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!

Lovely pics and enviable bakes all. Honestly @sueellekerany attempt at baking, other than fairy cakes is disastrous for me. I always have the wrong tin, or it doesn’t rise, or in the case of one Christmas cake ended up as heavy and as hard as a stone. Perhaps I will apply myself again in the new year. None of my family but me have much of a sweet tooth so even if it ends well I end up eating it all is the other issue!
waves @PrizedPickledPopcorncome for a look around Burghley-it’s a smasher! We can meet under the clock and you could recognise me by the fabled Mumsnet scarf (was it leopard print as I recall?) :) The concert was lovely but I was feeling pretty rough by the second half. Weirdly I like the more somber pieces the most I think. My ex husband used to make an alternative Christmas play list every year of sort of depressing christmas songs and I used to hate it-now I’m coming round to the idea a bit 😂.

A busy week on the farm with Christmas parties agogo and festive Tractor rides and such happening. Today we are doing a crisp taste test game where the co farmers must taste mystery crisps and guess the flavour, an extra point for the brand. I’m also going to use it for our family Christmas party on Sunday.
A Happy Monday to all -last full week before Christmas so hoping for some moments of peace for those who are frantic.

The sound of a steam train is lovely @WeMeetInFairIthilienI wish we had never got rid of them. The slow train to London from us porosity goes about the same speed anyway.

No Christmas Chronicles entry today, so a chance to catch up.

We live near George Stephenson Railway museum. The heritage steam trains run all year round, but at this time of year its more frequent with the Santa trains. I can hear them from my back door and it's so lovely hearing the Choo Choo! then the puffing of the train. I'm also getting 2 or 3 flocks of geese flying over each day at the minute. It must be peak rush hour on the Goosey flight path right now.

P.S. another quick reminder that today is the last day to order your turkey at waitrose in case that's helpful to anyone.

P.P.S. We will need a new thread soon as we are on Page 39. It's in my diary to do it this evening so that we don't all of a sudden run out.

@Hendiadys I find Sostrene Groene good for stocking fillers. At least, for filling my stocking!

I’m pleased with the cake, it’s nice and high and solid looking. @petitpasta When my red food colouring comes I will be making Turkish delight. It looks quite easy to make. 😬

@piscofrisco I wish I was at one of your Christmas parties! A crisp quiz is my idea of heaven! Can you explain your farm set up? It sounds interesting. I like the medieval melancholy Christmas songs, like The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came, and O Come oh Come Emanuel. ‘Mary did you know’ is a modern one with a similar feel. In the Bleak Midwinter… But seasoned with some festive jollity!

@WeMeetInFairIthilien DH had a train set, but very little room. Every house we bought there was a discussion about where the train set would go. He tried in the garage. Finally, about ten years ago, children moved out and we had a room that we could spare. He faffed about for a few years then admitted that while the idea of a train set was bewitching, and he’d lived buying and collecting trains and track for the last 30yrs, he actually doesn’t have the skill set or patience to achieve it and he’ll stick to going to exhibitions. 😬

Today is my last full day at work before Christmas. I’m going to be tidying away my work station so I can use the room over Christmas. It is also my sewing/craft room, but can’t be both at once. I will be doing any mending that needs a machine this Christmas as well!

So I must get on. Sooner I start, the sooner I’ll finish!

Dark and rainy here. The dog didn't want to go for her walk; she gave me the dirtiest look when I made her go outside!

I think someone has tried to break into the flat- door suddenly won't close without being pushed hard and there's what looks like a piece forced off at the side. So I'm going to have to call 111 and the council (it's a council flat) and hope someone can come out when I'm not at work!
All very worrying!! I don't have much but I don't want it taken

Bit of a depressing one sorry! Hope everyone has a good day.

Oh bless you. Hope you manage to get sorted. Do you have a ring camera or could you get one? I find it gives me a bit of peace of mind and I feel its a deterrent. Especially with there just being me and DD at home.

Dark and rainy here too. I've just demolished a cheese scone and a pot of tea in M&S café. Got some last bits for Christmas for my Mum in the sale. Fee other errands to do then I'm going to stock up on logs. Went to my local farm the other day that used to have a log store and an honesty box. They've demolished it and build a spanking new tractor shed in its place and aren't doing logs any more.

Hello everyone and best wishes for those who are going through difficulties. I've kept up with reading the book this week but haven't read or posted on the thread since last weekend so I've just spent the morning catching up with a cup of tea and a NVN mulled wine spiced candle. There have been some beautiful pictures and very wise words since I was last here.

