Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Read Along 2023 - Part Two

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Continuing from Part 1

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 began on 1st November, however there is still time to fully appreciate Nigel in All His Splendour as it takes us to Christmas and beyond.

Most of us already have the book (or Audio 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 continue to make a post each day and we can share our thoughts and feelings on the days recipes, sentiments and indeed Dear Old Nige himself.

Pull up a chair and a cosy blanket and join in. Twinkly lights are optional, but candle light is definitely recommended. Regulars and newcomers are welcomed like old friends.

Just found this!

Happy New Year everyone, and best wishes for 2024. A steaming bowl of home made soup is one of the joys of winter. I haven’t had time to make any today, but looking forward to chopping of vegetables and gently stirring the pan in the coming days. I quite agree about soup makers, can’t see the point and a waste of space!

Happy New Year everyone! Have to admit I just got overwhelmed by everything from Christmas week onwards and have barely looked at Nigel, let alone the thread. I did make lentil soup from the gammon stock (I poach it in cider) on the 28th and it was <chef's kiss>. Have some stock stashed in the freezer too.

Aiming to finish the book though as I like the post-Christmas chapters. Steak pie tonight (am Scottish, is obligatory).

Morning all.

No chapter for the next couple of days.

I was rather discombobulated yesterday when I realised I had not purchased a new diary. My DD even remarked upon it being unheard of for me. We have therefore planned a trip out later today to rectify this. I've just had a message from my Mum asking if I can get her a couple of calendars as she is also unprepared. I think in her case, she often gets given them as Christmas presents, which obviously hasn't happened this year.

Looking forward to sitting down this evening and making my acquaintance with a new diary.

Goodby to the Christmas mugs, time to go back in to the cupboard until next December 1st!

I managed to pick up two year diary with 15 months left to run in a sale back in October @RainbowZebraWarrior so transferred all my dates back then giving me a free run into 2024. I might try to make that regular thing as it was much less stressful that my usual scrabble at the end of the year with nowhere to note new dates and appointments beyond December 31. Not something that would ever happen to Nigel I imagine - judging by that picture of his leather bound notebooks on his beautifully styled desk 🤣

Oooh That’s lovely. I’m getting serious house envy.

Anyone else enjoying the calm after the storm feeling of the last days of Christmas? I’m sitting here amid the last twinkling lights and candles enjoying not having to do any urgent festive tasks (though I do have an early Epiphany party planned tomorrow before DS goes back to Berlin on the 6th) I like to enjoy the last few days of the decorations before packing them away until next year. Squeezing the last drops out of Christmas before diving into the dark days of January proper.

i feel much calmer for sure. Managed to avoid the rain today and had a nice lunch out. Shops not crowded and lights still up.

Yes - I’m enjoying it too- getting out for a walk and enjoying my Christmas gifts. Still a few chocolates and cheese to enjoy but no lavish meals to produce.

4 January

Pear and pickled radish

A ripe pear is a lovely thing, and they are still with us. Tubby as a cherub, their flesh butter-soft, especially if you watch over them as carefully as you might a sick child, and have the patience to wait for the day they reach perfection. It is a fleeting moment, more so than even an avocado.

A ripe pear is indeed a lovely thing but I have no idea how to tell when it has reached that magical state. They feel hard to me right up to the point when they turn to mush inside.
Spent yesterday evening browsing stationery on line dreaming of a beautifully appointed desk like Nigel’s. I didn’t buy anything as I realised that I’m not intending to write a book any time soon.

DS was rustling up some pear and Gorgonzola nibbles for our party last night and bemoaning the fact that his sister had eaten the ripest pear leaving him with the one that was not quite ripe enough. A very Nigel moment that could not be appreciated by either of them so grateful to be able to share here.

Mmmm a ripe pear - must pick some up when shopping and await that short, magical window.

I’ve had a few lovely days away in London with my bestie. We had the most divine afternoon tea at Fortnum’s and went to the perfume department afterwards to smell the cire trudon. Of the four on display, the Gabriel was my favourite. It’s described as “gourmand chimney fire” and was reminiscent of wood smoke. Similar to diptyque’s feu de bois, a favourite that I burn at home for a treat.

@Bimblesalong that sound like a lovely few days. I love, Fortnam's I do. I went to John Lewis recently thinking they would sell Trudon candles and the assistant didn't know what I was talking about. I need to find a stockist in Newcastle.

By the way, I'm one of these very strange people who only like pears when they are like turnips.

Anyway, latest chapter coming up in a jiffy

6 January

Epiphany or Twelfth Night

I am constantly on the lookout for celebrations, personal, public, or local. If necessary, I will borrow them from other cultures (I would happily celebrate Hannukah if I didn't feel, as a non-Jew that it might be seen as rather inappropriate) My enthusiasm was only an excuse to bake a cake. Epiphany is the twelfth and last day of Christmas. It is, for some, a religious celebration, that of the coming of the Magi, bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. Truth told, the date is more in my calendar for being the day the decorations are supposed to come down.

Today is my favourite day of the whole Christmas celebrations. In my culture, it is the Three Wise Men who bring presents to the children, not Santa. They make a great entrance to each town the night before, with huges parades and sweets for the children. Today is all about them, watching them opening presents, a relaxing day eating the kings' cake and winding down after all the Chrismas celebrations.

Tree is down, decorations are sleeping in heavenly peace until next year, to quote Nigel. It feels very calm and quiet since DS left this morning to fly back to Berlin. I already made (and ate!) my Galette des Rois a couple of days early on the 4th so I’ve cheered myself up with some mimosa and a bowl of spring bulbs. Your trip to Fortnums sounds lovely @Bimblesalong. Enjoy your celebrations tonight @itsevolutionbaby - can I ask where you are from? This chapter has just reminded me of the frankincense and myrrh I bought at the Christmas market in Germany - off to have a little sniff!

Spain.
Beautiful flowers!

That’s a very nice table-runner @LillianGish - it reminds me of a London Underground pattern. Lovely mimosa too, of course!

Happy Epiphany!

ah lovely mimosa. My friend in Spain has a few trees in his garden. Must find some sprigs at the florist’s.

7 January

A breakfast of silence and solitude

Six thirty. Not a soul stirs. Just me, a pot of coffee, and the golden flame of a flickering candle in an old marmalade jar. The kitchen is millpond calm. The boiler chugs away. The muffled scraping of a spoon on a cereal bowl.

Morning all!

The way Nigel describes that moment of solitude and calm sounds like heaven to me. I guess there are people who don't need that, but if you are a person who does, it's so important to have a daily ritual like that.

I usually leave my candles until evening, but I think I'm going to start a morning candle ritual, like Nigel.

I feel like I wish I'd started this at the beginning of the Christmas hols. Back to school tomorrow, so something to think of next winter. I am currently burning a cheap but very hard to find Aldi Macaroon and Almond candle, which I love. I went into Fenwick today with the intention of treating myself to a Diptyque one. Didn't bother as I felt massively disappointed by them in the end.