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!

Thank you so much for all the good wishes. He’d displaced his knee - which was why the lopsided walk - he was probably trying to settle it back in place. He’s been clicked back and has metacam.

I'm so relieved; I know I don’t have him for much longer but I’m so grateful for every minute I get with him. I also bloody love my mum who traipsed over here to supervise the children while I did the vet. She also mopped my kitchen. Bloody legend!

Ooh sparkly good note books, lists and vintage crackers. All thoroughly lovely.

Nowt wrong with a waitrose Christmas cake slice @LibertyLily I am entirely in love with their frangipane mince pies with toasted almonds. So much so, that I've just brought my slot forward by two days so I can grab four boxes before the 1/3rd off offer ends. The BB date will likely be end Nov, but I take no notice of such things with mince pies.

I am doing a Gok Wan today and having rice on my Sunday dinner. I have heard great things about his legendary Sunday dinners and the weather calls for double carbs and gravy I think. Very Northern!

I hope you manage to get some time to rest this evening @KittyRannaldini

I'm pleased we did all our stuff in the AM as its awful now. Raining and dark already. The stove us ready to be lit. I do it when DD is in the shower so that when she comes out, it's toasty warm in the lounge. Mr D is now very wise to this and has already claimed his spot on the chair next to the stove (which is supposed to be for me so I can light it / add logs without having to bend, but who am I in the order of the household, eh?)

We watched some friends of ours (ex military) marching in the parade today and timed it just perfectly for the hymns and then the last post / silence. DD and I both had a tear or two, and it took me right back to being a young copper. In 1990, during the Gulf War, three of our local lads didn't make it back alive. They had full military funerals, and a few of us were asked to provide a police presence. In the end it was just me and another young cop. It was so hard watching the lads being carried in by their mates and the young lad who played the last post for them. I told my DD about it today after the parade. One of those lads was only 19 years old which was also my own age at the time. It shocked me to realise that this was almost 35 years ago. I'm glad we went today and I'm pleased DD is interested and cares. Every year it really makes me think and reflect. Lest we forget.

Lest we forget.

I struggle with the performative elements of it, but the basic remembrance is so moving and important. I wasn’t at a parade this year as I’m away, but usually am part of my church’s event.

Some pictures- felt mouse nativity reminded me of earlier talk. Beautiful art and Christmas displays, trees heavily laden with pears but no leaves and the wonderful texture of worn sandstone.

Lovely pics all….
We have had a lovely but busy weekend-a 7 mile walk yesterday, then a drive to Derby for my SIL’s birthday party last night, and then lunch with my Mum in the Peak District. Home now and collapsed on the sofa covered in Dogs and having a catch up with both thread and Nigel.

Snuck into homesense in Derby yesterday and stocked up on festive candles. One of my favourites is Sand and Fog Winter white, and they had loads so I got three big ones and some other more festive ones. I usually get gifted a St Eval winter thyme for my early December Birthday and I too am waiting patiently for Aldi’s Christmas offering-and then I’ll be set candle wise til January I hope.

Thinking of Nigel's sausage recipe which people (including me) have some issues with, I have been trying out this recipe for Dublin Coddle which I found in Country Living magazine. I add 2 cloves of garlic and a spoonful of corn flour to thicken it a bit but it's really delicious

We have a daschie too @HornungTheHelpful. I love in terror of IVDD. Our Jack Russell had to have his knee fixed last year-it cost 6k :( but other every penny as touch wood he is ok now and running about like A nutter. He had 12 weeks crate rest which was testing. Though we did watch a lot of films him and I snuggled up on the sofa.

And on this day, I remember my Great, Great Uncle, who died in the First World War, leaving behind a wife, two children, his parents and 7 younger siblings.

As well as the men in the village I currently live in who fell in both World Wars for whom I had a silent vigil in the churchyard this morning.

I love the mouse nativity @PrizedPickledPopcorn

Remembrance Sunday is so poignant. My Dads
medals were out on the mantle when I got home. He was a para trooper. I listened to the coverage of the senotaph en route to my Mums. It always has me a bit teary.
also I liked Kate’s hat at the parade. I wish hats would come back into fashion for every day wear for mere mortals. I love a good hat.

@imp2007 I tend to just get a winter one (not sure if that’s the exact name), with orange slice insertions, similar to a white co candle I like.

