The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2024 Part 2

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Welcome all new and old friends.

The journey continues.

Congrats on the new home @IngenTing I had been contemplating putting a shout out to you earlier this morning as I was wondering how you were. Nice to be settled ready for Christmas.

Lovely advent candles @LillianGish I've just opened door number 1 on my WC Advent and got a full size winter candle. I've never had it before and I'm surprised to learn that I'm finding the smell rather overpowering.

Wow @AgathaMystery how lovely to have had all that mistletoe. I'm off to the city later this morning, so I'll have a look and see how much Fenwick's florist sells it for (assuming she has any yet)

Marvellous news @IngenTing and a great description of the move. Some lovely lights and decorations popping up here.

I went to see ds1’s newly installed sofa yesterday. Typical of a dyslexic lad, he had somewhat underestimated the hugeness and it fills his front room, although not disastrously so. He was ensconced with his girlfriend and also his housemate (who he’s known since nursery) playing a loud shoot ‘em up on what I call his “giant chav telly”. Very happy. He has asked for my old cello so he can refresh his skills so all is not quite lost …

I’ve downloaded the sheet music for Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, which delights me and will feature today at the piano.

@RainbowZebraWarrior enjoy the shopping. I’ve spotted a few clusters of mistletoe high up in trees around the village but doubt I can persuade my neighbours to go up to harvest it. I did try to seed a boule of it in one of our apple trees but nothing so far has taken.

Just coming in very swiftly to wish all a Happy Advent, and cheer for @Bimblesalong getting to drive again. Thank you all for amazing pics etc.

I've been reading along, made quite a few things (the Gnudi really is so worth it if anyone's wondering about making it) and hope to have time to sort photos etc by end of week, but an awful lot has been going on here, most just too horrid for this thread, but the more positive bit was being commissioned to making some stuff urgently to rescue a Christmas show.
Hope to catch up properly bit by bit in a few days.

I agree on trees @LillianGish - every single one is beautiful! I don't really believe in making anything a non-negotiable for Christmas because I've learnt that Christmas is about family, love and friendship and it's best not to make rigid rules about how it has to be, or even when. I've lived away from family for much of my life, in various countries on several continents, celebrated Christmas the Danish way and many other ways, with my children on the day itself and, sometimes, without (after I got divorced). Being able to relax about some of the details makes it much easier to find joy in any given situation.

I really do think that every single tree is special - faux or real, big or small, coordinated or slapdash, muted and restrained or a riotous celebration of colour! They are each meaningful in their own way and so lovely, however they're put together. ❤️

But there's just something I adore about the smell, look and feel of a fresh tree. It takes me right back to happy childhood Christmases. After two very difficult and stressful building days I'm feeling more peppy today and we've decided we will go get a tree tomorrow. 😊

Congratulations on your new home @IngenTing! The way you wrote about your lifestyle was really lovely. Long may it continue and may the hygge always be with you! ✨✨✨

Having a Sunday morning catch up as I have fallen behind - the Fortnum and Mason's chapter is a particular favourite. I used to visit every year with my mum - taking in the Royal Academy, Fortnums then into the Burlington Arcade and down Bond Street for more fabulous festive decorations. She couldn't possibly manage the walk now (she will be 88 in a few weeks), but still has her decorations stored in various Fortnums biscuit boxes and packaging and I always try to pick up a potted Stilton from their branch at St Pancras (a good tip if you want to purchase rather browse as the queues are much shorter) on the way back home for Christmas. My children used to particularly enjoy visiting the Christmas decorations department and when we lived in London we would make a special pilgrimage to check out the outrageously expensive Christmas crackers! Nigel captures it all perfectly and it whisks me right back to those years.

Just a heads up for those who can access the Food Channel on TV - there’s a bit of a Nigel-fest tonight from 8pm: 12 Tastes of Christmas followed by a Simple Cooking Christmas special, then a Christmas Suppers episode. Most of us have probably seen them before, but worth a re-watch.

It’s a miserable, wet, grey day here today so I’ve unwrapped my Christmas cake (baked about a fortnight ago) and treated it to a very generous silver-spoonful of brandy. I make a recipe I’ve used for years for Betty’s Traditional Christmas cake but remove the candied peel, which nobody likes, and substitute fine slivers of preserved ginger.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I usually get my mistletoe from a local farmer but he's been poorly in recent years and stopped selling Christmas stuff. I found the greengrocer stalls in the Grainger market often have bunches available. They are not as big as my farmer's but probably cheaper than Fenwick.

Crikey, I keep forgetting about the Grainger market. I was brought up going there every week (my Mam and Nanna used to get weighed at the weighhouse). Just on the metro home now, so will check again next week sometime. The Fenwick florist didn't have any in yet.

@ElectiveAffinities your cake looks lush. I'm going to feed mine when I get home. I think it was exactly this time last year that Nigels 12 Feasts of Christmas was on the food network. I think I've still got them recorded from along with the Hairy Bikers Christmas series. I never get tired of watching Christmas cookery programmes.