I've also had a bit of a week of it. In no particular order, my mum fractured her hip, FiL was diagnosed with the same cancer which took my father's life last year, our garage roof collapsed (a very unwelcome £3.5k pre-christmas bill) and I have been told that my work team (including me) will be receiving at risk notices in early January. I've been sworn to secrecy but given the heads up now so that I can "take the festive period to consider how to approach telling the team", which is a lovely way to ruin my christmas. I was holding it all together until Saturday when I was supposed to meet a very good friend but she messaged in the morning cancelling, in a very defensive way, saying that I can't possibly understand how busy december is for her - that was the straw that broke the camel's back for me.

Anyway, today is the start of a new week. I have a couple of days off work and am going to go for a run in a little bit, and then snuggle down with tea, blankets and a book, for most of the day.

On the Nigel front, I'm feeling tempted to delve back into chutney making - used to do this a lot but fell out of the habit around 10 years ago. Having said that, I bought the most incredible red onion, redcurrant and chilli marmalade from hte pickle/chutney man at the farmers market recently and have been eating this on everything over the past week - cheese, cold meats, straight from the jar with a spoon... I enjoyed today's chapter on stockings too. Although it's just DH and I at home, we always fill stockings for each other. We used to fill them up and now it's a lot more restrained. There is, of course, a clementine (ideally with a leaf) each, and we also give each other a pair of socks, then DH gets a beer and some coffee (something unusual which he hasn't dried before on both counts) and I receive cheese and a miniature whisky. I feel Nigel would approve, although I do like his suggested food-themed stocking!

@RainbowZebraWarrior thank you- no ring camera unfortunately! Just finished talking to 101 who were very nice and are sending someone out when I'm home. I can call the council now with my crime number and they ought to fit me a new door.

@PricklyBob oh what an awful week! Sending you lots of positive energy. ♥️

For the St Eval fans, from thr Times this weekend:

https://www.thetimes.com/article/ce378be0-e54e-416b-966f-5f4135dbeb02?shareToken=3accbb509efae499b6e1c39404cf0c76

Oh @PricklyBob that all sounds absolutely awful. And how rubbish of work to land that on you to have on your mind over Christmas. The friend, also. I don't like competitive 'you can't possibly know how busy I am' without acknowledging what the other person may have on their plate. It reminds me of an ex of mine who constantly opined that folk should walk a mile in his shoes. I eventually shouted at him that nobody knows what it's like to walk in anyone's shoes. That's the point. I then opened the door and asked him to leave.

My last sips of tea in M&S were interrupted by my ring camera showing the lads turning up outside my house to finish the conservatory. Last I heard it would be 'sometime this week, but we will let you know in advance' I made them wait in their van while I went for my logs on the way home.

They are currently muttering on about something being wrong with the electrics. I am heartily sick of them now and wish they would hurry up, bog off and leave me in peace and to clean up properly as they likley won't

I meant to add @PricklyBob that I hope your Mum will be okay. My father is currently in A&E having smashed his head on an iron bar 🙄

I've created Part 3 now, just in case owt kicks off and I have to go and collect my Dad from hospital later and I'm not around. So here it is, ready when we are after we have used up this one.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5460231-the-nigel-slater-christmas-chronicles-readalong-2025-part-3

A wave from me and sending positive thoughts to all, particularly those who are going through it. We got back at silly o’clock after a flight delay but well worth it for a wonderful weekend in Madrid. What a beautiful city. I have a treatment scheduled later today (medical not massage, sadly!) but the brilliant nurses and their fab attitude make up for being stuck in the chair for an infusion. I joke that I’ll come out with bones as strong as Wolverine!

I’m the least prepared I’ve ever been for Christmas but it’ll happen (or it won’t!)- there’s just my grown children, husband and mum to finish buying/making for, and I’ve a few gifts and some food in already. Once I’m over this afternoon’s fun I’ll get my mind to it all!

Hope your knee is going on ok @RainbowZebraWarrior

Ill have a proper catch up later.

Blooming Nora. Is this thread dangerous, or what? I’ll tell everyone to watch out for iron bars and trip hazards.

I’m so sorry for you all wrestling with the various calamities and potential calamities. It’s a wake up call to me not to be such a Debbie Downer- my shoes are actually reasonably comfortable at the moment, elderly Ps and PiLs aside. Though I do feel DM should come with a storm category of her own. She is a walking vortex of chaos and drama. But I have actually chosen to keep having her for Christmas ~nobody else will~ so can’t really complain.

