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!

A Pisco Sour sounds like a really good tipple, and orange and pink are my absolute favourite colour combination (my second being red and green) I love to wear either combination, use them in my house, or plant them in the garden. I'm very late, as always, but as the light was dying this evening, I've just planted some hot orange tulip bulbs. It was largely dry here too, today, with glimpses of sun. What an absolute treat!

Well you would be right at home in our lounge then RZW, we have a big old burnt orange velvet love seat thingy, an orange and pink rug and orange cushions all over the place. I’m after a hot pink based woolly throw I think but I can’t find one that I like anywhere.
Dh up at 5 to leave for another work trip, so subsequently the dogs and I were also up at 5. Rain drumming on the roof, a Monday school run to do and a less nice day at work with my least favourite co farmer (bless her but she’s a biter and a spitter and whilst the first doesn’t bother me, I have a horror of being spit on)in store.
Need to start thinking about where our summer clothes are for holiday next week-haven’t actually see them since we moved I don’t think-I’ve got a horrible feeling they are in a box in the shed which is (as we discovered yesterday) quite damp.
happy Monday to all

Also in the up at 5am due to dp working away club. Back in bed with another cup of tea and snuggled with a dog till i need to get ready for work myself. Which I hope is significantly better than last Monday at work

I'm stuck in bed, supposedly working. Currently trying to design and plan out a piece of furniture to make, on very little budget, that would make someone's life work much better and more safely. Just hoping my ideas aren't exceeding my capabilities.

Gearing up for a WFH day today. The weather is dreary again but at some point I will have to venture out to the inpost lockers to pick up some Vinted purchases. I work for a UK wide organisation and we have a tri nation leaders' call on Monday morning. We're all rugby fans so there should be some fun on that.

@piscofrisco it would be worth having a look at any national trust or English Heritage sites near you. I was in one of them last year and they had the most gorgeous hot pink wool throw. It had a slight mottling of other colours but it was so warm and beautiful that it made me ponder making my blue bedroom less coastal themed and more blue and hot pink. I can't remember where I was though but it was definitely one of those gift shops.

Morning all, also in the 5am club, mainly because I was asleep about 9pm and my body decided that was enough sleep. Did doze for a while longer though.

I love the sound of the hot pink and orange combinations, in fact I bought a tank top in those sort of colours recently. Hope you can track down your summer clothes @piscofrisco

I've got a very ordinary sort of week except that I'm only working three days, using up some leave. Apart from work I'm trying to continue decluttering clothes and other things - I'll never reach 'Nigel's house' level of calm and clear but it'd be nice to be a bit closer!

That sounds fascinating @EphemeraleEudemonia I hope your spoons play ball in the planning and the making.

Some of you have had very early starts - I could have got the kettle on for you as we were delayed coming back by a wonky plane, so we got to bed at past 3am. Better safe than sorry though, although at one point I thought we would be bussed back to some sort of hotel. First world issue, I know. A slow day for us here and lighting some welcoming scents will form part of it.

I’m on the continued declutter too, @martha79 - I have to have spoons and to feel brutal/ in the right mood to do it though! My working week may start later with emails but is, hopefully, lighter this week.

Hello all.

Busy couple of days here. Much 'beeing' going on as my Dad calls it (prepping for the upcoming season etc)

Managed to get an hour of seaglass hunting in before picking up DD from school. Cold, but at least dry. I'll take that!

I've just watched the first episode of Small Prophets and it's utterly gorgeous. Very Detectorists in that same gentle and intriguing way, with lovely music and a great cast. Mackenzie Crook is such a brilliant writer and Director.

Pleased you got back safe and sound @Bimblesalong albeit very delayed.

I agree, that all sounds incredibly clever and helpful@EphemeraleEudemonia

So chilly tonight. I've topped the bird feeders up as it's due to get colder again as the week goes on.

Ah glad you are home safe @Bimblesalong

That socks exactly what I want @petitpasta. I will know it when I see it.
Nigel like calm is a distant dream here @martha79but we can dream.
it actually stayed dry most of the day here too RZW. Which felt almost odd. And it was light when I got home so I managed half a dog walk before it went dark, which feels encouraging.
Those of you that have seen Hamnet-is it long? It’s on at our local arts centre tomorrow night at 8 so I’m thinking of going, but I’m not feeling too great-think I’ve got a kidney infection coming -I get them about 4 times a year and I can tell when one is on the way, so I don’t want to be out late late.

Ouch, @piscofrisco , hope it doesn't develop. I don't think Hamnet was very long, about average - two hours or so. Of course the endless reel of adverts and trailers can make it seem a lot longer and is hard to predict.

I'm trying to think of a Valentine's gift for the gift-resistant husband who has everything. I know Valentine's Day is a silly hallmark holiday but it's just part of our tradition now and an excuse for a bit of treating ourselves at a time of year that seems to drag. He's very into chess at the moment so maybe something related...

@leporelloI’m the same regarding Valentine’s Day. I don’t really know what to get so if anything. Especially as his birthday is a couple of days after. So valentines date night is merged with his birthday meal. Was really organised this year and going to a posh restaurant. Cant wait. But actual gifts …

Hamnet is 2 hrs 6 mins @piscofrisco - I just spotted the run time as I was checking out showing times for Wuthering Heights. Kidney infections four times a year is horrendous! I take it you've been checked out by a consultant urologist?

