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!

Thank you! What a brilliant thread

Def going to read that thread when I get a second.

I’ve seen this today! https://careers.calanais.org/roles - for anyone who wants to live on Lewis!

im desperate for the weekend. This job is insane. I’ve been coming home and lighting the end of my massive winter candle and going to bed! That’s it!!

Good morning all.

@AgathaMystery that does sound insane. Are you actually enjoying it as you've not really said.

I went to bed feeling like I'd been hot by a bus and have woken up with tonsillitis again. I knew it wasn't just my usual fatigue and pain yeaterday. Only had it in early Feb, but often happens back to back when I've been stressed and my immune system goes to pot. I so wish I could stay in bed but I have to get DD to school then I'm a model all morning for my hairdresser.

Dahlias are my job for the weekend. We are having our filthy, weedy, uneven patio cleared, cleaned and resealed today so after that I will have no excuses and will be out there doing my much needed garden sprucing. After the annoyance of the suspected squirrel in the Daffs, I’ve lots of tulips coming up so I’ve covered them with a sturdy cage of chicken wire. It’s a case of pisco vs squirrel here.

As a rare treat, for various reasons, I’ve no children to take to school this morning so I’m having a lie in til 8 as I don’t start work til 9.30. In bed still with all the Dogs snoozing, listening to the birds piping up outside. Luxury! Have a great day all…

I hope you are loving your new job @AgathaMystery!!

I am having the time of my life. It is exactly the job I’ve always wanted. I’m not going to think about the temp nature of it. For once, I'm going to live in the moment and enjoy it all.

Loving everyone’s updates. RZW sorry you’re poorly. I’m so ready for flu season to be over. It’s dragging now isn’t it.

I think I’ll unwrap my tree fern from its winter blankets this weekend. Maybe we’re at the end of hard frosts?? @piscofrisco can we have patio before/afters please? I did mine last week - by hand!! No power washer as it’s been re-grouted and I don’t want it to be damaged. Anyway, it almost killed me and I didn’t have any before/after proof which is obvs devastating.

So pleased to hear the new job is great @AgathaMystery I'd say for you, hopefully most of the risk of frost has passed. We've still got a risk up here on the NE coast for another month yet.

Hope everyone has enjoyed the sunshine. Not sure of it lived up to forecast. We got 11 degrees here and most of the kids came out of school with their blazers off.

Speaking of blazers, we've just stopped off at B&M for a new school water bottle. A lady approached DD assuming she was the manager as she was wearing a suit and tie (uniform is essentially a charcoal grey trouser suit and navy tie with no emblems) I was browsing the plants and had to dash over and tell the lady that DD was only 13 (she'd gone mute) I thought it was really funny, DD less so.

DD is still doing well thanks for asking @Bimblesalong we have a small 'maths worry' in so much as just because she's in the top set, doesnt mean she doesnt need a bit of extra support. Her key worker we've only met once and she's been sick since which is a shame. SENCo says she will sort the maths worry with DD tomorrow.

No garden photos from me today. Picked up my fourth course of antibiotics since November. I did manage to keep my promise of being a model at my hair salon, seeing as I basically just had to sit there. I let the junior put some additional highlights in my hair so she passed her assessment. Here's the result.

Ooh! Your hair looks stunning!

so glad re the job @AgathaMystery! I will look for some before pics as I didn’t take one. It will never look amazing as it’s a weird cheap pavers but when they are done I will post an after. It’s a totally different colour to what it was this morning at least!

Wow your Barnet looks amazing!!!! I love it!

Bit of a bumpy day today at work but 1st week almost done and I’ve managed an assembly and I feel like every girl in the school got hit in the face with a netball today.

@IngenTing how is your not-so-new job going?

Wow @RainbowZebraWarrior I have serious hair envy!

@AgathaMystery Thank you! I'm just about to finish my second week. I love it. It's a great mix. I get to read and use research, meet people and keep getting told 'it's a clean slate, you decide what's best!'
The role itself is a bit wider than originally thought. So whilst I'm in the Bosetting og inkludering (settlement and inclusion) department I'm very much working on inclusion for all, so I bridge a few different departments, ours, welfare, health, psychiatric care, alcohol/drug services etc. Basically any adult services that support people who may be socially isolated.

At the moment, I'm focusing on settlement as there are still a lot of families in reciever centres who need homes. For our area, it is currently Ukrainian families who still fleeing, but we have been told to begin to prepare for possible refugees from Sudan and Afghanistan due to the political situations there.
I have two families to 'settle ' this week. The process seems really supportive, gentle and goes at the families pace.
It's a massive difference to my old job. I was a teacher for 16 years. I can't believe how quiet my workplace is, I can't get used to it! I even have an adult chair, my own office and desk! In 16 years as a teacher I never had a desk, in any of the schools I worked in.
Working all day into a second language is also exhausting, but I'll get used to it!

