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!

Those photos are fab @Bimblesalong The second one reminds me a bit of New Zealand. France has such diverse countryside (much like NZ)

I have a couple of flowers on my dahlias and have been asking myself the same questions. I've kept all the packing notes and will refer to my original order to work out what's what. I've not been in the garden since Sunday morning as it's utterly sodden here (but at least it's given me a much needed break from watering)

@Bimblesalongglad you’re having a fabulous time in France. I always find my mind resets when I go there. It is a beautiful country

@RainbowZebraWarrioryou’re cocker spaniel is gorgeous. We used to have one called Megan they are a great breed

I managed to dash down the garden in between downpours and snap some pics. Pretty sure this one is 'Crazy Legs' which I was my favourite of all the ones I've ordered (complete with green bug in the middle) I'm also pleased with my SR Verbena Rigida which are coming good at long last. I'd buy them again as my Verbena Bonariensis have mostly snapped with the winds. My chillies are also coming on a treat in my first year of growing them outside. Chocolate cosmos is the last image.

Wah my chocolate cosmoses are pathetic too. About 6” tall and not even a hint of a flower 😭

However, I have excellent broad beans and courgettes

I have brilliant brambles - does that count? 🤣

Checking in, love the flower/dog/France photos. I have brilliant brambles and broad beans too, pathetic Cosmos (but it is a bit early) amazing but short sunflowers and my first cucumbers are setting.

Our brambles are thriving, too. My Dad strims a path from the back gate through to the farmland and I noticed yesterday that it was flanked by brambles of a perfect picking height, more laden than I've ever seen in the 45 years theve been there.

@SheherazadesSpringNonsense Nigel was waxing lyrical about 'Zucchini from the garden' yesterday in the Kitchen Diaries. He saus he likes to call them zucchini as he likes to say the word. I've not picked up any of the KD books since early May and it's been nice to get my nose back into them the past couple of days.

Honey is in high demand here as usual for this time of year and we can't keep up. New equipment has been bought and an order placed for hundreds of jars. Today I am cutting and packaging honey fresh from the comb to give as teacher gifts later this week. As well as our Scarecrow Festival in Sept, we now also have a small marquee stall at out Leek show (or massive vegetable thingy as DD calls it) next month so we are busy making candles and melts every evening.

Here's some of our makings. Obviously we are having to make some autumn themed melts, and we will have to be starting on Christmas themed candles and melts soon.

Those flowers are amazing @RainbowZebraWarrior looking forward to seeing what mine are doing at the weekend.

Im in Bordighera for a couple of days. Last night I completed my food mission and had the local specialty, trofie pasta con pesto, followed by tiramisu. So good!

Ive never been here before and hope to return.

Thanks @Bimblesalong I feel its been a real labour of love this year with the initial planting then so much watering and feeding. That pasta looks divine by the way. As does the lovely place you're staying. Hope you're enjoying some me time ❤️

I've cut out last frame of last autumn's Heather honey this morming for the teacher gifts. We won't get any more until we take the bees up to North Northumberland / Scottish Borders at the end of summer. 35 years I've been assisting my father with this and I never, ever get sick of the beauty, scent and taste of freshly cut Honey. DD has armed herself with some facts to tell her teachers about our honey when she gifts it. She's apparently also going to tell them "You're lucky you're one of my favourite teachers as this stuff is gold dust and sells for a lot!" 🙈

Hello! I’d dropped off the thread for a while due to the impossibility of posting on the mobile site which now seems to have resolved itself. I’ve spent a relaxing hour or so catching up - love seeing all the photos of dogs, honey, France and other gorgeousness. It’s been a tough few months - my dear friend who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in December died rather suddenly in mid-June. I still haven’t properly processed that because immediately after the funeral we had to return to Britain to move DS out of his university accommodation and attend his graduation. He astonished us all by getting a first and the ceremony on the beautiful Birmingham campus under perfect blue skies was a glorious day. He’s back in Paris now to plan his next move and produced this rather delicious Japanese brunch yesterday which felt like it had more than a nod to Nigel.

Lovely to hear from you @LillianGish as I've thought of you often and hoped the site issues Sorted themselves. So sorry to hear about the sudden death of your lovely friend. Sending you gentle hugs Congrats to DS for his first! The japanese dishes all look amazing.

I have a splint on at the moment as I dislocated my thumb (again) so typing is a mare. Voice recognition used to be great, but is being a mare today. Anyway, DD breaks up for summer at midday so I best get a few bits done before heading back out for her.

Finally end of term. Had a great last week going to a zoo and a local lake to do water sports. Black eyed Susies and Passion Flowers in the garden are blooming

Happy end of term @CrushingOnRubies (and anyone else) We are exhausted here. Can't believe it's been 5 months since DD changed schools. Very much looking forward to the much needed break.

DD made this book nook for me this week. I think someone posted something similar either here or on one of the Poncetastic threads last year.

