerous stuff to keep in the home. It is highly addictive in its pure crystalline form. I will happily eat an entire jar straight off a spoon.
Whoa, that’s hardcore.
>
~ Ovaltine should make you their endorser, you should get paid for this cool post! Just wondering, does that mean that you like Ovaltine drink more compared to Milo, Cadbury, Swiss Miss and other chocolatey counterparts? Btw, congrats on being FP! Cheers! :)- Bliss, The Lurker’s List
Never had Milo or Cadbury! And yes better than Swiss Miss.
>
I haven’t thought about Ovaltine in years! But I live in Italy now, not sure I’ll be able to find it here. Thanks for the nostalgic thought.
Thanks..
I love Ovaltine. I’d never heard of A Christmas Story. Hmm. Has my life taken a wrong turn? Am I too fixated on bovine slime?
Never heard of A Christmas Story?!?!
>
Sorry. Don’t think it made it to the UK.
It is definitely worth a watch. Any UK holiday classics I should know about?
>
Well the Snowman, but I suppose you’ve seen that.
Actually I’m quite surprised you have Ovaltine in the states. It’s part of the British psyche, along with hot water bottles, teapots, digestive biscuits, thermos flasks and spam. Here’s the 1940s radio tune for it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMyY1hTqTzc
I love the thought of your mum’s Star Trek tree 🙂 LOL!
It’s pretty great. I love it.
>
I passed by the the hot chocolate aisle and as uncanny as it sounds the first thing that caught my eye was chocolate ovaltine. Hehe
(comment by Mr. Buttons Manz mommy):
I am almost 38 (damn getting old sucks), and I don’t know if I’ve ever even had Ovaltine! I guess I should rectify that and head out to the local grocery store and pick up a jar.
“A Christmas Story” is my ultimate favorite holiday movie! I can quote the whole damn thing (which drives most people crazy but it’s like having tourrettes, I can’t help it. The words just fall out of my mouth like verbal vomit with every scene.
So what is the best and the worst present you’ve ever received from a student? Have you ever received a tropical fruit basket like the one Ralphie gave?
And yeah, Michelangelo was kinda a bitch. I loved me some He Man and She Ra back in the day! It amuses the crap out of me that there’s been a resurgence of 80s cartoons. TMNT and Strawberry Shortcake, and hell, even Pound Puppies! Like really? Pound Puppies? There are much better cartoons to reboot than that one! I pretty much can’t stand the reboots…they all suck. But that’s another story.
Thanks for reminding me of my long-forgotten fondness of Ovaltine! And I agree, it seems like the things I loved in childhood are great disappointments to me now. Except for old Nintendo games. Those never get old.
Techmo Bowl for the NES is still my favorite video game!
>
Mine is Goldeneye for Gamecube!
Reblogged this on NewsHosts.
Okay, it’s 2014. Say it with me:
“SPAM!”
Conversation starter. Did you know that spam, the slang word for undesirable electronic communication, was derived from the Monty Python comedy sketch about Spam, the nasty/salty/delicious-on-a-hangover meat product?
And…..discuss.
I did not know that. And I hate to admit it but I am wholly ignorant of almost anything Monty Python. I could have my pop culture obsessive card taken away for that but there it is.
>
Me, too, actually. It was either pretend to enjoy Monty Python, Faces of Death, and all things Star Wars or buy my own beer on a Friday night as a lit student in an engineering university. Those dorm parties were very exclusive. Luckily, I’m blonde and packed to the chin with snark. And free beer.