I don't do valentines day as I don't engage in romantic attachments. I did spot some gorgeous flowers in Tesco though and am tempted to treat myself.

I have not. Gp said it was to do with peri. I need to chase it up but it’s so hard to even get through to out dr’s . Tried to get an appointment this morning, all run out online by 8.05 am having opened at 8
i love a bit of Valentine’s Day. I think it stems from
when I lived in Canada where it’s a big deal.

That's shocking. Recurrent UTIs are common in perimenopause, but if you grow cultures / progress to a kidney infection on a regular basis, then a referral to urology should be made. Hope you get sorted for an appointment. I keep this in my purse at all times, so hot foot it to your pharmacy if you can't get a GP appt as they can now prescribe antibiotics for urine infections in females.

Hope the infection doesn't emerge @piscofrisco - they're so horrible.

I am not at Nigel levels of calm and tidy but I have packaged up four sacks of clothes for charity. And I did a meal plan for the rest of the week last night and have groceries arriving today - looking forward to a sausage and bean stew and a Mexican bean thing.

I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day for an assortment of reasons including a quite traumatic event that happened in our town on the day when I was young, plus general schooldays teasing and commercialism and advertising and stuff... but equally no objections to other people doing it, and it's always nice to give/ receive presents. I'm thinking I might buy myself some rose and violet creams for the occasion though, because I like them!

I rather like "I don't engage in romantic attachments" as a statement @RainbowZebraWarrior . My last relationship just sort of faded out as we were both too busy and didn't prioritise it, but we're still friends now. Sometimes I miss companionship and cuddling, and I'm not saying never, but I've had some awful relationships and life feels much calmer and safer as it is right now.

Im afraid I'm on my hobby horse with this one, so I will just add that if you ring for an appointment with UTI symptoms, and no standard appointments are left, then the Reception staff should offer an urgent appointment, which they keep aside for this reason (well one of many; they have a list)

That's massively impressive - Four Sacks! - I'm trying to do at least a bag a week. DD is driving me insane though as I was just starting to enjoy my new conservatory when she started a jigsaw in there last night and it's a tip. I could have cried. I've told her if it is left for weeks on end, I shall burn it (I jest, but at the same time, I am so done with her many hobbies that last 5 minutes)

I have now bought what I need from Vinted. Stocked up on bargainous candles for next winter, bought some more clothing in the next size down etc and am all set with a summer wardrobe so I'll be deleting the app for a while to remove temptation.

I've just been awarded free heart shaped crumpets as my Little Treat this week from Waitrose. My order is actually due on valentines day so I've stuck a cheap meal deal on for us too. Not the posh one, that would be wasted on DD; the 'chicken and chips' one with some veggie sides and chocolate puds. I am likley setting myself up for some crazy substitutions now... 🤣

I feel the same about life feeling calmer and easier by not being in a relationship @martha79 I pursued 'relationship perfection' for many years until I finally realised it simply isn't for me. Menopause makes this very simple - for me - now as I miss neither affection or companionship

I have been trying to call the dr’s for 56 mins. In a phone line but at work so can’t really stay in jt much longer.
I’ve ordered some antibiotics from Superdrug online which should come tomorrow (21 quid but needs must). But I do need this looked at properly. The dr’s website suggests going to the urgent care centre if you’d can’t get an appointment but the nearest one that isn’t Peterborough an and e is in Spalding so 50 minutes away from home. And I don’t think it warrants an and e yet.

I e never had a violet or rose cream
@martha79but I think I would very much enjoy one.

@RainbowZebraWarrior it does suggest that I had far too many clothes to begin with though - I've held on to stuff for years. Now I just have the job of sending the packages off one at a time because that's all I can manage to carry to the parcel locker. And then I need to wrangle all the clothes back into the wardrobes. And stop looking at dungarees and tank tops on Vinted (I think I've been watching too many 1940s programmes).

@piscofrisco I really hope you can get to see someone soon. If you like sort of floral (and sweet) flavours you'd probably like rose and violet creams. I'm also a big fan of parma violets.

Oh, I started Bridgerton! Very much enjoying it.

I see the British Museum has raised the funds needed to keep the Tudor Heart Pendant permanently. Hurrah!

Yes I heard that on the news. I am going to go and see it. We have a metal detector and somehow we have never found a Tudor pendant. I can’t explain it!

@piscofrisco bloomin heck mate that sounds horrendous. What a palava - I hope it holds off for the antibiotics to arrive.

Really pleased to see the Tudor heart in the news - it was amazing to be stood in front of it on our recent day trip to London. How lovely to have been saved for the nation and how fantastic for the metal detectorist.

@martha79 I adore rose and violet creams. I kept seeing an advert for them on some of the socials/ sites I use. I think I will go to hotel chocolate and buy a mini pack to indulge. We don’t “do” valentines here as I dislike over-commercialised “holidays” intensely. I tell DH that every day is Valentine’s Day here.

I want to know where my heated swimming pools, smiling hotel staff and huge buffet breakfast have gone. See also sun. Sigh. I did have a lovely day organising things in my office ready for the half term ahead (I’m working a little during the half term break too).