The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2024 Part 3

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Welcome to thread three.

The Christmas Chronicles is the story of Nigel Slater’s love for winter. Taking you from 1 November all the way to early February, The Christmas Chronicles covers everything from Bonfire Night, Christmas and New Year to Epiphany. Throughout the season, Nigel offers over 100 recipes to see you through the build-up, the celebrations and the aftermath.

Anyone who hasn't yet joined in, there's still a big chunk of the book to go as you can see from the description above. It's in diary form with an entry most days and is easy to dip in and out of.

Anyway, welcome friends new and old. Pull a cosy chair closer the the fire, light a candle, pour a glass of something warming and settle in.

@RainbowZebraWarrior sounds like you've had a really tough day glad you were able to both share here and help your parents must feel exhausting sometimes - agree they are lucky to have you and you're doing an amazing job also remaining positive in spite of battling your own pain 🌷

@BobBobBobbing - yes to chat gpt!!! I've taken to putting in whatever random items I have in my fridge or cupboards that need using and it always comes up with a decent recipe!!! Soooo handy! It will helpfully re-generate too if you want an alternative minus something you don't have/like

@RainbowZebraWarrior what a rotten day, but your parents are very lucky to have you. I hope everything turns out well for both your parents.

I somehow seemed to miss seeing a lot of posts before I posted earlier this evening.

@RainbowZebraWarrior so sorry things are so tricky with your parents, it sounds really hard. I am in awe of the Masterchef experience. Back in the Loyd Grossman days one of my then colleagues was on it but I don't remember much about it. A more recent winner lives not too far from us and has a fabulous restaurant now. I agree about Gregg and John though, both very irritating.

That's rough re your parents @RainbowZebraWarrior. It's bloody tough being the middle of the sandwich between older and increasingly dependent parents and kids that still need you. Would mum accept any outside help at all? My own wouldn't but the best thing I did was get her a sort of cleaner (but also willing to do errands/sit and chat/ go out for coffee) person once a week. It's a sort of gentle way into them accepting care if and when the time comes.

It was me with the leggings @BobBobBobbing Thankyou for the b and m tip!

Doggie was judged to be healing well-good news! So he can walk on lead now for 20 mins twice a day. What a relief!

Good morning, all.

Today is the Feast of the Ass day. I don't know much about it other than its a sort of homage to donkeys (including the one Mary rode on) but I thought I'd share as there's no chapter again today.

Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments and understanding ❤️ I'm tired and achy today. I'll manage to pace myself with a few rests, but also check in with Mum and do her dishes. (I do the school run, come home for a lie down, pop round to Mum's at 11ish so it all works quite well which is a good job as I'm not capable of running myself ragged)

@piscofrisco Mum is difficult. I'm just pleased she's having the chiropodist. The lady who cleans lives in my street and is worth her weight in gold. She does bits for me too, as does her son. She has been tackling various problem areas of Mums house over the months and getting rid of stuff to charity shops etc for her. We've all become good friends and I wish I'd found her years ago!

That sounds like a rotten day yesterday @RainbowZebraWarrior. Hope you are still continuing to record your moments of joy in your new diary (I'm thinking you could just write Mr Darcy on the darkest days - all photos gratefully received).

Your friend who cleans at your mum’s sounds like a “treasure”. Clearing out is a bonus. My mum is trying to do the same and it’s certainly on my list as I get energy bursts. My next task is to clear the last few things from ds1’s room (sniff!), many of which can go to the recycling.

I love the special day! We have some really quirky ones as we go through the year and they make me smile.

I have a stay of treatment of a week as I had a very nasty reaction over the weekend to the cumulation of the 12. It pushes the finish date back but is a wise decision. I’m very lucky to have some lovely low energy hobbies to keep me busy and my mind active. Today I’m going to start to tackle a thumb!

Last night on my short walk,dh and I saw a magnificent fox. It took stock of us and walked slowly past, heading into a large bush in a house adjacent. It had come through a fence from a small stand of trees. Nature is certainly serving right now.

