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)

Hello @lucysmam that photo looks very inviting!

I also travelled into Newcastle on Sunday. By metro train, though as I'm only about 10 miles away.

I thought 'that's a very civilised train ride' when I saw the photo but realised then you were at home!

I love the thought of being on a train and someone coming over to gently place a glass of wine, a candle, and a Nigel book beside you.

That is absolutely Peak VVN, and I would absolutely book that train in a heartbeat.

🤣 @MontyVerdi if that were the case, I would be moving out of my home and onto the train!

I'm caught up, and have found this thread a lovely, cosy, corner of the Internet 😊 Beautiful photographs, lovely knitting, delicious sounding food...bliss.

I'm about to delve into ATF for 20 minutes before bed, very much looking forward to it 📖

I took a photo of my spice drawer for you guys... One day it'll all be matching.

My partner initiated a conversation the other night about making the house really Christmassy and magical this year (I'm obsessed with Christmas) because we were hoping to have moved into our dream home by then but it's probably not going to happen. I really struggle living here. 😔 I'm usually quite Nigel (QN) and serious about decorations... Never let myself do anything silly or tacky or even spend money on decorations really, but maybe this year I'll treat myself to a few festive bits to bring out every year. I'm looking for the perfect snow globe. Any recommendations?!

All feeling a bit under the weather in our house at the moment. Beautiful sunshine though and a day off today. Spending a quiet restorative morning in the kitchen decided to bake some Ginger and dark chocolate flapjacks - feeling very Nigelesque slowly stirring the butter, chocolate and syrup and watching it melt into glossy molten chocolate - now in the oven and kitchen smelling lovely!!! I'm going to google the mustardy sausage pasta recipe mentioned by a PP sounds like just what we need in our house too!!

@RainbowZebraWarrior I'd be in the queue to book that train too, the most recent Masterchef series had a series on the Pullman trains from Victoria and it looked wonderful!
@lucysmam I have those wine glasses and broke one last week, so I now have a mismatched set 😢.
My week so far has not been even remotely Nigel, so cold dark and wet that I've reverted to soup and toasties for meals under blankets! Brighter today so washing is out and I'm bracing myself to leave the house

Hi all. Haven't managed to keep up with the thread lately as had the week from hell last week. Our beloved cat became suddenly seriously ill and had to be PTS.😭 Feel totally bereft.

I haven't bought the new book yet, but if ever I was in need of something lovely to read it is now. Have dusted off CC ready for next month.

Speaking of MasterChef...@RainbowZebraWarrior I was just wondering yesterday whether it's you that was a MasterChef contestant back in the day or if I've confused you with another poster...

I'd take @lucysmam's beautiful table setting any day over crisps and a sad sandwich in First Class, that's for sure!

Oh @IClaudine I'm sorry to hear that. 💐

@TheOnlyMrsW soups and toasties are VVN. I mean maybe his toasties would be a bit more ponced up but still, it's Nigel Adjacent at least!

Oh @IClaudine I'm so sorry to hear about DCat. Sending gentle hugs to you.

Yes, @HappyDane it was me who was on Masterchef. Happy memories! I was in the only series that Gary Rhodes did after Loyd Grossman and before the current pair. I don't watch it as I'm not keen on either of the presenters.

@IClaudine perhaps treat yourself to A Thousand Feasts for something to immerse yourself in the next week or two? I'm sorry, it's so hard when pets die.

@RainbowZebraWarrior yay, I thought it was you! I remember how well you spoke of Gary (Rest in Peace). I've got a few of his books.

(don't watch any telly these days, so haven't seen MasterChef in years!)

Thanks @HappyDane and @RainbowZebraWarrior I think I will treat myself to ATF this week!

Sorry I'm just going to do single comments most of the time as it's a lot easier for me...hope that's okay with everyone and I won't annoy you too much with multiple comments! 😳

@TheOnlyMrsW I always think that when a glass from a distinctive set breaks, that's permission from the universe to get another set! It can look really nice when you mix and match. 🙂

That's fine @HappyDane and I've realised it actually works better for my brain to do that, too!

Still haven't read back! And haven't started the book yet, either. Tonight might be the night! ☺️🕯️ 🍁

I finished the ATF Audible book yesterday (hammered through it as I had to rest for two days) Saddest words ever are when you hear That was A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater.

I will likely listen to it again very soon as I'm bound to have missed bits. I'm sterilising honey jars today so I've got the radio on to keep the pace as brisk as possible.

Just dashing in and out of the thread to say that a while ago we were talking about soups and soup bowls. Some posters posted pictures of their retro soup bowls and there was a bit of soup bowl envy going on. Well, I've just seen these in a charity shop. They are lighter than I remember them and the handle is quite thin rather than chunky, but if anyone would like them, I'm happy to get them and post them on. I'm here for an hour and half so you'll have to be quick, but I am back here next Wednesday if you want to chance them still being there. £5 for the pair

Im seeing them everywhere now! This set were £2.50 each for two of them and £2.00 for the other, which I suspect means it's chipped, but I didn't have time to look.

@Confusedmeanderings that's so lovely of you. I couldn't find mine, so I bought some on ebay

Might make mushroom soup to have in them tonight 🍄

@TheOnlyMrsW it's a single one, from Asda, a year or two ago. I've a very similar, pink, one I like to use in summer. & I've been on the hunt for either a festive coloured one (maybe red) or another autumnal one, so the green can become my winter glass 🍷 Not stumbled across one yet though 🤷‍♀️