@HornungTheHelpful thats good news. These hounds of ours and our hearts eh?

gosh @RainbowZebraWarrior that is such a beautifully communicated post.

@piscofrisco it was a different feeling watching the royals this year. I got a real feeling of a progression being set up as they were discussing “Princess of Wales” and then “The Duke of Edinburgh”. Very moving for more than the main purpose of the event.

I’ve had a rare Guinness today. Partly influenced by having finished the season on Netflix but mainly as the fire is lit and it’s a grotty evening out there.

I’ve been neglecting cc and this thread but I’m back on track. I listened to cc last year on BorrowBox free library app.
I have booked 3 pantos 😬 I love it .
Had a very soggy Remembrance Sunday but very little discomfort compared to our lost troops.

@Bimblesalongit looks like the Aldi candles will be in store from Thursday 13th November. I just looked at their online leaflet. They have some nice sourdough crackers so I will be buying those and will also peruse the candle offerings.

Heading home tomorrow, back to work on Tuesday. Then I have just 29 working days until Christmas. Just need to order my final four presents and I am done.

Ok, long story, I'm in my 60s, when i was about 8 we lived in a tiny village in the fens, next door lived an old man called Percy. He was a very grumpy old bugger but nice to me, my mum used to send me round with home cooked food for him, I was always told to say 'mum says can you finish there leftovers please' I never could understand why the slices of lovely cakes/pies etc were 'leftovers' because I would have been very happy to have another piece. Anyway, our teacher tasked us to do a 'project' about WW1, I didnt mention to my mum my great idea of taking the school tape recorder and microphone round to Percy and asking 'what do you remember about the 1st WW'. Tape running that poor old chap broke down, tears, sobbing and saying 'oh my pals, my pals' I had never seen a man cry and was actually quite scared. I remember running back to mum and saying that Percy was crying because of me. She went straight round to see what was going on, she has never told me about their conversation so I don't know how she was able to comfort him.

When he died he left me his French dictionary, I will never part with it.

That’s so touching but I can see how it upset you 😳

@thebabessavedme thank you for sharing that. I seem to have something in my eye.❤️

I wish the same about hats. So much opportunity for extra decoration, just being wasted by not having hats.

10 November

A sweet preserve with a savoury past

"A glossy paste of currants and raisins, brown sugar and cinnamon, mixed spice and citrus zest. There is candied peel, and the comfort of Bramley apples and suet. A preserve, sweet, spicy, fruity, whose history goes back to the Middle Ages, and whose smell is redolent with the happiest memories of my childhood"

I was very moved by your post yesterday @RainbowZebraWarrior I had family in the military and this time of year is always very emotional. Lest We Forget.

I've got a busy week so going to make some mincemeat at the weekend but definitely nothing with quince as I spent hours making quince jelly last week which wouldn't set then had to collect DS so left it simmering and when I came back it had overset. Grrrr... Will use for gammons etc instead.

Good morning lovely people! I have been following CC threads from the very beginning, but last year I fell off quite early on. For some reason it felt too soon to read CC again after having read the book previous x years. Wasn’t planning to join this year either but last night I started to read the thread and realised I so missed the conversations about the Christmas candles, markets and baubles. Inspired by CC we have been making a Christmas trip in December for about last five years now. We were in Vienna last year at the same time as @TaupeRaven! this year it’s Paris for us!

attaching a picture of pickled cucumber candle I picked up this summer on my trip to Riga. It’s going in DH stocking. Not sure about its VN value, but i think it’s somewhat comedy for sure.

Pickled cucumber!! Does it smell like pickle? I'm intrigued.
I have actually often thought that a savoury candle would be interesting. You can get pudding ones, etc- why not a roast dinner. (Interesting doesn't necessarily mean nice, I know)

Just posting this as I feel I’m amongst friends 😂😂 I’ve put my washing out. End of public announcement.

I was so proud of myself on Saturday when I washed my doormats, put them out to dry while it was sunny and remembered to bring them in again before they ended up getting damp in the night air 🤣

I rushed home earlier to put my winter coats in the wash. Just about to hang them out now as it's sunny (but still) Fingers crossed it stays dry.

Oh my to the pickle candle. I used to love a fresh cut grass one from Lily Flame and am currently awaiting delivery of a Buttered Crumpet one.

On my usual weekday walk along the lanes and hedgerows this morning I happened upon this lovely tree.

Fresh cut grass is one of my favourite candles of all time! Is it still available anywhere?