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)

Good morning, all. I've gotten a difficult piece of admin out of the way this morning, and I'm quite proud of myself for finally tackling it. (To be fair, I've been a single parent for over 11 years. There's nobody else to say "could you do this?" to, so I have to kick yourself up the butt and crack on) Nice feeling of accomplishment, though.

I'm now allowing myself to delve into Nigel's world, via Audible, and it is Simply Delicious.

I had a thought to myself, as the book began. 'Small Moments of Joy'. I am going to record in my diary every day, a Small Moment of Joy, and look back at them after a year. Maybe even collate them. I am starting with yesterday - it being ATF release date - and my first Moment will be as I described last night; My little 'family unit' all tucked up together in my big warm bed as the wind howled outside. Feeling safe. Waiting for the sounds of my lovely DD and cat snoring softly, before allowing myself to nod off, too.

@LillianGish I had the same thought just earlier as Nigel was reading aloud to me, just as we were having a downpour.

@wouldbeflowerfarmer Hello and welcome. Sorry to hear about your dislocation. Rest up, and go gently. You have my sympathy. I'm off to see my specialist in a couple of hours to see if there's anything more they can do to help me with my repeatedly dislocating ankles (a feature of my Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome unfortunately) I am lucky that some of my joints are so lax that dislocating them doesn't actually hurt at all. The ankles are a different matter, though as I tend to go a tumbling when they pop out.

@Bimblesalong I've just been doing the dishes and looking out the back. I realised that without it being deliberately planned, a lot of my garden is evergreen. (Mainly down to the Cherry Laurel hedges) Only the fruit trees will be losing their leaves.

@RainbowZebraWarrior so sorry to hear about the school, what a nightmare. A school locally closed at earlier in the year and it was devastating for all, pupils, families and staff. Thank you for the Audible suggestion, I have avoided buying the book as our small house is so cluttered but have a few credits stored up and love listening to Nigel.

@Bettyfromhomeroom welcome to the thread.

To those unwell or with unwell families, sending healing thoughts.

I'm away for a few days by myself (rare!) and it is nice, I observe my surroundings more this way and can potter at my own pace, very Nigel.

Dug.my.copy of the Christmas Chronicles out and I think I might read the introduction on the 31st so I'm ready to go on the first.

Going to choose a bookmark later for it too. I know there's a reading ribbon attached but I love a bookmark!

I've also realised this will be my first birthday and Christmas without both my parents. 9th one without my Dad and 1st without my Mom

I've also realised at 43 I'm almost at the top of the family tree with my siblings in their 50s.

@YellowphantGrey sorry to hear this will be your first birthday and Christmas without both parents. I remember my Mum, aged 50 turning to me after both parents had died and saying "I'm an orphan, now" Bless her.

Last year, I started the Chronicles threads on 23rd Ocrober. It allowed a week for the initial call to go out to all (we hadn't had a Preamble thread) and then for everyone to get their books out ready to go and catch up with the Introduction in their own time.

I shall do the same this year, if everyone is happy with that.

Hugs to all going through difficult times at the moment.

Started reading ATF in bed last night and fell asleep while reading - nothing against Nigel's writing; I was absolutely exhausted. DH came up a little while later to find that I'd dropped the book on his pillow. Said my Nigel obsession had gone too far now that he had taken up DH's place in bed.

I'd like to say I am loving the book but I honestly can't remember anything I read last night. I'll re-start it over the weekend.

Sorry to hear about your daughter’s school @RainbowZebraWarrior. I don’t know how many years she has left at school, but I hope that whatever the eventual solution it will all turn out for the best in the end. Sometimes life has a way of doing that - happened to my DD after a disastrous experience at a UK university (annus horribilis) she ended up being very happy in a place she would never have even looked at before. 🤞 🤞🤞 Hard to imagine at this point I’m sure, but if anyone deserves a good outcome it’s you after all your kindness.

Ah everyone, sorry for my momentary grumpiness in my comment yesterday. Was feeling at the end of my tether for a little while but it really wasn't the right thing for this lovely, gentle thread. 🍁🌾🍂

Warm wishes to everyone who's dealing with difficult circumstances. I send each of you positive vibes every time I read but forgive me for not acknowledging each one by name as I get very anxious about reading back and getting all the names right, not leaving anyone out by accident, etc and it just ends up being too stressful, as silly as that sounds.🍁🌾🍂

I'm doing a roast dinner tonight - always grounding when I'm finding things stressful, and afterwards I may light a candle or two, add some bay essential oil to my pinecones and snuggle in to enjoy a little read of A Thousand Feasts as the sun sets. @RainbowZebraWarrior I like your idea of recording a moment of joy in a journal daily. I try to do this every day in my thoughts, usually finding quite a few things to appreciate, but I'm sure I've read that there is something much more impactful on the mind when you write things down. Plus you get to read it back in a year's time and indeed whenever you please! I've got a suitable notebook somewhere, I shall find it and start this evening. I definitely need that mindful, meditative ritualism at this stage in my life.

The weather has been lovely today - nice and sunny, albeit very windy. I saw someone on insta who had collected some fallen leaves and dipped them in wax to use for displays. They looked so beautiful! Would be nice to make a garland for the bay window but the idea of dealing with melted wax when there's so much dust and grit all over the house makes me feel twitchy...

Yes, it's good to have a few days reminder to read the introduction as I always forget how long it is.

The intro is almost my favourite bit of the book! I love to really take my time reading it.

HappyDane You can also preserve leaves with glycerin, which would probably be cleaner.

