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!

Just came on here after I had slapped chicken nuggets and oven chips in front of the children 🤣 I am suitably ashamed.

Seriously, you have nothing to be ashamed about. When I was a chef in an award winning fish restaurant, most of the junior chefs who produced Michelin star quality dishes lived on McDonalds. I've ate Supermarket meal deals all week due to building work, and this is the current state of my kitchen. Nigel would likely have a meltdown!

Love Denis Sever's House , @Strawberryfield12 .

Parkrun tiday

I'm about 2/3 of the way through decorating the tree and I've completely run out of energy. I have SO MANY decorations!

Scampi and oven chips here. I think Nigel is sometimes more an aspiration than something achievable, to be glimpsed in odd moments rather than lived full time . I like to remind myself that he does not have three busy teenage daughters and a husband whose helpfulness levels vary over the festive season! Also he doesn’t have that whole weight of female expectation that I put on myself (I am aware I am my own worst enemy). I’ve crashed and burnt a bit today, feeling quite overwhelmed.

I’ve made caramelised Red Onion chutney, ordered some Christmas presents and done some wrapping.

I’m not feeling Christmas this year. Bereavement, car accident, job I loath and now my mother’s appointment with her oncologist has been brought forward unexpectedly.

I just can’t wait to get to the stage where I can be sitting on the sofa, watching rubbish television and disengaging my brain.

This thread does warm the cockles though.

Sending gentle hugs and I hear you (though I don't have a husband or partner for a good reason) I've said it so many times on these threads over the years; we can be our own worst enemies and put too much pressure on ourselves. Especially at this time of year. Try and take care of yourself. Burnout, stress and overwhlem is no good for our bodies. (sorry, I know that's stating the bleeding obvious)

I think the reason I keep on hosting this thread is because as an Autistic single parent to an Autistic DD, it does give me some time to myself. It is my salvation, my inspiration and my down time.

We all try to manage and juggle our lives as best we can. We also choose our priorities to a degeee. Our priorities should include ourselves, even if it is just five minutes to ourselves every day, however we choose to spend that. We are constantly told to Be Kind, but we are rarely kind to ourselves.

If we need time out and need to step away from additional stress or obligations, then that should be ok. People who care should understand. I get that it often doesn't work in real life, but I've had to be quite brutal on this front for my own sake.

Nobody has to keep up with the thread or the book. Nobody is judging here. We have to do what's right for ourselves. I'd prefer anyone struggling to say so, as this is a warm and safe space to share whatever is worrying you. I for one, have spilled by guts here many times (for want of a better expression).

Gawd, that was an essay and a half. Sorry for the waffle.

@RainbowZebraWarrior cannot even express the admiration and warm feeling after your last post.

That’s a massive pumpkin! Real? Still fresh?

I’m sore all over from being too busy, and I haven’t read CC for a week. Hopefully I will tomorrow.

And it’s so true about self care. I feel better for knowing that I’ve got my Christmas cooking underway. I don’t really buy any presents, so I really need sweets and preserves to give people. And I like cooking. I’m not particularly clever at it, and my presentation is lamentable, but it’s where I lose time and feel the flow, so to speak.

I’m fancying the biscotti recipe too, so thanks for that.

@RainbowZebraWarrior you really are a lovely person ❤️

@RainbowZebraWarriorI can only echo the appreciation for your hosting of this warm and welcoming corner of MN.

I've had a shocker of a week. Major changes announced at work necessitating lots of reassurance for the 100 or so people who report through to me in one way or another. I care very much that they are treated fairly. Also dealing with stuff at home - DD (24) has a breast lump and wants me to accompany her to her scan.

Just need to find a couple of gifts for our additional international student guest who I am delighted is joining us for Christmas. As a mum I couldn't bear to see anyone else's child be alone 4,000 miles from home at Christmas. Have only met her briefly but she seems lovely.

I've managed to keep up with Nige though - it's been my little respite from the world this week. I have a little treat tomorrow as I am having brunch with a dear friend and am going to see a live stream of the Nutcracker. Looking forward to both very much.

Seconded @RainbowZebraWarrior - this thread has felt like a bit of refuge at what can be a difficult time of year, whilst sometimes giving a gentle nudge to do some nice festive things that make life feel a bit better.

I'm feeling both exhausted and fuzzily festive - today's concert went well. Even last week I was having doubts about doing it with the post-covid bleurgh hanging about - I've had to do some serious pacing today and may at one point have been found lying down on a pew - but I actually enjoyed it. NVN supermarket meal deal for tea 😄 The church looked lovely and I enjoyed spotting these little figures around the place.

I need to go back and see it all in daylight. The mix of emotions as you move up the floors was tremendous. Our little family is very lucky to live in a house that neither DH or myself could have dreamed about as children. So I kept thinking how would I feel if things changed so dramatically that we would have to rent out most of the house and move into the loft or garden room. With some many drastic changes in global stage, the change of fortunes doesn’t feel impossible at all…

@petitpasta we went to see the Nutcracker livestream on Wednesday. It was fabulous! I hope you enjoy it!

14 December

Pickled quinces and a Christmas stocking

Do you know why there is often an orange in the bottom of a Christmas stocking? No? Well let me tell you..

Note: I can't believe it's been two years since Nigel's infamous Quince Tart Photo!

Oh bless you all. I've just caught up on last night's posts ❤️

Sending love and positive thoughts to you @petitpasta for your DDs appointment. Also to you for your Mum's appointment @SparklyBrickViper

Also sending gentle hugs to anyone struggling in general. You are never on your own here.

@PrizedPickledPopcorn Haha. Yes, the pumpkin is real and one of Dad's monsters. It was harvested just before Halloween with the intention of making a lantern (and soup etc) but I've never had the energy so it has been sitting on my dining table in the conservatory ever since. My dining table (and other furniture) is currently in the garden covered in a tarpaulin hence all the crap - including said pumpkin - in the kitchen. Fingers crossed it should be pretty much finished off by Tues / Weds. I will have to face the pumpkin at some point, soon, though! They usually keep in a cool place for a few months.

I was trying to attach a photo yesterday, not randomly boast about going to parkrun. Trying again.

Hope everything goes as well as possible for your dd and at work, @petitpasta .

What a fab picture. MN has been very hit and miss with images lately. I see mine from todays entry hasn't been approved yet.

Lovely photos of concerts, mysterious looking parkRun, and things!

You have helped me stay better on track with lighting candles and taking moments. I’m not really being totally zen or anything, but just the quiet satisfaction of lighting it, then looking at it every few minutes as I sit doing whatever- list making, doom scrolling, ringing DM… it adds the tiniest pause and reset to my stress levels I think. As does noticing the coloured glow of each tealight. They are cheap, cheerful and unreliable, with some colours burning completely over several hours, and others only lasting an hour or two before snuff8ng themselves. It’s very grounding.

I’m excited about my first excursion into Christmas Cake making later! I can’t believe all this fruit is going to fit in a cake pan, along with the eggs, flour and sugar! It already looks too much! Perhaps I’ve finally grown up, if I’m making a fruit cake! 🤣

Whoops not MN’s fault. I forgot to add it.

Extraordinary sky today. My photo doesn’t do it justice, but the blue is glowing like neon, and the orange radiates warmth. It’s a promise of a sky.

That was like ours the other day but I also felt my photo just didn't capture the beauty or vibrancy. Sunrise is my most favourite thing.