The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2024

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, it's nearly that time!

For anyone who has not already had the pleasure, the annual Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles read along is a real time annual MN tradition.

The book begins on 1st November, however there are a good few pages by way of introduction. This is why I start the thread now; so that we have time to prepare and settle in.

A lot of us already have the book. For anyone who doesn't, it's a challenge to see of you can pick up a bargain. WH Smith has come up trumps in the past, as has ebay. A rare and precious charity shop find is the holy grail and adds a certain special-ness that simply extends that warm, fizzy Nigel feeling.

I shall post each day and we can share our thoughts and feelings on the day's recipes and sentiments. It's particularly lovely to share any memories and personal traditions (as Nigel himself does)

Note: Reading by candle light can be particularly enjoyable. Cire Trudon may be one of Nigel's favourites but they are somewhat pricey. Share your festive finds here, even if they are at the cheaper end of the scale and possibly NVN (Not Very Nigel)

Pull up a chair, grab a cosy blanket, and light your candle of choice. It's that most wonderful time of the year!

All your lovely photos- whether they are food, crafts or landscapes- are like a little wave of calm in a hectic life. I think they work better than the antidepressants did (and they saved my sanity at the time).

@IngenTing I hope you get lots of little waves of calm to see you through the next weeks.

@FiveGoMadInDorset - I love your username, I wonder if there is ginger beer in your future

@Carriemac wow, that photo is a reminder that there is still immense beauty in this mad, difficult world of ours

@IngenTing I'm sorry you might be or are unwell but glad that you've got the referral you need for any treatment

@IngenTing wishing you well and hope all will be well.

I am also finding this little corner of the internet so comforting and have loved seeing all of the beautiful scenery and skies in others photos. Here is a photo of a couple of new baubles I picked up along with some velvet ribbon for presents. It still feels too early to speak about Christmas, but it brought me joy to find some nice things I will appreciate when the season starts later in the year.

Oh they're just so lovely!

@RainbowZebraWarrior this looks really good, might change over and try this one!!

Delighted to see the thread again this year...I've only managed lurking for the past two years for a few weeks before dropping off, but maaaaybe, maybe this year I can do the full stint! I really want to! Life can get so crazy at this time of year, can't it? Nigel and this thread is a really good reminder to pull back and enjoy the simple things. I totally agree with others saying that CC is a call to appreciate what we have and focus less on getting more 'stuff' at this time of year. Something I need to remind myself of; even though I'm delighted with my lot, social media can really get into your head and make you want more. I've set a time limit on my Instagram usage and the extra time will be much better spent reading CC rather than scrolling!

@IngenTing wishing you health and also peace of mind while you wait 💛

The greengrocer round the corner - as close as I’ll get to a row of pumpkins on a frosted allotment spied from a train window. Bought dates to make a date and walnut cake, inspired by Nigel’s comment that he likes to have a cake of some sort in the house - it’s currently in the oven making the apartment smell lovely.

@Xmasmusings i have been known to make ginger beer which also goes marvellously with gin

It has been a sad day here as my Notmycat had to be put to sleep, she moved in with us 5 years ago as she hated her family, so we shared her, it was very peaceful and she was ready to go

RIP NotMyCat @FiveGoMadInDorset. Lovely photo.

I'm very sorry about your cat. Pet grief can be very hard and lonely. The Blue Cross can provide support if you need it:

https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss

@IngenTing i could smell your post in the nicest way. Sorry to hear of worries and I hope the outcome is not of concern. They’re fast and thorough with this.

Some beautiful photos to fall into.

@FiveGoMadInDorset that almost feels like a thin place.

@FiveGoMadInDorset what a lovely companion. So sorry for your loss.

RIP Notmycat ❤️

Aw sorry to see about Not Your Cat @FiveGoMadInDorset .

@IngenTing hopefully your wait isn't awful 💐as @Bimblesalong says they are fast and thorough.

