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!

Oh, also having some energy back finally is soooo underrated. I felt positively giddy last night when I realised I didn't feel quite like I was wading though treacle any more.

Mum and I are sharing dinner responsibility today so she's doing the meat and I'm doing accompaniments. We will swap at 4pm when I take their share over to theirs. It's had to be a bit quick and dirty as I've been busy so it's carrots, Broccoli, mashed swede, asparagus and Charlie Bighams dauphinoise (which looks a bit er, sparse shall we say?) Anyway, at least it guarantees a decent dinner for all involved without one person being shouldered with the lot.

The best bit has been bopping around the kitchen as I cook to some 80s tunes.

Definite change in the weather here today, popped to the shop this morning and between going in to coming out it had changed from drizzle to a downpour! Off to my brothers after lunch to stay over - he tells me we are having fish pie. Like me he loves cooking and he’s very good at it.

Ultimate Sunday / Monday blues here. Back to work tomorrow and really don’t want to.

@RainbowZebraWarriorplease find photos attached of the salsa verde potato recipe. Sorry about the orientation of the photos. The book still has that new book stiffness about it.

Thank you so much. It was mainly the ingredients I needed / wanted so I've popped them on my Waitrose order (any two pots of herbs for £3 which is a handy offer atm for me)

We have another week off but I'm already starting to dread next Sunday night when DD will be back to school. There's nowt worse than that Sunday feeling.

I really need to win the lotto so I can buy a lovely house surrounded by fields and no neighbours. I heard what I thought was scaffolding yeaterday morning and then when I looked out of the kitchen window later saw an enormous trampoline in next doors garden. It's just about hidden by my garage and will be completely hidden once my elder trees leaves come in, but my god the screaming. I feel sorry for the elderly couple on the other side as they've put it right in front of their conservatory windows. Sorry, but I just think trampolines are hideous and anti-social in small gardens. I can't cope with noise any more.

My mother massively over cooked the beef yesterday as usual gawd bless her. She always does. She takes it out of the aga, says to herself 'that looks done' then sticks it back in the oven for an extra half hour just in case (?!) Anyway, I just had veg for my dinner last night and I've hacked the beef up this morning and shoved it in the slow cooker with tomatoes, garlic and the holy trinity in the hope of a rich ragu. I was also awake at 6am so decided to make jam as I had too much soft fruit. Not doubt I will crash and burn early this evening.

@MadMadMad Yum to fish pie, and especially having it made for you. I haven't made one in ages. Mine probably sounds a bit boring, but I only like salmon, prawns and broccoli in it.

Quick heads up for any Arran Sense of Scotland fans. There's 30% off absolutely everything on their website atm, but it ends tonight.

https://arran.com/collections/sale?utm_campaign=1982717_Last%20Chance%2030%20off%20Easter%20Sale%20%20-%20Mon%2021st%20April&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dotdigital&dm_i=5KG5,16HVH,6OP3IE,5ILL9,1

Oooh, thank you @RainbowZebraWarrior I shouldn't but am tempted.

Some lovely photos and ideas here. Drizzly and grey here today. I took the precaution of wrapping my runner beans in bubble wrap as I'd only just planted them out and was concerned we might have a temperature drop. Not something I thought would be a feature of adult life.

DH is emptying the front room out in preparation for a new carpet and generally ranting about "too many instruments". It is the music room. We have a team of burly chaps coming to help with the grand piano on carpet fitting day ... I've left him to it and will go in to deal with books and sheet music once he's on a break. My dust allergy is already kicking off so I'm seeking the dust-reduced confines of my garden office!

DS1 and his girlfriend are on their way back from Scotland - it's lovely watching them on the family tracker. They're making their way down from Glencoe and have already been along the banks of Loch Lomond (today's earworm).

Hope DS1 and his girlfriend enjoyed their trip @Bimblesalong I love Glencoe and Loch Lomond and used to camp there with my family as a child. As soon as I passed my driving test, I went camping there as an adult. Love the bubble wrapped beans. I spent last night worrying about my fruit trees and wondering where I'd squirelled away the horticultural fleece.

