The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2024 Part 2

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Welcome all new and old friends.

The journey continues.

2am! Poor chap. But he’s home which is the main thing

@RainbowZebraWarrior I've just the other day seen someone who freezes the oranges, then slices them very thinly with a serrated knife, which seems like a great tip. Apparently the secret to beautiful dried oranges with good colour is to salt the slices, but I can't remember how long she said to do that for...I'm quite sure I saved the video so I'll have a look for you. After that, dab at each side of the slices with paper towels, and finally dry in the oven with the door propped open a little so steam can escape.

I've seen someone doing the orange slice garlands in the window too and am planning some as well!

Oh sorry meant to tag @piscofrisco for the orange tips!

@RainbowZebraWarrior they look good! I meant to order but haven't yet.

I'm determined to read today. Just haven't felt calm and settled enough - I need to feel order inside and out before I can relax. But maybe I should read first and the calm will come!

@bigbadbarry hope he's snuggled up in bed for the rest of the morning!

As ever I am wildly behind with the book, and not much better with the thread.

But right now I am on a train on my way to my annual pre-Christmas day out with my sister. Shrewsbury this year - our usual M.O. is potter round charity shops, lovely lunch, a bit of gift buying if anything catches our eye, and general pottering.

We're in west Wales, so anything along the Aberystwyth - Birmingham train line is where we go. It started out as a trip to the Christmas market in Birmingham many years ago but we've given up on that now.

Annoyingly my plan to nip to tk maxx has been scuppered by the fact it's put of town so I'll have to do a Carmarthen run sometime.

@piscofrisco I’ve read somewhere that you can dry orange slices in an air fryer; never tried it, haven’t got an air fryer, but it might be worth investigating that method (if you’ve got an air fryer)!

I saw a lady in Sweden who just puts them on a tray on top of her radiator! I think I might try that, actually.

I have friends in the mountains in Spain who are daily picking a very elegant black mushroom, worryingly named “trompettes de mort” - death trumpets. They’re edible, apparently, and they’ve now bought a dehydrator and are storing up a load. They also have their own citrus trees and grow tomatoes along with a load of other veg - wondering what dehydrated delights await me when I can finally get back over to visit them!

I’ve had death trumpets in a crepe in Belgium. Random.

Actually, I'm grateful for the orange tips as I've done them in the aga in the past with varying results. It's not a job i generally enjoy as it's sticky and measy. I also prefer more instant results as I'm an impatient bugger. I do have an air fryer, though.

I've been sorting and labelling honey this morning. I'm now going to put Christmas carols on and make some more ❤️ tealights.

I have my mum on the way to visit for the first time in over 18 months. Yay! Dad was too ill to travel the distance so we went to them. Ds2 has been away on networking events, staying with mum and is driving her back. We have tempted her with tales of a village hall craft fair tomorrow and the maker’s market in the city on Sunday! We spent last night turfing a few more pieces of precious belongings/ rubbish from Ds1’s former bedroom and have managed to create a welcoming space, with the bed dressed with my great grandma’s crochet quilt.

So excited for her to see Ds1’s house down the road for the first time.

Just what I needed after a rather depressing visit to the bra lady today (she was lovely, the giant bras took quite some getting used to!). I have other plans for bra stuffing, thank goodness for sewing skills.

Off to light maybe more than one Christmas light and lay the fire.

Thankyou all for the orange tips-it's my absolute mission this weekend to perfect them!

@Bimblesalong that all sounds lovely. Except the bras - hope it is all bearable.

I’m vaccinating the masses today. Crumbs the elderly are foul. Not individually but collectively. I know I’ll be elderly one day too. I just hope I never speak to anyone they way they speak to me and my team.

Currently sat in the car having 30 mins peace before it all starts again

That sounds wonderful @Bimblesalong , have a lovely time with your Mum.

goodbye to an old dog and hello to a pup is such a shock, isn't it? I remember the land shark stage very well, and without affection. One of our Border Terriers managed to chew a hole in the kitchen wall.

It is a massive shock to the system. I can still remember my own dogs medication regime, but I'm buggered if I can remember how often to give flea and parasite treatment to the little one. Who isn't little of course as he's now two-thirds adult size!

Manic week at work and Christmas feels a long way in the future. I'm still here reading.....and hoping all is well with everyone.

Tomorrow I am joining a couple of friends to make clove oranges and bay leaf wreaths that sounds so enjoyable @StrungWithSilverBellsAndFlowers.

Evening, all! Hope everyone is settled for the evening, or at least has some time carved out for themselves at some point this weekend. Not sure what to expect with this approaching storm.

