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!

I managed to get a tarragon plant for a friend from the local garden centre. She will grow it in a pot in a sheltered area.

My tarragon comes back every year even though I don’t expect it to - so I think it is hardier than advertised. My only top tip is to make sure you buy French not Russian as the Russian one doesn’t have the same flavour
Lemon trifle sounds good, will have to fish the books down. My children are all chocolate fiends and baffled by the concept of choosing a lemon pudding.

Agree with needing French Tarragon, our local garden centre only had Mexican Tarragon which I have never heard of.

I’ve come to stay with my mum and dad for a couple of days. Look at his amazing wisteria!

Gorgeous wisteria! I've decided I'm going to grow mine up my SE facing garage wall.

Few exhausting days here. Took DD to Tynemouth Market on Sunday. Haven't been since she was tiny. She loved it, spent a fortune and wants to go every week. Exhausting for me as I have to cross the footbridge to the other side of the train station and back (in order to see both sides) but worth it. Back to school yesterday meant the anxiety ramped up etc, but we are more settled today. Gosh am I glad of a bit of time to myself. Especially with this beautiful weather.

I'll prepare the continuation thread tomorrow or Thursday as we still have 40+ post left here.

Wow that’s lovely @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense My neighbour at the back is currently getting the best of mine as he has the south facing side of it. Our side will soon flower though.

glad to hear dd well enough for school @RainbowZebraWarrior and I hope things soon pick up. Hopefully her friends will boost her.

We had a family funeral yesterday, which was awfully sad. The readings were beautiful and in the place of music for the time of reflection, the family chose to play birdsong, which was beautiful. On the way home we visited the “singing ringing tree” which has spectacular views out over nature. Much needed.

Just bobbing in to say hello. I know I’ve been AWOL but between teenager drama and my now very end of life Dad I haven’t been very active anywhere at all. Missing you all and sending you all wellness and happiness. What stunning weather!

Sending much love and gentle hugs to you @piscofrisco ❤️

@Bimblesalong birdsong in place of music sounds beautiful. That tree is amazing, too. I've not seen or heard of that before.

I'm stuck in the hairdressers as the stylist missed some of my roots (right along the parting), so after being washed and dried, I'm back with colour on again. I'm not good at sitting still in the first place and itching to be outside in the sun.

I've been working hard to essentially get rid of / fill one side of my lawn with trees and shrubs, but keep a small area free for a bistro set. This is the idea, and also roughly where I'm at. (Pic from SR website) so I'll add the gravelled area over the weekend hopefully.

I always feel that the patio sets in the picture aren't very sturdy, so I'm gping for a more traditional bistro set. The question is, should I go for bronze or a lighter colour like white or champagne. It may be that I'm influenced by the bronze being available now for delivery at the weekend, and an 8 week wait for the champagne set.

@RainbowZebraWarrior the bistro sets definitely look sturdier and both colours are nice - it depends how patient you are.
We popped in to a garden centre on the way back from a nearby town and I managed to get a small pot of French Tarragon, it has now been transplanted in to a bigger pot and duly watered. Now let’s see if I can keep it alive!

Thinking of you @piscofrisco , such a raw and difficult time.

that’s a lovely inspiration photo @RainbowZebraWarrior Either colour is gorgeous - tough choice particularly with a wait a possibility.

we took advantage of the weather and had most of the day in Wales. Bodnant Garden is spectacular at present and the views across the water to Conway were wonderful. Thought of you all as I looked at wisteria and palms.

Sending love @piscofrisco - such a difficult time xxx

@Bimblesalong - the world is very small… I can see the singing ringing tree from my mums house (which is 5hrs away from mine)! She has a spectacular flower allotment which I am in awe of as you’ll know how exposed the Tops are ‘round those parts!

@noodlezoodle thanks for the link! I will try it out this weekend and see if it can be rescued. It has only been used for 25 yrs so by my reckoning is not yet in its middle age.

