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!

It's so interesting hearing about teenagers considering AI when looking at future careers - I hadn't even used email until I went to uni (and then we were let loose with barely-monitored internet access). It is scary though how fast things are progressing.

Enjoyed today's CC chapter and reading about Nigel's variety of reading material. I'm quite a sporadic reader these days but this thread has helped me get back into the habit - and realise it's fine to do just a chapter a day or a page or whatever works. Here's my current bedside table pile (top and bottom ones I've read before)...

Oh it's pleased me no end to see that Hannah Hauxwell memoir there. An absolute warrior of a woman. I used to love seeing her on our local news channel as a child, and then later, watch her worldwide fame. I'm also rather interested in the Atlas of Happiness. I'm currently browsing 2 for 1 deals on Audible, and contemplating a book called The Art of Rest by Claudia Hammond.

Mine has been on for just under an hour now and is scenting the conservatory nicely. I also bought them off the back of the Christmas bargain threads. Easily one of my best purchases of the year.

Greetings everyone!

I haven't checked in since Christmas Eve but have been thinking about you all, and have enjoyed reading the last few CC entries and 100+ posts on this thread this afternoon.

Our Christmas was lovely - possibly one of the best i've ever had, despite my concerns about it not being the usual routine and my lack of control of the day. I really must learn to relax in 2026.

The last couple of days have been less lovely- mainly due to challenges around FiL's health which made it quite difficult staying there and also really opened our eyes to what MiL is dealing with every day.

I'm quite pleased to find myself in synch with Nigel today, despite having been separated from my CC book. I felt an overwhelming need for soup today! Without a turkey carcass, I haven't used his CC soup recipe (I almost always use this) but have instead made his winter soup recipe from Appetite - it is simmering away now and smells amazing (even if I did use stock cubes rather than a ham bone). I think Appetite is my very favourite cookbook of all time. I need to look out for some reduced stuffing in the supermarkets as I like to use this in the Simple Sausage Supper recipe from the book, as a post-christmas meal, rather than actual sausages.

My yule log turned out very well from Christmas day. So much so, I think i'll be taking requests from next year onwards!

Like Nigel, I have also turned to books as well as soup today! I received quite a few books for Christmas, plus a new kindle, so have spent the afternoon on the sofa reading, while the soup blips.

I also have that Atlas of Happiness book. I keep it by my bed and tend to open at random pages whenever i've had a bad day. It's good to read about different ways of finding joy and then thinking about how I can incorporate these into my life.

Best wishes to all, especially those struggling with worries, grief and health over the festive period.

@PricklyBob I love dipping into random bits of that book too.

@RainbowZebraWarrior the Hannah Hauxwell book (and the programmes) is a really comfort thing for me. She was very wise about life I think - this quote about marriage always sticks with me...

Oh how strange, I was thinking of Hannah Hauxwell last night.
There are lots of candle warmers on Vinted, if anyone fancies one- I'm going to try one.

Morning all. No CC entry today, so a chance to catch up (for me, at least; I'm a few chapters behind on Audible)

Bit of a lazy day here planned for us, although I have to clear the lounge of final gifts and advent calendars so that the engineer coming tomorrow can sort the broadband. I also have to drain and dosconnect the dishwasher ready for the new one arriving on NYE. Bit clueless about this.

I don’t think the dishwasher can be particularly hard. The inlet pipe needs turning off I would think, and the little out pipes need to sit in a bucket.

Did you say it’s been a while since it was used? It may not have any residual water if so.

I’m a fan of YouTube for anything like that. Just specify ‘draining and disconnecting dishwasher UK’ in case US dishwashers have different pipe arrangements!

Thanks. I suppose it's not so much clueless, as yet another thing I'm physically incapable of that I find frustrating and upsetting. It's been about 4 weeks since use, so I'll have a look. I did look at a youtube video, and it suggested removing the filter and scooping out water, then mopping inside with a teatowel. I might just be able to do that sat on my perch stool. I'll get DD to switch off the isolator tap as I can't get on the floor or under the sink. If it needs pulling out, then that's totally beyond me, so I hope the guys from JL will be ok with that. Kind of tough if they aren't, really.

Morning folks! Still full of festive lurgy here 🤢. I've just got up to re rinse yesterday's wash load & tumble dryer it...discovered my dad has transferred me £200! So, that made getting up a bit brighter. Won't be rushing to spend it...I'm off back to sleep when the dryer's done 💤.

Thanks for the birthday wishes for dd2 yesterday 😊. She says she's not fussed about doing anything when we're better but I feel dreadful about it - dd1's 16th was all singing/all dancing 🥳. I need a think!

We are coming tomorrow until the 1st @LillianGishthankyou for those ideas :)

and a Happy Monday to everyone else. At work so trying to have a catch up on break. Chilly on the farm today and the neighbouring farm is holding a shoot so it’s very loud!

Morning! Very very cold here. The water tank was frozen this morning. We've had a nice walk with the dogs and we're going to take the binoculars out to look at seals before lunch.

Bon voyage @piscofrisco If you want a restaurant recommendation, I would suggest La Marine on the Canal St Martin. Great food, great atmosphere, traditional zinc bar - we take all our visitors there and they always want to go back!

Thankyou @LillianGish

It's bitter, and the forecast is even more so. I'm spending a bit of time prepping in the next few days for the temperature drop and possible snow this weekend. More logs and kindling to be delivered, salt bins topped up, de-icer placed next to the front door, and the thermals have been pulled from the wardrobe (quite late this year!)

