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!

Ooh enjoy @KittyRannaldini! I've found such lovely decorations in TK Maxx in the past; had a look last weekend and added to my ever expanding bauble collection haha

Happy Saturdays all!

I needed a new audiobook for listening to in bed last night and decided to buy A Thousand Feasts. Dozed off to it and heard very little - I remember something about figs last night and woke up to something about fountain pens/ calligraphy.

I grew up being in pantos in my local amateur theatre group and loved it, but I'm not really a big fan of watching them. Today is taken up with a musical rehearsal and performance (not Christmassy, that all starts next week). Having a slow start to the day, making an omelette for breakfast, before the afternoon and evening are hectic and food will be whatever can be grabbed in the breaks.

My boy liked sitting in the people chairs too! He struggled with both the rocker and the swivelling desk chair, but was determined to go all the places the 2 legged people go.

I’ll have to add a photo or two later, to match Monty’s.

I buy myself one or two or five decorations to add to the tree each year (following a rough colour scheme of gold/silver/red/white), I love it as every single one is completely different and it makes looking at the tree more interesting. It also means that we have quite a lot of extra decorations which I then use to stylishly decorate the tree in my classroom (as opposed to the hideous thing we have in the in the staffroom which I'm also responsible for decorating using all the odds and sods that everyone seems to add to each year with total disregard for any sense of style or elegance 😅).
So far this year I've bought a pearly glass mushroom from Flying Tiger, a felt postbox from our trip to Oxford, some brass cutout shapes from IKEA and I've made a felt Mrs Claus from an Etsy pattern (with a total disregard for my colour scheme).

Voilà

@KittyRannaldini my room is in the attic so the view is nice, if I go downstairs all we can see is the house opposite, not very glamerous 😂

I'm away in the beautiful Wye Valley this weekend - and forgot to bring my copy of CC with me . Might start an audible trial just so I can keep up!

We stopped off at Hereford Cathedral yesterday to see the glorious Mappa Mundi and the chained library. Today is Tintern Abbey and I am very much looking forward to the drive down there. Hoping to mooch in some shops in Monmouth too. Will be looking for candles and Christmas decorations and unusual foodie items for the hamper I do for my DB and DSIL each year. They are keen readers so the hamper always includes two book tokens. Last year I said I might switch things up and buy something different. They were both horrified! Apparently they spend December deciding which books they want to buy and January reading the books and nibbling on all the treats from the hamper. It's nice to think that one gift gives two monhs of enjoyment.

@AlicePottery what a beautiful photo.

I spotted some lovely traditional glass baubles in John Lewis. I was tempted, but have broken so many glass ones over the years (clumsy + hard floors). I also spotted the city centre Chrismas tree being decorated. The Christmas market is all set up too, but not open yet.

Have a lovely Saturday all. Lovely sunny day here after lots of rain.

@petitpasta that's so lovely about the hamper! I make a lot of stuff for folk at Christmas. I was never sure it was much appreciated (bearing in mind I used to cook for the extended family too) then I was ill one year and didn't get much made. I now get polite enquires via my Mum like "Rainbow will be making our honey soap this year won't she? And the chilli jam and the ricciarelli?" I love making things and it's always nice to know it's appreciated.

I have that same toadstool from Tiger Tiger @AlicePottery

Do post pics @PrizedPickledPopcorn that would be very lovely

I've just bought another cracket stool on Vinted to be upcylced. I shall now have one in every room (they are very handy!) This one is going to be painted in F&B's Arsenic at DDs request.

I have had a deliciously lazy morning, but have set an alarm for 10 to start the candle orders. Romesh can keep me company on the radio. I have promised myself a treat at midday and a first read of this lovely new book find.

Have a lovely day all.

@AngelChoirsInstead that tree is huge, our local town doesn't put a big tree up but provides all the shops along the 2 main streets with small trees to decorate and put in front of their doors.