@piscofrisco sending you a gentle hug.

@RainbowZebraWarrior both sets look lovely. I think on balance I'd go for the bronze because I wouldn't want to wait.

Isn't the weather gorgeous! I went to my art session this morning. Then DH and I went to explore Cleeve Abbey. It was beautiful. There was hardly anybody there, the birds were singing their hearts out, especially the robins and the landscape was stunning. Then on to Watchet for fish and chips sitting by the harbourside. Just perfect!

That's the place that Elsie J. Oxenham based her "Abbey" books on!

Morming! The weather is just amazing today. Especially for NE England! It feels like it does when you're abroad in a hot country and it's hot when you wake up. It was already 16 degrees when I dropped DD at school at 7.55am. Anyway, I'm off to vote then I'll link the new thread.

It is indeed a glorious day, I have been pottering round the kitchen and garden since 7, had my morning cuppa in the potting shed watching the birds on the feeders through the open door. No voting here, our council was one of those who managed to get it cancelled 🙄.

Glorious here too in Cheshire. I’m having coffee with my lettuces. I gave the potted dahlias a stern talking to last night and some water (I know we aren’t supposed to until they’re in leaf). I left them out overnight as it was balmy and today quite a few of them have got the message and are showing new growth.

lovely pictures @Confusedmeanderings

I’m in my garden office for a couple of hours before it gets too hot. I’m on a phased return and have a client planned for next week. Nervecited!

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! This my experience @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense which is why I haven't been on for over a month, but today is a huge bank holiday here so I'm sitting in peace by the open window next to my newly planted window boxes listening to the birdsong and I can actually smell the wisteria wafting through the air from the square on the corner. I've made myself another coffee while I have a big catch up. April in Paris has been amazing - the new Hockney exhibition and a trip to Opera Bastille to see the ballet with DD were notable highlights - and I wanted to post some photos of my window box gardening, but that's still proving impossible. I love seeing what you've all been up to. @Bimblesalong I had to smile at your "middle-class accidents" - which is exactly the phrase DS used when he dripped some venison blood, from venison shot by his uncle, in the fridge of his student house (not a problem you would have to contend with obviously and interestingly DS himself is now experimenting with vegetarianism!)

Yeah, we only had the Mayoral election @EarlierDistraction which I was rather annoyed about.

@RainbowZebraWarrior we have a white set and it invariably looks a bit grubby ('weathered') as it grows lichen and collects muck, so I recommend you go for bronze which will not show it as much.
Good to see you back @AgathaMystery
@piscofrisco don't forget to look after yourself too xx
I'm sodding working today and it does not look as if it will be as nice tomorrow 🥲

Good advice @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense I had been wondering that myself. Off to order the bronze now.

Here's the link to our continuation thread when we run out of space here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5326236-year-round-nigel-slater-discussion-thread-part-2

Thanks @RainbowZebraWarrior

Good to see you @LillianGish and wonderful to hear of trips to the ballet. Sigh! We go in May, a terrific programme of Christopher Wheeldon choreography, one to American in Paris, another to Joni Mitchell songs sung live by Julia Fordham. The next night is Wagner. Fingers crossed my immunity holds up as I don't want any more cancellations!

Loving the middle class fridge accident. Reminds me of a friend's wry complaint on progressively weaning her son re the state of his nappy. She had fed him well hung pheasant! (I'm not sure if that should be hyphenated but looked a little "wrong" when I did!).

Lovely to hear from you @LillianGish

I always water my tubers once I've planted them @Bimblesalong I think the advice I've always gone by is keep moist until shoots start to show then water regularly = just water them as soon as they are in a pot, but a bit more once growing. Most of mine are going for it now. I think we've just hit that sweet spot of warmer weather / we are now in May. (Hurrah!)

The apple blossom has gone boom here now that the cherry and pear had their day. This tiny little tree in my front garden and the bigger one at the back both have more blossom than ever before.

I also seem to be having bother with photos...