The Christmas Chronicles by Nigel Slater. Read Along Thread 2022

[Dillidilly]

INTRODUCTION

Nigel begins his Chronicles proper on 1st November, but there is a lovely, quite lengthy introduction we can dip into during the second half of October.

Last year, posters were also kind enough to share where they had found cut price copies of CC, so hopefully anyone late to the party still has time to find a copy before we start the first chapter.

I had forgotten the lovely introduction. Together with the beautiful photograph at the very beginning of the book, flipping through it and seeing his headings reminded me of why I loved it so much last year!

Well if they are quince that will be VN indeed 😁

They smell slightly fragrant and a bit fruity but not tangy like an apple.

Maybe this?

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garcinia_atroviridis

Ohhh how very Nigel!

You could post a pic on the gardening topic. People there are very knowledgeable.

I’m thinking quince after all.

feeling VVN 😇

I’m a very strange and incongruent mix of three distinct tastes - ultimately my most favourite from an aesthetic viewpoint is very like Nigel’s, with a bit of mid century Danish design/Japanese/very pared back/very ‘expensive’ (because it is expensive). But then I’ve also got a big soft spot for country/cosy/verging on twee (think Emma Bridgewater and clutter), plus a strong bent toward eccentricity/curiosities. It doesn’t make for a truly coherent and über stylish design journey, let’s put it that way! I wish with my artistic head that I could just stick to the one aesthetic throughout (the sense of calm and ‘rightness’ really appeals), but the heart wants what it wants, and what it wants seems to be a complete juxtaposition with a colourful mix of EB mugs and fun little things like cabbage dishes...

My aesthetic is sadly rational/pragmatic. What I love comes second to what I can manage.
I'm feeling NVN and a bit of a failure as I see peoples nigel nests.

However, I used to have a bowl of quinces! I will rest upon that.

Here we have pickled quinces and preserved lemons:

Pickle those jars are things of beauty.

The NN in your head is the one that matters most. It’s a state of mind not a place!

Photos are always curated, remember that. 🙂 There’s a big pile of random stuff behind my sofa just now, because atm our big room upstairs is half building site, half dismantled mess. I have to just pretend it’s not there until I can clear a corner upstairs!

I have very expensive tastes. Comparatively my budget is very basic; much of what I love is completely out of my reach so I, too, have to be pragmatic. I will never buy an UltimateN candle...There are many aspects of my life that aren’t at the level that some can achieve.

I think that Nigel wouldn’t like it much (I certainly wouldn’t) if this thread resulted in anyone feeling a failure. IMO His books are really about life, love, friendship and the natural world, and the richness of the simple things (even if he does have the wealth to afford many beautiful things and amazing experiences). I think he’d be chuffed that you’ve already been inspired to make so many good things in the time we’ve been reading.

(I agree with @HannahDefoesTrenchcoat - she said it much better than me, with far fewer words).

Not running round after a family and also coming up with new ways to poach pears etc is his actual job.
HannahDefoe definitely quinces but I think they are what is called an ornamental quince, ie grown more for their flowers than their fruit. The fruit is fine, just smaller than the other sort.
NiqueNique I always think if you buy things you love they will go together because that is your taste. (People who have seen my actual house might argue that is disproves my theory.)

@bigbadbarry yes that’s the principle I hold to; overall it works well and there is a sort of rhyme and reason to it. But I would love my whole house to have a cohesive theme throughout, like one great canvas upon which one has painted one great painting. For that to actually happen I’d have to own at least three different homes it reflect the three main aspects of my personality! I’m happy enough because I only buy things that speak to me, so I love the way it feels/looks. But I do look at Nigel’s beautifully considered and curated spaces and sigh with deep appreciation.

*to

I cannot believe it's been a year since the last gnundi discussion. I seem to remember it was a similar overall opinion last time (meh texture) so I didn't bother. I've been pickling the last of our jalapenos and jarring chilli jam. I've also had two fabulous garden chaps here making my garden a bit less stig of the dump more Nige.