I have been catching up with all of your posts! @RainbowZebraWarrior I have serious hair envy!

@Bimblesalong I hope you are bimbling along ok after treatment.

@piscofrisco we lost against the blades, but let's not dwell on these things.

Also very envious of everyone's gardening adventures. Still -10 here, snow due until end of May - ish.

The two pictures below are of "my" mountain. I live further up it on the west side. This was a picture from my new commute. I have to come down off the mountain and follow the river around.
The second is the view from the car park at work this morning. Not bad.

Love, hugs and woolly sock wishes to all for the weekend.

Awesome locks, @RainbowZebraWarrior I hope you’re going to have time to rest today to boot out that cold.
@AgathaMystery glad the job is going more than well.
@IngenTing your job also sounds awesome and I love the mountain photos.

We have a pile of sleepers and dh is building me a couple of raised beds in the old chicken run. I have the cutting flowers on order from Sarah raven and am considering an arch to grow runner beans over too.

I went to a “look good feel better” session at the cancer centre yesterday. It was a lovely afternoon and the first time in months that I’d put makeup on. Came home with a goody bag and a full face of slap - indeed, feeling like I looked good. I’ve expressed interest in a “moving forward” course which helps to cover some of the practical and psychological sides of things. Tiredness is ridiculous, not just physical but in terms of concentration but it’s early days yet.

Today’s task is starting to sort out my wardrobe. Long overdue. I’ll go lurk on the decluttering thread for ideas (not the hoarder thread yet!).

Morning all. I am indeed resting @Bimblesalong dropped DD off at school and cane straight back to bed. It's the feeling sick from the infection that drives me mad with tonsillitis. Your garden plans sound wonderful and I love the idea of the arch. I once grew French beans over a slightly too flimsy arch that I'd put in the front garden and it didn't last many years, but the effect was awesome. Yesterday sounds like it was a nice treat, and it certainly makes sense to sign up for anything else of benefit.

Such a lovely day, although it started off misty here. Would love to be in the garden, but I shall just lie here and make more plans instead.

My Dad came last night and helped me put these up as they needed drill holes. They might seem a little naff, but I like them. I've also got my eye on a pair of magpies to commemorate our cup win.

I like your birds @RainbowZebraWarrior but I am awe of your amazing hair! Mine is short and practical and looks 'fine' but no better than that. Sorry about the tonsillitis, it is so miserable. I've spent a couple of days feeling like I was coming down with something until this morning the lady on the radio mentioned the high pollen count and I went OH OF COURSE and took the first antihistamine of the year. I do this every single time - really I should leave a note on my calendar 'it's not a cold it is hay fever' 😂
Glad everybody's jobs are going well. I have had absolutely zero work this week which is bad financially but good in terms of having pruned the fig tree and sown some seeds/planted some dahlias. I now have massive fig branches in a heap next to the washing line so today's job will be to cut them up small enough to go in the garden bin / stack the thicker ones to burn next winter. Except so far I have read my book and fannied about online.
Your day of glam-ness sounds wonderful @Bimblesalong , glad you are starting to feel like yourself. I have raised veg beds at the back of my garden, and obelisks for beans and what have you, but I am thinking I might find an arch to 'bridge' two of them and grow squashes and beans over it. If I can find one the right size. Could be fun, right?
I opened the bedroom curtains this morning to find the magnolia is out 😍 Just glorious. Although we appear to be forecast rain this weekend.

Glad your job is going well too @IngenTing. I didn’t think we would win and I’m glad we didn’t lose by more. Play offs if we are very lucky I hope.

tonsillitis sucks. Sort you feel rough RZW.

sounds a grand afternoon @bimbles.Nice to look nice.

I too have had to take an antihistamine this week as I was feeling rubbish. Back to chilly grey this afternoon after the two beautiful days mid week. But a lovely week on the farm
nevertheless. It’s such a joyful place to be.

before and after of my patio. Although clean it weirdly looks worse to me 🫣 but never mind.
dh and I have jsut about decided we are moving after a year of deliberation. Still unsure about it. But it means there isn’t much point in doing loads in the garden. Which makes me sad as I think one more year and it would have started to looK half decent.

That is a very clean terrace @piscofrisco and that is a very big decision. Do you have a type of house / location in mind?

RZW I hope you’re rested and those cheeky tonsils soon settle.

Magnolia’s out here too, @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense I’ve noticed some lovely mini versions of them with small flowers as I’ve walked around the village. I too must search for growing arches but the raised beds need to go in first.

