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!

@RainbowZebraWarrior I definitely have bad timing we are in Northumbria next month and Leek in September so will miss you both times. We have been working in the garden which mostly looks good but our lawn is very sad. We still haven’t made it to Paris but it is on our list.

I was inspired by Nigel’s beautiful photo on Insta this this morning to tidy my own desk for a more Nigelesque vibe, but have only succeeded in trapping my finger while trying to align the desk top with the drawers - NVN at all. DS is brewing me a green tea to try and rescue the situation.

Ouch! Hope you're OK @LillianGish and that medicinal green tea helps. I know he posts variations of that photo quite a lot, but I never get sick of looking at his beautifully tidy home. I've also put a leather pencil wrap on the too of my Christmas list this year. I had a nice one when I did A Level art, but it eventually disintegrated. I've seen some lovely personalised ones on Etsy.

School hols going well here so far. We've been quite constructive. Made some more rolled candles yesterday. It really is very quick and simple to do once you get, well, on a roll. DD is a dab hand now having helped me for the past few years.

I set alarms every couple of hours or so, in order for me to pace myself. So I allow us a one hour read, then lunch, then an hour of making, etc. We did some cute little novelty candles yesterday, too; owls, pine cones and skulls.

Right, time to get a curry in the slow cooker for this evening, then crack on with more owls and pine cones.

One hundred stars summer sale just started and they are always amazing (up to 80% off!) I've just got myself a kimono, two headbands, two dresses, two blouses and some crepe trousers for just over £150! Mostly stuff I already wanted and had been stalking vinted for (vinted prices being much higher these days due to the cult following of OHS)

Oh @RainbowZebraWarrior I have put the Tudor rose velvet duster in my basket and am dithering over whether or not to check out. But I made a list of things I actually need to buy to fill wardrobe gaps and it does actually fill the beautiful evening wear gap and is very versatile for weight gain/loss so it's probably worth it.

Ouch @LillianGish hope you’re finger is feeling better today.

had a lush start to the holidays, with some lovely dog walks. Got a new fridge today, which means extra space for meal prep and things. Off to a music / food festival tomorrow. Which I’m excited for but totally not prepared for. It’s a bit of a posh place and a bit Nigel I think. So compared to the usual festivals I go to I don’t really know what to expect.

Four of the items I ordered yesterday are already sold out @UnimaginableWindBird so I'm pleased I was quick off the mark. I remember dithering for weeks over some duster coats and scarves in 2020, but stuff doesn't seem to hang around on there for long anymore. Possibly because a lot of folk are now reselling on eBay. Agree it was a bit naughty of them to up the free postage to a £100 spend mind.

Hope you enjoy the festival @CrushingOnRubies we have the Feast by the sea festival this weekend in Whitley Bay. I wish it was just food, as I'd love to take DD and some of it looks amazing, but it's also got bands on and DD can't tolerate loud music. We will no doubt do our early sweep of Tynemouth Market instead.

I think I'm going to have a cuppa and a rifle through my Nigel books as I really need some inspiration to cook something new and exciting for us this weekend.

I haven't read it yet, but I've just bought Roast Figs and Sugar Snow on Kindle, after seeing Nigel's recommendation of it.

I made a new thread about seasonal podcast but thought this looks like a super cosy chat and would love to join! I’m starting to make damson vodka with last years crop which I kept in the freezer. Looking forward to this autumn as I was ill for all of the BER months last year

Oh gosh I've had that in my ebay watch list since last winter. It looks like a beautiful book. Shame its not available on Audible.

I've just bought a spare copy of Christmas Chronicles for £3 with free postage on ebay. There's another one on there for £4.25 if anyone needs one. The prices usually shoot up once we hit September time.

Hello YuleBeBack! I'm excited for the Ber months too as I start making my Apricot Brandy in early Sept. I've also just bought a book which has a rather interesting recipe in it for rosehip marmalade. Sorry to hear you were poorly last year, so I hope this Autumn is a great one for you

I'm off to look for your other thread now.

I'll look up the seasonal thread, too. I love Roast Figs and Sugar Snow - Diana Henry is possibly my favourite food writer.

I am very excited about my middle of the night sale bargains - I had to get up to buy a very popular monthly passes to the swimming pond I go to, and so while I was doing 2am online shopping I managed to get some lovely waterproof leather boots from Grenson as well as the velvet duster coat, so I now have the joy of having bought extremely expensive things which I have been wanting to buy anyway, only at a massive discount.

Ooh @UnimaginableWindBird good for you for treating yourself. I've just taken delivery of some lovely leather Timberland boots which I'm over the moon with as they will go with my OHS dresses. So that's basically me kitted out for Autumn.

We have a candle burning this afternoon as it's gone rather dull. Thankfully no rain though so at least I've got a line full of washing dry. We've been making candles (by candlelight!) every evening for the past couple of weeks. Just a small batch each time, but we've built up quite a stock now.

Oh, that's lovely. I have been putting all my spare time, energy and creativity recently into turning my house from a grotty hovel into a lovely place to live by decluttering, redecorating and tracking down furniture that works for the space we have.

I'm getting there, but am looking forward to a time when I can do things that don't involve stripping paint or drilling holes or screwing things together.

Please do let us know about the Rosehip recipe, every year I see so many of them in autumn and want to do something with them but feel too nervous. I’m quite a tame forager (apples, damsons, blackberries).

Yule. This recipe kept popping up on my feed a few ywears ago. www.cottagesmallholder.com/kateys-best-rosehip-syrup-recipe-121/

It looks great! And inspired by this group, I've made my blackberry brandy. Already smells so good with cinnamon stick in it

I am surprised that this recipe doesn’t involve removing the hairs inside, I learnt from “as the season turns” that the hair inside Rosehips is used as itching powder! I’m going to give it to go, thanks for this

I've made rosehip syrup before with whole rosehips. It's strained so none of the hairs end up in the syrup. I do like the look of this rosehip marmalade though. All the insides are stripped out so only the outer flesh is used. I haven't made it yet, but intend to.

Trying to read my new foraging book, but a certain Mr Darcy has put a spanner in the works!

Also, great post today on Nigel's insta showing before and after pics of his garden, 25 years apart.

https://www.instagram.com/nigelslater/p/DMk-LuPITWC/?hl=en&img_index=1

Not posted recently but have been very much appreciating everyone’s else’s posts and beautiful photos. A lovely walk on the beach on Sunday with DH, the light was amazing, a slight mist over the sea in the distance, sun shining from a blue, blue sky through onto wet sand - the light almost opalescent - quite beautiful. The photo looks as if the beach was almost deserted, but nearer the town lots of families were enjoying the sun, sea and sand. A perfect walk.

Gorgeous pic @Seasidebubbles It reminds me a bit or Bamburgh beach up here (especially in the winter months when it's only the most hardy that are there)

It feels chilly here. Something has shifted. Spring was so beautiful, but it seems to have brought a rather early Autumnal feel. Lots of webs in the garden already and 10 degrees forecast tonight. I can't beleive I'm saying that when its still July. Just back from an evening walk with DD and the conkers were looking near ripe. I was late watering the garden tonight too and caught a great varety of birds.

Picked up a copy of Thirst in a charity shop. I'm now looking for a cheap juicer...

I’ve had the best few days! If you ever get the chance to go Rock Oyster Festival is amazing. Rag n Bone man and Ministry of Sound goes Classical were particular highlights. The food was amazing. We went to a banquet which was gorgeous.

then last night went to a local spa and evening meal. Which was a Christmas present from DP and that was lush too.

have to day to sort myself out then off to Portugal tomorrow l. Busy busy