I ache all over. To be fair, I've done quite a lot this weekend, including sterilising hundreds of honey jars. I've also lost my sense of smell and taste again when I thought it was just coming back. Most annoying as I've had my ragu in the slow cooker since midday and keep tasting it thinking it should taste gloriously rich by now and it just doesn't, despite anything I add.

We've just started with the rain here too so in a way that's not a bad thing as at least it waters the garden and pots for me. It also means I won't be skipping in and out this evening hunting the Aurora.

I've been after a One hundred stars Acer kimono jacket for ages which has been out of stock on their website. Finally found one on Vinted and I've just unwrapped it from it's tissue. I love it.

Thanks rzw I think they did - although will be looking forward to a hot shower and a soak.

love that jacket. I have it too, the Rachel dress in that pattern is one of my favourite dresses. Well done for tracking it down. It goes with so much and is very elegant.

I almost also bought the Rachel dress, but wasn't sure it would suit me @Bimblesalong (I'm short and apple shaped)

The sky has unexpectedly and quickly cleared here, so looks like I may be doing the Aurora hokey cokey after all. If not, then Cliff Cam 3 on the Shetland webcams are worth a watch as skies are quite clear there. Potentially just for the sunset.

www.shetlandwebcams.com/cliff-cam-3/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI_aHBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdKZyvz_GE0jdoEYhpZzmJLCO1rpMXpBvJ22TdE_364Y9gU_F8eDW0DYyg_aem_z3BHDH2hFdAbXltcYTjbhw

I have three Rachels in different prints 😳. I’m tall and pear shaped. I do put a t shirt or other layering item underneath. Sometimes I wear with footless tights too.

We’ve got patches of sky. Let’s see what happens eh?

We had drizzle this morning at 7.45 when we set out for today's fair, but it cleared up around 10 and by the afternoon it was glorious. It was a bit of a funny fair really. It's well known about in the local area so the footfall is good, but there seems to be a lot of people who come for a look round and a day out and are not planning to spend. By lunchtime we had sold zilch. In the afternoon we had 3 sales, but they were all high value items so financially we ended the day happy enough.

I love the jacket RZW btw.

Properly mixed day today here, dull and grey this morning, then a bit wet, then dried out and the sun peeked out, then torrential rain and thunder, brightened up again but turned cold, it is now clear and cold.

Today has been sunshine and torrential rain. I put the dahlia pots in the garden to warm up as a couple have woken up. We had a sudden torrential storm but they were bathed in the sun for the afternoon.

Took our old dog (13 1/2) to the vet. He has had some breathing restriction issues with a very bad turn the other day like a severe asthma attack when I thought he would go in front of me. Poor lad is terrified of the vet (I blame the nose drops for kennel cough many years ago) so the vet agreed to review him in the car boot (the dog with vet leaning in). He was very happy with his general health and form which is reassuring. He explained that in older dogs, larynxes may not work as effectively and straining to breathe/ barking can irritate and inflame them. The boy has steroids which he has happily taken in cheese and will be reviewed in a fortnight. Fingers crossed. Only steady flat walks for him now and careful monitoring.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I was thinking re the Rachel dress - it’s such a lovely shape and suits most people. I wonder if you can try one on somewhere to check if you’re happy with the drape and then stalk on Vinted. Would look fab with the amazing hair!

A random selection of happy moments - including a very happy hound seen on a canal boat.

Gorgeous photos @Bimblesalong Hope your boy is comfortable and none the worse for his vet visit. He's a very handsome lad ❤️

Funny you should mention about trying on a Rachel dress. I got an invite to a One Hundred Stars sample sale today, but it's in Sheffield. I see there's one design on their website which is half price, so I might go for it anyway. I also love layering including footless tights. Very comfy, yet stylish.

What a handsome dog he is!

Couple of pics - it was lovely weather and just perfect for a quick break. In retrospect it too early in the year to really enjoy the sea and I didn’t brave it as I didn’t feel up to it. I usually adore it. Anyway. It was lovely weather - back to work tomorrow!!

