The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater: Read Along Thread

[Dillidilly]

Here we go people!

I thought we could start reading the Introduction from October 15th at a gentle pace to allow people to join the thread. Then all set for Chapter 1 on November 1st.

The Christmas Chronicles is currently just over £20 on Amazon. Maybe people could share all the options for those who are just joining us, who still want to get a copy.

I'm hoping this thread will be a lovely, gentle, uplifting transition into the Christmas period where we can share our thoughts, recipe attempts and inspiration from Nigel x

Well I started reading the introduction on Saturday but couldn’t really get into it. So I’m going to leave it for a couple of weeks I think.

Unlike Nigel and some of you I actually love summer and struggle a bit with winter. Christmas is the only thing that gets me through the first bit of winter. But I think it’s not quite cold enough or wintry enough for me to appreciate his writing about winter just yet.

I love this book, but I can't start to read it until the clocks go back and the nights start to draw in. It's 23 degrees here at the moment and a beautiful, golden autumn day - I need to relish the last of the autumn before plunging into winter (which will last long enough once it gets here!)

How far are we reading at the moment? Is the plan to read the intro by the end of October and then start the diary element on 1 November?

I did snuggle under a blanket last night with the book and a glass of wine. I don't yet have a suitably wintery candle though - am open to any suggestions here.

I was very tired so only read until the drinking winter section. From my reading so far though, I am reminded how I instantly fell in love with the book on publication. I particularly like the passage where he talks about the negative way people talk about the cold and how, when anyone says to him "it's cold" in a negative way, he always responds with "yes, it's lovely isn't it". I do this too (and love seeing how it infuriates certain people). Most people who have ever met both me and my parents tend to marvel at how I came from their gene pool. My parents are sun worshippers and cannot stand the slightest breeze on their skin - reacting with overexaggerated shudders and moaning about the cold. I do love the summer and like feeling warmth on my skin but absolutely hate feeling too hot, sticky and sweaty. Give me a crisp day and soft knitwear anyday!

I used to have the most wonderful boss. Come to think of it, there were remarkable similarities between him and Nigel. He was a very softly spoken, introverted, gentle man too. He discovered that we were kindred spirits about crisp weather and would come to my office, saying, "Robot, it's such a wonderful day today" "Have you seen the sky, robot", "the leaves are sparkling today, robot!" All to the bemusement of my colleagues who would be huddled up and bad tempered as if the changing of the season was a personal slight against them.

Another book I can recommend is Scandilicious by Signe Johansen. It is most definitely a cookbook/baking book, without the diary element and although it isn't specifically themed around winter, there is a cosyness to the book and it does include lots of christmassy Scandinavian bakes and lovely pictures of Nordic knitwear. I'm pretty sure I was Scandinavian in a former life.

@RobotandPenguin I am reading a section of the introduction a day. I plan to start reading the diary on the correct day. So 1st November 1 on 1st November.

I cant wait for the weather to turn on Thursday so I can get my Icelandic jumpers and woolly scarves out. Currently I'm wearing a tee-shirt, it's so unseasonably warm! It's making it hard to get in the mood 😁

I think starting 1st November sounds ideal.I need to get half term/daughters birthday/Halloween over before I can really get on board with Christmas.

Sorry for being a cookbook enabler re Advent. It's a beauty though very almond marzipan heavy as you would expect from German Christmas Baking. I love a Christmas cookbook;Nigella probably my most used, have ordered River Cottage Christmas book this year.

Bring on the cold snap be better than the drek, grey day we have had here in Wales today.

@RobotandPenguin yes, my plan is to start Chap 1 on Nov 1st.

I thought a gentle read through of the Introduction for the last two weeks of October allowed latecomers a chance to get a book in time for Nov 1st.

I'm just reading a page or two every morning or evening, when it's dark and cosy. I normally forget how long the intro is and end up playing catch-up in the first few days of Nov.

Thank you so much for recommending this book and starting this thread. I spent a very stressful day in A&E yesterday on my own and I chucked the book in my bag on the way out the door. I was captivated from the first line and it really helped keep me calm during the long wait.

Thx so much.

@AddictedToLuv that's so good to hear the CC helped in a stressful situation, and I hope you are on the mend x

Hope you are OK @AddictedToLuv

Love your boss story @RobotandPenguin.

Good morning all,
Finally delved into it first thing this morning in.. albeit feel like I cheated a bit as listening to audio book, but must say found it is so relaxing in the 5 minutes I had. I found his voice almost hypnotic lol, it was a tiny bit of calm before the chaos of the commute and piles of work stress. Thank you so much @Dillidilly for starting this up … it’s so lovely

I'd like to get some bay oil for my burner, any recommendations as I see some of you already have this? I'm enjoying the introduction so far.

The Absolute Aromas website has 2 sorts of bay; I don't know which one people are talking about.www.absolute-aromas.com/searchresults?category=&description=bay

Similarly, if anyone is on the lookout for some bay candles, the St Eval bay & rosemary is gorgeous.

Ridiculously extravagant I know, but it you want a bay (Baies) candle then you can’t beat Diptique. They are expensive, but they do do last for ages and the smell is heavenly.

I bought my book yesterday and WHSmith have it for £9 in case anyone doesn’t have it yet.

Robot I loved reading your post. I love summer but I do love each season for what it brings. My next sister loves winter. I do love the preparations for Christmas and I loved Christmas candles the mixture of spices mmm. If it snows even better.

[quote sueelleker]The Absolute Aromas website has 2 sorts of bay; I don't know which one people are talking about.www.absolute-aromas.com/searchresults?category=&description=bay[/quote]
I'm curious too which bay we should be choosing.

Nigel mentions Laurus Nobilis, I think.

(Which would be Laurel Bay)

@Geamhradh 🎄🎄🎄 the book or the Christmases of my youth at home (Denmark)?

@AddictedToLuv Happy to hear that you went to A&E (I read your thread) and that nothing’s wrong, and finally, that your copy of the Chronicles helped you to feel calm.🌷

Oooh both!
Are you Danish? I'm learning Danish on Duolingo. Badly, but y'know. I'm still at the Drengen drikker mælk lessons but The Bridge spurs me on

Yes I’m Danish but haven’t lived there in many years now. Don’t get back as often as I should either, so Christmas is very nostalgic for me...🥰

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule

Yes I’m Danish but haven’t lived there in many years now. Don’t get back as often as I should either, so Christmas is very nostalgic for me...🥰

Fabulous. I had Copenhagen booked for DD and I in 2020 but of course it was shelved.

In other news I have an oven full of quinces. (Kitchen Diaries rather than Chronicles) I'm attempting to do something for once pleasant with the 20 or so MIL foists on me every year.

I took 17yo DS out for a driving lesson and made him stop at WH Smith, where I found one of the coveted £6 cop ies - it was the last one, on a big shelf with lots of other special offer hardbacks. Feels a bit extravagant as I already had the 99p kindle version, but it's a lovely book to hold and flick through, so worth treating myself at t hat price.

I've started lighting candles in the eveni ng. I read a couple of books about how people survive long, dark winters, and a common theme seems to be embracing it, finding things you love about the season, enjoying the beauty and being cosy. Nigel very in tune with this!