I'm quite behind with the book as I keep falling asleep trying to listen to it in bed 😅

Lovely frosty this morning, so beautiful that DH came with me for a walk (he's not very outdoorsy so him volontairily coming was a nice surprise). It was the first time I'd done that particular walk since losing DDog (it was our favourite circuit, last time he managed it was late spring) so it was difficult at times, I really do miss him.

Last year's Christmas pudding was delicious and none of us died, so that's a bonus. We've only had 2 meals of bubble and squeak so I got the amounts pretty much spot on this year. Our cheese board is still good, just the right amount there too as we all love cheese and it means we can have several meals without cooking.

I bought myself another couple of nice candles, the brand this time is Durance (also made localish), they smell lovely.

DH has prunned the tree and I'm now sorting through the branches (some make good poles for growing summer veg). I also need to prune several other plants right back and am trying to do it over the next few days whilst it's nice and sunny but I keep running out of spoons 🙄

Good luck with the dishwasher @RainbowZebraWarrior

Sorry you're still poorly @lucysmam

Am enjoying the Paris tips @piscofrisco and @LillianGish - I've only been once but have vague plans for a trip with a friend 'soon' (she hates flying but has recently been on the Eurostar for the first time and is now a big fan of that).

It's definitely getting colder. Wouldn't mind a bit of bright crisp weather.

Have banned myself from cooking for the next few days as the fatigue/ clumsiness is bad and I burned my finger with some hot sugar in a mince pie incident last night.

Had a visit from a friend today with some belated Christmas presents including this lovely addition to the 'read throughout the year' collection:

I do hate the fatigue clumsiness and poor judgement. I am dropping stitches and have a burn to testify. How has your dishwasher adventure been, @RainbowZebraWarrior ? I was thinking about you when you mentioned the problem emptying jars for the honey. I don’t think it would help you, but we used to lift the whole tray up onto the worktop to make emptying easier.

We’ve had a lovely morning out, at Hardwick Hall. We are recovering in the sofa watching Pride and Prejudice. Such a lovely comfort watch!

My socks are about to have toes, which is of great excitement!

That sounds lovely @PrizedPickledPopcorn (the Hardwick Hall and now P&P on the sofa bit; although I originally read that you were in the process of re covering the sofa and thought, wow! That's adventurous 😁

I was a bit dismayed to see loads of standing water in the bottom of the dishwasher, remembering that it aborted its last cycle half way through. Anyway. I managed to stick it on a half load short wash and it has magically drained ittself! Ill get DD to turn off the tap then just wave my cane pathetically at the chaps when they arrive (I've paid for removal and installation, it just said to empty and drain the current machine).

Going forward, I'm going to try different methods for honey jar sterilising as I wouldn't be able to lift a loaded rack out. I'm thinking of some sort of set up with a small table beside me.

DD has scoffed almost all the soup I made yesterday so we have a deal. I've written down the recipe and will get everything ready tonight, she will make another pan in the morning. I have a sausage roll wreath and some fresh pigs in blankets with a use by of tomorrow, so it's a double pork affair for my dinner this evening!

I'm up to date with Nigel and my new telly is in situ. Going to pop to see my Mum for an hour, now, and then I'll be back before it's properly dark so look forward to hibernation. These last few days with the lights twinkling are to he cherished. I reckon the tree will need to go out into the garden on New Year's Day.

Afternoon all
we have Panto round 2 this evening (youngster’s friends are on this one) So I expect we are going to be back to Christmas feeling!

we haven’t had a true lazy, just us, day yet and won’t until 4th January- I feel a bit cheated. I need to do the Christmas crossword tomorrow, to completion and paint some wooden models

we didn’t plan out at all!

Some lovely relaxation going on, although I’m sorry to read of some enforced rest. I must admit, I’m wondering how I will get up for work next week - I slept for 10 hours last night and could have gone for longer! I often suffer from insomnia, so it’s great to have had a decent sleep - I could do a nap right now though! I hope you are able to have some rest @martha79

Get well soon @lucysmam

@piscofrisco how lovely to be off to Paris. I look forward to hearing of your adventures.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I supervised the Christmas dinner cooking from a chair next to the oven/ hob. Worked well and I’m wondering why I didn’t do it previously.

With the temperature dropping so low over night here (-3⁰ last night, -5⁰ forecast tomorrow night) even my veranda plants are struggling so I decided to harvest the chilis and peppers to make jam. Got just under 1kg from 4 plants!

Obviously I didn't wear gloves whilst prepping them, I'm just glad I'm not wearing my contacts today 😬

I've made this soup a LOT this winter - it's one of those meal in a bowl things, and incredibly filling. You absolutely have to have fresh dill, though - I use 2 supermarket packs for 2 large salmon fillets. It's very, very comforting, provided of course that you like salmon and dill! I prefer to chop things a lot finer than this recipe suggests. https://cookingtheglobe.com/finnish-salmon-soup-lohikeitto/

Love the look of the salmon soup. I have entire side of salmon and fresh dill in the fridge, so this could be a good way to use everything up.

@LillianGish your restaurant recommendation looks great, I have saved for the future travels to Paris. We went to Hestia near Notre Dame, it was great but pricey. The other two dinner places we just walked in and both were disappointing.

@AlicePottery what absolutely beautiful colours!