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)

Oh bless her. That's just given me flashbacks to my DS, 16 now, 11 at the time he walked home by himself for the first time from secondary school and he has a family tracker app on his phone.

Anyone 40 mins later he hadn't arrived home and I checked the app and it was showing the phone as leaving the school then stopped in one spot by the church and hadn't moved. I tried not to panic and left the house (I can see the side of the church from our house) and when I got to the front, there he was, living his best life, catching pokemon on pokemon go 😂 apparently there's a pokemon gym in the churchyard and geocaches so we often know where he is now

I've ordered a Lake District candle co one. Really looking forward to it coming. The names of the candles sounded Nigel ish...

I'm feeling extremely Nigel right now, because this morning I made some granola and roasted some plums with cinnamon and vanilla and got to eat them with Greek yogurt for breakfast. I'm feeling inspired by this thread to try eating less but better.

Morning everyone, hope you don’t mind if I join you. I’ve been on previous CC read longs and looking forward to it again this year. I don’t cook much, if anything, from it but I love Nigel’s writing.

Unfortunately I don’t get much time for cooking and even when I do I don’t experiment much because others in the house are rather fussy, but hopefully this year I will try a few things.

I am halfway through A Thousand Feasts and loving it. I was going to try and read it gradually, dipping in here and there, but it’s too easy to think ‘just one more anecdote’ and here I am in the middle…

It’s a gorgeous looking book too. I love the shiny endpapers.

My DD and your DS sound like kindred spirits @YellowphantGrey she used to love Pokemon Go, too. She's 12 and Autistic / ADHD and, as I'm discovering more and more, time has no meaning to her, and indeed she actually doesnt understand time itself. She kept telling me that she arrived at the trees "at 11 minutes past nine" (she meant 11 minutes past four) I've a strong suspicion she's Dyslexic, too. I've got the FindMyKids app, which I've found there's sometimes a little lag with. I got a notification last night. A 'where your child had been today' Sure enough, it had a pin at the horse chestnut trees at 16.11.

I'm not sure where everyone is up to in their ATF books, but the part about bacon brought back some very fond childhood memories. Every now and again, he goes a little bit Nigella when his seductive language tips into double entenre. I've noticed he does this occasionally. It makes me smile. (As does his very occasional swearing)

I'm making french toast for DH and had a moment of happy reminiscing - the smell of frying butter instantly brings me right back to being in my grandmother's kitchen.

It’s a cold but sunny day, down here on the South Coast. A pleasant change to the warm, windy and wet weather we have had for the last few weeks.
We have a wood delivery today. According to some sources we are going to have a colder than average winter so I thought I’d get in before the rush. Prices have gone up a lot since last year. £100 from £80 for a m3 bag of hardwood!

After a few days of rain, it's a beautiful Autumn day here, I've been to the hairdresser and I'm heading off to do my shopping shortly. I've to drop DD to a house party this evening (about an hour away) and collect her afterwards. I'll pop into my Dad's house for a few hours, as he lives nearer to the party venue than I do. Can't say I'm relishing the prospect of all that driving late in the evening, but needs must and all that. DD is working in the morning, so she's assured me that it won't be a late night.

I'm preparing for winter in lots of ways. I've ordered a full tank of home heating oil, which should do me until January or thereabouts. I've pulled out my warm winter jacket. I'll pack away my cropped trousers this weekend and some sleeveless summer tops. I may need to invest in a pair of long trousers - I'll have a look when I'm at the shops later. I love spring, summer and autumn but can't say I relish winter - especially the cold. But I was reflecting earlier that we don't have any say in the matter. We get swept along by Mother Nature, whether we like it or not. There's something reassuring in the notion that, irrespective of our high tech world, the seasons still come and go. And I love Hallowe'en and Christmas - so much to savour in both celebrations. And so different from each other.

Here's a photo of my cats, embracing all things hygge.

