The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2025

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, it's that time of year again!

For anyone who has not already had the pleasure, the annual Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles read along is a real time annual MN tradition.

The Christmas Chronicles (Notes, stories and 100 essential recipes for midwinter) book begins on 1st November, however there are 25 pages of Introduction. That's why I start the thread one now; to allow time to prepare and fully appreciate Nigel in All His Splendour come 1st November.

Some regulars to the thread already have the book. For anyone new, it's a challenge to see of you can pick up a bargain. Vinted has come up trumps in the past, as has ebay. A rare and precious charity shop find is always a bonus. Don't forget, you can also listen along to Nigel's dulcet tones via Audible.

I shall post daily and we can share our thoughts and feelings on the days recipes, sentiments and indeed Dear Nigel himself. Observations of nature and the seasons are also very welcome.

So welcome to old friends and new, and don't forget that reading by candle light is particularly enjoyable. Cire Trudon may be one of Nige's candles of choice, but it's somewhat pricey. We don't discriminate against other less expensive brands - even if they are NVN (Not Very Nigel)

Pull up a chair, light a candle, grab a cosy blanket and join in!

Hello to you my lovely, and a very warm welcome back @piscofrisco So sorry to hear that you've had an awful year. Sending gentle hugs to you.

I've realised that Nigel has spoiled me. I have a problem. 4 credits are sitting unused on my Audible account. I've previewed dozens of nature / winter / seasonal books and I just don't like the voices. So many of them seem breathy or irritating. The sort you'd imagine if you went to a Spa. You can almost imagine the 'head tilt' I've come to the conclusion that most people read out loud too slowly. I like Nigel's pace and his tone. Nothing else makes me feel quite the same. Most of the Audible voices send me to sleep, and not in a good way.

Found a WoodWick black peppercorn candle in my stash, got a heap of blankets out and been cosy on the sofa reading the intro. It's taken me right back to chilly childhood walks 🙂

Urgh, yes - I spend far too much time listening to Audible previews and rejecting things because of the narrator. They should have filters to help you narrow it down, like, erm "not breathy"!

I also get the speed thing, in fact I was listening to Wintering on audible while I was cooking dinner ... at 1.1 x speed.

I enjoyed the podcast mentioned earlier tonight too. Plus I lit my new home made candle for 90 mins. I feel like I am settling in for the next five months.

Hello all! Would love to join in this year; started off well last year but fell away due to other things. Listened to the introduction on Spotify this evening with my candle and really keen to try and get through it all!

I agree @RainbowZebraWarrior, Nigel has a lovely voice and good pace! Some of the audiobook voices are far too slow, or with big heavy breaths - very offputting!

Went out for the pumpkin and spooky critter trail in our local zoo. Set in ancient woodland, there was a very impressive sky by the tower, when we were getting ready to leave.

It has done the DC (and me) the world.of good to spend the majority of the last two days out of doors.

I made apple and cranberry brown sugar loaf cake this evening, with loaded jacket potatoes. All annihilated by the DC and their friends.

How much do these St Eval candles cost in the UK? I looked on Amazon.fr and the prices seemed excessive for a candle 😅

I am lucky enough to be an outdoor worker. I’m not sure I could go back to a normal job now, I love it so much. It felt like being on holiday during the long hot summer, and Autumn has been magnificent!

I’d love to be an outdoor worker, my DS is and loves it. I’d find it hard in the height of summer though as I am a shade-seeker. I volunteer on a local nature reserve and love that.

I got up a bit early today (woke up at 5.30 and couldn’t get back to sleep) and have been catching up with a bit of admin. So I thought I’d stick Nigel on and start the intor. It does seem a bit early for winter talk, as it is still very autumnal here but I have just got him on very low so I can barely hear him and his voice is very comforting. According to my audible listen log I started on 27th Oct last year so very similar.

Early rise here too!! Up at 5.30am, I blame the clocks changing.

Have got apricots, figs, brandy, muscat etc on my weekend list ready for the start. We host a big family xmas gettogether mid December so i think these fruits will feature as part of a dessert.

That's exactly what I do! It's a lovely start to the day - even better when it's close to Christmas and I can sit in the lounge with the tree lights on - a bit of peace just me and the dog before the day starts! x

Welcome back - I'm the same dropped off after last years thread but often thought of everyone - mostly when out on a walk somewhere lovely!! Looking forward to this years - did I remember you started a new job on last years thread? If so hope it's going well (I could well be muddled and gave that wrong though!)

@AlicePottery you can buy directly from St Eval, not sure where they ship to. If you sign up there are discount codes. A tin is £15 from memory, some of the bigger ones are £40 ish but that is for a 80-90 hour burn time.

There are lots of other candles out there though, I bought two from Stoneglow with a 20% off code on Sunday (PAYDAY from memory).

Then I remembered my candle making stuff and I think I might stick to that this winter as it only takes about ten minutes to melt, mix and pour. I've been browsing fragrances and like the sound of this so I've ordered a 50ml bottle to try.

I stock up in the sales for St Eval. I bought about 7 or 8 different ones from their Christmas range after Christmas last year with 60% off. Black Friday may throw up some offers.

On Amazon.fr the tins are 23€ so I think I'll just try and find something local to me, I'm sure there are plenty of candle makers in the area (there's a lady in my village who grows flowers to distill and make her own lotions and candles but I don't like the smell unfortunately). I'm not going to make my own as that involves buying more craft supplies and I've promised myself I wouldn't buy any more this year 😅

Although I do have plenty of essential oils and empty pots/jars/cups etc. I mean I'd only need to buy some wax and wicks... 🤦🏼‍♀️

😂 I won't encourage you @AlicePottery ...... but making your own really is very good value. I reckon a 100% soy candle with a good quality fragrance like the one I linked to costs about £4 for a standard 250ml tin size.

ETA I'm just using containers I have here, I've decided that I won't buy any as I can just use things I already have.

No no no!
I. Will. Not. Buy. Any. More. Craft. Supplies. This. Year. 😬😬😬
I've got too many craft projects going on already.
Must. Resist.
Arghhhhhh.

I've found Amazon seems to be an excessively expensive place to buy candles for some reason!

I buy all my candles online from here now

Peak District Candle Company

They smell delicious and have some fabulous Christmas candles which should be coming soon.

I have just ordered the Log Fire candle ready for Nigel. A firm favourite Christmas scent of mine is the Peak Forest.

It's torrential rain here, so I'm knitting by the fire whilst the child is colouring in. I'm making gloves. The wool isn't the wintery-est colour (it's Miami Beach, so blue, pink, yellow and peach) but it's what I had and I can't buy more until I've used up my huge wool backlog!

Ooh thanks for the recommendation - this maker is quite local to me but not close enough to easily get to a shop to give them a sniff. I might just go for it with an online order! Although DH and the DDs probably won’t approve of yet another candle 😂

Last day of lovely weather here for a while according to the forecast. I drove to pick up an old pushchair for my old dog who struggles to walk more than a couple of hundred metres. I stopped on the way and took a few photos which don't do the colours justice, it was absolutely beautiful.

A friend brought me this rather lovely soy candle from the Home County Co when she came to stay last week. The packaging is spectacular- the box folds out to show a map of the British Isles. She chose Yorkshire for me because that’s where I’m from (the scent is Yorkshire rose), but it’s fascinating to go on their website to see the scents for other counties. A really fabulous gift.

If you think those prices are steep wait until you see the Cire Trudon prices - I suggest you sit down before googling.