Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Annual Read along 2023

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, it's nearly that time!

For anyone who has not already had the pleasure, the annual Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles read along is a real time annual MN tradition.

The book begins on 1st November, however there are a couple of chapters of preamble. That's why I thought I would start thread one now, so that we have time to prepare and fully appreciate Nigel in All His Splendour come 1st November.

Some of us already have the book. For anyone who doesn't, it's a challenge to see of you can pick up a bargain. WH Smith has come up trumps in the past, as has ebay. A rare and precious charity shop find is the holy grail and adds a certain special-ness that simply extends that warm, fizzy Nigel feeling (and some well earned smugness)

I shall make a post each day and we can share our thoughts and feelings on the days recipes, sentiments and indeed Dear Old Nige himself.

Note: Reading by candle light can be particularly enjoyable. Cire Trudon may be one of Nige's candle of choice, but it's somewhat pricey. We don't discriminate against other less expensive brands - even if they are NVN (Not Very Nigel)

Pull up a chair and a cosy blanket and join in.

Hello, I would also love to join. Just got the book on Kindle and I'm browsing candles now to get the full experience. Just to be clear, we can start the intro now and then the first chapter starts properly on Nov 1st? Sounds fab, I am very much a Christmas starts before December kind of person so this is right up my street.

Hello everyone! I would love to join in too. I dipped in and out of last years and I am really looking forward to a read along with everyone else.

Yes, browse the intro now / allow those who haven't yet got a copy to get one / get any candles at the ready and the read along will start on 1st Nov.

For anyone interested Liberty currently had 10% off the Cire Trudon candle with free delivery.

I've treated myself to a new Diptyque candle as part of my 1st December gift to myself. Just spent my lunch reading the introduction, it's so calming but I'm now so very tempted to crack open the candle already.

Ooh yes! I’m in. I bought the book last year because of the thread then but it was already mid November and I never got caught up - it all went to pot.

Really looking forward to a proper read along this time round, thanks OP!

I would love to join please. I was given the book for Christmas a few years ago but put it away 'somewhere safe' and just rediscovered it a few weeks ago!

I'm about to have a little read of the introduction. I've lit a fire as it's so dark and miserable outside and a candle. Sadly it is from Aldi but I can pretend 😂🎄

I'd love to join in. I've bought a copy of the book now (as people have said, it's got such a satisfyingly pretty cover. I'm always a bit disappointed in scented candles (which I think is an issue with me, as I don't have a very good sense of smell), so I might light an ordinary church candle for the effect but also a Nag Champa incense stick for a lovely scent.

@TwitTwoodiniEscapeOwlogist I don’t tend to use scented candles, although I’ve got a lovely one to use this year which was a present from SIL.

Instead I use essential oils for fragrance. As per our Nige’s comments on the matter I tried laurel bay oil and I really like it - I’ve used that the past 2 or 3 years and I’ll use it again this year when I’ve finished the candle. A little bottle lasts ages.

Once we’re closer to the Big Day I switch to a more Christmassy mix, my favourite being Marks and Spencer’s Frankincense and Myrrh. But I finished the little bottle I had last year and I can’t buy another as M&S are on my naughty list. I’ll have to see if I can find another perfect mix, or make my own.

Oh...somehow managed to miss the incense bit! That’s what I do too - burn a plain candle (I am Danish so candles are an essential part of winter/Yuletide hygge) and add fragrance elsewhere.

Can I join too please? Have downloaded the kindle version from Prime and am off to order the Cire Trudon candle. I love a December candle! Had a glorious one two years ago, but I can't remember the name of the company. Last year, we were mid building works, so nit much in the way of cheer.

@YuletideSolace - just wondering if you were on here last year under a different name? I recognise some names, but it occurs to me some people may have changed. @HannahDefoesTrenchcoat delighted to note you have already pocketed a quince!

My lovely son bought me a white company bergamot and cedar candle for my birthday - Nigel would approve, I hope.

I had a lovely long nature walk in the sunshine today listening to Nigel reading The Kitchen Diaries as part of my Spotify membership. Lovely!

