The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles readalong 2025 - Part 2

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, and welcome to Part 2. We Continue our CC journey.

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 began on 1st November.

We continue to read along and comment with the book which is set out in diary form. I will make a post each day (or let you know if there is no entry on a particular day)

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.

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!

Happy birthday @piscofrisco and good luck with the interview.

10 December

Choosing the tree

Today, the tip of a fir tree waving past the shutters, is carried past the house on broad shoulders. It's branches are tied firmly to its trunk with netting and there is the sound of an excited child or two in tow. I feel they are a little premature, but in truth I can't wait to join in. Forget making mincemeat and baking the cake - it's only when the tree is up, shimmering with lights, that it is officially Christmas.

Gosh I'm late today. So out of routine

Happy birthday @piscofrisco

Our tree went up yesterday. I like to leave it later (as it adds to the mess) but that was our delivery day, and it's too windy to leave it outside. It is a beauty. I was a bit sceptical at first but now we have the lights on (full decorations will be this weekend) it looks stunning.

The wind seems to have died down now and the sun is peeping out here in Shropshire. I think I can safely say that I am recovered from the flu. We had an evening out last night to a local amateur dramatics performance and I didn't cough once!
We are dealing with the fact that sadly DS has cancer again. Hospital trip again next week and surgery after Christmas so not a fun time. Luckily it is very treatable. Now we know the facts we can enjoy Xmas. My wreath needs to go up today and I need to catch up with Nigel and housework at the same time (I love wireless headphones)😘

@IlovetoKnitandRead so sorry to hear about your son's cancer.

Happy birthday @piscofrisco!

Glad you're getting the knees seen soon @RainbowZebraWarrior

My vintage fairy for the top of the tree is due to arrive today, but I'm in London for the day with work so not sure if it'll end up with the next door neighbours. Who I'm slightly embarrassed to see as I think I ruined a Christmas surprise for one of them yesterday - dropped round with a parcel that had been left with me, and the guy seemed very surprised and rather excited by it (good old Amazon delivery with just an address label on the original packaging). Oops.

I'm so sorry @IlovetoKnitandRead - good to hear it's treatable.

@IlovetoKnitandRead sending virtual best wishes - the gift of modern medicine - enjoy your Christmas, rest, laugh, ready for the surgery and treatment afterwards. Hope it all goes textbook

You can ask Amazon to “wrap in Amazon packaging”
it’s not your fault (if anything you kept it dry)

Ah @piscofrisco your Dad really did sound like a lovely man ❤️

@IlovetoKnitandRead so sorry to hear about your son, but pleased that its very treatable and glad to hear you will all be able to enjoy Christmas x

Well, another day and another supermarket meal deal in the car in the nature reserve car park here. I'm trying them all; Boots, Sainsbury's, M&S... I feel like a travelling salesman!

Boringly similar photo to the other day, save for the raptor in the centre of the image flying straight towards me. He's a Western Marsh Harrier.

I feel this is appropriate for several of us.

Brilliant!! Love the CC addition. I definitely very much feel that right now. I also have a terrible habit of fiddling while Rome burns, so the entire house is upside down and there are loads of competing priorities but I decide to do something like spend four hours compiling a beauty product spreadsheet.

I’m so sorry to hear it @IlovetoKnitandRead

Sorry to hear the news, @IlovetoKnitandRead and sending good health wishes in your son's direction.

