Year round Nigel Slater discussion thread - Part 3

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello, all and welcome to this lovely space for our continued chats.

A bit of background for anyone not familiar with this topic:
The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles readalong usually takes place here between November and February each year (the Christmas Chronicles being a book written by Nigel Slater full of winter recipes and anecdotes) It's been running for a few years, and the contributors have collectively decided it would be nice to have it running all year round.

So here it is. It is a place to appreciate all things Nigel-esque. Think seasonal food and recipes, enjoyment of nature, gardening, appreciation of the weather, and sharing of news and small moments of joy. It's a calm, cosy space for gentle chat and merriment so pull up a chair to the fireplace, grab a drink and relax.

A very hearty welcome to friends new and old!

Good morning all and happy mother's day.

Sending gentle hugs to anyone who may be finding this day difficult.

I've been browsing online, but am now off to browse the market!

Pintail candles have 50% off everything for today only. I couldn't actually find anything I wanted, but I know its a brand that has been mentioned before.

There's also free delivery on at Thompson & Morgan at the moment with no minimum spend. They have the Iris Harmony bulbs we were discussing the other day as well as many other lovely things. I've bought the pack of 80 as it seemed good value. (Ends midnight)

www.thompson-morgan.com/p/iris-harmony/v46889TM

Thanks @RainbowZebraWarrior
I have ordered those iris. It will be a very nice surprise I’m sure when they turn up in August!

Happy Mother's Day you lovely lot, and my thoughts are with you if you find it a difficult day.

I have broken my own rules and done some work this morning - was really stressed about how much there is to do this week (hectic dreams about spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations!) and it's helped to get ahead a bit, without any interruptions.

Other than that I think it's going to be a pretty quiet day.

Good Morning all - I have broken with tradition and am not hosting a Mothers day lunch, feeling slightly guilty, my DM is 87 and 'difficult'😂I am just emotionally burnt out right now, had our DGS over night on friday and all day yesterday and now physically knackered too. The last thing I needed today was hosting lunch for everyone so I'm not doing it! Happy Mothers day to me!😁

Hope you all have a great day however you spend it.

Thanks for the heads up re pintail candles @RainbowZebraWarrior I'm off for a browse x

2/3 of my children are away but the littlest has done a lovely job of flowers and chocolates and made me a coffee and one of them (who am I kidding, obvs DD1) organised a moon pig card so I am quite happy. It's a bit grey here today but I have to do some work too @martha79 (also: beautiful cat!) as Friday went completely tits-up and I spent hours unexpectedly driving people to and fro across the county, so I don't mind the weather.
Hope you are all spoilt in whatever way suits you best x
PS Gorgeous beach photo @RainbowZebraWarrior

Happy Mothers Day all and hugs to those for whom it is difficult in any way. DS1 has changed a dud bulb on my car and sorted out a problem with the DPF, which I am informed is the particulate filter. So that’s my treats done (he’s a softie and I think there are also flowers). He lives just round the corner from us and his girlfriend has just moved in. She’s a lovely girl and they seem serious about settling down. I walked down to theirs yesterday with a plate of fresh scones. It was sunny, the flowers were bright on the greensward and I had a real feeling of contentment. It made me realise what a bloody slog the last couple of years had been and how I was holding a constant knot of tension in my solar plexus. I like these glimmers. Hopefully more as the weather turns.

@martha79 we need to do whatever it takes sometimes to have a peaceful day. If that means closing a few tabs on the mental browsers, then it’s time well spent.

It is cold and blowing a hoolie here. I am about to get my violin out to attempt some Scottish reels - hoping the wind will deafen the sound on the linked chimney breast I have with next door!

Thanks for the T&M tip, RZW, I’ll take a look later.

So pleased to hear about your little joyful moment @Bimblesalong I guess it's not until you have one of those moments that you do realise perhaps how much tension you've been carrying. Here's to many more lighter moments / glimmers x

Good to hear that you have given yourself a break @thebabessavedme We definitely do ourselves no favours when we continue to martyr ourselves. Definitely do not feel guilty x

I was talking to my best friend the other day and helping her with the PIP claim for her husband. I remarked that it must be awfully upsetting (we were having to detail how he needs assistance from her in every way; toileting, dressing and bathing) She said she was just 'living with it every day' so I felt sad that whilst her husband has had a life changing stoke at 58, she hasn't really had the time or space to come to terms with it as such herself. She's just having to crack on. Such is life, I suppose, but it's like a treadmill that they just can't get off. Bless them both. I'm going to make some Greek filo cheese pies for them this week, as I know they love them and just want to do anything I can to make life a little more joyful.

