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!

@CrushingOnRubies it’s always lovely. I have Cornish blood way back and feel at home here. We’ve been bringing the children since they were babies and my eldest now comes here with his gf.

@IngenTing wow those piccies - there’s a magic around that white one for sure.

@RainbowZebraWarrior “we have a view”. Also, what a pain re your Vinted parcel. Sigh.

@Piletka Yes, RZW was right, I live in Norway, in a small mountain kommune between the Forollhogna and Femunden national parks, about an hour from the Swedish border.

Well, it's Sunday morning and the house is silent. I've had a coffee all to myself! The last two weeks have been quite hectic as the kids started back at school. DD actually started school and also football training, with her first match too. So it's all go!

I have a meeting on Friday where I have to present a 6 month review of my position so far (it's a project position sounds is heavily subsidised by the government and needs regular reporting). Day to day my Norwegian is ok, but having to present and answer questions in a professional capacity is an entirely different language style, so I'm a little nervous.

We have collected lots of berries from the forest and this year I've managed to grow some chilli's so we'll try and make some kind of preserve for Christmas today. And probably a little more mushroom hunting as the weather has been pretty damp, so hopefully more have appeared.

Here's a few pictures from last Thursday's Walk and Talk. We cooked the world's best cheese toasties on the fire and had s'more too. Veldig koselig 🥰

@IngenTing those toasties look amazing, as do the smores and I don't even like smores (I have an aversion to Marshmallows) I'm going to cook on the outdoor pizza oven today so toasties may feature! Very best of luck with your presentation.

Just brought a new candle from Sainsbury’s - Bergamot and Ginger

what do you do with empty candle pots? I keep some of them and reuse them as plant pots, but there’s only so many plant pots that I need.

Because I make candles I can easily repurposr them, although, at the moment I'm using a lot of candle moulds and smaller wax melt moulds so I'm not really using the tins and jars. I do have a lovely diptyque glass pot with very fine tapers in, another with long matches on the hearth, a pretty Neom one with cotton buds in and DD uses one as a pencil pot and one for a paintbrush pot that also doubles as a vessel for water when painting. Oh and there's one in the bathroom with those old style bath pearls in! We had this conversation with the lady on the diptyque counter last Christmas and shared our ideas 😊

Because folk locally tend to return their empty honey jars to me, I'd often get texts asking if I could use the odd candle jar and I'd say of course. I ended up putting a stop to it when I was getting home and basically there were full boxes of recycling on my doorstep including manky mustard jars and the like!

I'm excited as we've just poured wax into some new moulds that a beekeeper friend of mine has made for us. I'm going to have to go out for an hour or two as I'm impatient waiting for the wax to set. I'm also beyond excited as my Dad has ordered me this darling gingerbread house mould from our beekeeping supplier. The wick comes out of the chimney!

Nigel’s calming influence has been noticeably absent from my life for a while but I treated myself to A Thousand Feasts and am greatly looking forward to his, and everyone on this thread’s, philosophy rubbing me off on me again. All hail the small moments of joy!

thanks @RainbowZebraWarriorfor the good ideas. 😊

I might listen to A Thousand Feasts again on Audible @IDontLikePinaColadas as I struggle to listen maintain focus on most books, but I can listen to Nigel all day!

The candles are out of their moulds. Some I'm happy with, some not so much. Also, a giant carrot gifted from a fellow allotmenteer after today's Leek show.

your candles look wonderful @RainbowZebraWarriorthat’s a decent sized carrot

Happy meteorological autumn all! Chilly and windy here so the heating is on, a candle is lit and the autumn wreath is already on the front door. Eke-ing out the last couple of days before back to school with some gentle relaxation and a few treats.

Bonny new cover of A Thousand Feasts (paperback) now available to preorder. Also, there's 50% off everything at Harper Collins using code AUTUMN50 (including preorders, and of course, the CC) and its free delivery over £25

That sounds lovely,@RainbowZebraWarrior, I do love autumn, looking forward to all the coziness and comforts it brings.

Happy autumn! I’ve had a good sniff here and have so far bought a lovely black embers pillar candle. I’ll revisit before we leave.

We have rain and bright sunshine in turns. It is lovely!

Ooh @Bimblesalong that shop looks like it would sniff nice (as Mr Darcy here is fond of saying)

Has anyone ever read this book? It's essentially about the back story, purchase and creation of Perch Hill. I've picked it up twice at the library recently but dismissed it as it sounds a bit like the parody Country Living thread on here. (For example, Sarah Raven's father was a Don at Cambridge) not that I'm saying they didn't have their hardships, I think I just find it quite hard ro relate.

