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!

For me Nige has the right blend of sincerity and self awareness in his snobbery appreciation of the fine and/or simple things in life. When I read his writing I hear his voice from the audio or tv and I love his gentle, modest yet particular observations.

A Thousand Feasts keeps bringing up memories of a long visit to Japan 35 years ago. It was interesting being vegetarian or trying. I remember okonomiyaki pancakes with bonito fish flakes dancing on the top in the heat. I loved delicious vegetable tempura just as Nigel describes but often with a prawn on because when I asked for the tempura without the prawn I would be told that it comes with prawn. A number of times I'd have a quivering block of cold soft tofu sporting a pool of soy sauce on the top, with some rice and pickles in separate little bowls which was a bit hard going.

I still don't really like black or green tea and a couple of times, lovely hosts would go to the trouble of a beautiful tea ceremony. Of course, I drank the almost thick tea from tiny cups out of politeness, smiling and nodding, but it didn't convert me. Reading ATF I wonder if weaker green tea would be the answer if I wanted to try again.

@HannahDefoesChristmasHamper I lived in Japan for a few years. Whipped up thick matcha is not nice to me either - I’m not convinced that anybody really enjoys it, it’s more the ceremony that makes it special. But a delicate green tea - or an oolong - can be really good. But perhaps not if you don’t like tea at all! No shame in that
We have also lived in China. In both countries, the palate and knowledge about different teas is really interesting. You have your specialists like I expect you do here, but otherwise quite ordinary people can taste differences in teas that we just don’t appreciate. Much in the way that lots of people here can appreciate different wines and have their preferences

8 November

A seat at the pantomime

There are lads in tights, girls in breeches, elderly men with pancake make-up, and bare chested boys in baggy pants. There are dwarfs and giants, fairies and wizards, a puss in boots and babies in a wood. There are death threats and dreams, genies in lamps, a witch, a princess, and pumpkins that turn into stagecoaches. Pantomime is a gorgeous cacophony of comedy, music, cross gendering and high jinks.

Oh, I'd never heard of Muji before, and of course we don't have one here on the NE coast of England. No Scandi kitchen either. I did discover Sølstrene Grene a couple of days ago though, that's a new one for us here.

I'm going to risk smuggling some havarti home in my suitcase rather than get carried away on the Scandi kitchen website. Had to spend a fortune on beekeeping supplies and candle making stuff last night. I seem to always feel the need to up my spend just to get free delivery!

Anyway, Happy Friday to you all.

I hope you are on the phone to the Drs @ThatRealFawn

All the talk do the Oxford st lights and muji is making me want to goto london. I don't get in that often anymore, as dh works there so on weekends isn't always that keen to go. All being well I will be grounded with the doggy once he is home for the next two months really-but if he settles in planning a trip to town on a day that dh wfh.

I love Muji, but we haven’t gone one near us any more, I used to love buying their stationery, I have a little aluminium pencil case holder and matching business card holder (not that anyone uses those much any more, it all seems to be QR codes at events in my field now) and also an aluminium propelling pencil which feels so lovely in the hand. I have got a half day in London planned in a couple of weeks, might have to head to Oxford St, the Skandi store sounds like a step up from Ikea which is my usual port of call for Swedish food. I want to go to the Wildlife Photography exhibition at the Natural History Museum too. That might have to be a separate visit as I want to spend lots of time looking at the lights as soon as it gets dark.

@bigbadbarry

I’m not convinced that anybody really enjoys it

You've made me feel better! I know with most things, if you keep trying them you often get to like them. I don't think I give black tea a fair go because I only drink it when absolutely forced to so once a decade or so.

My DH feels the same about mince pies and as a child I did too but obviously I'm converted now.

Also hoping that @ThatRealFawn has managed to get a doctor's appt.

I do love Muji (which has an online facility - just saying, @RainbowZebraWarrior 😉) and my still-fondly-remembered dream experience was going to the flagship Tokyo store which is massive - the size of an aircraft hangar, and stuffed with covetable things. I feel Muji is a kind of bargain-basement Nigel thing, being Japanese, pared-back, but more affordable for us mortal folk.

@RainbowZebraWarrior Søstrene Green is known as ‘the nice shop’ in our house, not only because none of us is entirely sure how to say it!

I did not need to know that Muji is online.

Now coveting that Juniper candle. I could get it, but I really shouldn't.

Although looking again I can't find any actual information on what they've used for scents. Makes me feel a bit better about saying no to myself.

Ooh. Ooh. There's a Muji in Copenhagen! Close to Tivoli and our hotel.
<does a little jig and rushes off to order more krone>

I used to love going into the edited to say 'Søstrene Grene' shop when I was younger - so many little surprises.

You have convinced me to take DS to London in a few weeks when DD is away! She gets stressed by the crowds but I think DS would really enjoy the lights and the possibility of a cinnamon bun!

This bus company does afternoon tea tours of the lights. (I haven't been on one-I just googled it) www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiG3IbPxcyJAxVuUkEAHeXBIlwQFnoECCEQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fb-bakery.com%2Flondon%2Fblog%2Fchristmas-lights-afternoon-tea-bus-tour-london-1&usg=AOvVaw2beRE-RDjZBp0k1hbia--y&opi=89978449

I find myself with an unexpectedly empty timetable on a dull day so have decided to make my Christmas cake - remembering this year to do it to the accompaniment of a Mitsuko Uchida Mozart piano concerto (No 24 in C minor because that was the first one that came up on Spotify!) VN. Using my trusted Delia recipe NVN!

I’m also not too sure how to pronounce it haha! I just call it the green shop? That reminds me I should pop in next time I’m in the city centre, probably next week.

also I managed to get an appointment for Monday morning, fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious. I want to be able to snuggle down and get cosy but it seems walking around is the only thing that helps with the pain.

Matcha with different flavourings is lovely but probably NVN. I do love a strawberry flavoured matcha and after drinking it with flavourings I’ve also begun to appreciate it by itself.

I'm not even going to attempt to provide written instructions on how to pronounce it. 😁

I found this! ]] maybe @NowLightOneThousandChristmasLights can confirm if it is correct!

A great St Eval haul in Homesense this morning. Delighted-Christmas candle needs all now covered I believe

Also compare this for Søstrene Grene- a tried and tested site with native speakers providing pronunciations

Hope you get your appointment @ThatRealFawn it’s a real pain trying to see a gp at the moment. I must admit I gave up and paid for a private online gp appointment last time I needed one, but it was a skincare matter and not muscular which probably needs a physical appointment

I used to work in a theatre and so have seen many pantos from the other side, as it were. Totally spoiled the magic! We go to Kew to look at the light trail as our family Christmas treat instead

We did an open top bus tour of the lights a few years ago, it was freezing but absolutely brilliant.

For anyone hankering after a Christmas cactus, lots in Lidl (NVN) today.