Sorry for your news @IlovetoKnitandRead
@RainbowZebraWarrior a marsh harrier is never dull! Great shot. I'm currently doing a 6-week linoprint block at my weekly art class - I got bored of carving christmassy things so have half-done a goshawk. I'll finish him tomorrow - will share - but I haven't done a great job of registering my prints and in a fit of inattention removed his tail prematurely, so might need a second go. After Christmas I think. I ordered some clips for registering which just arrived 20 minutes ago so that will help (except then we will be into 8 weeks of drawing lessons and I will put away the lino until the next one!)
@AlicePottery I absolutely love that. Ask me why I just knocked out a batch on mince pies and dusted my coffee table when today's to-do list is as long as my arm and includes an firm immoveable deadline on some actual paid work that I have to get done. (What I really want to do is print a goshawk, cut out a felt partridge to embroider, and open some of the parcels that are cluttering up my hall because I haven't had time to deal with them)
DH just despatched to the PO to post our cards though! This is genuinely the first time in over 10 years that we haven't posted after the last posting date. I feel quite proud. And I wrote mine in fountain pen (DH used a ratty old biro)

Happy birthday @piscofrisco Your dad sounds a real cracker. These firsts (and onwards) are bloody hard.

I'm so sorry to hear the news re DS's health, @IlovetoKnitandRead I hope you are getting every bit of support that you need from your team and those around you. I hope also that there is a little bit of comfort in beauty and the bonds of friendship from fellow gentle souls on this thread.

@AlicePottery That is perfect. Christmas will happen in this house (or it won't!). DS2 has just got a job in hospitality 2 hours' drive away (he lives with a relative whilst he's getting established), so goodness knows what his hours will be. I have been to Waitrose (VN) and bought a couple of vair naice veggie mains and puds to defrost whenever - this takes the pressure away from me doing the full thing, as I know I have backup. If they're not eaten over Christmas it'll be a good New Year feast.

Adding my good wishes to you and your DS, @IlovetoKnitandRead.

I’ve just made the mistake of having what was billed as a crumble-topped mince pie in the Waitrose cafe. The ‘crumble’ resembled pellets of granite and my fork could barely cut the whole thing, it was so dense.

On the bright side, it, plus a perfectly nice coffee, only cost £2 thanks to a John Lewis deal, so that’s good, I suppose?

But quite why they can’t just sell the perfectly nice crumble-topped pies they actually stock in the shop, I’m not sure…

It is a real privilege to be here with "constructive procrastinators" who appear to be able to challenge my own skill in this field 🤣 I am very behind at work and have just run out of steam

Has all been fairly comprehensively made worse by behaviour of eldest at school today, though to be fair to him it sounds a bit something over nothing and six of one and half a dozen of the other. Still, he has produced beautifully penned (for him) letters of apology as part of the "restorative justice" imposed by the school. With him I am fully supportive of their measures but I am personally dubious about it. Still, either he was solely responsible and deserves the punishment, or he's been stitched up by the others and will learn a valuable lesson about trusting his "friends", so works either way. Other than having to supervise the writing of said letters.

Oh!
I was disappointed that I wouldn't be able to take advantage of this deal today as I really love those crumble topped mince pies.

I had presumed they were the ones that are sold in Waitrose. Now I know they're not, I didn't feel like I've missed out!!

Doh! I was supposed to have quoted @Hendiadys

She's here!

I loved these crumble topped Waitrose mince pies a couple of years ago, then got bored with them and fell in love with the Frangipane ones with toasted almonds this year, so ordered 4 boxes last week and got the crumble ones as a sub. I keep taking them in to school for the teachers then get even more boxes free on my Waitrose 'Little Treats' The school are probably sick of the sight of them too. (Total first world problem)

She's fabulous! ❤️

@HornungTheHelpful that sounds really difficult. Hope you've had a little bit of time to yourself tonight, or at least can at some point soon. Well done to your eldest for penning the letter, and hope he hasn't been stitched up.

School can be so hard for anyone who struggles or doesn't quite fit in for whatever reason. DD is the loveliest girl, but has always struggled to navigate friendship circles due to her Autism.

Those crumble top mince pies are heavily featured on the current Waitrose thread. Waitrose is my new local supermarket so i feel it would be rude not to!
DH too poorly to come out for my birthday lunch and dd1 also not that well now so came home early. This flu season is brutal!
goy new wellies for my birthday -delighted! Also got offered the job-but do I want it? Not sure at all!!