The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2024 Part 2

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Welcome all new and old friends.

The journey continues.

Sorry your trip to York was disappointing @RainbowZebraWarrior we went last year as dd is at uni there and never again. It was madness. We did buy some lovely glass ornaments from one of the few stalls that wasn’t fudge or alcohol based but it was oppressively busy.

Hope everyone is feeling better today. I’m finding myself increasingly lethargic. The days get shorter and I lose all incentive to do anything other than sit in a blanket with the dog and craft. This, as well as Nigel, is why I will once again be starting a diet in the New Year.

There is nothing better though, than snuggling under a blanket with a land shark. Mine is 9, but being a tiny feisty breed he is still a danger for the odd nip. Although he has a tiny mouth and few teeth so it’s fur coat and no knickers thankfully.

I love DD's message about the York experience @RainbowZebraWarrior but sorry it was such a disappointing and stressful experience. We have a Christmas market here which means that I will be avoiding the city centre for some time.

I didn't have to work today, so I am now fully caught up with Nigel. I am really enjoying the illustrations and the general ambiance. We have lots of autumnal foliage outside, some of which may make its way indoors this week. I don't think I have seen brisket on sale for the longest time, so I am off to furtle in Ocado's more obscure aisles in the hope of securing something similar. It's definitely brisket weather.

Aww thank you so much you lovely lot you've really cheered me up (especially @Cactuscuddles as I now don't feel like a weirdo for thinking it was all madness and oppressive busy) I often feel a bit Emperors New Clothes about things and this encapsulates it. Pretending to be happy whilst having your toes trodden on, wandering around in the drizzle sipping crap overpriced mulled wine? Nope. Gimme my pyjamas, Nigel on audible and a candle!

We've scraped a couple of hours at work degrees here today, but it's rapidly dropping again. Who has snow forecast for tonight / tomorrow? We cling to the edge of the NE coast and as a result (according to the weather warnings) are going to miss it.

@CrepuscularCritter I get my brisket at Waitrose. Either in joint form, or when I'm tired, they also do an already slow cooked one which I rate highly and is often on offer. They also do a 'burnt end bits' one. Oh and we also have a Christmas Market in Newcastle City centre which I've avoided for the past 10 years.

Now, then. Stove lit, fluffy socks on, candle lit, hot choc made for DD. Off to find something suitable for shoving in the oven and cooking ittself..

I don't venture to Uk chairman's marked either for the same
Reasons stated. And don't get me started on winter wonderland in Hyde park which the kids nag to go to every year. We've been once. Never again.

Sorry you had such a rubbish time @RainbowZebraWarrior

I live near Cardiff, which has a Christmas market. It doesn't have the cachet of York, but it probably doesn't get anywhere near as rammed either. I have found some nice little bits and bobs there. You just have to try and choose a non-rainy day, which can be a challenge.

@Gettingannoyednow thanks for the bread maker recommendation. I think I will take the plunge!* *

That's a good thought on the brisket, @RainbowZebraWarrior . We are equidistant from two branches of Waitrose (does that count as peak Nigel?), so will see what is available there.

@RainbowZebraWarrior that just sounds really horrid, glad you have candles, fires etc. now. Chester has a small Christmas market - all the usual tat though, strong mulled wine, prosecco by the bucketload, fudge and so forth. It’s in front of our beautiful cathedral though so (if it ever stops raining) actually quite pretty and not usually so crowded. Better at the weekends when the square behind the one with the Christmas market hosts a makers market. One year I will buy something from the man with the beautiful reclaimed wooden products.
DD1 is at uni in Bath and the market there is bonkers. Such a shame because it could be lovely but I don’t know how they would manage it - I suppose they could limit entry with timed tickets or something?
Peeing with rain here. Supposedly it will turn to snow later but I don’t believe it - I expect we will get sleet which is officially the Worst Weather.
if anybody has Costco membership, they stock brisket

@RainbowZebraWarrior so sorry you had such a disappointing day in York, and especially when you and Dd had been looking forward to a treat day out. York is lovely, but definitely can be horrible when it’s rammed. And so pleased you were able to relax and calm down when you got home.

@RainbowZebraWarrior Sorry you had such a rubbish day. I think Christmas markets are much the same now. You used to be able to get lovely unusual things but it's all food, booze and tat now. We used to go up to Edinburgh every year and down to York when my son was a student but we don't bother now. Hopefully you'll have a more relaxed evening and your daughter is feeling a bit better.

I also meant to say earlier @Cactuscuddles that I'm sorry you're feeling lethargic. The early darkness is difficult, and for me it seems to have hit hard and fast this winter. I think it's easy to feel like we should be doing more but I frequently now ask myself why? Why should I be doing more? It's wintertime now. It is the time to huddle up and be cosy. As long as we have food in the house, there's nowt wrong with that. In fact it should rightly be the bonus of wintertime.

