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!

@GrannyWeatherwaxsBroomstick we didnt learn after the first time we did it 3 days was our record

In our defence, our family has a high threshold for pain so the normal "can you move it, can you stand on it" doesn't work. DF once skied for a week on a broken leg and tried to walk off a rugby pitch with a broken back. (I may have just realised where the kids get it from)

@IngenTing it is! I'm from Derbyshire originally, and we are all blue and white in our family, from great Grandfather onwards. We all had season tickets until a few years ago when we couldn't manage the travel on top of everything else. I loved David Hirst. That era is about when I can start remembering properly from. John Harkes, Roland Nilsson, and my all time favourite, Chrissy Waddle.

Morning all, I hope everyone has slept well and has a lovely start to their week. It’s pretty chilly here now, finally. It felt rather weird that it was mild in November, my dahlias were even still blooming. I usually lift them up around this time of year but I’ve left them to their own devices this year, but i must trim them down and lift them now it’s getting cold.

I have my doctors appointment in a few hours, I have my fingers crossed that nothing too serious is going on. The back ache is still here but luckily not as bad as it was a few days ago.

Good luck @ThatRealFawn hope you get some answers and it's not anything worrying xx

Oh, I hope you are feel less down today. Don't blame yourself, children do daft things. I still have a scar from a childhood accident with a glass coffee pot, caused by me rummaging in a cupboard I shouldn't have been rummaging in!

@taytocrisps I make the leeks and beans regularly. My tip is to only use a splash of stock, otherwise it is too watery. I add a good dollop of mustard too. Made it yesterday to have with Nigel's slow roasted leg of lamb (lamb is on offer in Sainsbury's at the moment). It was lovely. I used two tins of beans so there is lots left. I am going to see if it freezes OK.

@ThatRealFawn hope all goes well this morning
For anybody around Newcastle/Northumberland, cramlington tk maxx has the st eval candles. .

I'm sorely tempted (around 6 miles from Cramlington) but DD walked into my room when I was checking my candle stock yesterday. She declared that my wardrobe was like 'candle narnia' and the box under my bed was like Mary Poppins bag! She has bought me a very special candle for Christmas and I'm under instruction not to buy any more for myself.

On that note I paid a rare trip to Lidl this morning and had a smell of their fire type ones (dupes for Fireside maybe?) and inwas rather impressed. I stuck to my guns and just bought what I went in for.

Best ro luck with your appointment @ThatRealFawn

@piscofrisco I was obsessed with Chris Waddle as a child (when he played for us here at Newcastle) and I have letters and photos from him as my uncle was mates with him and used to tell him when it was my birthday etc. My uncle actually used to go to the match with Chris before Chris turned professional and played for us. I also had a solid gold number 9 made by a local goldsmith which I wore for years on a chain.

Ah @RainbowZebraWarrior that reinforces my feeling that he's a really nice man. Relieved!

So I’ve just gotten back from the Docs, she believes I may have a kidney stone so I’m being sent for a scan. If that comes back negative then I’ll be going for more tests.

I hope everyone has had a relaxing start to their week. I might make a crumble for dessert.

Martinmass used to be the equivalent of Bonfire night when we lived in Berlin and my children were small. They would make lanterns at school and there would be a lantern parade after dark with songs (I can still remember some of them to this day and DD was actually singing one earlier!) then everyone would gather around a bonfire with the obligatory sausages and mulled wine. At the best parades St Martin would appear on a real horse then jump off and rip his cloak in two. Happy memories.

Agree with @bigbadbarry
In and out of the Kitchen is warm, funny and I expect very much based on Nigel.
I'm enjoying re-listening atm, and the episode below really made me laugh.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b017551m?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile



Not sure if it will attach, but I'm attempting to send a photo of the two Christmas cacti I bought in Lidl today, inspired by a PP.

One is rather wonky, hence the kebab stick propping it up.. but I thought they were both so pretty.

Hopefully this will work 🤞

Absolutely love the phrase “candle narnia” and confess to similar. It is So Dark outside and not yet 6pm!

