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)

Hi all, can I join please? I may not post much as I don't usually have too much to say but I've been following this thread for a while and actually signed up just to post here.

My copy was delivered today and with the wind and rain today (although currently brilliant sunshine), I couldn't resist reading the first few pages with a cup of tea.

I've only just moved into my new house, so I'm hoping to go out this weekend and get some autumnal bits to make it nice and cosy for the coming months.

P.S please excuse my cat photo bombing!

So nice reading about people's books arriving! My MIL sent a message today with a picture of the book. It arrived at her house this morning. She has very kindly ordered it for me and will post it over here as a gift 😊 so kind and also saving me a 4 week wait and about £40!
My autumn, as predicted was short lived! Yesterday was snowing all day and today we were already down to -4 and tonight will be -8. The sun is out though and has melted the snow on the road, but "my" mountain (my friends laugh that I refer to it as mine) looks beautiful tonight all white and waiting for me outside my kitchen window.

@Bettyfromhomeroom nice to meet you. Cat photobombs add to the vibes. Congratulations on your new home.

@IngenTing that is a beauteous mountain.

Oh no! Sounds like it was delivered to the wrong house. Hope it gets sorted.

My postman casually threw my new soup bowls into the bottom of our (empty) garden waste bin. It was also covered in Fragile stickers. Thankfully the sender wrapped them well and there's no damage.

You couldn't really miss the "Fragile' element.

Thank you for the well wishes btw. I will just give a little update as to what we have been up against this week. On Tuesday we found out that the council are closing our lovely High school. Yes, it is under attended and in debt, but it is also an excellent school and was only built 15 years ago! All of the other high schools are full and there seems to be no plan. It seems that handfuls of local kids will just be sent much further afield to a variety of schools within (or possibly outside) the County Borders. It's a farce, and catastrophic for my Autistic daughter, never mind the rest of the community. No forward thinking by the council, so frustrating, upsetting and out of our control. We have set up a parents action group, but it seems like a done deal. A huge fight / a lot of uncertainty lies ahead either way.

Anyway, just wanted to explain.

Now carry on sharing some lovely photos and warming anecdotes if you please. This thread (and Nigel himself) has kept me going this week.

Oh no Rainbow - that's awful for DD and the other kids. I can well understand the stress on the household over that - such uncertainty.

Betty a warm welcome and happy new house. I love your cat peeking into the fire!

Nigel is a cat person too!

So sorry to read about the school closure, such a worry for you, and especially difficult for your daughter. I do sympathise, change is so difficult for children, or indeed anyone, coping with autism.

@RainbowZebraWarrior - this message was for you.

💐@RainbowZebraWarrior. That’s awful. I hope a little bit of Nige time ( sounds rude) will help during this stressful time.

My book has just been delivered through the letter box. I’ve poured myself a nice glass of red and lit an autumnal candle, ready to start the book. Worryingly, I can’t smell the candle. Really hoping it’s not bl**dy covid again. Dh isn’t very well, so it may be. Oh joy!

Oh no @RainbowZebraWarrior that sounds incredibly stressful and a real worry x x @IngenTing what an absolutely stunning photo!!! Wow. Love reading all the updates and little details and photos that people share on the thread gives such a lift thank you everyone for making it such a lovely place to hang out!!!

Thankyou for the link @RainbowZebraWarrior, I'm going to settle down with it now. Everyone in my house is sick (except me-so far) with som sort of vomiting bug, so we are all confined to seperate rooms. The rain is drumming on the windows and I'm nice and cosy so it will be just thing!

Sending warming relaxing vibes to @RainbowZebraWarrior and hoping you can get some respite from what is a very difficult situation.

Hot and honeyed blackberry vinegar to all those feeling unwell. I hope everyone gets some rest.

I’m going to listen to Nigel reading the first couple of chapters whilst I relax.

Ugh people are pissing me off today (excuse language). There are such a lot of numpties about.

Sorry @RainbowZebraWarrior that's extremely shitty of the council! Again, excuse language. I'd managed to miss that bit in my earlier skim-read of the thread. I hope listening to Nigel (I assume it's him reading it on audible?) brings you some solace. And I hope you are able to work out a good solution for your DD and for all the other young ones!

@IngenTing your mountain is breathtaking.

Welcome to everyone who's just popped their heads round the door to this lovely corner of the internet.

Sending healing propolis vibes to those feeling unwell. I definitely do not want covid again this winter, so I'm throwing everything at my immune system.

I can safely say that watching Nigel's video podcast was a massive boost for me today. I also consumed a large bowl of beef stew tonight with a healthy side helping of Brussels sprouts, which was delicious. Thank goodness for my crockpot. Worth it's weight in gold.

We are all tucked up in bed now. The cat is on his crochet blanket at my feet. A small and reassuring pleasure, but so good for the soul.

Having a bet with myself as to which book arrives first; Nigel's, or Miranda Hart's which I also pre ordered, and is due in early October.

Goodnight and sleep well, all.

May I join in. My copy arrived yesterday and having dislocated my shoulder I've got lots of time to read and think about Christmas stuff.

Welcome @wouldbeflowerfarmer
I hope your shoulder is better soon and that the book brings some welcome distraction

Thank you, bit annoying that I'd been working all week in the rain, beautiful weather while I was in an and e !

Ouch! I can sympathise-I dislocated mine at the start of June, and it's still a bit painful now.

RZW that is such a warm and cocooning image.

@wouldbeflowerfarmer i can’t think of anything better for recovery than relaxing with Nigel. I hope you’re as comfy as possible.

im having a cuppa looking out on a small wood of mature sycamores and oaks which is on the plot of land opposite. There are tinges of bronze all over and I can see patches of yellow and flame on the largest oak tree. This is set off by a blue sky for the first time this week.

Trapped inside all day at my mum’s house by the torrential rain, I spent a cosy afternoon pottering around her kitchen making shepherds pie (one to eat and a few mini ones for her freezer). Just as I had finished clearing up I was delighted to see an email pop up telling me my package had been delivered and to find Nigel’s new book on the doormat. It seemed somehow appropriate that the first chapter should reference raindrops the size of cherries and a whole new level of rain such as was currently flooding my mum’s patio - VVN as it turned out!

@RainbowZebraWarrior that's horrible for you and so worrying for your DD, I hope that something can be done (or a solution found that won't cause too much upset). DD's school went massively downhill during her 6th form period but the teachers did their best to be supportive for the students and made a massive difference to her.
@IngenTing that is a beautiful photo - I'm shivering thinking of your snow and minus temperatures ❄.
My new Nigel arrived late last night through the letterbox so I'm saving it for Sunday afternoon in front of the fire with a glass of red wine - have plans to go to the meat market tomorrow and spend the weekend doing things to fill up the freezer, NVN but makes my life so much easier when my weekly shop is just fruit, veg and milk!!!!

Also sending healing vibes to poorly and recovering people - this thread moves very fast and I struggle to keep up at the best of times 😳