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.

My DD wants to make a Christmas cake this year so my DM looked out her foolproof recipe from the cookbook her DM gave her when she married at age 19 in 1959. It is a beautiful book and gives me very very nostalgic vibes.

I agree that many of the things in CC don't cost much money.

Last year after reading the book I noticed that the funny, bumpy fruit on an annoying scraggy bush at the side of my house were actually ornamental quince.

Never gave them a moment's thought before. Here they are with a cheapy candle that I already had, some pine cones and conkers.

Joining in please! DH bought me a copy of the book for Christmas last year. I loved lurking on the read along threads and had hoped for a copy. Yay!

That gives me goosebumps @ApolloandDaphne. What a lovely thing to have. Would love if you could share some pics of the inside (I know this is the Nigel thread, blessed be his name, but I bet there's some gorgeousness inside t house covers.)

I go the book last year and gave the book too. All because of this thread.

Can I give my scent? I love candles and burn a variety of unscented, both day and night (they are lovey in the day time actually!).

But to scent - I put a small pot of water on a low heat. Sometimes I add clove, cinamon stick, apple or orange. It wafts through the house and smells SO good. So clean, and so winter! Other time I will put sented oils - rose and eucalyptus etc.

That is all I have for today.

If anyone wants a gorgeous winter/Christmas candle then I’d highly recommend Woodwick candles - decent price as well, not cheap, but not extortionate. They melt beautifully, gorgeous strong scents and the wick/flame crackle so gives a real cosy atmosphere - Crimson Berries or Spiced Blackberry are my 2 favourites for this time of year, but Rhubarb and Radish (yes, sounds an odd combination) is the BEST scent ever!!

One of my relatives gives me woodwick candles and the fragrances are good, but I can't relax with that crackling sound, I keep having to look up to check the house isn't set on fire.

Clementine marzipan sounds amazing. Will keep an eye out.

I normally make a cake and did last year but I didn’t get around to icing it so we didn’t get around to eating it. I’ve checked it and it’s still fine so I’m ahead of the game on that this year! Am planning on making my own marzipan this year and icing. I think. If I find clementine marzipan maybe not!

I also so agree with the point that old and treasured decorations are so lovely. Sadly my parents didn’t have much like that so no treasures there. I had great plans for a fabulous tree with rainbow colours last year based on some lovely decorations I’d bought but when I did the tree it just didn’t look Christmassy at all. I ended up redoing it. And I still have the lovely rainbow decorations so need to decided what to do with them. I think they would be nice on one of the flocked trees in the hall but I’m not allowed buy another tree as we have three already! Maybe next year!

That display looks lovely @HannahDefoesTrenchcoat. DH bought a quince in a pot last year but no fruit as yet unfortunately. Hopefully next year.

I will try to read the introduction to the book over the weekend.

Ok, I hate to say this - as not in the spirit and certainly NVN - but I've just started the introduction, and I can't relate to his description of winter at all. I can't remember the last time we had a crisp, clear winter. I don't think I've experienced one since I left the north east over 20 years ago.

Winters mostly seem to be wet, grey and muddy. I wouldn't mind them so much if they were as Nigel describes!

I love your scents from a pot and am going to try that idea.

just read the intro too. It does sound magical. Greebols we will need to head out to woods for crispiness. ( Ignore the rainy bleugh days. )

Hello everyone. I've joined this thread every year but things have got in the way (2021 I was enthusiastically joining in regularly until my dad had a heart attack in mid-December and last year I was too upset and worried about cost of living to get immersed in what seemed like frivolities). I'm also a serial name changer so can't remember how I posted in the past but some might remember that I have a signed copy of the book, having gone to an event on release to hear Nigel read. I had a brief chat with him at the signing and told him how much I loved his writing style. I'm sure he must hear this all the time but her genuinely reacted as if I were the first person to ever pay this compliment; so full of gratitude. Such a wonderful, lovely man.

I love this time of year and I love Nigel so it's no surprise that this is my favourite book. I've made quite a few of the recipes and, since the book has come out, there are dishes which have become November/December staples in our house. Of course, I can't remember any of them right now, other than the sausage dish mentioned upthread, and an amazing soup made from turkey leftovers which we always have around 27 December. If we're not hosting christmas, as with this year, I always buy a small turkey and a few essential trimmings so that I still get the christmas cooking smells on christmas morning, plus "leftovers" (DH gets annoyed that I call them that when they have been bought specificially for that purpose). I'll check the book later and post more of my favourite recipes - need to join the cookalong thread too.

