The Autumnal Christmas Chronicles Preamble thread

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hi, and welcome to the Nigel Slater appreciation society Christmas Chronicles Premable thread.

The thread will start proper in late October where we begin our annual journey of reading the Christmas Chronicles in real time. It is a cosy, heartwarming event that one can dip in and out of as life allows. Think flickering candles, woodsmoke, delicious recipes, the odd home made tipple, and bucket loads of touching Nigel-esque anecdotes. It is a veritable Hyyge of a thread.

This thread is to see us through until that time. You will find me, like a squirell, checking on my store of candles at the back of the cupboard.

It's also worth noting that Nigel's new book; A Thousand Feasts is out on 26th September. (with a deliciously Autumnal cover)

@imp2007
I too am longing for the crisper, fresher days...bring on the real Autumn!

Me and DD went for a walk just as the sun was setting....truly beautiful 🌅

Can't believe I've only just found these threads, love Nigel and have just pre-ordered the new book on Amazon (it's now £10 so hopefully you lovely people who ordered earlier will get the same price)..........have noticed that it's much cooler in the evenings this week and lit the fire for the first time last weekend 😮😮. DD is off to uni at the weekend so will actually have some time to devote to a long-running set of threads - although will possibly mainly lurk! She's a fussy beggar as well so our meals will be sooo much more varied and more from NS's books! Off to catch up now instead of working

I've bought this pretty variety of muscari / grape hyacinth to put in bowls. They are able to be forced in the same way as regular hyacinths, but as I've always had issues with the heavy flowers drooping, I thought I'd try these. I already have lots in the garden. The only issue is that they sometimes become quite leggy.

I've never done hyacinths before but now you've all made me want to do it. Off to Dobbie's I go for some bulbs and a suitable receptacle!

I found a slightly damaged pumpkin in B and M and they let me buy it for £1! It had a gold stalk so I painted it white to match my other ones.

I’m pleased with my little pumpkin family!

Moon walks sound wonderful!
We have been out in the forest mushroom hunting again, trying to make the most of the season. I thought I'd share some pictures of my mini haul and the forest we found them in.

Wow @IngenTing
Where do you live? The photos are amazing.
And the haul looks good....guessing you're up in which mushrooms are safe to eat? (I'm not)

Mushroom foraging is a bucket list kind of thing for me. I'd love to do it but would need and love to go on a foraging course to understand how to correctly and safely identify them. I drop very strong hints every single year that this would be an amazing birthday present for me and it still hasn't happened. They tend to be quite expensive so I can't justify just booking one. I actually did a few years ago when I was feeling flush and wanted to treat myself - and then I went and broke my bloody arm a week before the walk and they wouldn't let me go for H&S reasons. Maybe one day... In the meantime I'm hoping that the local farmers market will have a haul like yours for sale on saturday morning - I'm definitely in the mood for buttery chanterelles.

Mmmmm. Buttery chanterelles. Rubs legs Vic reeves stylee!

😂😂😂

@MonkeyTennis34 I live in Norway in the mountains near Femunden national park. But these pictures are from a place near me.

There are lots of mushroom identifying courses over here, not overly expensive either. I confess, that I actually haven't done one myself. I have a dear friend who was very patient with me and I would send her pictures "is this a kantarell?" And she would respond with "no, don't eat that".
I know what mushrooms are poisonous here and which are on the death list.
I only pick chanterelle and the black stemmed funnel chanterelle as that'swhat i know for sure and they are my absolute favourite. Basically I read a lot about them, where they grow etc etc. When I finally found my first one I checked it on a live app we have here, got confirmation and now I know. Chanterelle are good to identify and collect as they are so unique, especially the gills and also have a unique smell. Today you could smell them before you saw them.
I grew up in Crewe, so not many opportunities to forage there, I'm actually quite proud of myself that I can find a mushroom to eat and I know my forest berries too!
Here are some other mushrooms I found, super pretty, but the red is highly toxic.

@PricklyBob I love mine on toast with a poached egg and a strip of crispy bacon.
chefs kiss

@Bimblesalong I just want to say very best of luck to you for your op tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you x

RainbowZebraWarrior · Today 09:41
I just want to say very best of luck to you for your op tomorrow. I'll be thinking of you x

Best wishes!

Bimblesalong you'll be in the hands of experts tomorrow. Wishing you all the best.

Last time I got into a hospital gown they had to point out that it ties at the back. I'd put it on like a Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress, tied at the front.

Think positive thoughts.

Thanks so much. It’s the third op in 8 weeks and I truly hope it’s the last! Enjoying the things of beauty on this thread as a distraction.

@Bimblesalong May I add my best wishes for tomorrow, and for a speedy recovery.

Hey everyone. Hope it’s ok if I join in. I managed to find a reasonably priced second hand copy of the book so am very excited. I got the Advent cookery book last year which I loved and made loads out of so am anticipating it will be very much my thing.

Good luck @Bimblesalong . Hope the op goes well.

@MontyVerdi I was in hospital this week for a CT scan. I had to wear a gown because I forgot to wear loose sleeves for the canula and someone had tied the top fasteners so tight it had to go on like an apron. The waist one was so long it went round me twice and I looked like had put a wrap dress on back to front.

Autumnspices
Everyone welcome here.
I went to a manor house in Kent today - glorious weather, hoped to see some autumnal colours, but it's still very green here.

This thread becomes more beautiful in each incarnation.

DH has ordered me a beautiful Aran Cardi kit for my birthday next week. It’s pink, with a lovely leaf design and a pattterned yoke. DS is buying me the knitting needles as I will need larger ones than my usual stash. I’m sitting in the mellow sun in the garden, looking at the last of the small red eating apples on the tree sorting the order.

Good luck for tomorrow @Bimblesalong - I have tried in vain for an autumnal snap around Paris, but everything still feeling rather Indian summer. This is the road outside my apartment - terrace packed, leaves green, cardigan required in the evening, but back in my summer dress today.

I'm heavily jealous @LillianGish
i love France, the French, the French language, the food, Paris.

i haven't been to Paris fir ages which makes me sad

Glorious @LillianGish cant wait to be back! It may take a while but it’ll be all the sweeter.