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!

@WeMeetInFairIthilien that bonfire photo is magical! Hope you're feeling better soon.

It was cold but relatively pleasant when we left for school but by time I came home it was ugly weather. Icy rain. Yuk. Candles are now lit and a big mug of tea is on the go then I must crack on as I have giant skull candles to make.

@WhoAteMyBiscuit great candle find! I can see I will be spending money!

@martha79 I love York, especially when the Christmas market is on. Have a great time!

That's so lovely LillianGish - my (very multicultural) UK workplace has a crèche and when DC were small, a German colleague would bring their horse to lead the St Martin's procession ❤️

I didn't know it was very dark in Berlin at this time of year. I'm northern Scotland so dark here for sure!

Did you like Berlin? I've only been there once and loved it.

@martha79 I just noticed about your trip to York later this week. We went for the Christmas Market last year but I'm afraid I was disappointed as its now mostly all the same. (Cheeses / Pies / Sausages) and soooo busy. I think thr same could be said of a lot of the markets these days though. They were a lot better 10 / 20 years ago. I don't bother going to ours here in Newcastle for the same reason. There was a lovely person selling very reasonable beeswax candles in York and they were my favourite purchases. Anyway, hopefully this year is better and I hope the weather is kind to you.

@PrizedPickledPopcorn I made some garlic pickle last year as its my Dad's favourite. The recipe is in the car (I keep a couple of books in the car for reading while I'm waiting for my DD to come out of school) but I'll post the recipe later this afternoon for you in case it's helpful. I have googled the NT jar and looked at the ingredients though and I'd say that's more of a chutney than a traditional Indian pickle. (Reminds me more of a mango chutney) Either way, it does look delicious!

@RainbowZebraWarrior I am almost always let down at least a bit in my expectations of Christmas markets - the worst of which was a trip to Lille almost 20 years ago, when a friend and I thought we'd have an exciting time, going on Eurostar for the first time, visiting a European Christmas market! It was so icy when we arrived we very nearly broke some limbs getting to our hotel, and then it turned out that Lille Christmas market was... well, it was fine, but we probably spent less than an hour there, so not really something to build a long weekend around. There were some nice lights though and some very comforting wintery food - I particularly remember the beef carbonnade.

Still, I'm looking forward to a sausage, some over-sweet beverage and a wander around (or possibly a wade around, the weather looks dreadful)!

Very much enjoying everyone's photos. I'm stuck indoors working all day today so will be a dark walk for me this evening, before I cosy up with Nigel.

We loved Berlin @CrinaCara and it set the bar high with some magical Christmases when the kids were little - like stepping into a Christmas card with snow, frozen lakes, twinkling lights and candles, proper Christmas markets, Santa and St Nicklaus. It goes dark around 4pm at this time of year and the days grow gradually shorter until December 21, but the Berliners embrace it so cosiness abounds. DS went back there two years ago for his year abroad to study at the Freie Universitat and found so many memories were unlocked by the smell snd sounds of the u-bahn, the buttons on the trams (which he always had to press as a little boy) and a deep seated understanding of how to dress for the weather! So much of what Nigel says in the introduction about twigs cracking underfoot, woodsmoke in the air, the icy prickle across your face reminds me of our Berlin years where you can enjoy lakes and forests as well as the city pavements shops and markets. I would go back in a heartbeat!

I have spent my commute to work this morning listening to the interview with Nigel on Homing podcast. He sounds so much in harmony with himself, even when talking about the panic attacks and anxiety. Loved them discussing the smell of the house. I always wonder how our house smells to other people.

Yes, he always sounds so calm. I wonder if part of this is due to him being a single man (less stress?) I made my Dad some Cinnamon and Frankincense soap last year. He said "That smells like your house" I'd imagine that's because I'm often making Cinnamon and Frankincense soaps, or burning similar smelling candles.

@LillianGish I always love hearing the descriptions of your time in Berlin. Or, in fact, your current life in Paris. I think that's definitely one of the joys of the thread; sharing experiences of our lives. As humans, I think we are inquisitive by nature. It's like the best of Social media. The sensory and descriptive elements of our lives, but without the 'Vaguebooking' and 'Fakebooking' that one associates with the likes of FB

@PrizedPickledPopcorn the Garlic pickle recipe wasn't in the recipe book I thought it was in, but I'm on it.

Here are a couple of pics from us tonight. I shall call the first one 'Mummy! Why isn't my fire on?' and the second one 'Ahhh, thanks Mama'

I also wonder what my house smells like to other people - it usually smells nice to me, although that's sometimes disrupted by the cats... talking of cats, I took delivery of one of the electric candle lighters today, inspired by this thread, and the cats are offended by the little hissing noise it makes. Planning to pick up some matches too. No more cheap plastic lighter!

Nigel today reminds me how much I like poppy seeds - think I'll put poppy seed crackers on the Christmas food list.

My house currently smells of St Eval Winter Thyme because I just took delivery of my tea light advent calendar and I added a couple of full sized candles to my order.