I love spring, summer and autumn but can't say I relish winter - especially the cold. But I was reflecting earlier that we don't have any say in the matter. We get swept along by Mother Nature, whether we like it or not. There's something reassuring in the notion that, irrespective of our high tech world, the seasons still come and go.

Yes, it's a source of comfort to me too. The seasons make a great metaphor for life, and one that can be extremely helpful to hold on to and properly internalise when things are dark and difficult. This, too, shall pass. It can sound dismissive, and of course it doesn't fix everything - some things can't be fixed. But we can know, at any moment, and with certainty, that we will not face this exact moment of darkness again. The sun comes out, even if briefly. Life can, and does change. Renewal comes, and with it, renewed hope. To everything there is a season.

Beautiful cats!

We have been out this morning in one of our favourite forests. We are due a "wintery mix" later this afternoon. We have learnt that that means, snow, rain winds and general cold wet weather. There were a few patches of snow in the shade were the sun hadn't melted it.
It is cold today and frosty too. Two layers of wool, hats and gloves as well. I remember earlier in the thread somebody wrote about the crunch of frost. It was very much like that today and I did take a photo, but I apologise, I can't remember who to tag.
We are all back home in cosy socks. I might even open some Blossa glögg later!

I have just run in to try and find @Midlifeshenanigans and say I have it! Thank you so very very much! 😇I can promise it will be very enjoyed, and this year I will be able to properly be present in this thread.

It also is synchronizing very happily with material dug out of a cupboard for a duvet cover and table cloth.

I have seen pictures of it before obviously, but didn't realize it's thickness or how beautifully the gold reflected light, especially red hues. I slid it out of it's packaging and sat playing with it like a small child with a kaleidoscope before having to be reminded how much I must achieve today as the only possible dry day for most of the week, and that this was supposed to be a swift lunch break.😊

Such lovely photo's just on this page, - Ingen Ting that's awesome! - but I must behave and get back out there until much later, when I can try and catch up the thread. (and play with the cover of CC more!)

I'm am very much enjoying everyone's photos and tales of autumnal chill and cosiness.

I'll be going swimming at my nearby swimming lake this evening, and have planned the swim to coincide with sunset, so hopefully it will be very beautiful. And my heated throw has just been delivered, but I have no need of it right now because I'm in the kitchen sitting in an armchair that's in a toasty warm beam of sunshine.Butbim sure I'll need it once I get home from my chilly swim. I bought a small piece or Cornish brie with wild garlic, so I'll have that for lunch, and then roast some squash and make an apple cake and prep the vegetables for dinner.

DD is also going to a house party tonight, for as friends 18th , so I am giving her a lesson in how to book a taxi.

I love my heated throw. I've got raynauds so need to keep as warm as possible and it really helps my feet. The only complaint is that I always fall asleep under it as nits so cosy!

I'm going conker collecting this afternoon - still subscribe to the old wife's tale that they deter our eight-legged friends!!!
Bought the Winter Thyme St Eval candle last week and its lovely so will take advantage of the code to get more thank you!
Goulash in the slow cooker with squash to roast and serve it in - bit more Nigel than my usual table but couldn't resist them in Aldi 😍

Beautiful post @HappyDane , thank you.

i was out for a walk at the Gibside estate earlier (a National Trust property just south of the Tyne). Dd spotted some interesting-looking mushrooms. I have a hankering to get on a foraging course eventually but at the moment have no clue what they were. Would be very grateful if someone more knowledgeable can say whether we missed out on a treat or dodged a bullet 🙂

The most beautiful crisp and sunny autumn morning here, and out for a lovely walk. We’re so fortunate to have amazing sea views in walking distance from home. And an extra blessing today, DH is getting his energy back after treatment and managed to go much further than expected. It feels as if we are at last coming into the light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

Hello! Can I join you all please? I have been lurking in the shadows but my book was delivered this week and I suddenly feel very autumnal.
Gorgeous bright day here in Wiltshire. Managed to get all the family coats in the garden and spray them with waterproof. I have been putting it off for ages so glad it's finally done.