Hope your DS's gig went / goes well today @petitpasta Also hope you feel a bit less achy today and had a nice walk.

I also meant to say that I love your cat @martha79 She's so beautiful. Hope she has recovered from her sickness bout. Regarding carpet cleaners, my best pal swears by her Vax.

I will also thank myself come August having ordered the Iris bulbs @DameProfessorIDareSay as I am terrible at thinking things are a good idea, but then forgetting and missing the boat. My garden also needs more spring bulbs.

Flowers, chocolates and a coffee sounds perfect @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense Hope you've managed to relax a bit today after your mammoth driving escapades on Friday.

We've done our usual stroll around the market and took a big bar of chocolate for the lovely stallholder that gave DD the rose last week. The sea looked a stunning colour this morning, but I was driving so couldn't take a picture. There were a load of windsurfers out having fun. We timed our outing perfectly as once we arrived home we had a stormy downpour. We have watched Deadpool 2 this afternoon and made more skull candles as DD has orders from some of her class mates. She's becoming quite the entrepreneur! DD also had a lovely cup of tea ready for me when we sat down to watch the film, along with a card, a gingerbread ted (that I made on Friday) a Star Wars Kinder Easter egg and a cute lemon plushie that said "Mum, you're simply the zest!"

I also cooked some lamb and roast potatoes last night. Took half round for my Mum and Dad earlier, and my portion is in the slow cooker with some shallots and carrots.

Ah, why does the weekend fo so quickly? There's so much I still want to do, but I'm running out of time and spoons. The temptation to get out in the garden for an hour is strong, but the wind is chilly, and I know when I'm done.

My latest Vinted treat arrived today. An emerald - my birthstone - Pandora ring. Brand new, and at £13 when the RRP is £65, I'm happy with that!

That's really lovely to hear @Bimblesalong

What a nice ring @RainbowZebraWarrior

Cat Martha is doing fine, thank you, I suspect she'd eaten a spider or something similarly unpleasant as that often seems to have 'effects'.

I've done very little - some gentle yoga to try to not seize up completely, and unpacked my ready meals. Got a chicken pesto pasta for this evening.

After our discussion on interesting candle scents, I stumbled across a site selling off wax melts, some of which are intriguing (yes, I have ordered some that are meant to smell of tiger balm and tattoo shops - didn't go for the Calpol one though) - https://www.tinyeverafters.com/wax-melt-bars

hope everyone has had a lovely Mother’s Day.

had a very chilled weekend Dp is now on leave for a couple of weeks and just been having some down time.

is anyone on here from the Falkirk/ Stirling or Durham areas. Planning a trip which I’m not mentally prepared for (long story)but would like some ideas of things to do. Will have 2 small dogs so walks and dog friendly ideas would be welcome. Would start an actual post but this is a safer space somehow. X

I'm 20 miles from Durham and have family near Stirling if there's anything specific you'd like to know then I will try to help. Can highly recommend the Durham area and give some pointers of where to visit.

Anyone watching The other Bennet Sister? I enjoyed the first 20 minutes or so, but am now finding it totally farcical (moreso than it is supposed to be) which is a shame, as the lead actress is good. I am not mad keen on Ruth Jones nor Richard E Grant at the best of times, but was willing to give this a try.

@RainbowZebraWarrioroh amazing. Once a loose itinerary has been made and I’ve seen what the weather might be like. Might be picking your brains. Going next month

not seen the other Bennet sister yet, going to wait till do has gone and binge it then.

@CrushingOnRubies I'm not from Falkirk/Stirling but have holidayed nearby a few times. The Kelpies at Falkirk are a must for me, two gigantic horse sculptures in a country park, they have to be seen to be believed, very peaceful. I also like the walk up to the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle. Stirling town centre is nice for a mooch too. Further afield lots of nice walks in The Trossachs.

@CrushingOnRubies re: Durham, some initial thoughts;

The city centre is lovely. Lots of good shops, bakeries and places to eat. There is also a great indoor market. The Cathederal is marvellous and well worth a visit, as is the castle and the botanical gardens attached to the university.

The riverside is beautiful and you can meander along, stopping off for drinks at nice pubs along the way. I don't know when you're going, but May is my favourite time of year. Lovely horse chestnut flowers along the banks. There's usually folk practicing rowing; particularly at the weekends. Very relaxing and picturesque. There are plenty of walking tours - both daytime and night time - if that's your thing.

