The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2025 - Part 3

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, and welcome to Part 3. 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)

For anyone new, it's a challenge to see of you can pick up the book as 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!

I hope everyone who is unwell is feeling like they've turned a corner this morning.

We are trying to maintain a usual bedtime over Christmas in this household but we have started to drift. It was 1.10 am last night.

I'm making the morning coffee and then I'll listen to Uncanny. Which is a bit Nigel because his builders thought he had a ghost but he's not woo at all - i think it was in his last book. He does have a lovely house and garden.

Morning all, and happy Christmas eve, eve!

I felt awful yesterday. Utterly rotten. I think not having enough to do doesn't help. Early night was had and up and out at 7.15am to collect my M&S food. Arrived early, fourth in the queue. They opened the collection point early and I was out of the store before 8. Went go a greggs on the way home which was empty and snaffled DD some vegan sausage rolls, then quickly called in to mini Tesco and mini Sainsbury's to grab some bits that are going to be missing from my Mum's order today. Home before the sun rose!

Hope you're all feeling better soon @piscofrisco you've all been plagued with illness this winter and deserve a break. My candle stash has worked out well too, although I was ruthless yesterday and chucked some half burned ones that I just didn't like (lifes too short; one of them - smoked vanilla - smelled like cheap joss sticks!)

I used to get a regular food waste box from the Bread and Butter thing @PrizedPickledPopcorn but I've knocked back this week's. It has the potential to have some great goodies in, its more likely to stress me out finding places for and using it all. Plus I'm screwed if it's largely meat based as theres only me and DD and DD is veggie..

Right, off back out again

@Celiathebanshee I just make it up. It will probably involve roasting carrots, onions, garlic in skin (which will then be squeezed out). I may soak some red lentils to add, and also put in some miso paste for depth of flavour.

@Hesse thanks, I’m off to rehab for the leg, apparently! Veg wise, we are vegetarian so it’s a big feature. We have a mushroom wellington for a main. Otherwise it is an absolute ton of roast potatoes, honey roast parsnips, red cabbage (already in the freezer), roast cauliflower in cheese sauce, sprouts with chestnuts, carrots (steamed), broccoli. There will also be mini Yorkshire puddings and a nice flavoursome veggie gravy. I make a lot, so we just graze on it for the rest of the day!

@piscofrisco have a good day at work, hope you can take it steady and that you and DD are soon feeling better to enjoy your break.

@AlicePottery argh! Yes, it is in your mind but I hope it turns up.

@RainbowZebraWarrior and Nigel, thanks for the blue cheese reminder. I need it for tonight’s root roast with blue cheese and spinach!

Panic over, I finally found it this morning where I first looked and the added bonus is that I now have a tidy bedroom 😅 Re the reassuring comments about it all being there in my brain, sadly it very much isn't thanks to long covid and perimenopause 😂

Anyway DH has decided to do the big shop this morning after going to the gym at silly o'clock, so I'm now sending him The List and frantically trying to sort the fridge out before he returns.

We went present shopping in the big shopping centre yesterday morning, it was fine until just after lunch (by which time we'd finished thankfully) so I'm relieved that's done too. Now just waiting on some deliveries and watching the news nervously as the farmers are still very much blocking the main roads 😬 I do wish we'd do things like that when we go on strike, would have much more of an impact than just not going into work for a day.

Love the sheep wrestling photo @piscofrisco😂😂

Happy Christmas Eve Eve.

@RainbowZebraWarrior veggie chilli and spaghetti both sound like excellent choices.

@piscofrisco I'm impressed by your candle schedule. Good luck with the sheep!

@AlicePottery have you found the planner? [ah, you have while I was typing - good news!]

@PrizedPickledPopcorn am excited to hear what's in your food waste box!

No cheese for me as my stomach really isn't a fan - sometimes I'll have a little bit but while I'm already feeling under the weather that doesn't seem like a good idea. Food is due to be delivered here soon - I've got a mixture of bits that need no/ minimal cooking, and some that require more effort if the energy shows up. So Christmas dinner may be party food/ crackers/ salad and bits and pieces. Or if it's a better day, I've got a ready-slow-cooked turkey leg that just needs heating, plus potatoes, parsnips and sprouts.

Briefly logging on to work to join in the final day online 'mince pie party' and say hello to everyone. Then (very gentle) massage this evening.

In a minor Christmas miracle, whilst bundling up pyjamas and dressing gown to wash, I've found my nice silk pillowcases that have been AWOL for several months, so that feels like a small treat!

Well so much for sorting the fridge out, I have been catnapped.

Oh no, it's catching!