That looks gorgeous @AgathaMystery I don't know where you are, but I'm one of those weird people who plunges into the coldest of seas and swimming pools, so I'd love it. DD can't deal with heat and sunshine anymore so I just dream of hot holidays past.

@BimblesalongI went into town today in just a cardy (not just a cardy! But instead of a coat) and got hailed on! Hail! I was not happy.
That looks beautiful @AgathaMystery
Been quiet here, Easter hols, but 1/3 back at uni now, 2/3 back to school tomorrow, and I’m back to work and to art lessons. I secretly like a bit of structure. And my peas have germinated so I am quite happy.

8/11 dahlias now showing shoots, but I've just had a stern word (again) with my chives, which are doing nothing at all. Monty says they are easy to grow so I went to tell them that.

@AgathaMystery a couple of weeks ago you said how difficult you were finding mumsnet at the moment - I've hardly been on for over a week because it is just impossible on my phone. Laptop seems ok touch wood but fingers crossed it gets fixed soon. The app is ok but I don't like it. If I have it open in a browser window my whole phone becomes unusable, not just that window!

My chives were not from seed but are a pot from sainos. They’re grown in a terracotta pot in a fairly sheltered area near the house and have been green through the winter this year - same with my parsley.

My chives were from a Sainsbos pot as well, I found it on the patio when we bought the house 25 years ago, stuck them in a terracotta planter and they are still going strong. They self seed so I have taken clumps of them up to the allotment and given them to various friends over the years too. But I've never tried actually growing them from seed.

Monty says it is easy. He lies - I'll go to Sainsbury later!

Nil dahlias here. None. Nada. Stupid NE coast climate. I have sown radishes to make myself feel better as they grow like weeds and germinate within 3 days. My chives are nicked from Dad's massive clump outside the greenhouse which are also about 25 years old. He grabs a handful and stuffs them in his sandwich each day in the summer months. I've got four herb pots coming this weekend to make salsa Verde, and when I've snipped off what I need, they are going to be planted in a Belfast sink that I've just cleaned up.

Top of my garden shopping list at the moment is a hedgehog house. If anyone has one already that they can recommend, give me a shout.

Dull and chilly here so we are on the metro on our way into Newcastle City centre. We've not done much this Easter break what with having covid etc so trying to cram some stuff in to the next fee days. Also picking up my two new pairs of specs from last Fridays eye test.

Just had an email from an Ed Psychologist saying they have been tasked to do that element of DDs EHCP needs assessment, so a zoom call is booked in for tomorrow. Apparently the 'deadline' is next week. We are at week 30, so I'm pretty sure the ship sailed about 10 weeks ago deadline wise, but at least we are slowly getting there.

Been a busy few weeks but have enjoyed reading all the posts and photos, and Interested in all the gardening notes. I’ve had chives growing in my herb plot for years, but they’ve suddenly, for no apparent reason, disappeared this winter. I’ve sown some seeds in a pot and am growing them in the greenhouse, but have bought a small pot from the garden centre to plant out to be on the safe side - I use them a lot, especially in herb omelettes, so don’t like being without them. Sage flourishing, parsley, marjoram, rosemary and thyme in pots outside have been fine all winter. Other seeds are coming up nicely, cosmos, black-eyed-susie and zinnia all doing well. I’ve haven’t grown dahlias for years, but DD has some beauties so should give them a try. DD is giving me some runner beans so will be planting them out as soon as there’s no chance of frost - we’re near the coast so although we get the cold winds, they should be ok now. Can’t grow radishes for love nor money, either in the garden or pots - given up trying and buy them now, but they just don’t taste the same as fresh from the soil! Still enjoying my St Eval Orange Blossom and Bay and Rosemary candles during the lovely light evenings.

@RainbowZebraWarrior we have a hedgehog who insists on living in our house. DH built a lovely hedgehog palace house for It in the hopes of persuading it to live in the garden, but no, we routinely find it in the house! We love it, but it isn't house-trained so we'd prefer it to live outside!