Beamish museum is also well worth a visit, as is National Trust Crook Hall gardens.

High force waterfall bearby is a beautiful local attraction.

Barnard Castle is also nearby (if you feel the need to test your eyesight 😉) and also the Bowes Museum is a stunning place to visit. They currently have a Vivienne Westwood exhibition on until September.

Also, go to Seaham beach for a lovely walk and pick up some beautiful seaglass. People come here from all over the world to pick up 'multi's' (multi coloured glass discarded in the sea from the old victorian glass works over 100 years ago)

Seaham Hall is amazing for a spa day.

Yes want to see the kelpies and apparently there’s a walk between the Kelpies and the Falkirk wheel???

afraid we don’t have that much time to go much further afield although the Trossochs are beautiful. Literally travelling from Cornwall for 2 nights up there. But will be having a longer trip there at some point I hope.

Thank you so much! We are national trust members so will check out crookham hall. Durham sounds it has a fair bit to do too. Only there for 2 nights before a long journey back. off to do lots of googling thank you

I have been to the Falkirk Wheel but it was many, many years ago before the Kelpies and their country park opened so not sure about the linkage.

I would love to see the Kelpies. I think we must get around to making a visit to the Falkirk area at some point. We are planning a day trip to Sherbourne next week. The charity shops there are great! Last time we went, I bought a pile of Victorian sheet music. The covers of each piece were beautifully illustrated and I framed them and put them in the shop. They went like hot cakes!

I love the ring @RainbowZebraWarrior and what a bargain!

The kelpies are great - we didn’t have time to see the Falkirk wheel so must go back. +1 for Stirling castle but even more so the bannockburn visitor centre

I'll add Bannockburn to the list for next time.

Lots of wishful thinking reading your recommendations for travel across the border. We had an amazing time in Glasgow/ Edinburgh but I've long hoped to see the Kelpies and there are many Roman sites that DH would like to visit.

How long will the drive take you, @CrushingOnRubies ? Will you need to leave ridiculously early? It takes us about 6.5 hours to get to Cornwall when we go, although we usually go to the furthest tip.

Lovely glass ring, @RainbowZebraWarrior and a renewed wish to go to Seaham to visit the beach.

Still ridiculously tired after our trip but I realise it's probably partly due to missing my B12 jab - no reminder sent from the GP so I'm a month over. Hopefully I'll see a difference (going this week), as I was starting to think that maybe I should retire!

I binged The Other Bennet sister yesterday. Really enjoyed it - lit the fire, did some crochet and relaxed. A lovely mother's day! Frustrated to have to wait for the last 5 but it's nice to have them to look forward to. Mum had dinner with Andrew Davies recently at a mutual friend's and said she wonders what he thinks of this version! Hopefully there will be a dinner "rematch" at some point so she can ask him. He's still dilligently working away at 90, what a brain!

@Bimblesalongon the way up we are staying somewhere but as yet not sure where to break the journey up. Durham to where I am in Cornwall is 7hrs20 according to google.

Bannockburn has already been ticked off the list. Visted on the way to the highlands a few years ago.

Ah, I meant my list. We have family not too far away and go every couple of years but always seem to find places to visit that we haven't been to before. We drive up from Hampshire and usually stay in Birmingham with family there, but last time we couldn't and stopped overnight in Cheshire.

Morning all.

What a surprise to wake up at 6am to 11 degrees! Going to make the most of this today.

I meant to mention about your lovely picture of the frothy white blackthorn blossom @DameProfessorIDareSay It's out here in force, too, and is proving very handy in showing me some new sites for sloe picking in Autumn!

Enjoying reading your travel recommendations - despite growing up in Scotland and visiting fairly regularly, I have never seen the Kelpies! I do remember going to Bannockburn on a school trip and it making quite an impression (also one of the few historical dates I can readily remember).

It's a beautiful morning - meant to get up to 14C today and 17C tomorrow here. Will definitely get out at least into the garden.

This week is about final "big event" prep at work, but actually pretty much everything is done and my main job is answering several million questions from everyone else (why, yes, I have printed everything that needs printing, and arranged for it to be couriered to the venue, because that is my job, it's on my list of jobs, and it's ticked off on the list of jobs that everyone can see, because it has been done 😇) and generally emanating "all is ready" calm.