The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2024 Part 2

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Welcome all new and old friends.

The journey continues.

Morning all, I have to say I'm with Nigel a bit regarding cards, i do still like sending and receiving them, although I try and avoid posting too many now. I don't go out and individually choose them, but part of my Christmas routines is to go to the library where they have the pop-up card shop for charity and choose some for charities that are meaningful to us but that we don't support during the year otherwise.

Tonight DH and I are going out as Elves to help Santa go round local houses collecting for charity, I'm glad we didn't get the stormy nights. It was good fun last year.

I like sending and receiving cards, too, but nearly fell down in the post office last week when I bought a book of stamps! So definitely and sadly going to rein it in this year.
We had DH's mum and aunt staying this weekend. I did Nigel's marmalade pears last night. Wondered why aunty looked a bit horrified, then said oh they are surprisingly sweet. Smiled politely while thinking WTF. All became clear when she said so, do you just sort of dab the marmite on top? 🤣🤣🤣

Ah yes, I asked for a book of stamps in the PO the other week and they were cheaper than I was expecting. Then I realised you only got 8, I'm sure a book used to be 12 stamps. I guess because they are bigger now with the QR codes. But also a bit of shrinkflation.

Nigel's A few notes on sending cards is always a highlight for me and it has become a tradition in our house that either DH or I read it aloud to the other. DH particularly loves Nigel's insistence on using a fountain pen (which he shares) and also his frustration that said pen won't write properly on recycled paper. I'm a bit worried about Never send your cards too early. It looks like you are 'getting them out of the way' this year since I took quite a few with me when I went to visit my mum at the end of November to save on international postage from France. She said she would post them with her cards in December, but was fretting about the slowness of the post in the UK so I fear they probably went in the postbox on the 1st. I must confess I rather like the feeling of having got them out of the way - DH was writing a few last night and wishing he'd done the same, but smug that he was fully Nigel in all respects of the list (he particularly likes If you are unsure whether you should send someone a card, then may I suggest you don't?)

Wonderful pictures and anecdotes from everyone. It is my first year on the thread and it is without doubt the cosiest corner to come to.
Christmas card chapter appropriate today as I am just sitting down to write those for UK posting. A tinge of sadness as the list grows shorter every year as family and friends pass on, but we are also fortunate to live on a friendly street where many still send cards to neighbours.

Read today’s chapter at the kitchen table, with candlelight and the tree 🕯️🎄

Just bobbing in to say good morning. Full day at work today in office so will catch up with thread and chat when home. A Happy Monday to all

My cards to relatives are posted. Sadly, I’m at the stage where there are fewer each year so I value the ones that I do send. Hand delivered ones for friends and neighbours are yet to be written and yes, I fire up the fountain pen too.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5aFidgxIz3igor40sBBSGU?si=2ktBMvUKSZOIv6nwOyoTWQ

Have we shared this yet? A podcast where the host interviews people about their homes.

Starting the week with sharing my “stash buster” project, a knitted vest for dh. I note my rationed candles - do you ration your favourites for special and indulgent times? Also, bloomin heck @RainbowZebraWarrior that candle has a portrait in the attic, it goes forever and hardly seems to use wax!

In case the podcast link doesn’t work:

Went to put my Balsam Hill tree up, and discovered I'd lost the key that locks the tree stand in place. So I've had to phone them for a new one.

@Bimblesalong we did have the podcast before but a second post of it is very welcome as it is delightful.

@LillianGish my DH is completely oblivious to Nigel, has probably never heard of him, I don't really talk about the book TBH, it just sits there on the kitchen counter during the winter and as there are normally books and papers on that part it is camouflaged. I like to get out the fountain pen too but share the recycled paper frustration and then having to wait for them to dry before you put them in the envelope, takes longer than it does to address and stamp the envelope. I have a day off tomorrow for Christmas shopping with DD and am planning to do them in the morning while she's at college, then we will meet for lunch and shopping. I did hand out a few over the weekend to save postage.

That's hysterical about the 'marmite pears' @bigbadbarry and that sounds so lovely @ExpertlyDecorated I do hope you and your DH enjoy your 'Elving' again this evening.

I'm another with a rapidly dwindling fanily, and only have to post one card nowadays. However, I sat down with my carefully selected boxes and individual cards a couple of weeks ago. Trying to get ahead this year, I allocated myself an hour or so. After 5 minutes, I looked at the little pile of cards and realised I was done! Most of my neighbours agreed / decided not to do cards in the past year or two which makes me feel a little sad, really. I will still be sending some to those neighbours who have been particularly lovely this year. I also hate waiting for ink to dry. I've had to put down paper tape on some of the shiny envelopes too, as I've been unable to write directly on the envelopes.

