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!

Oh dear, @EphemeraleEudemonia ! At least the Italy bits will be something to look forward to!

We’ve been to the museum of childhood at Sudbury. It was lovely, but very chilly!

Hello all and Happy Christmas Eve. I had to give myself some permission to rest, today. I tried to prep the roast potatoes and immediately cut my finger, so went back to bed for an hour or so, as I know when physical and emotional burnout is close.

Being a human being is a complex thing, eh? And at this time of year, it's even more pronounced with the expectations and efforts easily doubled. Whilst we appreciate the privilege of being alive, and the joy we can derive from the small things, the bigger things seem thrown to the forefront and amplified. As always, I say we need to be kind to ourselves and give our minds and bodies space to reflect and recover from what has been a busy month / year.

Sending so much love to you all. This thread, once again, has been a joy this year. We have much of the CC yet to come, but I kust want to take this opportunity to thank you all for your input, your company, and your honesty. I know it's often difficult to keep up, what with all of life's demands, but I do hope I still 'see' you all here in the New Year. Even if you're just lurking.

@piscofrisco thinking of you after you shared that about your DD. I will never forget your kindness from last year, sending me the candle I couldn't find, and our beloved little Party Mouse.

@EphemeraleEudemonia massive, but gentle hugs to you my lovely. You've been an inspiration and a font of knowledge over the years. To hear of you struggling so much hurts my heart. I hope you have some time to relax a little in the coming days. Also sending healing thoughts.

Two soups made me smile @Bimblesalong as did the photo of your candle cupboard ❤️

Hearing some of you talk about how you've felt after having a massage reminds me of what a privilege it was for me when I was a massage therapist.

Go gently, all and hope everyone attending Church services this evening can take joy and comfort from it.

I agree @RainbowZebraWarrior, being a human is complicated. I've decided to come back as a cat (in a nice home) in my next life.

I’ve got the opposite. I would very much like to go out. My mother has now arrived and can’t be persuaded. DH is upset as missing the DSS’s and just received a weird and abusive message from their new step dad (like Eastenders. God help us).
Im opening the wine.

Rest up @RainbowZebraWarrioryou truly deserve it. and as ever, thankyou so much for this thread!

dont do yourself a nasty @EphemeraleEudemoniatake it easy please.

i hope you had a lovely afternoon with your friend @martha79and may your second loaf rise beautifully @Bimblesalong.

im very sure your deserts will be prefer @PricklyBoband your baking delicious @DarkEyedSailor

I love picturing you all cooking and seeing your pals and doing things with horns and etc. (not in a weird way!)

That cut finger, @RainbowZebraWarrior … such a familiar thing. When I drop something, burn myself, splash something, or otherwise misjudge things in some way, that’s a warning bell that I’m overdoing it and need to stop,

And it’s a time of year when relationships which are a bit rocky really get highlighted. Not a Christmas has passed as an adult, when I haven’t been sad about someone. It’s how we build those moments of recognition in, whether it’s loss which is generally straightforward or just complexity- the disappointing child, taxing elderly parent, or the person spending time with your children when you’d rather they were with you. So hard to navigate.

DS2’s girlfriend is here for the first time, and they are moving into a new place together, so the end of an era really.
💐💐 for everyone!

Very wise @PrizedPickledPopcorn

Taking things nice and slowly here, we've prepped most of the food for tomorrow so won't have to spend too much time in the kitchen hopefully. I am super proud of my Yorkshire puddings 🥳 so I'm sharing a photo 😂

Sending positive vibes to everyone and thinking about loved ones no longer with us, pets included ❤

I hope that everyone is taking a moment to decompress. It is hard to, I know, and involves a certain level of privilege (e.g. help with things/ people/ pets). We have peeled everything, I have made what ever can be made ahead for tomorrow, put this evening’s food in the oven and my feet are up. We are all to church for a service which many in the village usually attend, then DH and I are popping round to a close friend’s for a little while. I’ll be too tired to attend the midnight service but will listen to the bells from bed.

Both my adult DS’s are planning secret surprises - they keep me going.

