The Year Round Nigel Slater Discussion thread

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello, all.

The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles readalong usually takes place here between November and February each year (the Christmas Chronicles being a book written by Nigel Slater full of winter recipes and anecdotes) It's been running for a few years, and the contributors have collectively decided it would be nice to have it running all year round.

So here it is. It is a place to appreciate all things Nigel-esque. Think seasonal food and recipes, enjoyment of nature, sharing of news and small moments of joy. It's a calm, cosy space for gentle chat and merriment so pull up a chair, grab a cuppa and relax.

A very hearty welcome to friends new and old!

Signing in ... but also pondering whether to quit MN for good. I was here a lot when my children were small, then didn't visit at all for years. I've been around a bit more recently but mostly for this thread (and, recently, traitors chat). Anyway, I am here for now.

I absolutely hear you @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense and also, rather bizarrely I was just thinking about you (I'm currently browsing a seed and plant catalogue and have just taken a fancy to some rather spectacular lily bulbs called 'Scheherezade')

I left once before after their last fiasco, but I came back due to a severe lack of womens forums out there. I've just had a quick chat with 'Happy Dane' and got her email address, so if you (or anyone else) feels like leaving, please do get in touch and give me yours. I'm thinking of running a blog or instagram alongside keeping the thread going here. At least I could keep folk updated.

I'll join in.

Have joined in on the Christmas chronicles thread for few years. But didn't this year for various reasons. But happy to join in on general thread like this. Lovely idea

Hello and welcome @CrushingOnRubies

I've just rescued a candle and put some chicken, butter beans, tomatoes onions and pesto into the slow cooker. I'll add some olives near the end. The candle arrived smashed because the vinted seller just posted it in a bag, but I've carefully removed the broken glass and put it in another glass holder. Thankfully, Vinted saw fit to refund me.

Thanks @RainbowZebraWarrior I am pondering my MN future too, but having also failed to find a suitable alternative anywhere else on previous occasions where it has all gone to bits I'm staying for now.

I feel we are missing a bit of colour so here's a link to the lily I was talking about before.

https://www.hartsnursery.co.uk/lily-scheherazade.html

And also this gorgeous looking ginger cake with blood oranges from Nigel yesterday. I have two nets of blood oranges, so this is going on my 'to make' list for the weekend.

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/feb/04/nigel-slaters-recipe-for-warm-ginger-cake-and-blood-oranges

Hello all 🖐

Thank you @RainbowZebraWarrior for setting up this thread and doing such a wonderful job of running the previous ones!

I've been trying to 'break up with my phone' recently so often run out of time to post but have been keeping up with the thread.

We went for yet another walk at Gibside at the weekend - lovely to see some signs of spring on the way, snow drops and primroses appearing and buds on lots of the trees. I am really enjoying the extra light at the end of the day. I got a bike for Christmas (first time I've ridden in two or three decades) and this week I've finally braved riding it. It's taken me to work every day this week so far. Partly because we've been so lucky with the weather and partly because it's just such a lovely way to get around. Even at my leisurely dawdle it's a faster commute than the car as I can avoid the traffic. I'm arriving at with each day wide awake and cheerful. Bliss.

Thank you @RainbowZebraWarrior! This is exactly the content I need in my life. Currently curled up on the sofa after a day of meetings with a cuppa and the fire blazing away, wondering how many ginger creams is acceptable to eat in one sitting.

On another note, how did I miss that he had a podcast? Christmas may be behind us but I feel I might just have to revisit it for cosiness purposes.

Lovely to see you @GettingFestiveNow and good to hear about the bike. Gibside is lovely. I used to volunteer at Wallington when they had their summer fair each year (It was a nice perk of being a civil servant that they gave me time off to volunteer for local causes a couple of days a year) We have a wealth of NT properties here in the NE of England. Such wonderful surroundings made it an absolute privilege to volunteer there.

Welcome @IDontLikePinaColadas I think now more than ever we perhaps need spaces like this. I know I'm becoming much more mindful about where and how I spend my time online. If it's not nurturing, then it's perhaps not good for the soul. It's a difficult balance staying up to date with current affairs, but not getting bogged down by all the negativity in the world.

I have Mr Darcy the cat on my lap and DD is doing some crafting whilst we listen to Radiohead and Florence and The Machine. I'd love to show you a photo as he looks like a rather splendid Davey Crockett hat. Hopefully we will safely be able to upload photographs soon.

Typos

Popping in to place some scented candles and an array of comestibles.

The fire is lit here, it’s forecast below zero overnight. A new project is just cast on and there are podcasts to listen to. My reservation of Philippa Gregory’s “Normal Women” audiobook is through on BorrowBox and is proving great listening. Stories which tend not to be heard of all classes of women through history. Feistiness abounds and I am Here for it.