Missed the window for editing all the terrible typos/brain farts in my posts, oh well, it's the weekend, my brain is having the day off.

Really enjoying this thread, but annoyingly it won't let me 'watch ' However many unread posts there are it always goes back to page 12.!

Today is a very warm November day! It's really surprising. I'm off to the Christmas markets later, then out for a good old catch up with friends. Should be lovely! Xx

I'm having a nightmare with MN at the minute. I can watch and pin stuff, but it will always take me to random page 12 or 18 or whatever, when it used to make me back like a bookmark to where I left off. Also, tags don't take me to the post. Worst is the text staying in the box after posting. It's a PITA and it's probably my phone / somwthing I need to update, but will never get round to sorting.

I have to share my Marks and Spencers disappointment with you all- dropped in for a drink and they have a Turmeric Latte. Oh lovely I thought.
It's tiny!! £3.80 gets you this!

The text staying in the box after posting is a site issue. It was driving me mad until a poster pointed out that clicking on the bin icon gets rid of it!

MN is very glitchy at the moment.

My mum sent me this pic this am. No idea why he’s there! But now it’s his

It's a swings and roundabouts type day today.

Up early and went running before taking the children to their swimming lessons. Saw a beautiful "Burning bush". Mentally felt much better for getting out, but now have a sore throat and am snotty 😪

DH took the children out, ostensibly to look for birthday presents, but in reality, to walk them like dogs

I've managed to finish all my chores, there is washing on the line, all the clothes are away and the whole house is vacuumed. It's sunny enough that we've got hot water from the solar thermal system today.

I'm tucked up in bed now - feather duvet, 100% cotton bedding, windows open with a breeze coming through.

Have caught up on my reading, with a NVN glass of warm spiced squash, and a packet of pickled onion flavoured crisps 😆

Off to a big bonfire tonight.

As a vegan, I agree. It’s the narrative around things which keep me picking up the book year in and year out.

❤️ He thinks it was made for him / put there for him. He also matches the colour scheme beautifully, so yep, that's absolutely His Seat Now.

Do you know what? I knew this as I've been following the thread in Site Stuff for months. But I had somehow managed to forget again so thank you for the reminder.

Feel better soon @WeMeetInFairIthilien

I love this thread.

Not a Nigel recipe but today I bought ingredients for a sticky toffee pudding. I'm going to test it tomorrow in my PC as the recipe is for the oven. Hoping to have it on Xmas day if it goes well.

I did have a flick through Nigel's CC book and saw a trifle recipe in the book, which looks fabulous. However I didn't think rhubarb is available that time of year. I'm wondering weather to make that for boxing day. Has anyone tried it?

False economies here, I stupidly bought an autumnal candle from Morrisons yesterday as I felt guilty buying a St. Eval one. It burns in a tealight sized tunnel through the candle leaving the remainder of the wax untouched 🙄Off to buy a decent one now !!!

Tk Maxx has some St Eval candles at the moment!

Hello everyone, it's been such a delight to read about what you are all doing to embrace autumn! I have been reading and listening along with CC (those with a Spotify premium account might find it helpful to know that audiobooks are included in the subscription so you don't need to sign up to Audible as well!) - such bliss. I really want to try the lentil and aubergine recipe because we eat them fairly frequently in this house but never together for some reason!

Have loved all the candle chat. I have a St Eval in Orange and Cinnamon waiting in the wings, however am finishing up a citrus and softwood scented one from Seven Seventeen called Stay Bright. Really festive and cosy. I really recommend the brand in general, they have beautiful scents that are never artificial/sickly sweet and feel like they would be up Nigel's street!

I saw a couple of posts about the Netflix fireplace a few pages ago... I love that one too but it's always too short and I hate the way that the previews for other shows come blaring on at the end. There's a huge array of similar videos on YouTube. I'm currently playing a fireplace surrounded by pumpkins, candles and autumn leaves that is crackling away nicely. It will play for about 3 hours so I can get absorbed in my book.