Year round Nigel Slater discussion thread Part 2

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello, all and welcome to this lovely space for our continued chats.

A bit of background for anyone not familiar with this topic:

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, gardening, appreciation of the weather, and sharing of news and small moments of joy. It's a calm, cosy space for gentle chat and merriment so pull up a deckchair, grab a drink and relax.

A very hearty welcome to friends new and old!

Thanks for the new thread marking place

Thank you. Parking up under the wisteria.

I'll join you all under the wisteria, if I may?

Thank you for the new thread

Thanks for the new thread!

I've said before that I love catching up with everyones' posts but rarely think I have anything interesting enough to make my own contribution. However, I was stunned to come across this herd of deer on my walk this morning and it genuinely made me feel quite honoured to just observe them at quite close quarters. Stunning!

Great picture @Foxybyname !

Thank you @RainbowZebraWarrior for the new thread. Pleased to be joining you all, I haven’t posted recently as there’s been a lot going on, but have been reading the posts and enjoying the photos so thanks to everyone who’s been keeping in touch.

Lovely bank holiday so far. Went to a local food festival yesterday so spent most of yesterday in the sunshine trying out all the local produce. Then today garden centre and local National trust place for a walk. The dog is shattered from yesterday so is now snuggled up with me watching Paddington .

Thank you for new thread.

Here's a couple of pics of Clytha Castle folly and a view of the Sugar Loaf.
The castle/folly is available to rent with Landmark Trust. There is a footpathrunning close to the castle though but its still a lovely spot with great views.

Signing in! And sharing a non-wisteria pic - this is my fig tree yesterday. Looks like we should have a good harvest this year

My fig tree often looks hopeful this time of year but there's no telling if it will be a bumper year or a next toothing year. It's a good measure of hours of sunshine/warmth of a summer here.

Hello all. Hope everyone is well.

I had an email from MN saying I hadn't 'replied' to my own thread that I made 5 days ago. (How rude of me!) Anyway, here I am. I don't know where the days are going.

I've managed to eventually get the wisteria in the ground earlier which I'm very happy with. I've also just had little explore around the area of DDs new school and found this corker of a horse chestnut tree. They always stand out a mile at this time of year with their beautiful blooms. They are majestic, but also slightly alien-esque I feel. The hawthorn is also out and I also rather love this little tree with a split stem that had a blue tit singing in it. I'd have happily sat underneath, but it's on rather a busy road, so maybe not. I love May!

Those photos are beautiful @RainbowZebraWarrior . I think we're all out and about enjoying nature.

I've been back to work today for the first time in 8 months. Yikes! I'm going in very gradually and this will be a longer-term plan to address the life part of the work-life balance! I've also investigated a rather nice gym and pool nearby as I intend to swim and gently work out - I'm not going to get fitter unless I do something about it and longer-term it will help against recurrence.

Those dark months of posting through chemo are becoming more like an unpleasant dream, although uplifted as I was at the time by the companionship and Nigelness. :)

@Bimblesalong I hope today went well for you. I bet you felt like the new girl!

@Bimblesalong I hope today went well for you. Having been diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2020, I have today had my very last hospital treatment appointment! I've known I was cancer free for 2 years or so but because I had a high risk of reoccurrence, treatments of various kinds have continued - and now no more! Or at least I still have an oestrogen blocker to take but that's just a little tablet and I don't have to go to the hospital for It and it doesn't have side effects anymore.

I celebrated by going shopping. Amongst other things, I got some leopard print jeans. My DH is appalled!

Thanks - I did indeed feel like the new girl and I work for myself! Glad to hear the appointments have come to an end @Confusedmeanderings It seems fairly endless still here and I am on those ruddy delightful hormone blockers. I pray that the joint and muscle pains will reduce at some point as I feel about 90. My recurrence risk increases after 5 years but I hope to try to forget about it as much as possible. Having attended a friend’s funeral today, it certainly sharpens up how I want the next few years to be.

@Bimblesalong the good news is that the side effects do seem to ease after a while!

@Confusedmeanderingsthats wonderful news
@Bimblesalongi hope today went well

tomorrow is the big dress up day. Final rehearsals went well and brought a tear to my eye. Outfit is pressed and shoes are polished

That gives me some hope @Confusedmeanderings 5 years of this is not something I relish!

Today went well. My friend was well celebrated and would have continued to be so extra proud of her grown children.

@CrushingOnRubies sweet dreams, I hope you have a restful night ahead of tomorrow.

A taste of the midday dance at Flora Day. Honestly some of the hats and dresses are fabulous

Fabulous photograph @CrushingOnRubies !

Thank you @Confusedmeanderingswould post more but don’t have many which are of of peoples backs and I’m able to post on mumsnet

Oh I found you all! There's some very vibrant pictures! Lots of greens and blue skies!
Spring is just about to start here, most of the snow has melted now, but the grass is still very yellow. We have no leaves on our trees yet, but in the next two weeks I think they will appear. We still have days of snow showers, but it doesn't settle.

I saw this fine moose at the weekend, I don't often get the chance to take a picture, but here she is.

We also have a very inquisitive Arctic hare that visits in the evening, lately. Most of his fur is now brown/ grey, but there is still some of his winter white showing.

We are also pretty much into the 24 hours of daylight now, with no darkness at all. It's not a time of year I enjoy. The never ending daylight combined with the end of the snowboard season, the grey of the landscape and the constant presence of tiny stones and dust in my hallway from all of the winter grit does not agree with. I think how i probably feel about spring is how some people feel about the dark nights drawing in.

Fabulous photo @CrushingOnRubies it really does look like the line up for a Royal wedding. Hope you enjoyed your day.

Also marvellous moose pic @IngenTing Sorry to hear that it's a difficult time of year for you. Totally understandable and I feel and mourn strongly the things I miss too. I suppose its also good to look forward to those things returning too. (At least that's what I always say to my DD) I'm missing the dark evenings here too, which is not something that's happened before. 24 hr daylight must be very discombobulating.

So pleased to hear your good news @Confusedmeanderings

Also pleased to hear that you're easing gently back into work @Bimblesalong Sorry to hear about your friend. It must be a time of very mixed emotions for you. I can imagine that looking back at your treatment must seem like an unpleasant dream and I guess you must go through it on autopilot in a way. The body and brain's way of coping.

I've been pleased to have this little safe and warm online corner to retreat to many times over the past year or so. When I think back, this little online friendship group has been through rather a lot collectively. The power of relative strangers who have real empathy, solidarity and common interests is quite something.

Much love to all ❤️

Also, I got my lovely bronze bistro set which I am very happy with. This area of lawn will eventually be meandering gravel paths, but I have to sort the planting scheme out first. Plants need to be in within two weeks as we are then off to Amsterdam. Gravel paths are on the to do list when we return.