I can almost smell the whiff of woodsmoke @Bimblesalong and always up for a scented candle and some fiestiness. I'm just waiting for the Newcastle United match to start on the 'wireless'. Grateful for allll the cosiness tonight. Blankets, fingerless gloves and offerings from the slow cooker. We are forecast -3 tonight. Clear sky and stars abundant.

I have been lurking on the other thread but been in a slough of despond after a bereavement and a AI flare up. However I think I have wallowed long enough and I need to pull myself out of it. Reading all the inspiring stories of the challenges everyone has been facing and seeing all the pictures has helped. I have been to check on my “grumpy” snowdrops, have lit my new candle and intend to drool over the niwaki catalogue 😃

So sorry to hear about your bereavement and flare up @Midlifeshenanigans Welcome back and hope you can find some further solace and joy here. Sending gentle hugs x

Thankyou for the new thread @RainbowZebraWarrior. Temperature dipping here too, and dh is out at a work thing so Ive come to bed with the Dogs for warmth like an Eskimo. The news is unendingly awful so I've taken to a re read of my favourite childhood books, Tales from End Cottage and More Tales from End cottage, which I now realise with adult hindsight former the blue print for my ideal life-they are about an single woman called Mrs Apple who lives in a country cottage with some dogs, cats, bees and hens and does country things and bakes. Very Nigel If Nigel wrote children's books probably set in the 50's. Just the ticket for when things in the wider world seem crazy.

I will check the Philippa Gregory thing out @Bimblesalong, that sounds right up street!

So pleased to be joining you all again, such a lovely friendly group - thank you @RainbowZebraWarrior for keeping the CC thread going and starting this one. Hope it will continue despite the current problems with MN. It’s so refreshing to read about appreciating the simple things, nature, gardening, candles, home cooking, as well as the special treats; and an opportunity to support those who are coping with illness or going through difficult times, even though it’s just reaching out over the internet to send kind thoughts and hugs.

I used to love Enid Blyton's books about Cherry Tree Farm and Willow Farm @piscofrisco Looking back now, it was pure escapism and everything I loved in life (space, freedom, nature, wildlife, hearty seasonal food, simple times) Similarly the Famous Five. I've bought and read the books again and absolutely still revel in that joy I had when first reading as a child.

Someone mentioned on the last thread (I think) about the clothbound classics. I'm kicking myself for not buying this Jane Austen set when it was down to £60 ish earlier this week.

www.amazon.co.uk/Jane-Austen-Complete-Clothbound-Classics/dp/0141395206/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=3FZ3VVUFUZF9V&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GGdzQSPg2ZiW1esJL2dOD40um7fYFLA1J6dprHXC_vCn2QAMhN59lklafYOswzGSB3H_rS5aI6gwFU0VJXOg-eUPkecfAPDjwXocs8F6L5iDf-eb84N_K28ehxLYYfgli2ZcwpV83oOD28Q7ohggkS_pPez7WHHPQRziwmjeA1QtoDiiCO1HQj_ATbTI3WRbQklXmkf8wYuPgStsBf98pg.CaSiPAJWHyAFBXYOF5bBCrUGetPTJsGglTPelCZLT8A&dib_tag=se&keywords=clothbound+classics&qid=1738522461&sprefix=clothbound+classics%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-3

Loving this thread 💕

Sorry for the awful link.

Totally agree with everything you say @Seasidebubbles and it's all of the reasons why I want to keep this thread going (now more than ever)

I mainly lurked on the other threads but really enjoyed them, so joining this one with the intention of being braver and posting / commenting more.

@RainbowZebraWarrior huge thanks for the sterling work you've done on keeping the other threads going and for starting this one 😍

Lovely thread, I love all things Nigel -esque although my real life isn't quite as romanticised but I do what I can!

I'm loving the light in the morning at the moment, it's such a strange colour to it but also beautiful pink skies and it's so good for the soul to see some light in the morning!

Huge thanks @RainbowZebraWarrior for setting this up. A friendly spot to embrace seasonality and celebrate achievements sounds perfect to me!

I feel quite strongly that it is unfair to set higher standards for moderation on Mumsnet than we see on Meta and X when its turnover is patently so much less. I realise I am in a minority here.

The CC thread has been such a comfort and I have loved the way it has highlighted all the lovely customs and rituals that make life better.

Totally agree and I don't think many of our lives are anywhere near Nigel-esque in the way his is @Decafflatteplease but I absolutely appreciate the very small windows of joy here and there 😊

I hope you can all forgive me for this brief moment of personal joy, however... "Tell me ma, me ma, I won't be home for tea. We're going to Wember-ley, tell me ma, me ma"