I haven't caught up properly with the thread, but just wanted to send love to everyone who is going through various difficulties. ❤️ to you all.

@DarkEyedSailor I hope you can get the door sorted soon, that must be worrying.

@PricklyBob What a tough week :(

Dull and rainy day here - I've just caught up with yesterday's CC chapter and I approve of Nigel's stocking filler choices (apart from the sugared almonds, bleurgh). Have posted the last of my parcels, just a couple of cards to send.

Still feeling pretty dreadful - GP wants me to go in for some blood tests so that's a nice treat for tomorrow.

🥳 I have made it to the end of the thread(s), and am up to date with CC, thanks to Spotify! Not feeling it at all really but will soldier on & make the cranberry sauce shortly whilst also cooking tea. 4 more work get ups, including tomorrow for our morning performance - not sure whether I'm looking forward to that or not 🤔.

Right, cooker to go on, candle to light -NVN at all...Yankee Snowflake Cookie - aiming to use up all my candles/melts before buying more, recipe to locate.

I hope those who are unwell, are on the mend soon & those having other troubles get some respite from them soon. We currently have no upstairs lights - they were only fixed last week <sigh>.

(That was a bit disjointed, sorry, my brain's fried!).

Ah @lucysmam bless you. It's a funny old time of year. Hope the lights get sorted (again!). I also have a NVN bright pink Raspberry Crush (or some such) Yankee candle. I do like a fruity one occasionally which would probably turn Nigel's stomach. I also commented on his insta earlier asking where his Christmas tree pics were..

Hope the treatment went well @Bimblesalong

We had a great weekend. Ran away to the cinema to escape the plastering on Saturday; Zootropolis 2. Can highly recommend. I must be feeling quite emotional this week as I had a little tear when I saw the trailer for the Magic Faraway Tree (childhood favourite) On Sunday we visited Tynemouth Market as usual and took Christmas cards for all our favourite vendors. Got a pack of pokemon cards from one of them and DD kept bugging me to open them when I got home (I was trying to get other stuff done) I eventually sat down and opened them as she was bouncing around saying "Can you imagine if you got the really rare one?!" As I opened them she started hyperventilating and couldn't explain why for some time... Yup. I pulled the rarest card. (We are talking a thousand pounds for this one card!!) We will have to have it professionally graded. I also won £30 on the Lotto.

The conservatory is finally finished! Not as clean and tidy as I'd have liked with it being such a filthy day weather wise, but it is done. Will need repeated cleaning due to the dreaded plaster dust, but the difference is immense. I shall post some before and after pics at some point.

Dad is just back from A&E and has been scanned and given the all clear re his head. Still looks nasty, but again it is a win that nothing was amiss.

Right. candles lit, stove going on soon. No idea what's for dinner, but I'm just grateful that all is well here.

Sending hugs to all who may need them and wishing for a peaceful run up to Christmas for all.

Oh, and DD fixed the broken candle from last week Japanese style.

Little update- police have just been and were very nice. They said it could be an attempted break in or just bits falling off a very old door which wasn't particularly helpful but they've given me an incident number so I can get a new door put in quickly.

That's absolutely beautiful, @RainbowZebraWarrior !

Thanks @RainbowZebraWarrior , it is indeed a funny old time of year! You're not the only emotional one - I watched every festive ( ) episode of 9-1-1 with dd2, yesterday. I sobbed at at least part of every one!

Glad to see your conservatory is done, and your candle mended. Candle looks very nice - I'm sure conservatory does too!

Our cranberry sauce is done, looks and tastes yummy 😋. Dd1 had me add a little more sugar than I wanted but it's fine. She also complained at not being invited to make it (she's been in the house the whole time), and has invited herself to town with me, after work, tomorrow afternoon.

That is amazing @RainbowZebraWarrior what a skill dd has. You’ve done so much together in the last 12 months - thinking back to all of your effort for her and school.

@DarkEyedSailor glad they’ve been out but it is a worry eh?

@lucysmam what a lovely picture. I can smell the tang of it!

all done here and resting up with some tv. I managed to bake a loaf before I left for treatment so will be enjoying some fresh slices with olive oil and seasalt. Vn!

Wow, @RainbowZebraWarrior! Super rare pokie card! DS will be well jell!

And the pot looks amazing. Was that the amazon gold mending kit thing? I’ve had it on my wish list for ages.