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!

Pleased the shift went well, but I can only imagine how loud things must be in pubs 'these days' (old gimmer alert here, too) Tbh, I always felt that most pubs were too loud to be able to talk, even when I was a young 'un.

Your neighbour sounds like the good sort to have in the sense that they are providing free entertainment. I lived briefly in a downstairs victorian flat. Utterly beautiful, but my upstairs neighbour used to get maudlin and play opera at midnight so loud that the ceiling shook.

Hope you are warm and cosy now. I also have my bedroom radiator turned off, but I love my remote control thermostat as it means I can get the rest of the house warm ready for getting up. Hope your wander with your friend was nice.

Thanks Bimbles (and everyone else who has sent sympathy re: my friend) x

I had to look up Larping. That sounds like jolly good fun, but yes, potentially a very chilly camping trip.

How did the pilates go? Was this the one you signed uo for after having the taster session? I used to love yoga, but hated pilates for some reason. I know now that neither were very good for me with my dislocatey joints.

Slow cooked Thai beef curry sounds amazing. Is that like a Massaman? Might add that to my list of dinners for next week.

Right. Pasta bake and Massaman added to my dinner schedule for next week. I also fancy a risotto. Why have I not had a risotto in so long?

I had a sneaky hour or so down the beach this afternoon. Not my usual time, but nice to catch the low tide finds for a change. I almost peed my pants when I found this chonk. I thought at first that it was spherical. (It's isn't; it's just a very chunky bottle bottom, but still nice)

Anyway, here's the new thread for when we run out of space on this one.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5515658-year-round-nigel-slater-discussion-thread-part-4

I am having beetroot, goats cheese, fig and walnut salad tonight. Probably not the weather for salad but never mind!

Did a cardio class this morning, then wrote my application for the most lovely, lovely job. I really want this one!

A trip to Italy proper today on the train rather than just a stroll to the border. Spaghettti vongole for lunch then a sunny stroll round the old town. I love the fact that what would look like delapidation and laundry in the UK positively adds to the charm of these places.

Forgot to attach pics!

Sending the most positive vibes for the job you really want 🤞

Absolutely love ancient old Italian towns and villages. You are totally right, it would just look downtrodden in the UK.

I took this photo a week or so ago in North Shields. It's about half a mile from Tynemouth which is as wealthy as you can get here in the NE of England, but this is the land of poverty that Sam Fender writes about.

Good luck with the job application @petitpasta

Lovely chonk of glass @RainbowZebraWarrior

Excellent photos and pasta @LillianGish

Very cold and blustery but nice walk, and then chips and cheese for lunch. Chatted about having a few days away next month too so I've been researching AirBnBs.

I had salad this evening too (and then a bowl of muesli a bit later as I was still really hungry).

A couple of new friends made on today's walk 😄

Crossing everything for you @petitpasta

Oh dear god @RainbowZebraWarrior , I cannot describe the volume last night, I still love a live band an d a good old dance but it was just beyond.

What a wonderful neighbour to have @thebabessavedme what music does he tend to play? I must admit, I’ve had a warble at my piano as the neighbours are away. I keep to sensible times when they’re there and don’t sing much, so it’s nice to have the space to do so! I’m deffo not @RainbowZebraWarrior ’s previous neighbour!

Hope you’ve warmed up @martha79 ds2 has been in touch and said they’re cosy in the tent, which is good, and he seems to be having a good time.

More awesomeness there @LillianGish can’t wait!

Ive been in touch town to the cheese shop and we had a lovely tasting session at home for lunch. I particularly liked the soft blue cheese, Burt’s blue. The other image is a fascinating shop interior, currently an antiques shop but I recall it as a book shop many moons ago.

Delicious looking cheese and a fascinating looking shop @Bimblesalong I feel the need to explore a bit further afield / new things so must carve out some time during next week for DD and I do do somwthing different.

I have just come across this article and dearly wish I was going to Chelsea flower show. It falls during my birthday week every year and I must try and make it there at some point. I am very excited to get my hands on the new sweet pea named by Nigel as I adore them and grow mainly pinks, reds and oranges, so this one will fit right in. Likely next year now, I'd imagine, but that's just fine. I can wait. The name is just perfect, I think. Well done Nigel.

https://thedirt.news/fruit-fool-nigel-slaters-summer-inspired-sweet-pea-to-debuts-at-rhs-chelsea/

Speaking of Nigel, he has been rather quiet of late. No mention of Japan or other hols. I know he has been writing a book for the past few months, so I am manifesting an announcement soon as I would say he is due a book launch this Autumn (it will be 2 years since ATF) I know I advance ordered mine in the May of 2024. Wishful / hopeful thinking and all...

I also can't quite believe that it will be 10 years next year since Christmas Chronicles was first published.

Surely the new book must be imminent!