@Bimblesalong that's lovely that your Mum is coming to stay and she will have a nice space with your great grandma's crochet quilt. Hope you manage to sort something comfortable with the new bra situation.

@AgathaMystery that's awful to hear what you've had to put up with today. I was just telling my Mum who will be 80 in a week or so. She said she always vowed never to be that type of 'older person' I think you deserve a medal! We've had two appointments this week with our GP, and she's really pulled out the stops for us. After the second appt, she sent me a feedback link and I've given a glowing review for her (she's a partner) and all of the healthcare and office staff at the surgery. I honestly don't know what we would have done without them all over the past couple of years. I've noticed that she seems to favour some particular colours that she wears, so I've just bought her some cashmere gloves as a Christmas gift that I hope she will love. The other surgery staff will all get some of our own honey and hand made soaps. To me, it's the least I can do for them. They put up with a lot.

@RainbowZebraWarrior wow!!! That’s the most generous thing ever. So so kind of you. Cashmere gloves!! I just ordered DD some as she’s been borrowing mine.

Some GP practices are brilliant aren’t they. Mine is absolutely incredible. I’m going to make a nice hamper of coffee and tea and things for them as I know they love them.

My day got better, I saw my fave patient, he has OCD and cannot be touched so caring for him is always a challenge but we get there together. It’s quite hard to vaccinate someone without touching them. He is the highlight of my week when I see him. I wish I could give him a. Hug or even squeeze his hand. I also got a fab lipstick recommendation (a double ended one from Kiko Milano) and everyone later today smelt absolutely lovely.

Small mercies. Home now and browsing jobs online. I’m going to sit with Nigel for a bit once I’ve had an ‘everything’ shower. My leg hair is outta control 😂

I love this thread.

@AgathaMystery you remind me of a Heathcare professional at our surgery. DD sees her weekly as a 'confidence building' exercise. DD is Autistic and has OCD and severe needle phobia, but has to have B12 injections every 12 weeks. We've built up a great relationship, and the HP gets DD to take her own BP every week as a way of making medical interventions less scary. We haven't quite gotten to the point of DD being able to have her bloods done yet (after an awful experience a year ago with Paeds) but we will get there, and the patience and respect shown goes a long way.

I am reminded with today's entry of a wonderful trip to Israel 30 years ago. I also visited the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem in the West Bank district of Palestine. I've travelled a lot, but seeing that was something else. I think of the people we met during that trip often. It reminds me how grateful I feel to have lived in an area of the world largely free of conflict.

I've realised that my post earlier was a bit of a random 'what I'm up to today's ramble when actually I meant to say that I am very much in sympathy with those who are avoiding the more commercial Christmas markets.

We have a little one-day market in our town on the day of the Christmas lights switch-on, which it used to be my job to organise. I much prefer little ones like that but goodness me they are A LOT of work to organise. I very much enjoy it now I don't have to be there at 6am supervising stalls going up.

A few national trust places/country hotels do their own little markets now too around here and I am planning to frequent several of those when they start.

Much more Nigel!

@RainbowZebraWarrior thats great that your daughter has that connection with someone at the surgery. It’s so important. I do a lot of work with teens with autism in their parents cars. It’s usually easier for them if I get into the car with them and do the vaccine there. What’s the point in using up precious emotional or physical energy to come into a building that might be really stressful, when you can stay in the car and have me critique your music taste 😂

The church sounds wonderful. I always thought I’d get to go, my grandma was a devout Catholic and went many times on pilgrimage. I doubt I will ever see it now. She’s been gone so long (1992) that I love the idea of going to places she went to and loved. Her best place was the family church but it’s long gone now.

Panforte (VN) - which I picked up at the Italian Deli round the corner. Made on the premises and absolutely delicious. The chap on the counter was absolutely delighted - he said they make it for Christmas and people either love it or hate it. I looked out my Frankincense and Myrrh today - a bit underwhelming if I’m honest, but good to be able to have a sniff at the appropriate moment.
The other surgery staff will all get some of our own honey and hand made soaps how thoughtful @RainbowZebraWarrior - such lovely gifts.

We didn't get to do the clove oranges but the bay leaf wreaths look nice. I have hung mine on the wall and am torn between ripping off the leaves as they dry to use in cooking and leaving the wreath intact because I rather like the fullness.

@piscofrisco We get our poppy seeds in Grape Tree. They're quite large bags but we generally have a big jar of seeds on the go as a rule as we get through a lot of them.

I love this thread
So do I @AgathaMystery It's a little oasis of gentle calm.

That looks delicious @LillianGish

@StrungWithSilverBellsAndFlowers your wreath is beautiful