I was swithering about a candle - really don't want any uneccesdsary expense but I do have a lovely unscented church candle at home so might start lighting that in the evenings and also ise EnoughISay's brilliant idea for sceting the house. I do also usually have an orange, studded with cloves, set near the front door during December so a welcoming christmassy scent when entering the house.

So lovely to be among you all, fellow-minded people.

I am meandering through the Intro, thankfully will get to the end before the 1st 🤞🏼

Pleased to hear that my M and S Christmas cake kit may count as actual cooking.

I abandoned my mother’s decorations when the last fell apart a few years ago and content myself by buying vintage style decorations every year on Colombia Road on an annual visit.
However every year I look with longing for a particular set of Christmas tree lights on eBay. I sometimes have found them but never felt I can justify the cost. I remember sitting gazing at them each year they came out of the box and were put on the tree, peering at the milky glass , each of them different. My favourites were the bunch of grapes, the little house and of course Santa. Inevitably every year one wouldn’t light and after a great deal of fiddling about my father would have to replace it but was only ever able to get a plain coloured bulb to screw in in its place.

I am planning on getting some little melts I spotted in the garden centre the other day. The scent was divine. Found them online too but I think you need to buy them in person to sniff out the most delicious. Hopefully it will cover the smell of burnt Christmas cake.
https://www.frecklefacehomefragrance.com/wax-melt-pick-and-mix

Morning all!

@ApolloandDaphne I have that book too, but only a 1980 version. I've made my Christmas cake from it for the past 30 years.

@Peridot1 I have a rainbow tree. I decorated it in 2018 and it took me 6 hours. DD abandoned me after 30 minutes as she got bored. Due to the fact that the task was so onerous, I had the marvellous idea of storing it (still fully decorated, lights and all) in my tall hallway cupboard. It now takes me exactly two minutes to drag it from the cupboard to it's spot in the front window and plug in the lights. I'll take a pic of it when it comes out in late November. I realised that if you are going to go rainbow, it has to be full on OTT rainbow. There's no happy medium. For 25 years I was a white lights and gold doubles only person.

@PricklyBob Love the word swithering!

Also, I meant to mention that I'm on the NE coast of England, so we get a lot of cold qnd frosty winters days. ATM though it's just damp and miserable!

I have a russet tree in my garden as it’s my favourite apple. Also, my neighbours have a russet which overhangs the fence, so occasional scrumping happens. I love them with a crumbly cheese and chutney.

Oh my goodness, this is my idea of heaven!

I usually make my own chutney this time of year from our own apples, chillies etc. I've just counted up how many I still have from last year however and there are 12 jars!

I have to confess to going early on the cake making and made the Christmas cake yesterday. The next few weeks are frantic and won’t have the relaxed time to do it. It will be very well fed by the time Christmas comes!
Enjoyjng the last day of a few days off with a candle and some reading before tackling some garden work.

Your arrangement is beautiful @Bimblesalong I feel Nigel would approve!

Something weird has happened. I bought some essential oils last year, including the (Much Beloved By Nigel) Bay Leaf. I did not like it at all and it gave me a headache. I've just reopened the packaging, and all of a sudden, I love it and can totally understand why others do too. The fact that they have been sitting in packaging for a year with some tangerine oils has also meant I've discovered a rather delightful new blend!

What a find!

I had the marvellous idea of storing it (still fully decorated, lights and all) in my tall hallway cupboard you are channelling Alan Bennett there, who apparently does exactly that with his tree at his home in Yorkshire (complete with the battered fairy that has been on there since he was a child) - though his is stored in the loft I believe. I find it hilarious to think that his partner is the former editor of World of Interiors and therefore doesn't insist on something more curated.

May I join you all? Just wanted to say that for those of you who share Nigel's taste in candles but sadly lack his budget you may be interested to know that Aldi are selling candles next week which are clearly a dupe of Cire Trudon! Going to look out my copy of CC tonight.

Just been kindly gifted some homemade beeswax candles by my beekeeper neighbour, and I've ordered a small bottle of bay oil. I'm all set for starting the 25 page intro! 🤓

What are they called? Calmly excited 😂

@RainbowZebraWarrior - I suspect yours is a proper rainbow tree. Mine is just a collect of baubles in rainbow colours really. Some Shiney Brites from West Elm and some others from M&S. I do love them but I need to rethink it.

Have decided to go Scandi this year. With mostly what I have already. I have a tonne of decorations!

I love the idea of storing the tree ready decorated! Balsam Hill do storage bags on wheels designed for that. Expensive though!