You’re absolutely right, @RainbowZebraWarrior and @PrizedPickledPopcorn , a warning that we are overdoing things.

@EphemeraleEudemonia I hope things are working out for you today, you’ve had rather a lot happen that needs rest.

This has, once again, become a very special thread.

-Nigel Christmas tree on Instagram alert!-🎄

It’s here!!

Yep, the tree is up! I hope there's enough lametta for you all? Merry Christmas everyone. I'm balancing lametta (NVN) with Carols from King's (VN)! :D

Adding to the baking photos - my pavlova. It's now decimated...🤣

It's a thing of beauty @petitpasta

Hurrah and at last for Nigel's tree! 'Tis Christmas proper, now.

Delicious looking Yorkshire puddings, too @AlicePottery DDs favourite food. She says she's booking a flight to yours next Christmas!

Broadband and TV are off here. Engineer coming out on 30th. No big deal as I've no idea what's on TV anyway, so I'm off to bed to watch a bit of Detectorists on my phone before lights out (and DD and I putting presents out for each other)

Goodnight and hope Santa / Father Christmas is good to you all!

Merry Christmas @RainbowZebraWarrior and the The Nigel contributors.

@RainbowZebraWarriorMerry
Christmas to you both and to all on this thread 🎄

Merry Christmas everyone! My parents arrived today and have behaved so far although my dad asked me three times what I was doing (‘making a Yule log, the same as I was last time you asked’). We had salmon for dinner which was very delicious. And said Yule log (if DD sends a photo I will attach it. I made the cake, DD1 iced it, DD3 made marzipan accoutrements)
My children washed up and bless them DD2 even mopped the floor
i am sitting down for the first time in I think four days. We are as ready as we will be.
DH popped our cards to the neighbours and was made to go in and drink beer 🙄🙄 but rather him than me, he’s good at all that neighbourly bonhomie malarkey.

We just had a fun games night and buffet at my brother's and I'm now in bed with stockings done and the house tidy and quiet. Happy Christmas to everyone and particularly @RainbowZebraWarrior for creating such a comforting, positive and supportive thread. It's been a joy to follow and I hope everyone manages to have a good Christmas day despite the various family, personal and health things going on for so many x

I am as ready as I'll ever be!

I've pressed my Maslin pan into being a potato boiling pan, the veg, vege PiB, meat PiB, nut roast and stuffing (x 2) are now complete. The Christmas beef is in its sauce in the slow cooker (thick slices of medium rare topside of beef, in red wine, chestnut mushrooms and pancetta sauce).

I have worked out the timings for the turkey. It is the first time I've ever cooked a whole turkey. I've always cooked a turkey crown before. It's a free range, farm fresh white turkey, from less than 2 miles away from us. I'm also vegetarian. But, I shall do my best. A couple of hours upside, then 45 mins right way up, with a lattice of butchers smoked streaky bacon.

Thank you @RainbowZebraWarrior for this precious thread. It's the furthest I've made it, this year, but it has been so lovely getting to know you all.

I am just finishing a well earned glass of Calvados, and then will be straight to bed.

Have a wonderful Christmas all.

Christmas Day

Ringing bells and a roasting goose

Christmas morning, and my day begins with the ringing of church bells. There is a delightful online source called Bells on Sunday, an archive of Bell ringing from churches around the country.

(No images posted today; they are a bit 'meat heavy')

It snowed a bit in France where we are about midnight last night, just a few flakes, not entirely sure that meets the official definition of “White Christmas” but I’m going to take it anyway!!

Oysters and foie gras last night, feeling a bit ropey now but nothing a bit more sleep and a paracetamol won’t sort out hopefully….. happy Christmas to everyone 💚

Happy Christmas all, and especially @RainbowZebraWarrior for 'hosting' us all here 🙂

I've brought a cup of tea (nice chai from the advent calendar) back up to bed with today's chapter. There's no snow but it's cold and crisp, and my birdsong app tells me that it's a robin appropriately leading today's dawn chorus.

I've bookmarked the parsnip loaf recipe from yesterday as I think I might need it in the coming days!

Happy Christmas to you all x

Happy Christmas all!