I fell asleep listening to Nigel last night, as Spotify recommended this old podcast to me https://open.spotify.com/show/32VwReW1L31DMCyRqUl3hh?si=qPHa6lBYTz6Z59rVzYx4Xg - seemed quite good before I dozed off.

Those sweet peas are lovely. I've never grown them but do really like them. Planning a bit of gardening today, mainly potting on herb seedlings.

Pilates was great @RainbowZebraWarrior-its reformer so on the machine. That was our second proper class after the taster and we love it! I can feel all the muscles working as they should. Bit stiff this morning but nothing terrible.

lovely pics @LillianGishI cannot wait to go!

I fancy a fig and goats cheese salad now! Maybe for lunch. I got some Cornish Yarg yesterday, infused with garlic. It was meant to last all week. It was gone by 8pm last night!

Glad your first shift went well @thebabessavedmeand I hope you will get used to the noise. We went to the pub to watch the National yesterday and it was so loud it was uncomfortable. I’m also an old person clearly :)

Ive posted on the other thread too to placemark :)

I confess I had to google as I know you had mentioned reformer before, but I did not know it involved a machine. It looks like some sort of torture bed! 🙈

I'm just back from the beach with DD. She doesn't come with me often and said "bloody hell Mum, however do you do this every day?" so I guess that must mean I am getting fitter / stronger, and at least it's free exercise.

I have just realised that most of my hobbies are free; collecting sea glass, bird watching, Aurora and sky watching etc. Apart from the jewellery obsession and the occasional pokemon card purchase, of course. I don't spend anything on candles in the summer months, I don't need to, I could open a shop and I haven't spent much on the the garden this year either. I have also reined in my Vinted habit.

Hello all - haven't caught up as we've been in Cornwall for a glorious week and I stay off MN when on hols. I'll go back and catch up soon but I just wanted to say hi first.
I've been under the weather for the best part of a month - sore throat, stuffy nose, aches and pains - so feeling a bit sorry for myself. I thought I'd had a brainwave last week when I remembered, as I do after suffering for a bit too long every year, that I have hay fever and had not started taking my antihistamines (I've written it in my diary for next year so hopefully that will help!) but I've been taking them for 10 days and still not feeling great. Multivits coming in the next Ocado.
Garden looking lovely! Amazing how much has changed in just a week away. I took some pics before we left so I should see if I can do before and afters.
Anyway, hope all are well

So sorry to see about your friend, @RainbowZebraWarrior. Glad you have a lovely beach to grieve on.
Congrats on job @thebabessavedme ! Great news
I read Butter recently, @Bimblesalong - it's an odd one for sure but I didn't hate it. Unlike our most recent book group pick, which I won't name in case anybody here loves it but it was really appalling! Badly written and trite. However, a better choice than 'when the cranes fly south' which I chose last time on the basis of two friends' very strong recommendations - and yes, should have checked, as pone member had very recently and in quick succession lost her mother and her grandmother sp a book about end of life, no matter how beautifully done, was a tactless choice. I did apologise.
Menton looks spectacular @LillianGish - I'm embarrassed to say I had never heard of it until everybody on this thread said how wonderful it is, but now it is firmly on my list. Citrus blossoms are some of my absolute favourite scents.
Pic attached of a very smart vase I treated myself to from a pottery in Cornwall.
My DH loves reformer pilates. I keep meaning to give it a go myself but endlessly poorly endlessly injured at the moment. So frustrating

Hope you feel better soon @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense

And what a lovely collection of free hobbies @RainbowZebraWarrior

I've had two massive naps today but around those I had a walk where I encountered a very song-ful goldfinch, and planted the rest of the seeds out in the garden (and narrowly avoided a hail shower). Have just had a shower and am in my PJs on the sofa, with earl grey tea and a couple of dark chocolate coated figs. Feeling very cosy. And glad I still have another two days off!

Feel better soon @SheherazadesSeasonalNonsense glad you managed to get away to such a special place. Lovely vase - was it from the pottery on the back road (with Fish in the name)? My friend’s dad co-owns the place but it looks more like his business partner’s than his - although may be from a completely different place!

@LillianGish I have booked most of my accommodation! Yay, although only cancellable hotels at present due to the nonsense going on.

I’ve spent much of the day either gardening with dh or cracking on with some crochet. Back to the office tomorrow for me.

Yes! Fish Pye. Good spot - it was from the lady who was the only person I saw in there. Didn’t get her name.
We also went in the Penwith Gallery, which is always worth a look but in this occasion we went deliberately because my 3-doors-down neighbour here in Chester had a piece in - which sold on the first day so she is very happy. My daughter’s art teacher had previously described her to us (at parents evening! No idea how it came up) as a ‘not insignificant British artist’ which feels like high praise. Must get her to doodle on a shopping list or something for me 🤣

Last post of the thread. Link to next thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/christmas/5515658-year-round-nigel-slater-discussion-thread-part-4?reply=151662633