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)

Happy autumn in anticipation to you all. I'm here because I love Nigel. He even replies personally in his instagram at times. Off now to preorder the new book...

Just bought it also !

Oh! I think I've found my place! Can I join you please? I have never read his books, but this sounds wonderful and I would love to try.
We are already in 'koselig' mode here. The weather has dropped to 1 degree at night, the leaves are already falling and on Monday evening I found the first chanterelle mushrooms of the year in the forest.
We are at our tiny cabin this weekend and I've started to get it cosy.

Hello @IngenTing! I'm guessing you are either Norwegian or live in Norway. 🇳🇴 This is a lovely place to rest and relax.

Hello @MrsArcher23 and @MamofCats.

Thank you so much @HappyDane!
Northern English, but live in the mountains in 🇳🇴! Autumn arrives quickly here!

"Worth noting for anyone with Spotify that CC is on audio as part of the Premium package."

Wow, @Foxybyname I have had Spotify for years and did not know you could listen to audiobooks! I have ordered the hardback this morning (£8, used condition, from amazon) but it'll be lovely to listen to it too. Also found the Colleen Hoover sequel to 'it ends with us' on there so that's me sorted without having to buy any audible credits for a while- thank you!

I'm happy to join these threads this year for the first time! Hello hygge friends! It's feeling brisk up here in Scotland now.

@IngenTing Norway is beautiful; I lived there for a while many years ago.

I am really looking forward to hearing about autumn (and Jul!) in your little cabin in the mountains. 😊

Hello @AutumnJoys! Welcome to this very hyggelig corner of MN.

Hello again all - so pleased to see this thread pop-up! It's reminded me to go through the CC well in advance this year, and make sure I have the more difficult-to-source - in the west of Ireland - ingredients to hand. I still have some Marsala left from last year, but only a dribble, so that's going to be no.1 on the list :)

@Inextremis you might find the CC Recipe Companion thread useful - should come up on search. It has ingredient lists for all recipes up to Dec 16 (I think) so you can order what you need without spoiling the read-along (if that makes any difference to you). I can't promise, but I will try to add remaining recipes before CC proper.

Thanks for that, ordered as soon as I saw your post!

Hoping this is the year I finally get all the way through The Chronicles, so will definitely be reading along from September.......also gives plenty of time to make the recipes!

Loving this thread already - and the idea of being Nigel adjacent! I only made it around halfway through the read-along last year before life took over and it fell by the wayside. I vividly remember looking up his candle recommendations and nearly fainting at the prices - but I totally agree with him that the artificial gingerbread/apple/cinnamon smells are unbearable.

I’ve spent some time lately tidying up the garden, planting Christmas potatoes, Autumn King carrots, spinach, spring onions…was boiling while I was doing it but does feel like Autumn is on its way!

My st eval candles arrived today. Thanks so much for the discount heads up. They smell heavenly. I popped some extra ones in as part of ds2’s Christmas gift - he loves scented candles and having gorgeous ones burning in his room is a bonus!

Omg I've been on this thread for 10 mins and just spent £245 😂

😂what did you buy?!

I’ve got the most gorgeous candle burning called Old Bookshop - will definitely be replacing and am very tempted by the new Nigel to go with it.

Can I join? I adore Nigel Slater. The Christmas Chronicles is one of my all-time favourite books and I have just pre-ordered the latest. I love his house, especially his rustic but minimalist basement kitchen 😍

He does - I swooned once when he liked one of my comments 😂

Hi @ChanelBoucle! Yes I've had a reply a couple of times.

Can I join? We’ve just moved into our forever home after renting for 20 years and I’m loving making it cosy. We have an open fire and I can’t wait to light it and snuggle down reading. Have ordered another copy of CC as my daughter has pinched my copy.
Determined to do some of the recipes this year. Last year we were in a very uncosy house.

I think that poster duplicated a post on the Christmas bargain threads. (Unless she's also bought all his books and candle recommendations as well from here)

Liking the sound of a candle called Old Bookshop. Off to Google...

Happy New Home -wishing you many happy times there 💐

Thanks for the welcome and congrats on the new home, @Recycledblonde how lovely to feel cosy.

We're in our new home too. It's a new build but we've made it nice... hasn't got the rustic feel at all but I definitely feel cosy and look forward to a nice snuggly and most importantly WARM autumn/winter after living in a freeeeezing 150 year old house previously!

It's probably NVN, but I've just had this delivered. A bargain at £3 from Vinted. Also had more cashmere gloves and matching cowls made for me. They bring me so much joy. (And warmth)

Nigel approves.