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!

In a nutshell! And you just need to look at a photo of his house to see he’s not about acquiring stuff for the sake of it - whatever the price. He helps me dial everything down and remember that less can actually be more.

Yes @LillianGish it's exactly the same for me. I really appreciate that and I think as life philosophies go, it's a pretty good one. Get the very best quality/most beautiful things you can, but have less of them.

um. My aesthetic is very different to Nigel. I’m too much of a room filler, too many cushions, too many books and too much pretty glass would sum up my decor ideals. Oh well, it’s nice to appreciate each others differences even if it does make me NVN

@ExquisiteIyDecorated that is a beautifully coloured Christmas cactus. I have a lovely orangey one but while it is very healthy it very rarely flowers. An old friend told me to put it in a dark cupboard for a few days in order to encourage it and I wonder if I should try that this year.

Also: too many plants

@Cactuscuddles me too. I want to be like Nigel in that respect - his home is my ideal fantasy home. IRL I'm a bit of a haphazard collector with a love/hate relationship with clutter. And if I had my grandmother's and mum's green fingers I would have loads of plants too.

Are Christmas cacti hard to care for? I'd love to have one. For the name, which is very hyggelig, and for the (potential) longevity.

Crumbs. I’d love to have Nigel cook for me but I’d hate to eat at that beautiful table in that exquisite room on those awful benches.

I do love a pared back look and am never happier than when my house looks really, really tidy. I don’t like anything to be ‘out’ on the kitchen worktops except a butter dish. Possibly I’m barking mad.

@piscofrisco thinking of you, hope you're okay. 💐

@Xmasmusings yes it's definitely best to get to know Nigel as a rounded character. You're not the first to think he's got some less than ideal characteristics; it's been discussed on the threads in previous years too.

He's not everyone's cup of (very expensive, probably Japanese) tea. But I hope you'll enjoy the book anyway!🎄

@AgathaMystery I'm the same - very, very tidy is my ideal. I have learnt to be okay with the kitchen in this old house where there are lots of things I can't keep in the cupboards because the ventilation isn't good enough. It means I have to have more things on the counters than I would like. We'll sort it eventually and I cannot wait!

Today is one of my favourite chapters too. I've always loved it when the Trafalgar
Square tree gets erected. That said given the state of it last year I'm surprised at the level of dedication to its selection. It must have been roughed up in transit last year as it was very sparse!
Smiling at the thought of Nigel perusing the middle aisle at Lidl.

Doggy update-off we went to the surgeon,
Whose premises were located in a beautifully decorated old tithe barn (if Nigel
Were a vet this is where he would practice). It was more like a luxury spa than a vets. They kept him in in and will
Operate on one of his legs today. If successful it will be 12 weeks recovery for him, and then he will have three working legs which he can hopefully manage on-and we can save up for the other leg if needed. At 5.5 grand a leg it's quite the cost, but as dh said, would you rather have a holiday or the Dog? We are lucky, so lucky, to have the ability to
Choose, as our insurance only pays up to a thousand pounds per condition per year.

So the house feels a little unbalanced this morning and it will be a worrying day until we hear he has come through it ok.
The other dogs are looking for him
And a bit of out of sorts. Thankyou for all your kind thoughts-so appreciated.

We will spend this grey and damp morning catching up on Wolf Hall on iPlayer in preparation for the new one coming out on Sunday, which I am very excited about (I wrote my dissertation on Cromwell
So it's my ideal TV), then im going to get my hair cut and a bit of baking this afternoon. Wishing everyone a calm
And peaceful day.

Benches are actually quite comfortable imo - they encourage good posture, which means the body is in better alignment, which ultimately feels better. Even if it is a bit sore on the bum!

@piscofrisco hoping for best outcome for your doggy!

The tree last year was almost comedically awful, wasn't it.

That sounds very promising @piscofrisco Our last dog Charley developed bone cancer and had a leg amputated. She recovered amazingly well after the operation (my Dad slept on the kitchen floor with her for a week) and she had possibly the best 5 years of her life after that. She was special anyway, but was treated even more so by everyone who met her what with only having three legs. This is her sitting proudly at our Christmas table - yep, actually at the table - one year with her paper hat on.