Your syllabus:
“Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam…!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE
Ingestion suggestions: http://www.spam.com/
The fact of Spam: http://www.coopsjokes.com/amz/amzspam.htm
Get married at the Spam museum! (*shudder): http://www.spam.com/spam-101/the-spam-museum and http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1117833.html
The Metabolic Spam Effect (You might wanna take before and after pictures of yourself before opening that first can….) : https://www.google.com/search?q=spam+art&rlz=1C1VEAD_enUS472US472&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=P-XFUuvXFczroAS71YGoCw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1680&bih=916#q=spam+sculpture&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=gWbGnLi45usYqM%3A%3BWDQS5RScqRb2WM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.trippyfood.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2009%252F12%252F11-Spam-03.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.trippyfood.com%252F2010%252F01%252F18%252Fspam-wonderful-spam%252F11-spam-03%252F%3B768%3B509
Good luck and godspeed.
Oh, I can’t begin to tell you how disappointed I am by this. You have really thrown a big crack into the fictional personality I’ve created for you based on assumptions that you like everything I like. This on top of your admitted love of theme parks makes me think I don’t know you as well as I thought I didn’t know you, Mr Junk.
Haha, I do love theme parks. Mostly because I like things that are candy colored and artificial. Experiences that are manufactured. Engineered happiness is fascinating to me.
And I have never seen Holy Grail. I am sorry.
>
Hey, just curious, did you block my last couple responses to “allthoughtswork” for some reason, or is it just WordPress being a pain in the ass? I responded last week and it didn’t show, so I reposted over the weekend and it hasn’t shown either. Not a big deal, just wondering.
I’ll check today. It doesn’t show on my phone. I don’t block anything unless it’s really insulting or negative.
>
Yeah, I didn’t figure. Don’t worry about trying to find it or whatever; it’s really not a big deal either way. I don’t imagine one more or one less smart ass comment on the internet is gonna shift the world’s balance of power very far.
Yep spam folder. Published for future generations!
I DON’T LIKE SPAM!!!
Doesn’t matter, Spam likes you. It’s the Jesus of tinned processed pork products.
/in my best Scottish accent
SPAM and Jesus, very different of course; one is a completely man-made product with an inexplicably profitable cult-like following that has lasted longer than anyone could have imagined, and the other is SPAM.
Also, your seeming obsession with SPAM while not liking Python makes me think you may have horn-rimmed glasses, a large vinyl collection, and a lot of ironic t-shirts.
Haha, I do have glasses. I have a bunch of records I got from when I used to work at a record store but I have admittedly terrible taste in music. I’m not obsessed with spam, just always wanted to try it. Again it’s a bizarre manufactured product. I love those. And I just have nerdy shirts. Nothing cool or ironic.
>
Actually, the spam comment was intended for Allthoughtswork. Her comment didn’t have a reply button for some reason.
Ahh.
>
Yes, even I knew that reply was for me. Food Junk, you are obviously deficient in Spam nutrients or you would have caught that right away. Emergency measures are necessary. I’m gonna need three tins of Spam, an IV tube, and a lancet. And a cocktail shaker. That’s for me. Because nerves.
Jerbear50, that snarky, backhand quip about religion forces me to like you. Crap, there goes another potential WordPress enemy. I’ll just have to find another foe to pester into putting the can’t back in cantankerous. Hmm, there’s always the mommy blogs….
To clarify, though, I never said I liked Spam or didn’t like Monty Python. I said Food Junk should investigate Spam and that Spam likes YOU. I feigned interest in a lot of things in college in order to score free beverages (I was an overachiever; I didn’t realize I could have stopped at boobs) that I now find mildly amusing. Proof: “It’s just a flesh wound!” and “Those aren’t horses, you’re just banging two coconuts together!” Spam and I parted company once I discovered bacon.
Bacon love story: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaK9bjLy3v4
Lastly, I’ve never had horn-rimmed glasses, but I have been horny, I’ve never collected vinyl but I had a pair of tall, black boots made of that very substance that waived a lot of cover charges, and the only ironic thing about my T-shirts is the fact that not a single one of them has any printing on them whatsoever. Okay, maybe a wine stain. And mustard.
Wait, you realized you could have stopped at having boobs or at feigning interest in boobs? Not that I’m judging either way. Maybe a little turned on, but not judging.