Anyway, just back from appt with breast surgeon who was absolutely lovely. I've had minor surgery to remove a cyst (which had turned into an abcess) and I have a second course of antibiotics to get rid of any remaining infection. Back in 8 weeks for a check up and scan.

DH has come on board reluctantly over the years @ExpertlyDecorated. He indulges my Nigel appreciation as no-one over here really knows who he is (even in the Perfumer H shop in the Marais where the eye-wateringly expensive Feast range forms the Christmas window display). What he finds it really hard to get his head around is that I have a group of "imaginary friends", as he calls them, on the internet who are happy to talk about all things Nigel adjacent all day long. He's always happy for me to read out any of Nigel's more preposterous pronouncements (A Thousand Feasts is practically an entire book of those) and can I just say a huge thank you to who ever it was on here who recommended In and Out of the Kitchen on R4 with Miles Jupp because that has become an absolute favourite.

Huge smiles at this @LillianGish I feel I get a little taste of my favourite Paris places with so many of your posts. Cannot wait to be back there.

@RainbowZebraWarrior glad you’re on the other side of the procedure. Heal gently and fully 💐

Here’s a little peek at the decorations in Le Bon Marché @Bimblesalong - all rather Sous le Ciel de Paris. DD has just got a weekend job in their Rose Bakery tearoom. Just had a message from my mum to say she posted all my cards for me today - she has been inadvertently Nigel which pleases me no end (though it would take too long to explain this to her!) Hope you are on the road to recovery now @RainbowZebraWarrior - good to have to op behind you so you can start the healing process.

So pleased you’re getting treatment for your cyst @RainbowZebraWarrior , and they’re really looking after you. @LillianGish - I love the idea of having all of you as ‘imaginary friends on the internet’!

@bigbadbarry What a lovely story to tell every time you serve marmalade pears - it really made me smile!

I'm giggling away here and imagining Nigel's next book announcement. Coming in 2026, 'Nigel's Preposterous Pronouncements' It has a certain ring to it for sure!

I've made a couple of trays of Ricciarelli. I so wish I could physically pass them round to you all along with a glass of something lovely as a toast to the season of goodwill.

Thank you for the well wishes ❤️

@bigbadbarry marmite 🤣🤣🤣

Had a lovely day in Berwick Upon Tweed today. We went on the train for a change and really enjoyed the journey. Slightly sad to see how much the town has run down since we were last here. We're going for fish and chips at Coull's and then catching the train home. Tomorrow I'm spending the day at Barters Books!

Do you think Nigel ever goes to charity shops?! I don't suppose he does. We got a good haul today. I'll post a picture when we get back to Alnwick later. I also got some lovely blue suede ankle boots, but I'm not allowed to wear them just yet because they're a Christmas present from DH!

Glad you got your treatment @RainbowZebraWarrior

And I do love your vignettes of Paris @LillianGish

Just having a catch up with book and thread after a long and very busy day at work.

@Confusedmeanderings pleased you've enjoyed your day. Berwick is a funny place. It's been rather run down for a while now, and it seems to have a lot of problems. A sort of place that time forgot. Holy Island (Lindisfarne) is similar, but spectacular with a rich and wonderful history. I don't know how much longer you're staying, but Morpeth is well worth a visit. Lovely cafe's, the best charity shops (especially for high end stuff) and a great auction house. Bamburgh is also well worth a visit if you haven't been before, although the beach is freezing at this time of year. I always say it's the best place to go to blow the cobwebs away! Alnmouth is also nice, as is Amble, but again, they are slightly rough around the edges these days. Seahouses and Beadnell have a lovely coastline, and Craster still retains its charm as an old fashioned fishing village. A visit to the smoke house and some kippers are a must if you can fit it in. I'm not sure if the boats are running right now from Seahouses, but if they are, then seeing the seals off Farne Island is a great sight. If you're heading back down home and want to stop off at Whitley Bay and see the lighthouse / island / nature reserve, then I'm happy to be your guide for an hour or so. Just let me know. Enjoy Barters Books!

For anyone who hasn't seen Nigel's latest 'mini reading' on his Instagram, he posted a lovely one yesterday and confirmed he will be doing one last signing of A Thousand Feasts.

I've copied the relevant bit of his post below for anyone who might be in the Putney area and would like to see him:

There is a (final) ticketed book signing this Thursday 12th December at 6pm at Waterstones Putney. More information in my Linktree under my Instagram biog. I look forward to seeing you.

I'm still hoping he puts up and posts a picture of his Christmas tree this year. (the next couple of days should confirm this either way if he's still in synch with CC)

Tree is trimmed - I love sitting here with just the tree lights and candles.

Lovely tree @LillianGish !

@RainbowZebraWarrior you have mentioned some of my favourite places! And thank you so much for the kind offer to be a guide but we have filled up our week already!