I love in York, so am trying to get as much of my in-person Christmas shopping as possible done this week before the market takes over. I think that the Christmas market has been reduced in size this year as there was so much overcrowding last year, so hopefully it will be a better experience for everyone.

ooooh Mr Darcy and the fire bring my old pussers to mind 😀lovely cosy memories!

I’m burning my St Eval today. Gave up on my home made rosemary one. Though I can’t smell the St Eval now it’s burning. The box smelled lovely though!

I must buy more poppy seeds and almond flour for the poppy seed cake.

My family are unimpressed with Nigel’s recipes! DS2 thinks they are like something you’d see as a plastic model on a National Trust dinner table. Hey ho.

@PrizedPickledPopcorn I can't smell my Winter Thyme St Eval candles either! Which is a pity because they do smell fabulous in the box.

I've got some NVN wax melts in pumpkin spice from B and M on, which are very cosy.

@LillianGish now I really really want to go to Berlin!!! A proper Christmas market trip has been on my radar for a few years maybe next year will be the year!!! Your descriptions are magical!

I want to go to Berlin as well
but teenagers and important exams thwart most of my Nigel ideas!

I will do the ham recipe next week, we jumped ahead and did the beef brisket today - I put it in oven (second time) for 4 hours at 2pm meaning after resting it was ready about 6.30pm

eldest teen had got stuck in a rut with bad eating habits so we had a chat and he has agreed to have a healthier relationship with food, starting with being hungry at dinner time, but he asked if we could eat a bit earlier so he was less tempered to snack when he got home

so we are trying that

and warming healthy but rich autumn food isn’t a bad place to start
they say they prefer shallots to onions in dishes (fine)

we have been out all weekend (big family birthday) so our local Turkish restaurant Nigelled for us on Sunday (after remembrance parade)
yesterday were were out at Spanish tapas birthday buffet
so pointless to Nigel as well basically

I needed to build youngster’s new wardrobe today so did half - prepped brisket - finished off, he has a reading nook whilst in bed and has returned to his Bob Mortimer fiction

I started reading the latest Strike book yesterday (shouldn’t take long) so will have to remember and skim Nigel for the next, say what a week, but might ponce about with recipes during grey dark evenings

I am planning homemade hot chocolate soufflés with ice cream maker posh vanilla ice cream - presuming that level of velvety ticks a Nigel box, must do.

I am not an ardent scented candle fan (I adore cinnamon ones but resist until December) but do burn incense oils and mix and match according to current whim

what I lack in candles I make up, more than make up, with herbal tea, most teas actually, love black chai, Yorkshire tea with biscuits and the brand Yogi herbal teas - I think I have all of those

currently have a herbal “bedtime” has a touch of valerian root in (where Valium comes from) - a cup or two a couple off hours before bed does have a slight calming effect on sleep - if anyone needs

This herbal tea smells and tastes just like mince pies

Oooh where did you get it from @frozendaisy ? I love the sound of it!

I bought 6 boxes of it last year from Amazon (much more cost effective in bulk)

I am searching a viable alternative

Holland&Barrett usually stock yogi

or even better if you have a local health food shop

@frozendaisy your tea collection sounds amazing! A friend brought me a herbal tea advent calendar from Germany last year, it was wonderful, even if I did have to keep Google translating to find out what I was about to drink.

I find valerian great for getting to sleep but it gives me very busy, vivid dreams.

Much as I love Christmas teas, the Yogi one has licorice in which totally spoils it for me 🙄.
Today's chapter is the one that made me give up last year, so I've skimmed through and will hopefully get back on track tomorrow (hoping it won't be as 'bad')

@frozendaisy I absolutely feel you on the teenage eating habits have the same with my eldest who can now drive and often stops off at her friends on the way home from college I suspect she snacks there on utter rubbish and then isn't hungry for tea. She finally deigned to eat last nights offering at around 10pm as I was going to bed 🙈 my next move is to get everyone involved in meal planning and to choose at least one dish for the week ahead - it's like pulling teeth though 😂 I really worry about her health having a butter understanding now of how important what we eat is to us. On a happier note a friend passed me a couple of teabags yesterday- pukka ones apple and cinnamon very autumnal and lovely! Think I will buy DH the bird and blend tea advent calendar this year - you get two bags each day which is even better!!! 😊

12 November

A pot roast partridge

We never had champagne. At least not the real stuff. All that mattered was that a cork went pop and there was bubbles in our glasses. No one minded that what we drank was tummy-twistingly acidic and had bubbles The size of Maltesers. The point was noise and fizz. Asti Spumante had it with brass knobs on.

Hope you stay with it this year @AlicePottery and that today's chapter is better.

I've been left feeling very Meh about Christmas ads so far thus year, but I LOVE the Waitrose one. Absolutely brilliant. Its made me feel quite festive and possibly want to watch Love Actually again-

I love NVN Aste Spumante! So there.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I loved your "best of social media" thought.

I like the way we aspire to being more Nigel but own our NVN moments/lives with humour. Lovely.