@allthoughts
“I didn’t realize I could have stopped at boobs”
Wait, you mean you could have stopped at having boobs or at feigning interest in them? Not that I’m judging. Maybe a little turned on, but not judging.
Having them. Didn’t mean for my grammatical sloppiness to get you all hot and bothered. And you’re welcome.
No need to apologize. In all honesty, just mentioning them in any context whatsoever usually does the job. Just their existence is enough. It’s kind of like how a fake ball-toss will always distract your dog. Think I’ll stop before this gets awkward.
Awkward? You mean Food Junk didn’t already cross the Rubicon on that one with his admitted Spam virginity?
Hahahahahahahaha! This is great. My sister and I love ovaltine. One time she posted on facebook that she wanted some but was out of milk and the cups were packed. 10 mins later our next door neighbour came to the door with a big glass of milk and a spoon.. I love this post.
Thank you!
>
Hey! Loved this! I’m always a sucker for a good chocolate milk. However, I would argue Carnation Instant breakfast rivals Ovaltine in both taste and texture, but hey, that’s just me. Refreshing to read your post about The Christmas Story without a single, “you’ll shoot your eye out” reference. Oh, and since you brought up The Ninja Turtles, and we are talking classic kid foods, do you happen to recall the Tedddy Graham enterprise having a go at an apple cinnamon Ninja Turtle product? The bears were all shaped as each of the crime-fighting turtles, and let me tell you, they were scrumptious. The show, not so much. Thanks for the quick stroll down memory lane!
I remember my Aunt always taking about a similar drink mix called P.D.Q, that came in malt, chocolate and eggnog Flavors.
I’m having doubts about my fiance’s sanity. He went out and bought Hershey’s syrup for his chocolate milk when we have dark chocolate malt Ovaltine right here. I’m glad someone else knows good chocolate milk!
So much better!
>
🙂
Hmmm… Ovaltine….! Could you please post a picture of the Christmas tree? It sounds awesome! Maybe you’ve posted it? I’ll look. Thanks for the post!
After all that, I went over to my moms house and she didn’t put it up for the first time in like ten years. I was sorely disappointed.
>
ugh! next time, okay? (:
You are so funny! I also have a jar of Ovaltine in my pantry that I could care less about until we sit down to watch A Christmas Story each December.
Thanks, and don’t forget to drink your ovaltine.
>
Reblogged this on tahir1975 and commented:
I love this post because of its recreation and uniqueness.
Hopping you like it
I don’t really like ovaltine that much. I find it very sweet. But reading this made me think twice about it.
Actually one of my all-time favorite things to drink. Ever. Chocolate? Check. Malt? Check? “Healthy?” Check. Lol, also is filled with memories of sneaking down to the kitchen at 3 AM to hang out with my older brother and he’d always make me Ovaltine.
love this. I’m new on here. Check me out if ya want. http://arrowsshooting.wordpress.com/
Ovaltine was definitely a big part of my childhood (I’m Canadian), but the whole hot chocolate and Christmas thing has been completely overtaken for me by The Polar Express. This scene is such great fun and a tribute to a different set of powers associated with hot chocolate: http://youtu.be/B8d_gTgvqxs This is my family’s Christmas movie, we watch it every year without fail. Love your post; being Freshly Pressed was richly deserved!
Thank you. I’ve never seen Polar Express!
>
It’s based on a children’s picture book, so as adaptations go, it’s definitely a completely new thing in its own right. Motion capture animation and some of the few actors (Tom Hanks being the main one) play multiple characters, which I find really neat. Some of the scenes are breathtaking to me every year, even though I know how things play out. Skiing on the roof of a train? A train whipping around wildly on a frozen lake? Stuff I’ve never seen anywhere else and it’s exhilarating. In our family, it’s one of the cultural pieces that we have unpicked together and have great fun dissecting, quoting and simply enjoying together. It’s worth a look just for some of the best set pieces!