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’ve made a rosti topping with capers to go on top of mine which I find is a bit lighter than mash. Salmon, sea bass and prawns in the filling (Delia stipulates turbot, but I couldn’t find any so substituted the bass which was on offer!)

@LillianGish it’s lovely reading about your plans for tonight - what a super thing to bring the New Year in twice. My French friends are having a feast and disco tracks up in their house in the Spanish forest. I have a playlist from them and will have a little boogie later, although I think tonight will be canapés, cheese, a little fizz and some jazz on the piano from me to DH. We may well have a little dance by the fireside and no doubt I’ll fall asleep early.

Evening all, just been catching up on all the posts.
I'm in bed feeling absolutely awful.

Sounds a lovely double New Year’s Eve @LillianGish
Pain about the dishwasher @RainbowZebraWarrior. Our washing machine won’t be even looked at until the 7th Jan and even then I don’t think they will be able to fix it-so more laundretting for us until then. Not impressed.
Im the odd one out on here as I’ve prepped nothing at all. Not even sure what we will do for food tomorrow though our Waitrose is open so will decide in the morning.
been out for our very early tea. DD’s getting ready to go out, then it will be just Dh, DSS2 and I and the doggies for the duration. Freezing cold out so at least we are cozy in the house. I think it very possible we will be asleep before midnight-but that’s fine. Last year was a bit rubbish really one way or another-I shan’t be that sorry to see it go.
I shall wish you all the Happiest of New Years now-and Thankyou for your company as ever over the last few months. This thread has been one of the very best things about Christmas for me :)

Oh, no! Get better soon, Sailor.

DD has had a total meltdown after we received our Chinese takeaway. She doesn't believe they cook their chips in vegetable oil and no persuading otherwise would appease her. Tbf, the menu doesn't have a single (v) for Vegetarian on it. They only seem concerned with GF.

I had to take her for three turns around the village to get her to calm down. It's freezing cold and we also have an unforecasted crazy wind. I was grateful that I chucked an extra chunky log on the stove before we left, so I could warm my hands on our return.

@piscofrisco your Spa day sounded lovely, although admittedly not what you had planned. When I was a Civil servant I had access to Seaham Spa for £10 via our Sports Club. It was amazing and I remember sitting in a steaming outdoor jacuzzi one day whilst it was snowing. Hope the washer gets sorted soon too. I was amazed recently to learn that it costs £20 for a service wash.

@LillianGish I must admit, if I had to partake in New Year's Eve celebrations, it would be yours. It sounds truly delightful sharing the different time zones / cultures. One of my best Christmases was having Swedish Christmas Eve dinner then British Christmas Day dinner while I was travelling. They will always remain the most special memories.

I've had a lovely message on MN tonight. Another poster asked months ago if anyone knew of a Hash Brown soft toy for her 5 year old as it was all she had asked Father Christmas for. I said I could make one, so fashioned something out of felt and packaged it up with no expectation. Apparently said 5 year old is now glued to her new friend and takes it everywhere.

This is the prototype I made (which I then had to keep for DD and replicate)

Ahh little fuzzy hash brown is amazing! 😍

Sorry DD has had a tough evening @RainbowZebraWarrior and about your dishwasher. Glad you had a warm stove to come home to.

I had a better day energy-wise today, I think the sunshine helped. Have still mainly been in bed since about 5pm though. Which is about when the fireworks started round here - it's not too loud at the moment but it's not doing wonders for my already jangly nervous system. Cats have been distracted by catnip so far - as ever I wish someone could find a substance that does the same for humans without any side effects.

I see Nigel has treated us to a Christmas tree close-up this evening!

Oh dear @RainbowZebraWarrior, is the simplest answer to your 'Chinese question' that surely veggie oil is the cheapest way to fry! So we're veggies and I can't believe that any take away/restaurant uses lard/animal fat to cook with, far to esoteric. :)

1 January. New Year's Day

A new loaf, soup and salad

The comfort of ritual, the reassurance of the familiar, is important to me. Doing repetitive, domestic things - kneading bread, stirring soup - on the same day each year helps me feel grounded. But that repetition must be seasoned with the new. I don't ever want to stand still. That way lies a score of missed opportunities, not to mention a certain atrophy, physical, emotional and culinary.

My point absolutely was this to her. Absolutely nobody is using lard or beef dripping these days. She's Autistic and goes on facts only and because I couldn't 'prove' anything and nor could the menu. I offered to ring and ask them but she was too upset. She has said I can ring and ask them next week and she will consider their responses for future reference. She's a sod for not eating out in general as she doesn't trust no cross contamination etc so I definitely need to build her trust on this.
Anyway, today is a new day. And a New Year, so Happy New Year all / blwyddyn newydd dda

Good morning and a happy New Year’s Day to you all. Ive woken up feeling ropey which seems quite unfair as i didnt drink much at all last night and so dont have the customary New Year’s Day hangover-just a rotten cold instead. The turn of the year doesn’t seem to have magically erased all the bugs going around in our house >>shakes fists at sky <<. That said I’ve to get up, do a two
hour round trip to get dss1 from his pals house where he spent NYE and then I plan a chilly dog walk, followed by soup making and steak and chips for tea if Waitrose will oblige me. (Can’t believe it’s open today, but thankful that it is). The DD’s have requested mushroom soup which I will do, and also going to do the thread salmon one.
Back to work tomorrow and I have a wassail session planned in the orchard for those co farmers that show up. I’m winging it slightly but I’m going to take a load of old ribbon for us to to decorate one of the trees and we can bang some pots and pans and sing some songs to them to encourage a good apple growing year and I might mull some apple juice in a slow Cooker for them. It will be quiet tomorrow I think with not many co farmers in so it will be a nice way to fill a session

can confirm our Chinese uses veg oil. I’ve seen the huge bottles out the back!