Interesting to see all the cake feeding going on. I’m actually thinking of marzipaning mine ready to ice later this week. It has become a bit of a tradition chez nous - following a suggestion made on this thread a few years back - to cut into the cake in the run up to Christmas. There’s always so much food around at Christmas, it’s actually more enjoyable to tuck in sooner (especially as we can’t easily pick up mince pies here). It’s solved the problem of the half-eaten cake hanging around to a point where it feels too late to eat as we’re sick of all things Christmas.

Thats such a good idea. I’m going to marzipan mine this week and ice it too. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it. I do love a slice of Xmas cake in March though! It keeps so well!

Does anyone have any pics of their iced cakes from previous years? I’m thinking of doing a little forest scene… usually I just do plain white spiky royal icing.

Happy advent everyone! DS was sooooo ex tied to open his advent calendar this morning - we have wooden refillable ones lovely tradition although harder and harder to find things to fill them with as they get older! I'm behind on the book after a busy weekend hoping to catch up by the fire tonight. Loving the photos on the thread soooo much - especially the trees!!! @IngenTing congratulations on the move I always enjoy reading your posts sounds amazing where you are! @Bimblesalong gorgeous Center piece and what a lovely friend. Feeling super Christmassy now!!! 🎄🎄

This feels very well deserved! I'm usually a Spode Christmas Tree girl, but I got the Holly and the Ivy one about 15 years ago, and just kept it.

The silk bauble was my Nans. My DM got it for her, the first Christmas she was married and so wasn't at home. On the reverse, it says "In an Mother's heart there is love...The very heart of Christmas".

My Nan passed away before my children were born, but the first Christmas with my daughter, my DM gave it to me. I always put it next to my eyeline, by my seat.

Absolutely lovely pictures and heartwarming stories.

DH and I have opened our first advent windows. He has a coffee pod one and I have a st eval tea light calendar. My first tealight is rosemary and bay and was nestled in a little tealight holder. There is still nothing like my childhood paper advent calendar with a picture behind each door. Brought out annually with the doors smoothed shut and the surprises to discover anew.

I’ve wrapped Christmas boxes for my brothers’ families and written a few cards - ds1 is going to mum’s for a few days next week and will act as delivery person as both my brothers will call there before Christmas.

I’ve been reading Homes and Gardens on Libby (thanks again @bigbadbarry ). There is an article about mistletoe therein, where the author speaks of “opening herself up to meet with mistletoe”. She finds the plant to be “a chatty one” offering endless healing, with the article detailing their conversation. A thought provoking piece to read.

I went looking for my favourite one, which was decorated with a robin and little bird footprints in the icing. Goodness knows where it is but I did find this one which was easy peasy!

This was one of my cakes from previous years @AgathaMystery

Totally agree about enjoying the cake in the lead up to Christmas @LillianGish I cut into the extra loaf tin one I made last week and have thoroughly enjoyed 3 or 4 slices of it since. Seems daft to leave it till Christmas and now I think about it, I don't understand why we always did. I'm usually sick of the sight of food by Boxing Day.

Just catching up and loved seeing the stunning cakes and a gorgeous tree this evening. @AgathaMystery DD and I have made a Christmas planner and have 'booked in' That Christmas for the 4th. DD has already marked it To Watch. We've just watched the trailer and it looks like it's going to be a new festive favourite all round.

I've had to put the WC winter candle in a zip lock bag and in the cupboard. I'm so disappointed, but it just gave me a massive headache. It was going to be my candle for this evening, but I'm going with St Eval Inspiritus instead.

Happy new home, @IngenTing! And @LillianGish I love your advent candle and calendar. I'm off to Google that scented tea light one...

I made our Christmas puddings today (only a week late), and then I made the apple, black pudding, and celeriac mash recipe from The CC. Highly recommended, it was delicious (excuse the tiny plate, I eat tiny meals but plated up a big portion because it looked nicer with a whole apple!)

Gorgeous cakes everyone. The bauble form your mum to her mum to you @WeMeetInFairIthilien is precious.

The tree is up here, but not lit or decorated. My handmade decorations are coming on and DD is making a massive Pom Pom garland for my dad which i absolutely want to keep!!

A week later than planned but The Twig is decorated!

1st December and the Christmas mugs came out this morning. Some lovely pictures and stories on this thread - thank you so much to everyone, I’ve really enjoyed reading them.

@AgathaMystery those decorations are stunning!

@Mediocrates your pudding and apple, black pudding and mash dinner look amazing. I also eat from small plates after going through a phase many years ago of massive pasta bowls. I think the St Eval scented tealight advent calendar is sold out now, unfortunately.

All hail The Twig! @BobBobBobbing honestly, it should be in an art gallery!

My Dad has just passed me this month's beekeeping association magazine to read (note festive cover) and asked if I could make the recipe therein for Christmas pudding honey bombe. A Christmas pudding honey bombe he shall have.

Beautiful pictures everyone!
@EphemeraleEudemonia I completely agree about the gnudi. Well worth it!

We don't have our tree up yet, but we have got our stars, advent wreath and some lights up.

The heart was a gift from a lovely Swedish student from when I lived and taught in Stockholm. It's full of Swedish and he gave it to me to celebrate my first Christmas in Sweden.

Girls girls girls.

Unpacked the Xmas lights and & January 2024 me packed away a large White Company Winter candle for December 2024 me!!!

I am in awe of myself 🥰😂

@IngenTing what beautiful pictures!!!