Yes @LillianGish that was me you remember from the threads last year I’ve come back to MN because I just couldn’t be without this happy thread and all the lovely people that find their way to our little corner every year. Lovely to see you and others back too!🎄🎄🎄

So delighted to see you back @YuletideSolace 🇩🇰 🕯️

It cannot possibly be that time already. It’s only a couple of weeks since I was giving the Lakeland staff a hard time for putting out their Christmas decorations so early! I’d love to join again this year thank you

Oh dear, I seem to have caught the Nigel bug - I've just added dried apricots, figs, and prunes to my Tesco click 'n collect, plus a half bottle of brandy (I already have the apples etc. needed). I'll get vodka next week. Candles also on their way :)

I'm in! I bought the book two years ago when WH Smith had it on offer. Can't always keep up with writing my thoughts and comments but always enjoyed reading this thread last year.

Hey glad to join in! I read the book last year but it was a bit rushed as I started late then read a few parts at once. But looking forward to taking my time a bit more this year & hopefully trying a recipe or two.

I will be lurking - this thread persuaded me last year that I could improve Christmas and it really did help. I have a Diptyque Feu de Bois, and the remains of one of their Christmas almond ones from about 4 years ago, so I will be making the good smells! Also hoping to snaffle a few quinces from my best friend....

I'm on a late night online candle hunt. Just came to report that Candles direct have a 'festive sale' on and stock St Eval which are reduced. (There's also 10.5% Top cashback)

I've been after a Diptyque Feu du Bois for ages, but I'm greedy and want more candle for my money. I can be right stingy with myself sometimes. I've dug out my satin edged Witney merino blanket though (which I'm snuggled under now as I hear the rain dripping from the gutters outside the window) so I'm feeling quite indulged.

I've set my Dad on a mission to see who at the allotments has a russet apple tree. You just cannot get russets in the shops any more! I think I may now have to set him on a quince mission too. Annoyingly, I had a quince at my last house, but I don't think the new owners would take kindly to me scrumping! Dad does know a lot of great spots locally so hopefully he will come up trumps. He's also good for the best mushroom spots and cob nut trees.

<scuffles back off to internet foraging>

I ordered it last October inspired by this thread and it only arrived in February (we are in Aus). Must dig it out but in the meantime I downloaded it for free on Kindle too 😊

Feu de Bois is probably my all-time favourite candle, and I buy myself one for my birthday. Plus I bulk buy dinner candles from Amazon, as they're about a quarter of the shop price then.

I got quite excited a couple of weeks ago when it was finally cold enough to merit getting out the fake fur heated throw...

We've got heated throws too, they are fabulous.

As well as my old hard-copy I downloaded it on Audible last year and loved listening to it. This year, inspired by another thread, I have treated myself to an early Christmas present of a lego winter village and am planning to start it on 1st Nov while listening to Nigel.

A word of warning - I got caught out for about my first three years by the length of the intro to the book, it is about 25 pages and essential reading, I always used to forget till late on the 31st and be behind right from the start.

Surely worth it for the blurb alone - that is fabliss!

Welcome to all the newcomers! 🎄

@Inextremis I just did our dried fruits and nuts order the other day. We’re not making a cake or a pudding this year, but we will make mincemeat and a chocolate and nut cake.

We’ve got a full drinks trolley already (do a fair bit of cooking with brandy/whisky/sherry etc, plus the odd drink of course ) but I must remember to get some Calvados as I need it for the apple drinks! I also need to order some cantuccini as we’ve got a bottle of vin santo ready and no biscuits to go with it (I bought three bags from LIDL last month ‘for Christmas’ and made the mistake of opening one for ‘quality control’ purposes... )

Feu de Bois is right up my scent street! But, sadly, I must resist! I’m on a strict(ish) low-spend/consumption drive atm and I’ve already treated myself to a few new Christmas decor items this year, and I still need to buy candles so need to save some of my budget for that. But I’ll probably get a traditional-style paper calendar, once I’ve decided which one is just right. Have you all seen the calendar thread? Some lovely examples linked on there.

I haven’t got a Reading Nook atm as our living room is an absolute shambles of a mess of storage (buildings/renovations work ongoing in our big room upstairs so all our things have been moved out). I’ll spend today and tomorrow getting everything packed up and moved out into the office to have my haven back. So looking forward to delving into the intro at the weekend.