Obligatory pics of jars of stuff. I'm really running out of space to put stuff. Note to self - next job is clearing out the pantry. I'm sure Nigel does that about now?

Eclectic, that's me! I bought some soft velvet ribbon which I though was QN (quite Nigel) but then couldn't resist this retro cake board and frill, to set off my roughly applied royal icing. Although I'm fairly confident this will tick the NN (Nigel Nostalgia) box.

Forgot the photos

@picklemewalnuts and @RainbowZebraWarrior beautiful photos, truly jewel-like! A look at others’ creations is my favourite kind of peek into others lives on this sort of thread, matched only by the treasured memories and stories that people share here and there.

The sauerkraut I mentioned previously is the only colourful thing I’ve made so far (the braised red cabbage was portioned up into containers for the freezer); I will wait until I have a little line-up of loveliness before I take a photo.

I’m still deciding whether or not to make the prunes...I don’t want any ingredients to languish, unloved, in 2023 like the apricots have done this year. But at least I know that both DH and I like prunes, and I’ve had a strong recommendation from one of you (sorry, can’t remember who as I’m quite shocking with keeping track of names). I think I’ll also make marmalade gin and cranberry gin. One Christmas chutney and some mincemeat, too. And piccalilli to give away. but that will likely be it! If they didn’t need to sit in the dark I’d love to display all the jars on a little shelf in the sunlight so that the colours could sing.

Both of those are RQN, @ShaunaTheSheep. I like that velvet ribbon, lovely colour.

Someone mentioned his book "Toast". While looking for it online I found the film of the book is available free on youtube. It's the whiole film (plus adverts).

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Definitely worth a re-watch, thanks for the link.

I've just read today's chapter and, while I don't fancy the gnundi (*sp), the whole process sounds satisfying.

The tree choosing made me smile...almost 13 years ago, I stood in TJ Hughes and picked out the best fake tree we could afford. I was pg with dd2, and we were skint. 13 years on, the tree has most definitely seen better days & I apologise to it every time I think about a replacement for it 🤣 I don't think I could cope with a real beauty of a tree; I'd cry when it came to putting it out for the recycling. The thought of the Trafalgar Sq tree going through the chipper makes me a little bit sad. Even though that's what it's grown for, and it is a special tree to make it as far as being one to pick from 🙄

I actually saw something on either Pinterest or TikTok a few days ago, using little puffs of white flowers to fill empty spaces. Baby's breath maybe, or something like that. I might try and find it again maybe.

Please, please don't feel like that, Pickle! I wouldn't want my thread to make anyone feel low or somehow less than.
I myself made not one single recipe last year, and I started the thread! I just love Nigel's writing, the photographs, winter/Christmas and everything about the book.
Please just take what you enjoy from the thread and banish any thoughts of being a failure xx

@HannahDefoesTrenchcoat I love your photo and I think the aesthetic is VN since these are things you found in your own garden. @picklemewalnuts I love the fact that you are pickle by name and pickle by nature - have you actually pickled any walnuts out of interest? Your bowl of quinces was exceedingly Nigel so feelings of failure are misplaced.

Festive namechange!!

I’m worried now that my previous comments(s) might have been taken s patronising in some way. I really hope not as it’s never intended as such but because of the way I write it sometimes comes across that way. I wish I could be less wordy and not so...whatever it is.

Anyway. In truth my favourite aesthetic exists mostly in my head, in my imaginary ideal home! As I said, it is a very expensive one and I just don’t have Nigel’s budget.

This afternoon I’ve tidied up the dining room, part of which was being used as a storage area for random bits from upstairs. It’s clutter free again and has had a good vacuum session, and I feel so much better for it. As a reward I’m going to read some more of Scandinavian Christmas tonight and make notes on what recipes I want to try this year. Wishing you all a peaceful evening.🎄

Inspired by Nigel I have been baking with pears - not one of Nigel’s lovely recipes as I don’t think anyone else here would eat them but I have made pear crumble cake and it’s yummy even if I do say so myself.