Like @NowLightOneThousandChristmasLights I've made nothing this year from CC (apart from fannying about with apricots and brandy) I feel all the better for not putting the pressure on myself. As we've said I think in previous years, we aren't in competition with ourselves.

I'm done now for DDs birthday on Thursday, and I'm done for Christmas too, I think. I've got the longer life treats stored in the pantry and the Christmas shop is booked for the fresh stuff.

I think I've mentioned it before, but I do mystery shopping for The Grocer. We have a 'Christmas shop' booked in for 7th December. It usually covers everything you need for Christmas Dinner. If we manage to find everything in stock, then all good. Most of it goes in the freezer.

A little candle heads up for anyone near a Waitrose. I used to stock Lily Flame candles in my café years ago. They are a lovely company based in Glastonbury. Sure, they probably wouldn't pass Nigel's standards, but then not many do. They are usually £11 each, but they are coming up as £7 (half price) for this duo on my shop for this weekend.

Great minds @RainbowZebraWarrior I got this one yesterday-it's one of my all time favourite candles, but you don't see this flavour very often, so when I do I snap it up!

@RainbowZebraWarrior sorry to hear about the York experience. Hopefully you & dd's next day out will be much much better.

Avoiding the Newcastle Christmas market is a good move. I have only ever observed it while walking through town but that was enough.

I do like the Tynemouth Metro Sunday market at Christmas time - a real market plus some Christmassy bits. I don't know if it's still there but there used to be a chap who did delicious macaroons. And I like the Acropolis van for some greasy vaguely Greek inspired but delicious street food.

Thankyou20 still works at St Eval.

@RainbowZebraWarrior RZW, is there anywhere you'd recommend in the Whitley Bay general area where I could buy local honey? I used to just get it from the supermarket but I picked some raw local honey at Ingram show this year and now I can never go back to own-brand...

I finally made the miso pork. It was very nice but I think too much Miso, not enough honey. Will definitely make again, the pears were lovely.

Dd was saying earlier how lethargic she feels now it's so dark. She can't use it as an excuse to get out of her coursework however which I think was what she was going for!

Helps if you add the picture. Not very seasonal but nice and fresh

I have not made a Christmas pudding for years so I am in a similar position to you @StrungWithSilverBellsAndFlowers (what a lovely username).

Thank you nettie, it's a line from John Betjeman's poem 'Christmas,' which I love.

Rainbow, I'm so sorry about your trip to York, it sounds horrific. I hope you can have a few calmer days now to steady yourself 💐

I cannot buy any more Christmas candles. I think I need an intervention. Or a slap!

I’m musing about an outdoor visit (masked!) to Chester Christmas market, so good tip on the extra craft stalls, @bigbadbarry

Ive had a stoical afternoon dealing with a very lovely but fiddly undersleeve section of my cardi (I was so frustrated with it that I paused the project and knitted an entire other garment!). It’s done. It’s lovely but phew those bloomin ends! (Knitted them in as I went, so just a trim session needed).

Whilst crafting, I listened to the Nigel podcast “cooks chronicles” which includes some of Christmas Chronicles. I had to stop as there is an irritating creepy musical box sound effect that truly set my teeth on edge. Oh dear Nigel!

God. York sounds hellish.

The only Xmas market I like is Cologne. It’s divine, and so VN.

What am I missing with the Green Shop? We have one here and it’s like a pricey Tiger? I went in once and not since. Should I try it again now it’s Xmas?

It is like a pricey tiger! But sort of muted and more natural materials / less plastic

@Bimblesalong you can look for Chester Makers’ Market on Facebook for the dates

@Gettingannoyednow we are local beekeepers in the Whitley Bay area. More than happy to drop off for you if you're local. No extra charge for delivery. £5 a jar. PM me if you'd like some and I will sort it. I used to sell my beeswax candles at Tynemouth station (I'm going back to around 2006 here) and my goodness it was cold in the winter standing there for 8 or 9 hours at a weekend. The Acropolis Greek food van is amazing!! I also used to be a chef at Riley's Fish Shack which is still ridiculously popular.

@piscofrisco ooh, I've had that Lily Flame candles before and I love it. In many ways, I thought it was just a trip down memory lane from when I used to sell them, but they are actually lovely candles.

Ha @piscofrisco I was looking at Hyde Park Winter Wonderland for this weekend and wondering if it would be great or awful! I think I will take DS on an Uber boat down to the cable cars instead!

@RainbowZebraWarrior There's every chance I've eaten your food at Riley's! Have PM'ed you!

Hi all! I've just ordered this magical tome and it's arriving tomorrow. Am I too late to join in? I can see you started last month so maybe I've missed the boat this year

You’re very welcome @Mediocrates it’s a relaxed and friendly little nook of mn. I do warn you that you may end up with a candle obsession!