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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2025

1000 replies

RainbowZebraWarrior · 24/10/2025 09:48

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!

The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2025
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Owly11 · 24/10/2025 17:30

Lovely, I have my copy and will be following along.

AGreenWitch · 24/10/2025 17:38

I’d love to join in. I’ve never seen the thread before 🙈 but tend to dip in and out of the book every year.

St Eval Inspiritus is my winter go to candle. I’m too tight for Nigel’s fav.

RainbowZebraWarrior · 24/10/2025 17:49

It's so lovely to see so many people responding to the Nigel call. Welcome to what I'm sure will be a very warm and welcoming thread.

Great to see you back @DecktheHallswithCireTrudonSpiritusSancti I was going to email you this weekend if you didn't pop up.

Oh I hope you enjoy your candle making @imp2007 You can't beat working with beeswax! Thank you for the NT mention as I offered to volunteer with them at my local property and I've forgotten to respond to a message asking if I'd like to work in the hall, gardens, or on visitor welcoming and events. Here's my beeswax makings for today. Things are ramping up here as we have a craft fair on 1st November.

I went to my the factory outlet shop in my village earlier today and picked up a couple of candle bargains. They were also having a tombola in aid of Tickled Pink, so I bought a fivers worth of tickets and won a bottle of wine and a Ted Baker perfume. I do love a tombola.

The weather is atrocious here tonight on the NE coast of England so the candle lamp is on and I'm just off to light the stove.

Happy Friday everyone. It's half term here at last, thank goodness.

The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2025
OP posts:
ItsmeMargo · 24/10/2025 17:49

Ooh I’m in this year 😊

jacksonlambsregulardisorder · 24/10/2025 17:54

I'm fresh from reading 1000 Feasts and ready to go. I have a Family Spotify account so I listen usually while I'm cooking, it's guaranteed to be more soothing than the usual news podcasts I listen to.

Markknopflersheadband · 24/10/2025 18:00

I would love to join, I've followed the Nigel chat all year and never posted but this new thread seems the perfect time to do so. Been at home all day with a poorly 3yr old, but now having a glass of wine while cooking tea, it's raining and very autumnal outside, feeling a bit More Nigel now than I have all week!
Looking forward to all the cosy chat.

Midlifeshenanigans · 24/10/2025 18:05

I normally lurk but will try and join in this more. We had a bereavement just before Christmas last year and another last week (PILs) do desperately in need of some of Nigel’s calm and order

CrushingOnRubies · 24/10/2025 18:12

Thanks @RainbowZebraWarriorfor setting up this thread. Will be back when I have started reading

lucyhoneychurch7 · 24/10/2025 18:53

Delighted this thread is back! I’ve lurked / posted a few times in previous years. Always a joy to read, both the book and the thread!

Fibrous · 24/10/2025 18:55

Ah cool, I have this book too, and for the first Christmas in a while, I'll be hosting, so will use this thread to get in the spirit of things.

Blarn · 24/10/2025 18:55

Hooray! Also love, 'Nigel and all his splendour'!

Paetina · 24/10/2025 18:57

I have dipped in and out previous years but fancy being a bit more consistent this year. Thanks for starting this thread.

Bimblesalong · 24/10/2025 19:11

@DecktheHallswithCireTrudonSpiritusSancti absolutely bloomin brilliant name.

I’m currently burning my Vinted bargain Ernesto :)

Seasidebubbles · 24/10/2025 19:44

Looking forward to joining in this lovely, kindly and uplifting thread again, thanks @RainbowZebraWarrior. Nice to see some familiar names already posting.

Rodigan · 24/10/2025 19:48

Hurrah! My favourite thread of the year. So pleased its that time of year again!

TheMousePipes · 24/10/2025 19:48

This is a timely reminder that good things are around the corner - we're in Greece at the moment and I've been feeling a bit despondent about coming home. Thanks for reminding me that wintering is incoming.

Titasaducksarse · 24/10/2025 19:49

I'm going out of the UK tomorrow until 8th November so I'll have to catch up. I have already started the introduction. Not my first read through but it is a fantastic book.

Walkacrossthesand · 24/10/2025 20:03

I kept up for a month or so last year, away (in a warm country 🙈) this week so will pick up when I get back! Love Christmas preps

AngelChoirsInstead · 24/10/2025 20:18

So pleased to see this thread! Thank you @RainbowZebraWarrior

Named changed as a nod to one of my favourite Christmas Carols.

The weather is appalling here. DH and I went out for the afternoon and got soaked. In cosy PJs now and lighting a candle from my St Eval stash🕯

Waitwhat23 · 24/10/2025 20:21

I can't currently find my copy and need to have a proper poke around my cookbooks!

I bought A Thousand Feasts on the back of this thread last year and have been enjoying reading a page each day for the last few weeks. It's so very cozy.

I made the hot apple drink from the book tonight after digging out my glasses which are used solely for that purpose. I only drink it between now and about mid December and it was as delicious as I remember.

The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2025
Waitwhat23 · 24/10/2025 20:22

Oh! I won St Eval's tealights at a summer fayre and was proper, proper chuffed - they're almost finished now unfortunately.

SnowBunting · 24/10/2025 20:23

I mean to join this each year and never quite make it but this year I’m in! Hooray! Looking forward to the cosy loveliness. Think I need a new candle though.

AngelChoirsInstead · 24/10/2025 20:24

Waitwhat23 · 24/10/2025 20:22

Oh! I won St Eval's tealights at a summer fayre and was proper, proper chuffed - they're almost finished now unfortunately.

Are you near a TK Maxx or Homesense? That's where I bought mine from last year. Hoping they might appear again.

AlicePottery · 24/10/2025 20:38

After receiving some absolutely devastating news this morning I am thankful for this thread, I need nice cosy things to keep my mind occupied so I'll be reading the beginning in bed.

KittyRannaldini · 24/10/2025 20:51

There's lots of St Eval candles on Vinted. I absolutely love a fancy candle.
I buy from the Sheffield Candle Company quite often, they're not all to my taste but there are some lovely ones.

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