Oh @HappyDane (which I’m now singing as a closely worded gospel song!), what a great idea to have a roast. That’s it! First family roast of the year will be Sunday (without ds1 who will be on his way to visit a relative in the USA where it’s currently 40°!).

great for the start of the read, @RainbowZebraWarrior The decision to get going on this thread was a solidly great one. Well done on the admin.

I’ve listened to the intro on Spotify whilst cooking for the first time in a week, a simple noodle and tofu dish with a warming ginger broth - a chuck up into a dish and bung in the oven affair, just what we need. The smells are beginning to permeate, mixing with tonight’s candle which is feu de bois. I’m saving RZW’s wonder for a good settle down with CC.

Took me a minute @Bimblesalong but now it's going to be stuck in my head for the next while! 😁

@RainbowZebraWarrior that's great, getting that admin task out of the way! Doesn't it feel good? I'm always amazed at how the things that loom over me seemingly forever aren't actually a big deal at all when I finally steel myself to do them. Never remember that the next time though, heh.

Hello you lovely lot. I'm just catching up as it's been another long day here. DD doesn't walk home from school by herself very often, but needed to today as I had a hospital appt. My mother rang me when I came out of the hospital to say that DD still wasn't home, 80 minutes after leaving school and wasn't answering her phone (it's a 2.5 mile walk that usually takes 45 mins) I raced back, and found her under the horse chestnut trees at the edge of our village. She had been there collecting conkers 'for Mummy, as she loves them' She had been there for over half an hour and filled her packed lunch bag. There are over 100 conkers there!

I'm very pleased it's Friday.

Oh boy, RZW, what a haul and a worry. I came home to a couple of conkers in the bathroom sink. When my son gets back from string quartet I shall ask him if we’ve had squirrels!

@sueelleker thanks, that's a good shout!

Awww @RainbowZebraWarrior that's really made me happy, to think of your DD thinking of you and hopefully gaining more than a moment of joy and contentment from gathering them up. Nature's bounty!

The sky is dark and bright with stars, here. It's 5 degrees and due to go down to 2/3 degrees overnight. Hot water bottles, tonight.

@HappyDane (Oh, Happy Dane!) You weren't grumpy. And if you were, that's OK and understandable as life is not perfect. I've said it before and I will say it again that social media / online constant positivity is damaging and it is better to be realistic.

@Bimblesalong I hope you're doing OK (and please say so, if you're struggling) Again, it's understandable, and I for one would rather you said on here if it meant it was a safe space for you to do so. I'm pleased you enjoyed the rest of your little packages.

@LillianGish your kind words today meant the world to me, today. Thank you.

As HappyDane has already said, I often struggle to tag everyone who posts meaningful messages. I hope I can sum it up in Nigel's words that he loves reading everyone's messages from his Instagram, and thanks "us" all. I still love to think of him following these threads. If he does, he will know that he is dearly loved and treasured.

My Moment of Joy today came tonight when my DD was having her specialist PT session. She asked me to read out inspirational quotes while she was on the exercise bike. This one really struck a chord.

That’s a wonderful quote RZW. How gorgeous to share this with your daughter and the resilience you must be building.

I’m doing well. Sore and resting and hoping to enjoy a relatively short convalescence before we see what fun comes with the next stage of treatment. I’m finding the friends and postings who live in my phone to be really sustaining.

I answer people as I read and I nod but don’t always tag either. I know others do the same - reading this thread is like the smell of warm Apple and blackberry pie drifting from the kitchen. Mmmmm!

@Bimblesalong I'm glad you're doing well. Keep resting and I hope the next phase goes well. I found that the next part was uncomfortable but doable, hopefully you will too.

So glad it's Friday. DD was supposed to be cooking dinner but she was tired and went for a nap (rolls eyes) so we had a late dinner. I decided not to get mad and just be grateful that she cooked at all.

I usually take my Dad out for lunch every second Sunday and was due to go to him this weekend. But my brother is taking him out instead. Very grateful for the gift of a free day. I'm going to plant my spring bulbs and cook a nice home made spaghetti bolognese and make a Mary Berry apple cake. And sort out my kitchen presses. Everything seems to be shoved in higgeldy piggeldy, so I'm looking forward to restoring some order.

Morning all.

Gosh, it was so dark when I woke up. I did that thing of assuming I'd woken up too early, checking the time imagining it would say something like 3am, and it was ten past six!

St Eval have released their new candle collection. The old favourites, plus some new ones. Lovely artwork on this year's tins. THANKYOU20 still works for 20% off.

I am going to enjoy a restful day today. DD and the cat are still fast asleep and it is so beautifully quiet and peaceful. I love this time of day at weekends.

It was a beautiful night last night here, clear and no moon. DS and I sat on the bench outside our cottage with an app he asked me to download so we could spot all the constellations, then we collected conkers by torch light and looked for hedgehogs (still none to be seen!). I am making the most of him still wanting to do this kind of thing - tween DD rolled her eyes and went to her room instead!

Today we are going to try making felt leaves for some autumn decor and I am thinking about treating myself to an autumn jigsaw! I also need to harvest the tomatoes, I don't think they will last much longer!

Thank you for the discount code @RainbowZebraWarrior . I’ve never bought anything from St Eval before. Someone mentioned their calendar on another thread. Just had a look at the website and purchased it (and some other candles). So much for low spend September 🙄. At least I’m now ready for the main event. Would have liked a Trudon candle. Perhaps next year….

A quiet start to the day with Nigel on Spotify.

I bought the st eval calendar - it’ll be good to share the joys of opening.

I'm trying not to look...

Your Nigel Nook looks really cosy @Bimblesalong.