Welcome @fallingleavesandhairyknees and @ChessieFL

@Gettingannoyednow I love Gibside and used to do the occasional craft fair there. We have some lovely NT properties up here. We used to keep our bees at Cragside to feed on the Rhododendrons. I'm currently stalking Seaton Delaval Hall's webpage as I want to see if they are doing wreath making again this December. Actually, we kept bees there too. In the walled garden when it was first renovated. I'd almost forgotten about that. At first glance, those shrooms don't look like the edible sort, but I've only glanced.

Lovely pictures. I know little about foraging mushrooms but those don’t look friendly to me!

I’ve had my first solo walk and managed 10 mins to and home along the canal. The boats looks very cosy with some having their wood stoves lit, so the smoke smells lovely. Berries of all different colours garland the hedgerows. Steady as we go!

Had a jolly good sit down and completed the underarm section of part of my knit project.

Some lovely photos again today.

@Taytocrisps Beautiful cats! We call them kitty croissants when they lie like that.

@UnimaginableWindBird How was the swimming?

@YellowphantGrey DD also has Reynauds and loves her heated blanket.

I've had a lovely, pottery sort of day. I've made Marmalade Whisky, a slow cooker pasta sauce with our own tomatoes, chillies and lots of olives and a touch of mascarpone. I've lit a Neom massage candle and rubbed the warm oils into my tired feet. I've also been to see my Mum, and came home with some bananas, a random single willow pattern teacup, and various jars of honey (Dad welcomes beekeepers from all over the world, and they always bring their own honey so I have Eucalyptus honey from Portugal and Manuka from NZ) My Waitrose order has also just arrived and I have my first mince pies of the year. I also took some leftover wax with @Bimblesalong special blend of French Lavender and Laurus Nobilis. She's asked me to make her a candle the same. Finally, I've been to Hobbycraft to buy bottles for my Limoncello and Reindeer moss to top the soil for my Grape Hyacinths. DD also added some little mushroom decorations.

All of these things are / were my joyful moments for me today.

Oh, and I counted DDs conkers. 160! No wonder she was MIA for so long!

My ATF has arrived-it was brought round this evening from a house 3 doors away; and was left on their doorstep. So much for "we put it through your letterbox on Thursday"!. I haven't opened it yet.

RZW that does sound a lovely day. Mmm what a nurturing procedure that Neom massage must have been. So pleased “my” candle is going to someone special.

Meant to say, listen to your hunch re possible dyslexia as it’s closely clustered with AuDHD (forgive any errors with acronyms).

I’m just getting caught up with the thread but wanted to say @Bimblesalong that colour work is fabulous! I knit but haven’t managed more than a two-toned jumper so far. I dream of being able to knit a beautiful Icelandic style colour work sweater.

After a 12 hour journey (11 in car and an hour on the ferry) we finally arrived at our danish summerhouse in time to catch the sunset from the beach. It was a bit cloudy but the colours were lovely. Unfortunately, as is typical here, it was super windy so we didn’t stick around for long.

i had plans of lighting the fire to make it super cosy, but it was 22 degrees in the house despite not having the heating on, so we left it. Played some family games though before dinner and I found a Halloween cross stitch kit I’d left here in the summer so I got started on that and in general I feel pretty contented.

i wanted to add that for those of you recording a moment of joy, have you considered a line a day diary? I have one that covers 5 years, each day has five entries on a page. Of course I feel inspired by you all to record a moment of joy in said diary but of course I haven’t brought it with me. I’m going to try to remember that when I’m back home. Also ordering ATF to arrive when I get home.

Oh @Bimblesalong , that is stunning! I am so impressed, and a bit envious of your skill.

My swim was lovely, but chilly as the water was 14 degrees. It was the first time it had felt properly cold in the water this year. But I have finally warmed up. And there was a little island on the lake with some gorgeous mushrooms so I thought of you all as I swam past, admiring them.