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.

Evening, all.

I'm just home after delivering honey and Christmas cards. Done some shopping and eventually got DD a coat (which she still won't wear to school as she has too many sensory issues with school uniform as it is, but at least will have something to wear when we are in Copenhagen)

Hope all gets sorted properly soon for you @Seasidebubbles Pleased to hear that at least you have some power restored. Fingers crossed for more kindly weather going forward this winter. We've had way too many storms this past few years. IIRC you're Scarborough way. I was watching the weather radars last weekend and was shocked to see how bad it was from NY down to Hull, but yet only in the Yellow warning zone.

Hearing about your son coming home tomorrow really makes me realise that it is actually almost Christmas now @LillianGish How exciting!

Gosh @lucysmam I hope everything gets sorted for you in time for Christmas. Massive hugs to you as that all sounds so stressful.

@IngenTing Your posts always make me want to jump on a plane to come and experience what it's like there. My Dad would absolutely love all the food you mention. Though obviously the recent temperatures you've mentioned must be very hard to deal with.

@AgathaMystery that sounds like a lot to be dealing with. Thanks for the lovely pic of the Christmas pony though. I'm off to put the lotto on now as I'd love a little farm and a Shetland pony or two of my own! I do hope your day working in hospital tomorrow feels a little more of an even keel.

Also just want to mention how lovely it is to have this thread again. Thanks for keeping me sane, you lot ❤️

Thanks for all your kind messages. Electric failure wasn’t because of the storm but our old system eventually giving up. Timing could have been better, we had friends coming for a meal on Sunday when the power went off - fortunately I’d planned a buffet and done all the cooking on Saturday. Kind friend said to take all food to hers and change venue to their house from ours; we actually had a lovely evening after initial panic! Freezer food is distributed to various friends who had cleared theirs and hadn’t had Christmas deliveries. All being well we should be back on permanently tomorrow. 🤞🤞🤞

Hello all. Commiserations to those who are overwhelmed or with misbehaving pipes etc. I’m still a bit off my face on meds / tiredness but wanted to share pics of the most epic Christmas decoration a friend sent me and also the tins of biscuits my knit club friends dropped round - they’d all baked and had a biscuit exchange and didn’t leave me out. People are wonderful.

Marking my place ready for a catch up in the morning thanks for the new thread @RainbowZebraWarrior 🥰

Hah! The Christmas overwhelm got me a week back. It's madness of very early morning Accuel celebrations tomorrow, before driving down to the ferry where I hope to catch up on CC, as not had a moment here.

@LillianGish They are on sale in every bakery around December 6 and people also make their own. did you mean Jan 6 by any chance? Am in France tomorrow (en route to Belgium) and on Sunday on the way back, and have this suspicion that attempting to ask in my appalling French at this point in December may not be wise?
Here the finder of the bean's crowned and rules the festivities until midnight when the partying turns to a spiritual event. Before that all must obey or pay a forfeit. We then have 12 days of Christmas, which is comparatively modern in that it seems to have started around WW1.

@piscofrisco Sorry to hear the blocks being put in your way over Masters application.

@imp2007 Thank you.I learn so much from this thread.

@RainbowZebraWarrior Thank you for the new thread. 👑I like your logic about the mango. Will find out next week.

@Bimblesalong Way to go. Good friends are everything.

@Seasidebubbles and @lucysmam Hope all gets sorted soon.

PIC is our front garden robin who is much slimmer and a little younger than the back garden one, but every bit as demanding.

January 6 of course @EphemeraleEudemonia - sorry if I got your hopes up.

13 December

Broth and bones. Coming in from the cold

I have been working in the garden, digging mostly, planting scented white narcissi in soil the colour of wet tobacco. White tulips too, in old terracotta pots for the spring. My hands are scratched. The ground is heavy and sodden, and every step is like wading through treacle. The sun, a watery orange-pink seen through witch black trees, is sliding down towards the earth much like my wet socks have ruckled down my boots. It takes an age to get them off, standing first on one leg, then on the other outside the kitchen door, determined not to traipse any more mud inside the house than absolutely necessary.

Good morning all. I keep meaning to catch up with book and thread, but life getting in the way.

Sorry for your domestic woes @lucysmam plumbing woes are especially horrid and stressful! @bimblesalong, glad you are doing well. Love those cheese decorations.

@RainbowZebraWarrior thanks for keeping the threads going.❤️ I liked that clip of Nigel talking about anxiety though of course sorry that he suffers from it, it can be so debilitating.

