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

@sittingonacornflake

Nigel slater the Christmas chronicles in store at W H Smiths is marked up as down to £9 but scanned at £6. Bargain!

Oh wow! Lucky thing. I was a bit annoyed with their offer price sticker placement as it's peeled off a bit of the gilt print of the trees :(

Oh no @longtompot I’d be annoyed at that too.

@longtompot I know very lucky. I was extra pleased because it was the last copy and I had to really hunt for it. I'm surprised it wasn't somewhere more obvious.

I have the same issue with the sticker taking off the glint though. But not hugely noticeable.

Lets just call it ‘pleasingly pre-distressed for that cosy, lived-in feel’.

Placemarking to join in...I need to put the copy that's just arrived, while I was out, in a safe place where it won't tempt me to dip into it until the end of the week...

I’ve just found my copy for the read along. I was mildly panicked earlier when I couldn’t find it. Searched the house high and low only to find it on the shelf of the coffee table 😂

It’s such a beautiful book in all ways, the only thing I disagree with is the date of cooking the Christmas Cake, mine gets baked MUCH earlier.

@Squirrelblanket some people do find him a bit OTT like that, but I love it all. It’s like snuggling into a cosy cashmere blanket.

Hopefully you’ll find it a bit better this time around!

@HazieDazie when does Nigel make his?

We do ours on Stir up Sunday. We’re doing Delia’s Creole Cake this year and really looking forward to it!

Hello, can I join? I will be starting to read at the end of the month...

@HollyandIvyandAllThingsYule Nigel bakes his on 25th November, I do mine before the end of October as I like to feed it for a good 6 weeks or so!!

Christmas cake gets made in October half term. I'd always thought that was The Law, but maybe it's just my family....

Ooh Delia’s creole recipe looks delicious, I’m definitely doing that next year!
This year I’m doing Mary Berry’s classic Christmas cake which I will royal ice and decorate in a very 1970s retro style 😀

❤️❤️ So much hygge! I love it all.

I’ve not done any poncing this past weekend at all - we’ve* been busy
knocking out the ceiling in our shed/lean to. However I’ve just had notification that my craft supplies order is out for delivery today!🎄🎄

*when I say ‘we’ I mean DH is taking the brunt of the dirty work...I’m staying nearby to run and fetch things and help with all the little things. But I have carried multiple sacks of rubble and been to the skip a couple of times, so I’m not shirking it all!

Oh just realised I’m not actually on the Poncetastic thread...but as @Dillidilly rightly pointed out, there is rather a lot of crossover!🥰

Sorry to ask such a dumb question that could probably be answered by Googling, but what is this book about? What makes it 'good'? I'm a big Christmas fan and want to go 'all out' this year and some reviews/comments on fans of it would be useful to know whether it's something I'd be interested in. Thanks

Its a sort of ramble down memory lane in diary form, musings on the history of winter/Christmas traditions, with a recipe at the end of each chapter/day. Just lovely.

@PizzaCrust it’s not a stupid question!

@Dillidilly’s original thread will give you a good idea I think:

The Christmas Chronicles

In short it’s an ode to winter/Christmas, the changing of the seasons, nature/outdoors, good food and cosiness.

Can't wait!
I'm in need of a lovely candle to light whilst reading this book.
Any suggestions?
So excited for autumn and winter.

Well this is serendipitous! We have just finished our extension & I have spent the morning unpacking my recipe books - I got this for Christmas last year & so far had only flicked through.
Will definitely join in a read along 🎄

Joining in, I discovered the podcast last year and it helped me through a very difficult Xmas (sure I wasn’t the only one). Will treat myself to the book on payday then play catch-up!

@sittingonacornflake

Nigel slater the Christmas chronicles in store at W H Smiths is marked up as down to £9 but scanned at £6. Bargain!

That's amazing! The one I bought for my mum still scanned for £9 but I used self scan. Wonder if it would have scanned for less by a cashier 😂 either way I'm still happy with my £9 bargain. I thought the one I bought for myself on Amazon for £18 was good.

I picked up a £9 copy from WH Smith today so ready to join the read along.

Looking forward to it.

Welcome to all the new posters!

I'm in! Made DH drive into the centre of town after supermarket shopping today so I could pick up a £6 copy in WH Smith. Really looking forward to joining.

Can I join to! Got my bargain copy at the weekend and can’t wait to start!