That does sound like the right decision @Bimblesalong I hope you have a restful week and have time to catch your breath a bit after these last few months. The mittens are looking amazing. How lovely to see the fox last night. They are majestic creatures. Mind, I likely won't be saying that in a couple of weeks. The local ones here return to mate in my front garden each January. My diary tells me it all kicked off on the 23rd last year.

I have been continuing to record small moments of joy each day @LillianGish Yesterday's was indeed related to Mr Darcy. He climbed onto my bed next to me last night and put his head on the pillow next to mine. He cuddled in close with his paws around my neck like a toddler and stayed there for an hour. He's my best mate during the day when DD is at school and a huge comfort to me. It was difficult to get a photo as he was lying on my arm. Here's the best I could manage.

Another little moment of joy to share: A friend of my Dad's made this lovely Christmas cake for me. I remembered to bring it home the other day and will be cutting into it to try later today.

Ah @Bimblesalong it seems the right decision and a week's respite will surely help. So impressed with your mittens! Is there some sort of knitting equivalent of sewing bee you could go on? You'd be a shoe in!

I've also started a little diary inspired by you @RainbowZebraWarrior. Just little notes on what I have done that day, how I'm feeling, good things and bad. I'm really enjoying doing it.
Mr Darcy is a gent isn't he? Love him. I've got similar little pals with our sausage and the girl Jack Rusell who love a cuddle and jump on me every time I sit down. I will miss them terribly when I start work, which might be next week. I've been to the farm this morning to do my DBS bits and size up some uniform (I get a fleece, a gilet, t shirts and a beanie hat with the legend 'eat, sleep, Farm, repeat' on it ).
Then to B and Q where I spent an hour deliberating between about 6 different off white paints with little to discern between them and then plumped for the one I thought first, as usual.I slept horribly last night so just going to take dd to her exam then try and have a nap before I tackle some wallpaper stripping. Determined to get at least one room on my list decorated before next week. (As a side note, when did paint become so insanely expensive?And just Dulux, I daren't even go near the lovely F and B or Lick ranges which come in at £54 for 2.5 litres-what madness! ). Went for good old Egyptian cotton for the kitchen, (which I think I've had in some guise in all my houses as it's such a good all rounder and looks good in all lights, (I learned that from a friend who is an interior designer), but I did treat myself to some mixed up Valspar to try to cheer the dungeon bedroom up.

Evening all.

First - Mr Darcy you absolute beauty. What a fabulous photo. @Bimblesalong incredible knots as always and yes, wise to wait on that treatment for sure. You will get to the end of it, I know it.

@RainbowZebraWarrior God you poor love. What a day you had. It’s is hard work being the adult child of an emotionally immature parent. I feel for you. Truly.

Lots to report here. 1 big job interview coming up and another application to submit. I’ve been spending time with my lovely friend (who drew That Christmas) - she has been told her disease is no longer treatable so is now having palliative care at home. Today I went and massaged her feet for her which she liked. We talked and I cried. She didn’t cry which is a first. She’s in a different space to me emotionally now. If anyone saw her film - or Arthur Christmas and enjoyed it, would you mind writing what you liked about them? I would love to show her how her work makes people so happy and brings joy.

Apart from that we have spent all week hunting for our friends dog who slipped her lead on Sunday. Poor wee thing has been sighted several times.

Beautiful risotto for supper tonight with some home grown ingredients which felt VN.

Night all!

Oh Agatha, love to your friend and you.

Not seen That Christmas but Arthur Christmas is a family favourite. The best thing about it was bringing our family together. As a neurodiverse family we tend to do our own things so whole we might be in the same room, we're mostly engaged in separate things. Arthur Christmas (like Elf, Harry Potter, His Dark Materials and rather strangely Hunted on Channel 4 ) is one of the things that the whole family will come together to watch. Even if they don't intend to watch it, they get drawn in like moths to a flame so even a still of the film brings memories of gangly arms and legs wrapped up in fluffy blankets in rare moments of peace and contented companionship. Even this year at nearly 18, 16, 14 , 45 and 51 it still has that magic.

and I hope you find the doggie soon.