Taking DH for his covid vaccine today, after that decorating and gardening to catch up on. I have lots of bulbs to plant, so that seems to be VN! Tree has been delivered, is up and has lights on, but no decorations yet. It looks pretty though.

Has anyone made the creamed butterbeans and spinach from a couple of days ago? I've got my family coming for dinner, and thought I might try it.

I've not actually made this, but only because I have my own version of creamed butterbeans with garlic and rosemary. I honestly don't think you can go wrong with this type of dish at this time of year. Personally, I'd leave out the cloves, but that's just me.

Ah! I’ve find you. I thought the thread was surprisingly quiet! Just checking in as I have taken somewhat behind.

'Witch black trees' such lovely imagery.
Full day in the office today followed by skating with the kiddos at our local winter wonderland (which may be dubiously named).
Hope everyone is having a happy Friday

Well today our second case was finally delivered- still sealed- so the only things missing are the elastic straps we had round each case (a pink and a purple case with multicoloured straps were quite distinctive on the luggage carousel)! Tomorrow we are going to put up our Christmas decorations which are VNVG followed by an evening playing board games with our two daughters, also NVG.
Hope you all have a wonderfully Christmassy weekend.

Pleased you have had second case delivered @MadMadMad Annoying that your straps are missing though. Hope you are managing to get the insurance sorted.

How is everyone this evening? We've just been for DDs B12 injection which is always an ordeal due to her sensory issues, but it is sorted for another 12 weeks anyway.

Everything seems so much more tiring at this time of year given the darkness starts at 3.30 so it always seems like bedtime once 6pm has passed.

Thank you, our insurance company was surprisingly brilliant, we registered the claim Monday lunchtime and they asked for some documentation which we sent that afternoon and Tuesday they emailed agreeing the claim and paid it.
I’m glad your DD’s injection is over until the spring.

Evening! Really appreciate you keeping this going @RainbowZebraWarrior glad your daughter’s jab is over. I have the same and it’s painful even without sensory issues.

I have this little face staring at me, a fire building up and a knit project well under the way using up some of my “stash” so feel very virtuous!

@EphemeraleEudemonia what a lovely Robin. We have one in our back garden. He is extremely grumpy and territorial.

@RainbowZebraWarrior definitely hibernation season here. I always feel dead tired at this time of year and would happily go to bed when it gets dark.
Maybe I need a B12 injection! Glad DD's is done and ticked off for three months.

Happy news on the bags @MadMadMad

Still full of cold and virus here. We have theatre tickets and lunch booked in London today for all of us (we do this every year as our one whole family day out). Not so much fun when 4 out of 6 with us are feeling rough. But we will crack on. At least it's a matinee so we will be home nice and early .

14 December

Pickled quinces and a Christmas stocking

Do you know why there is often an orange in the bottom of a Christmas stocking? No? Well let me tell you..

Ah happy memories of a clementine and 10p at the bottom of my Christmas stocking!

What a lovely story this morning - managed to get up and read it by light of the Christmas tree lights before anyone else woke up!! @EphemeraleEudemonia gorgeous robin pic - love Robins always makes me happy and feels like a good omen when I spot one on a walk. DH family always say they are Santa's helpers to the children watching you and reporting back to Santa! Happy weekend everyone x

Tangerine and some shiny money here. Mum would keep new / shiny copper coins all year round and I'd get a little bag of 1 and 2 pence coins. Something to do with good fortune I believe.

Also, love your doggy and as always your beautiful knitting!

I wonder if I could intrude in your chat for a moment, to ask if anyone has advice on making the pork and partridge pie? Would like to make it next weekend, but ideally need to make a bit earlier in the day (or even the day before). I was thinking I could get it prepared up to the stage of being ready to go in the oven then leave in the fridge, but I’m not sure given the partridges will already be part cooked, while the sausage meat will still be raw. Any suggestions or experiences of making it ahead would be most welcome!

DH has just drawn my attention to this preposterous offering in the Bon Marché Christmas gift catalogue which he felt sure I’d want to share with my imaginary friends! It’s a lanterne odiférante - basically a lamp (650 euros) which you place over a scented candle (135 euros) which then diffusés the scent of your candle without lighting it, in the bedroom for instance while you fall asleep! I naturally googled the range, Buly, which includes any amount of scented nonsense at Nigelesque prices (sorry it’s in French, but I think you can toggle around for the English version). I shall be popping into the shop tomorrow to see DD, who is working in the tearoom (she served Monica Bellucci yesterday!) and will report back.
@Bimblesalong your dog is adorable, ditto @EphemeraleEudemonia’s robin.

I’m waiting for someone to repost Nigel’s hilarious quince confection of last year!