I found treasure when on my walk today. A friend had put some plant pots at the front of their house with a “free” signs, so I now have enough to plant up all my dahlias early. Space to house them might be another matter but whilst I’m not working with clients in my garden office I could pop them in there.

There has been a very Country Living accident here. I was cooking a one pan chipotle squash, sweetcorn, black bean and lime dish. I soon realised that the lidded Le Creuset shallow casserole (teal) I was using was not going to be big enough. I pulled the larger size from its specialist protective layers and as I was placing it on the hob, it slipped and fell. I managed to catch it with my knee which slowed down the rate of fall before it engaged with my foot. As it fell, I simultaneously flicked between “if supper is delayed, ds2 will be late for orchestra rehearsal”, “will the Le Creuset lifetime guarantee cover accidental drops” and “how thin are my bones likely to be after this last chemo?” Fortunately, my thick walking socks took much of the brunt although I will be bruised by my cast iron ware.

Photo of meal and also of Goggins from White Lotus as that was what my face was like during the incident.

Glad you didn't get any broken bones @Bimblesalong . I thoroughly enjoyed my Look Good Feel Better session. Unfortunately it was over zoom because it was not long after lockdown. The goody bag was amazing! I did a hands and nails one too which I enjoyed as well. I was referred back to them for a hair one when it became evident that the immunotherapy drugs I was taking were stopping my hair growing back properly. That was less successful.

Thanks @Confusedmeanderings I’ve a large curved bruise on my thigh to knee, with another on my big toe. Cast iron induced. I’m clumsy anyway (dyspraxia) and am wondering what the hormone surpressants will add to it when I start next week. At least I wasn’t a circus juggler for a job.

OMG Bimbles. That’s the most middle class injury of all time! I’m glad you weren’t badly hurt.

can we pls compile a list of middle class injuries? I can start:
burnt my hand on an aga
chipped my tooth falling off a pony

I think I am one of the few people who has managed to fall off a Segway - which are supposed to be fall proof! In my defence we were on a very steep hill in San Francisco, thankfully just bruises.

Dh has just reminded me of the time I slipped on my gusset getting dressed due to the wood floors rather than carpet.

I had to go to hospital as I’d stepped on the shard of glass from a broken Moët & Chandon champagne glass. Let you decide if branded glassware is middle class or not

@Bimblesalongsounds bloody painful, and glad it’s just bruising and nothing is broken. As a fellow dyspraxic my school career advice was basically don’t be a tightrope walker or a waitress. Apart from that you can do anything

@AgathaMystery I believe aga owners can spot or another front the burn marks on their arms. Ouch. Bumped into a friend yesterday nursing a broken hand and ribs courtesy of her horse.

@CrushingOnRubies that’s brilliant school advice. We realised ds1 might be dyspraxic too after a number of visits to an and e for random breaks - I think his childhood nickname of mr clumsy set it out well.

very much enjoying the all important addition of the colour of the le creuset (teal). I think it would have hurt more had it been the Orange.
glad you are ok Bimbles if a little bruised.
id have to say that most of my recent injuries have been decidedly lower class. I’ve damaged one hand one year and the other the next falling out of a taxi after my birthday brunches (bottomless). And I broke my arm very badly falling out of a window when trying to hang Christmas lights. They were warm
white however, and the display also included some twigs I had gathered from
the woods so possibly a bit more Nigel of an injury.

We are probably going to move an hour north to be nearer my dss’s. Their mum upped and moved them three years ago and the resulting family court proceedings nonsensibly gave us more time with them, but insisted they stay at school near where they moved to. So we have a 2.5 hour commute to school and back (for us) in the mornings (hour one way for the boys) and 2 hours to pick them up. It’s exhausting, expensive and rubbish for everyone. We did have a court date booked in to appeal but then their Mum became very ill so we dropped it. She is now recovered as we understand it but They are now getting older and have their school friends there, and my DD’s are going to uni. So it makes more sense for us to move, although it’s not something or a place we would otherwise have chosen, and my DD’s are not happy as it feels a bit like we are leaving them (or the place they have grown up) even though they will only be home for holidays. They can still stay with their Dad but would rather stay with me and this will make it…different and more tricky for them in some ways. It’s been very hard to know what to do but we have been back and forth for a year deciding so it feels better to have made the choice. Now we just have to sort this house out to sellable condition and actually sell it, which won’t be a quick process I don’t think housing market as is.

Quick hello from me. I've not been able to keep anything down for 2 days and feel like shite. Not sure if it's the meds or if I have a bug unconnected to the tonsil issue. Joy.

Don't forget its earth hour between 8.30 and 9.30 tonight. Candles at the ready.

Sorry but that’s very funny