One of our dining tables has benches. I thought I'd struggle with them, but actually they are very deep and very comfortable. As you say, it really makes you think about your posture. I always think my old ballet teacher would be proud of me when I'm sitting on them. ("Imagine therr is an invisible string attached to the top of your head, pulling you upwards")

Ah what an adorable photo of Charley! 😍 😍

Keeping fingers crossed for pup, @piscofrisco

I am still feeling “well over the limit” after whatever chasers they put in yesterday’s treatment. Glad I’m not driving anywhere and banning myself from internet shopping today!

my copy of World of Interiors has arrived. It has amazing although crazy features. I bought a subscription on offer after seeing Nigel’s house features in there. It is a treat into the world of those with much money and whose interior designers have great contact books and usually amazing taste.

Well wishes today @Bimblesalong! ✨✨✨

Very wise @Bimblesalong who knows what you might end up with if you succumb to online shopping!

Charley looks adorable in her Hat

Mine has gone off early - must think it’s a bonfire night cactus instead 😂

He's not everyone's cup of (very expensive, probably Japanese) tea. The tea in his new Feast collab is £30 for 50g tin so I’ll probably be giving that a swerve. As DH is constantly pointing out to me, his is an unattainable lifestyle for me - ‘He’s a gay man with no children it’s something you can’t even begin to aspire to Lillian!’ (Though he has been known to indulge my obsession with the odd Trudon candle so I can forgive him his treachery).

Also sending well wishes to you today @Bimblesalong that sounds like a most discombobulating aspect of the therapy.

We largely ignored and neglected our Christmas cacti for decades so they aren't difficult to keep. Dad dis repot them last year though and also took some cuttings.

Rolled beeswax candles duly made. I forget how quick and easy they actually are. The hardest part is always hunting out the hairdryer!!

@Bimblesalong that is the most appalling cheese on toast, I can't believe you haven't trained him better than that! Hope you feel a bit back to normal soon - I'm sure you are aware (and it is in no way the same as a proper paper copy) but our local library has a huge number of magazines that you can read for free online. I was flicking through Christmas Ideal Home last night.
@Cactuscuddles I'm in your gang with too much stuff and too many plants. I like the stuff though and I like to tell myself it is all interesting and most of it has a story to remind me of people and places (even if the story is 'I was in a shop and I liked it' ) 😂
@NowLightOneThousandChristmasLights they are dead easy. They need more water than you might expect for a succulent but they tell you when they need it because their ... I want to say leaves but they aren't really leaves. Their green bits ... go soft when they are drying out. If they feel firm they are fine.
@AgathaMystery I love the look of his room and I actually like the look of benches (although after a while you start to want a back) but I always think it looks a little chilly. I know he likes to wrap up in (exquisite, expensive) blankets, but.
@piscofrisco holding thumbs for the dog (feels more Nigel than crossing fingers). Also v much looking forward to the new Wolf Hall.

I've been to TKMaxx this morning looking for bits for DD2's 18th birthday next week. Somebody told me they had good jewellery. They lied, but I did find a candle that smelt very much like the white company one, for £8. Nine times out of ten I regret it as the cheap ones have almost no fragrance, or smell like a cheap air freshener, but I thought it was worth a shot. Also an excellent selection of christmas china (NVN, one should have a small but beautifully curated selection of plates. But sometimes it is nice to have something festive to put your mince pies on)

I only acquired my Christmas cactus about 2 years ago but it is the child of one of my mum's ones which have been around forever. Mine is at work, I took it there 18 months ago when we were having some house renovations done, alongside a few other plants, and they all settled in so well that I've kept them there.

Autumn colours - we are in that sweet spot where masses of beech and sycamore leaves are spread like carpets on the ground but haven't turmed to brown mush yet, but there are still loads on the trees too, Just wish we had a bit of sunshine to illuminate them. I had to follow a long diversion yesterday and drove through some stunning colours, there are also a lot of tall majestic Scotts pines in this area for contrast with the deciduous trees.

These candles look Beautiful! And very Tudor-ish to me. So again, right up my street.

I like nothing more than a bimble around TkMaxx/Homesense. You never know what you might find.

I’ve had my one weekly hairwash (yay!) and am relaxing with spa music and a posh candle. Plenty of water to be drunk today!!

@bigbadbarry you superstar - that’s prompted me to have a lovely browse of the Libby app and I have a shelf of reading lined up. If only cheese on toast would come that way. Dh tells me he has sourdough from my fave bakery so a retraining session is in store for him.

@Bimblesalong I reckon you need twice as much cheese next time