He’s gorgeous @AlicePottery

@martha79 I hope you can have a steady day and how lovely to have a gentle massage booked later. I am trying to reach vertical hold still as my stomach is protesting about the new round of chemo tablets I’ve been put on. Gently does it for us both.

I hope everyone who needs to take things slowly at the moment is able to. Just remember the memories of Christmas are more about being with loved ones as opposed to what you eat or what gifts you receive/give. If you think back to past years I'm sure you can recall more easily who you were with rather than all the rest of it. Unless someone bought you a ferrari or something. You'd probably remember that.

The cat is now snoring. And sleeping with his eyes open. 😬

Oh and now his brother has joined us. This might be a nice side effect of having hot flashes 😂

Hello @RainbowZebraWarrior and all! 🎄🎄🎄

Hope you all are well and enjoying the season, and not too stressed!

DH and I have been very ill for the past 3 weeks; feeling just about back to normal today.

I'm having a duvet day today, snuggled up in bed. Everything is done, everything is sorted (we've been out the past two days running all the last minute errands) and I'm grateful for the chance to relax these next couple of days.

I rather feel as if the season has passed us by in a way, but that's ok. Thankfully I decorated early as otherwise I wouldn't have done a single thing. I haven't read any of CC at all since the beginning of Dec, and haven't kept up with the thread either...all I've been capable of is looking at beautiful Christmas inspiration and lots of snowy scenes on Instagram.

I hope each of you will have a truly wonderful Christmas. ✨✨✨

Good to hear from you, my lovely. You've been on my mind, and I was going to check in with you tomorrow if I hadn't heard anything. Pleased you will be able to relax a bit now. Hope you have a gentle and joyful glædelig jul ❤️

Sending the gentlest of hugs to both @martha79 and @Bimblesalong and hurrah for small wins.

Such beautiful, beautiful floof cats @AlicePottery and pleased to hear you found the planner. Hope things get through the blockades. I think sometimes when it's out of your control, you just have to relax and say what will be will be. I arrived in the Blue Mountains in Sydney one Christmas Eve as myself and my Swedish pals were professionally house sitting for two weeks. None of their suitcases came through through. We just went 'sod it' and got rather drunk. Ding Dong went the bell at midnight and a totally frazzled delivery driver stood there with two cases. Cue 3 very merry girls hugging him and calling him a Christmas Miracle / Santa Claus himself and trying to invite him in for a drink 🙈 The poor bloke scarpered back to his van sharpish. I came across some photos the other day from this crazy drunken evening. Happy days!

Lovely to see the Christmas cats. We can't have pets due to asthma and cat allergies but ds is definitely a cat person and would love one.

I'm sorry if I've not referenced things going on/difficult issues, but I haven't read back over the thread yet. Hugs and 💐 ☕ 🍰 🥂 or just general positive vibes and good wishes to anyone who needs it today.

Thank you very much @RainbowZebraWarrior and the same to you, DD and family/friends. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Disaster, Christmas ruined, AIBU to demand a refund, I expected better from Waitrose etc... my pigs in blankets go out of date tomorrow 😱😂

(Pigs in blankets for lunch today it is then).

Outrageous @martha79😂

I managed to get the fridge done before DH arrived home, we are now almost fully stocked for Xmas. I've roasted the veg to make the gravy, I'll finish that this afternoon. Half of the deliverys have arrived so I'm hopeful that the remaining things will arrive tomorrow 🤞🏻

afternoon Christmas Eve Eve all

H and I walked to get the meat order earlier plus some lychees, expensive but lovely

we need to wrap everything so very much on a Nigel calendar with this, it’s not a mountain but it’s enough, will do half today at least - on bed, Christmas film on, could be worse!

I think some classicalFM should get us moving

Loving the cat photos. What gorgeous floofsters. I miss my many cats from over the years. However, ds1 developed such an allergy that I can’t introduce any more to the house. I get pleasure from seeing other people’s photos. Here are my last two rescues, no longer with us, although the oldest lived to 21.

Bottom right photo, is that a small shopping bag, or an absolute whopper of a cat?

They're gorgeous!

Aww all the gorgeous floofies, I would be very sad if I couldn't have cats, allergies really suck.

Here’s my best boy, overcome by all the festive nonsense. The girl cat is freaked out by wrapping paper and trees and busy-ness and hiding on my bed currently biting (affectionately!) anybody who puts a hand out.

@SqueakyDinosaur she would have been proud to be called huge. She always was a lithe one whilst her litter mate was very very floofy.

@Celiathebanshee he is so very chilled - is he listening to jazz music? The girl cat definitely has the right idea, although I understand that it’s not allowed for humans to do the same (ie bite people who disturb a lie down).