Fantastic mittens @Bimblesalong ! I think a short break from treatment sounds like a good idea. Hopefully you'll tolerate it better when it restarts.
@RainbowZebraWarrior Mr Darcy is gorgeous! Much as I love our cat Muldoon, he is very disdainful about cuddles. He will tolerate being picked up and cuddled but wouldn't dream of reciprocating. He does like to sleep on my bed at night, but I'm under no illusions - the attraction is my electric blanket, not me!
@AgathaMystery I hope your friends find their dog soon.

@AgathaMystery good luck with the job interviews. Sounds like you're being an amazing support to your friend must be very hard on you. I really hope your friends find their dog they must be beside themselves.

@Bimblesalong your mitten is beautiful I'm beyond useless at anything crafty so particularly impressive to me. Hope your break gives you a chance to properly recover and regroup ready to get through the final phase of your treatment.

@piscofrisco I can't wait to hear how your new job goes when you start next week - your uniform sounds fab comfy and cosy!!! You're very good to be doing some decorating before you start! We said we would do some over Christmas but so far only managed to paint the cloakroom!

Day off for me today - the sky was gorgeous last night when I took the dog out beautiful big bright moon - I'm hopeful it will be a nice day. Still on lead walks until our vet check on Friday so planning a long bimble around. We are selling a property for a lovely clients Mum who passed and she had an incredible collection of books - he has kindly said we can help ourselves and I have a pile ready on the kitchen table to delve into in front of the fire later. Hilariously and very disappointingly we were all told to help ourselves to any we liked except the Nigel Slaters (of which there are many) as the buyers have requested they are left for them when the property is cleared - made me think of you guys.

15 January

Ribsticker bread pudding

For all the excitement of bringing home a freshly baked loaf, it's crust dark and crispy enough to shatter messily under the bread knife (a chewy piece of which is usually removed, buttered and devoured before I even have my coat off), there is inevitably some left after a day or two that is beyond toast.

This is a mish mash of what was written a few days ago and some updating as life has moved unexpectedly fast and very chaotically. I started a new business a week and a half ago, not expecting to then also be dealing with one with a family members heart op (today) that I just have to go to work for client and get on with it instead of being there for them, one rather breaking over their fear regarding that, one with messy housing issues needing swift resolution, sudden blue badge issues, a stupid accident falling from chair and nursing a very damaged ankle that I haven't time to get seen to, while trying to keep our Christmas together for all, so definitely NVN.( or particularly suitable for this thread)

@piscofrisco The job sounds brilliant! Very pleased for you. Have to be vague, but currently working with using creativity & CPTSD with a hard to reach group, and goats around would top off doing something exceptional worthwhile if sometimes very challenging, nicely. If you get into your masters, would they accept it as placement or similar?
Dogs with very short legs sound ideal for wheelchair walkies. (I like all creatures, but inevitably have a particular love of both working collies and huge hounds.)
Glad to hear you sacrificing as needed for DD. We all routinely switch all sorts of things around including homes to make stuff work (hence 'mainly based in') for all, and others seem to find us insane, and it's brought a lot of criticism at times, but I quietly look at them in return, and wonder if not investing in their Dc's in a such a way, is really quiet so wise...
Thank you for the collagen info. Yes you're right I'm veggie so not for me, but oddly it feels much better to be making choices about it, than having none over it, and hopefully it will be useful for @Confusedmeanderingswho if you're anything like me, the hairdryer, having never been used for its official purpose, will be in with the last creative project that needed a hand drying, instead of anywhere 'sensible' for a hairdryer.
@AgathaMystery you aren't being very convincing with "dog disliker" claims...
Good luck with interview.
Your friends work is actually about to be discussed with a group of people (see above) trying animation as a way of story telling and MH repair. Animators touch people and provide paths for people in ways that other mediums don't, and leave very lasting legacies.

@Bimblesalong Yep it's a thing, sorry. Steroids are a particular triple edged sword here and I routinely fluctuate between 6 and 10.5 stone, so both elastic and the art of panels and tucks is commonplace. (The other side of the coin of having lots of fun traditions is traditional restrictions, so trousers aren't options here (for women!) and neither is cutting hair no matter what has happened to it - probably why we're so keen on still using fires and candles to celebrate everything!)

@RainbowZebraWarrior What a very tough situation to be in. Well done in parenting all, in the different ways needed. Fingers crossed for you in moving things forward.