I'm just about to shower, then sit down with a candle, cuppa, and Nigel for half an hour before I carry on my NVN crochet pug dog.

So sorry to hear about your Notmycat @FiveGoMadInDorset She was a beauty ❤️

Oh wow I thought I was alone in doing this! So pleased to have found you all!

All the lovely messages have completely overwhelmed me, thank you anonymous friends.

I treated myself to my favourite soft drink this morning, Julebrus.
The rest of the day I was ensconced in flour, butter, sugar and eggs.
I made my own modelling chocolate and baked a variety of different goodies for Trick or Treaters (Knask eller knep). My kids were suitably grossed out by the eyeball cookies when they got home. So it was a successful bake!
Tonight now they are in bed, I'll finish the introduction to CC.

The eyeballs cookies are excellent @IngenTing ! How did you do that?

Neom skin treatment candle on here. I'm also wearing cashmere gloves and socks. I'll use the treatment candle to rub into my feet then replace the socks once enough oil has accumulated.

Thinking about Nigel's wonderful descriptions. The sight of blackened fireworks the morning after Bonfire night brings back huge memories for me. The smell of the fireworks and woodsmoke would still be hanging in the air the next morning on my walk to school.

Re: a row of pumpkins on a frosted allotment spied from a train window" This makes me tingle with delight. I'm just about to book for DD and I to go to York for the day on the train next Sunday. I love York, and I love the train journey almost as much. It will actually only be DDs 2nd time on a train. She wants to go to a specific gift shop, bless her. I'm just excited about the breakfast bap on the train and picking up some Yorkshire Rascals from Betty's tearoom. There's also an arts and crafts fair on at one of my favourite churches.

I love Nigel’s Insta post today, he’s unintentionally funny in his seriousness!

I’ve just ordered a recipe journal as my DD is leaving home soon and I thought it would make a lovely gift filled with some family recipes, she’s a much better baker than me - I think she gets it from my mum who was telling me she’s using amaretto for her Christmas cake this year, I’ll be looking forward to a slice of that!

I also love the sea in winter and peeking into other people’s houses 😊

Have been away with my littles, in the Midlands. We've had a marvellous time, had had a wonderful, autumnal walk around a reservoir.

Still, am glad to be back home tonight. I've put the thicker, feather duvet on my bed, and I am so looking forward to snuggling down later.

I'm busy finishing mittens for my niece and fingerless gloves for my DM. Then, I need to get the shawl necked waistcoat for myself, finished.

Have a pattern arrive for a little gingerbread man that arrived with the knitting magazine subscription that my DSis got for my birthday, so that is also on the list.

Am going to carry on with the intro tonight.

@IngenTing sending virtual hugs to you; hoping that this enveloping corner of the internet continues to be of some solace.

@FiveGoMadInDorset am sorry for the loss of your beautiful cat.

I only got the 'thin place' reference @Bimblesalong mentions because I heard Ben Fogle talk about it. I cycled to our local thin place today - it's an ancient graveyard overlooking an expanse of water. I would upload photos, as I enjoy everyone's pictures here. However I suffer from the debilitating condition known as being the world's worst photographer - an affliction other family members struggle with, must be genetic, lol! seriously I'm embarrassingly bad! If anyone has any tips on how to be better at photo composition, I'm all ears.

@Bimblesalong i have just googled a thin place and that sums it up perfectly especially as the sea is just behind the barrow as well, half has fallen in

Ooooh @FiveGoMadInDorset goosebumps! But the thin place feeling also goes with the season and tradition and we are linking to long chains of memory, cultural traditions and our experiences.

@Gummibärchen that’s a funny but sad thing re the photography. I’m sure we will be able to give tips. I’m dyspraxic and my nemesis is a different door handle or security door (usually in a school in trying to exit in a professional manner, watched by the receptionist!). Love the Ben Fogle reference, I really enjoyed his programme on the Scottish Islands.

So sorry about your Notmycat. They leave such a hole in our daily lives 💔