I explored the Nature section at the library this week and am quite pleased with my picks. I'm also loving the Christmas podcast thread that a PP started a month or two ago. (Sorry, I'll have to go back to it to check the OPs name) I keep searching 'midwinter' and 'solstice' for inspiration.

Morning all!

There was a bare patch on my wreath this year so I've just added a few pheasant feathers and I'm quite happy with it now. I can hear our farmer ploughing the field outside so it really does feel like Autumn now. Especially as DD is back at school tomorrow. I feel a bit wired today as there's so much going on so I'm sorry if my hyperactivity spills into the thread. I feel like I'm on a treadmill and my brain is like a meteor storm bouncing about with activity and thoughts.

So here I am again with some more brain dumping before I have to start my day properly. I've been resisting the Sarah Raven sales and also the urge to stock up on bulbs as I buy too many and forget to plant most. I bought a pack of these from M&S and I'm making do with those.

Got some really interesting books out of the library yesterday. The tomato book is intriguing as is the preserves one. I picked them up mainly to deal with our 'tomato mountain' as I need new ideas. There's some things I've never seen before like Red Tomato Honey!

It's harvest time here and we are mid honey extraction. Tomorrow I will need to sterilise a couple of hundred honey jars and then the jarring process can begin. I'm then getting last bits together for our Scarecrow Festival a week on Saturday. I also need to look at securing some Christmas craft fair dates.

Anyway, best crack on. Have a good day all.

Feels very autumnal this evening. Bake off being back has helped as that’s definitely cosy viewing. Also back at work and I’m already shattered and the kids aren’t back yet.

Bright skies and rain combo here, although ds has managed a long surf session. He’s now making us a pasta bake!

We watched this kestrel hover for some time over a grassy area. It stooped a couple of times but whatever it was watching escaped.

Lovely photograph @Bimblesalong !

Feeling a bit regretful here. Last week I bought a beautiful Victorian, brass, floor standing telescope. It sold within 5 minutes of Sunday's Fair opening. I should be pleased, but I was looking forward to owning it for a while!

Happy Autumn! I thought it was about time to find my way back to the thread. DD and I snuggled up to watch Bake-Off tonight too and that was lovely, she's off to uni soon and I will miss her.

I'm not sure when I last posted, but it has been a busy summer and not all good. My dad suffered a serious spinal injury in a fall about 2 months ago and will not walk again, we are looking into care homes as it is unlikely he will be able to go back to the house he shares with Mum but OT are assessing that. Mum has some mental health issues too. DD finally had her ADHD assessment (diagnosis confirmed). DS passed his driving test. Both have been been working and I have been very busy at work and will be for the foreseeable.

But yesterday I had to get out the Christmas Chronicles as a friend asked me what recipe I use for Christmas cake. So that was nice. I have also been trying to spend time in nature when I can. Been busy at the allotment and made some delicious jam.

Ladies, I just wanted to jump on quickly and tell you how much comfort you all bring me. I'm not a regular poster and there are times I lose track of the thread, but I always catch up. And when I do, it honestly makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And so as my favourite season is upon us, I just wanted you to know that you are all touching and helping so many of us without truly knowing it and I appreciate you all for sharing your lives with us xx

This is the loveliest post ever and has made me feel warm and fuzzy inside too. Thank you so much for your lovely words ❤️ I'm struggling badly and so is my DD this week and we feel so alone most of the time, so this thread is actually a bit of a lifeline for me.

@LovesAutumnLeaves well said!

@RainbowZebraWarrior Aawww, so sorry to hear you and DD are struggling right now. A new term can often be unsettling at the best of times, and especially with your DD's circumstances. I really hope things calm down soon.

Well done on creating this thread and keeping It alive and thriving throughout the year - no means feat for sure.
It really is the most lovely thread - proves that maybe MN isn't a nest of vipers after all!

Just wanted to share these lyrics as I've just heard the beautiful song Songbird sang by the wonderful Christine McVie and it felt quite apt for the time of year as I always think of the end of summer when I hear it iyswim.

For you, there'll be no more crying
For you, the sun will be shining
Because I feel that when I'm with you
It's alright, I know it's right
To you, I'll give the world
To you, I'll never be cold
Because I feel that when I'm with you
It's alright, I know it's right
And the songbirds are singing
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before
And I wish you all the love in the world
But most of all, I wish it from myself
And the songbirds keep singing
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you, I love you
Like never before, like never before

The lyrics use the imagery of a "songbird" to symbolize a beautiful, enduring force, conveying immense love and optimism.