Photo is just before wolf moon had fully risen, and celebratory meal around it. (circles and triangles feature heavily) and mushrooms regardless of frost, which ended up baked into Camembert.

@AgathaMystery please tell your friend I thought That Christmas was charming. We have a beach hut in Southwold and it was so recognisable and lovely. I liked how it looked sort of old fashioned in terms of the animation. Nice colours and nothing too jarring. It put me in mind of The video for Alex's Jones ' The snowman, and it just felt like a warm hug. We all, aged 80 to 10 watched it together at Christmas-the only thing we did watch all together and it was perfect.

In middle of a horribly busy day but will check back in later

@AgathaMystery what a thoughtful idea. I’m so sorry your friend is at this place now but glad she has caring people in her life.

@RainbowZebraWarrior hope the week is getting easier. Also fingers crossed on the school front.

@EphemeraleEudemonia you are having a.time. and I’m glad to see the nurturing piccies there. Hope you’re able to get that ankle seen to. I love the glimpses into your culture. Thankyou.

We’ve been out forest bathing today and it’s been lovely. Ds is cooking red lentil burgers tonight - looking forward to those.

@AgathaMystery similar to @BobBobBobbing here as we are also an ND household. That Christmas brought myself and DD together and was a wonderfully heartwarming experience. There are few things we truly enjoy watching together, so when we do, it's special. DD adds (as a budding artist) that it was beautifully drawn (she especially loved the twins) Sending much love x

Thanks @Bimblesalong I've received a date for the hearing in relation to DDs school appeal which will be on the 30th of this month. I also received a phone call from the headmaster at the school. He said that unfortunately he has to fight against her moving now, but will be happy to take her in September. The LA has created a holy row due to the imminent closure of our high school, so he is receiving requests weekly from kids who want to jump ship now rather than wait (understandable) but also said it placed him in a predicament of having to conduct inductions on a weekly basis. I said that was unfortunate, but really, given the situation, a bulk intake could have been arranged for say half term at February for those needing to move. We both agreed that it has been horrendously managed by the LA and it's a mess. Fantastic photos by the way. Nature is so wonderful and also balm for the soul.

Little bonus here today. Popped to the outlet place on the edge of my village for new pillows and couldn't resist a browse of the candle selection. Happened across this Fireside Tales tin from the Country Candle Company who I've not come across before. Only £4 down from £11 and utterly divine. I'm going to have to go back for more tomorrow before they sell out!

This is so gorgeous. I don’t live too far away & yes it’s so so recognisable isn’t it. Especially some scenes walking along the hedges and the park. I loved it.

@RainbowZebraWarrior that’s such a lovely message - I am passing them all on. Thank you VERY much for my gorgeous little parcel that arrived today… I feel utterly spoilt. My house will smell incredible for a long, long time - and I’ve an idea for a scent swap! Details to follow.

I don’t want to create a wave of envy but I’ve now smelt RZW & her DD’s candles & soaps and they are THE BUSINESS 🥰 soap going in the bathroom as soon as the citron one I’m currently using has finished. I stopped using shower gels last year and now prefer good old fashioned soap. Please extend my biggest thanks to your DD & to you too, you lovely lady xxx

This evening I went and got a McDonald’s after work and sat alone in the car with audio book on. NVN. Then home and lit a RZW candle & the cat is curled up. VVN if you ask me.

Pleased your parcel arrived safely and you're very welcome @AgathaMystery xx

Talking about curd this week, Nigel's latest recipe is very interesting as it includes Bergamot Curd, which I'd never even considered before never mind made.

I'm mindful that I still haven't posted my Masterchef recipes yet. I'll get round to it by the end of the week.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/jan/12/nigel-slaters-recipes-for-potatoes-with-sherry-and-lemon-and-bergamot-curd

Good morning all. No CC chapter today so I've been browsing Kitchen Diaries. There's no chapter in any of those for today either!

I've come across this lovely looking chickpeas with tomatoes and garlic which I'm going to make this evening. I'm a suckered for anything that is topped with a sprinkling of cashew nuts.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/feb/21/nigel-slater-chickpeas-and-spiced-tomato-sauce