I'm loving that book nook!

And welcome back @LillianGish

Happy end of term! Those photos are all wonderful.

gosh @RainbowZebraWarrior it feels like no time and a long time since you were advocating for your dd’s change of schools. Then there was Covid. You did really well, team dd!

Lovely to see you @LillianGish So sorry to hear of your friend. I used the holiday to start processing some of my awful year - I had a bit of an epiphany on Bordighera beach, reading one of my favourite Camus essay collections, Noces, which speaks of mortality in the face of spectacular nature, and of embracing life despite all else.

I’m back in grey England but it has been kind to the dahlias which are just starting to flower. My French runner beans are producing well, and will be an ingredient in the trofie pasta recipe - I’ve brought some hand rolled trofie back for those who can eat gluten. Dh gets a big bag of nougat from Nice market.

Whilst out there, I visited a wonderful villa that I’d seen on Edmund’s DeWaal’s instagram. It was built after the Greek style and magically, cooling breezes run through it. It is beautiful and furnished just enough - vvn! I also visited Beatrice Rothschild’s villa which has exceptional gardens - a wonderful day out but good to be back with family. Photos are of the Greek- style villa.

I forgot to mention that the other day, a London-based pal went to hear Monty talk in person. She spotted Nigel in the audience but was too reserved to speak to him. I didn’t ask if she had got close enough to sniff him!

^ couldn’t edit the previous post to say I think I hit peak MN with a lot of that!!

photo of Bordighera beach to illustrate my point …

That window shot @Bimblesalong - in fact all the photos of the villa. Is the first picture a shower? Your friend's brush with Nigel and shyness at approaching reminds me of the time many years when I went to see some Samuel Beckett at the Odéon Theatre and spotted the man himself in the audience. They do say you should never meet your heroes and I think that was part of my reluctance.

Yes, it’s a shower! If you have insta, do have a look at Edmund de waal’s account (if you’re not already following him). It is an amazing villa - Kérylous. Just next door to Gustave Eiffel’s place!

I once sat behind Sir Ian McKellen at the ballet (ROH). I had to work hard on not disturbing him on what was obviously a night out to see his friend Ed Watson dance. It was the sort of ballet where you need to be quiet and undisturbed afterwards to feel and process the emotions - I needed to respect that for him (& did). It was Woolf Works, choreographed by Wayne McGregor - fabulous work.

Meanwhile at Beatrice Rothschild’s villa, the views are equally as bouleversant. It’s like Downton on steroids and the gardens are magnificent.

it overlooks quite a few of the villa gardens below - not sure how their billionaire / multimillionaire owners feel about being seen on their terraces and in their pools!

I’m envious re you having been in the same room as Beckett. I once passed up the opportunity to meet Leonard Bernstein - in my defence, I was a small child but would be equally as overawed at this age.

Those views! ❤️

In fact I do follow Edmund de Waal, but had somehow missed that post - with more shower detail, but without your rather wonderful window shot (I suppose he is understandably more focused on ceramics - even bathroom ceramics - than views). Your other photos are equally glorious - what a very uplifting trip that must have been @Bimblesalong Unfortunately the Nissan de Camondo museum in Paris is closed until 2027 or I would be popping over to inspire myself. Happy to have picked up this thread again - so soothing ❤️

Ah thanks so much for that info @LillianGish , I had planned to revisit the Nissim de Camondo museum in Sept. I have the book, Letters to Camondo, on my bedside to reread. If you’ve not already visited the Musée d’Ennery, it’s a real treat to see all the netsuke.

I’ll have to get my thinking cap on for an alternative. I’ll be in Paris with my friend for a few days, as we will be doing food and art etc for his blog (for a Rive Gauche hotel chain). He’s leaving early one day as it’s the best timing for a long train journey home. I have a day to myself. Plenty of options, I’m sure!

Wow! Some fascinating and beautiful photos and stories. My best friend goes to see Monty Don's tours (chats?) every time he does one. I'm no good with such things as I can't sit still and listen to people talk. I do follow him sometimes though and he's just popped up on fb which gave me a chuckle (the socks and pelargonium!) Also, he's reminded me that I do like to cook with cucumber. I had hot cucumber for the first time in a Chinese dish in Jamaica in 1998 amd it blew my mind. Considering we are getting 2 to 3 cucumbers a day, I think I'll try his recipe.

Right. Must get up and ready for our usual Sunday Market browse. At least it should be quiet in Tynemouth this week after last weekends busy festival. I'm in the market today for a vintage neckerchief. DD as always is after Pokemon.

Have a good day all, and hopefully most of the rain has passed. It was so dark all day yesterday I had a festive candle burning all day!

Good old Monty and his socks!

I had a lovely starter in a cafe in Nice, cucumber whizzed up with mint and cream. Super cold and delicious.

Enjoy the day out.