@ThatRealFawn at least you’re being checked and I hope that whatever it is can be sorted swiftly and with as little discomfort as possible.

Those are rather super, @Willow12345 I rather like the improvised stick.

I must share a lovely canal side sighting. We have some real characters who are permanent boat residents although have to move along regularly due to mooring restrictions and their own desire for an itinerant life. Currently we have a parrot who will interact noisily with passers by who talk to her (I checked with owners that this was ok). I resisted poking a finger into the cage, however. I did get a picture. I would like a sign like that for myself for difficult days.

Another canal boat was an absolute vision in yesterday’s misty morning walk - didn’t get a picture so you’ll have to imagine it. Each window was hung with Indian fabrics, pale mauves and pinks, mirrored patterns and embroidery. The front entrance crowned with a golden temple minaret. As I passed, the front section has curtains open, revealing a golden lit inside, with a carved wooden chair, music stand and the owner about to sit for clarinet practice. The chimney gently wisped wood smoke. Ah, the moment of the ideal travelling life indeed.

Eesh painful @ThatRealFawn I hope you get some confirmation and a plan soon.

Got out for a walk this afternoon with the two fit dogs. Cyclonic gloom lifted and we actually saw some Sun. You don't realise how much you miss it til you haven't seen it for weeks on end.

@ThatRealFawn pleased to know that someone is at last taking notice and some investigations are planned. Fingers crossed things are sorted out quickly.

I have just seen two hedgehogs in the garden, it is quite late for them to still be out and about but it has been so mild. One was very small but feeding nicely (we put food out), we have had a lot less sightings than usual this year.

Hello all. It feels bitterly cold here at 4 degrees with a North Westerly wind.

@Willow12345 lovely Christmas cacti! I was in Lidl today but didn't notice them. I did notice that they had loads of the sought after £1.50 Veg boxes which were stuffed full of fruit, veg and fresh herbs. Didn't get one as I couldn't justify using the ingredients at the moment.

I've had the sort of day where I've walked into everything. I'm clumsy anyway and suffer with chronic fatigue, but I've literally fallen into the car twice.

Thank you all so much for your supportive messages.

Little DS has lost the tooth. I suspect he has actually eaten it 😳
My poor little gappy boy.

He'll be checked out by the dentist on Wednesday, but we're preparing for quite a while without a front tooth.

I still feel awful about it, but rationally so, now.

DH is out, the children are in bed, so I have a cheddar and ale bake, with sourdough toast, a Neom candle on (cosy nights) and an episode of the Edwardian Farm.

I hope everyone has a good evening, and that health issues can be ignored/put to one side for a while.

Oh no @WeMeetInFairIthilien ! Your poor ds. Good plan for a dentist visit and definitely a good plan to nurture yourself. I felt that my two had their own seats in an and e as they grew up, with an emergency dental run thrown in when ds2 had his top front teeth knocked out during a summer tennis activity 🙄 when he was 5 or 6. Another child enthusiastically swinging his tennis racket … He now has a lovely full set of teeth but it’s no fun when our children get into scrapes.

Just one degree this morning. It's properly cold at last. And there's a yellow fog warning.

4°C here today, misty in the valley over the river, but clear and bright on the hilltops.

12 November

A pot roast partridge

We never had champagne. At least not the real stuff. All that mattered was that a cork went pop and there was bubbles in our glasses. No one minded that what we drank was tummy-twistingly acidic and had bubbles The size of Maltesers. The point was noise and fizz. Asti Spumante had it with brass knobs on.

I like today's entry. It's nice to think of Nigel's normally so serious family getting a bit tipsy on Asti Spumante.

Chilly ish here. But just been out to do a quick garden walk around to see what still needs doing and found this fella has put in a late appearance. I think he will regret it as the temperature dips in the next dew days. I'm planning on lifting my dahlias today but I will leave this last one a bit longer.

Thanks so much for this - DH and I had such a good laugh at the episode you posted and were delighted to see there are several series for us to work our way through (it would almost have warranted it’s own thread if it weren’t so old!)