Our dogs were going bonkers at the fireworks all
last night @martha79I accept a few at midnight but why start at bloody 7pm!! Annoying.

anyway, hope everyone is feeling ok and better for those with the lurgy. I wonder if Nigel is a good patient when poorly. I think he would be quite grumpy with a cold.

Happy new year!

Agree on the veg oil, definitely see the big containers at Chinese takeaways. We have the odd chip shop that still fries in dripping but they make a big deal of advertising the fact.

Sorry you're feeling rough @piscofrisco and the dogs had a tough time with the fireworks. Your wassailing sounds fun.

I went to bed with sleep stories playing through noise cancelling headphones, and an eye mask on, and still got woken up by the noise at midnight - straight out of sleep into a massive panic attack. I know it was a purely physical reaction but blimey, not pleasant.

Quiet day here - unlike Nigel I will not be inventing anything new. Currently in bed with both cats pinning me down - it's unusual for them to settle so close to each other but I think they had a rough night too.

Ah, @martha79 ! Poor you and poor cats. And poor @piscofrisco and @RainbowZebraWarrior ‘s DD, as well as @DarkEyedSailor

I hope everyone gets a calm NYD to recover with. I’m still in bed, mulling what to do. It’s been a slightly flat couple of days in all honesty. DS2 has moved out to live with his GF. The PiLs are not doing too well so we’ve been chatting about what we need to do for them- attendance allowance forms, PoA, carers etc.
I’m wondering whether to try and cheer ourselves up with some manufactured fun, or to just lean into it and do cosy home things- checking ingredients for tomorrow’s baking, a bit of sewing as the machines are set up, and various other home based bits and bobs.

Sending gentle hugs to you @martha79 as that sounds scary. We were woken dead on midnight by the loud but brief spurt of fireworks by our village, erm, enthusiast. We wished each other happy new year then thankfully went straight back to sleep.

Myself and Darcy are impatiently waiting for DD to wake up. Our new tradition (as per DDs request) is to go round Big Sainsbury's with a scanner and see what bargains we can find then down to the beach. It's not exactly the most quaint tradition in the world, but I'll take it.

Will work on the food issues with DD eventually. She doesn't do chip shops either (tbf, neither do I) and now also doesn't trust that McDonalds cook their fries separate to the chicken nuggets (I know they have an entirely separate station for it) but for now I'm just going to let her come out of the obsession in her own time as reasoning tends to make it worse.

Sorry to hear about the cold @piscofrisco it's never flipping ending eh? Wassailing sounds great though. I'd love to partake in that! I might have a brief solo session at the bottom of the garden myself tonight with the fruit trees. <hunts out some old bread>

I've tidied away some Christmas decs / repurposed some lights, so lots of things will be staying with us for the remainder of the winter, just not on or around the tree IYSWIM. Plenty of lights and candles to see us through the next couple of months.

WIBU to crash about a bit? I'm bored and I want to go out.

Happy new year to everyone.

For the first time in years I'm working today (and yesterday) It's a big match on today so the pub will be heaving, only doing 5 hours though so tonight I will be cooking a piece of Gammon and making parsley sauce, one of Dhs favourites.

I'm a bit low today truth be told, I don't seem to be able to conjure up any positive thoughts for the year ahead, I'm still coughing and just generally feeling ugh. At least the days are becoming longer.

Much love to all on this lovely little corner of the interweb!

Happy New Year!

Everyone's days sound lovely. I'm going to have a bath shortly. I feel a lot more human! My sister in law is coming for dinner with us and we're having a nice quiet day.

@thebabessavedme this thread helped me feel a bit more focussed about the new year. I never do NY resolutions, but have made an intention for the year we have started. I want to end the year more accomplished and fitter than I begin it! Sock 2 is a massive improvement on sock 1 so I’m off to a good start!

((I’m a Jill of all trades, but never focus for any time on anything. I have been getting compliments on a scarf I crocheted ten years ago, and is the only crochet project I have done/completed. I have made sewn dresses in the past, made curtains and recovered cushions. I want to rediscover my making mojo and actually get competent at some skills! I’m very much motivated by ‘the current need/project’ rather than anything consistent.))

@RainbowZebraWarrior you absolutely should crash about a bit! Get the bargain hunting off to a good start! Hopefully there will be some treats to eat at the beach.

I do believe in leaning into it a bit when times are tough or we feel a but down. I think it's also entirely natural for the time of year too. I've also learned not to plan or expect too much of myself, but find that small wins make me feel accomplished. Thus, the first thing I did this morning was to renew my car tax online. Done. Tick. Accomplished.

We are all finally up! (Darcy and I may have sat on the bottom of the bed gently purring to awaken the snoozing DD) The Big Man of the house has finally performed his Premier Pawing duties. Here he is crossing the threshold and having a snifter of his 'Brandy' whilst doing so. DD thinks I have lost the plot after she saw me filling the Brandy glass with cold tea. I care not 😁

What’s the old bread for @RainbowZebraWarrior? I’ve never wassailed….do we chuck it at the trees?

hang in there @thebabessavedmenewbyesr is a weird time for lots of people. Not the happy hopeful event it’s billed as-the problems are often the same on the 1st Jan as they are on the 31st December. I think of January as chief hibernation and slow be kind to yourself month. My reset usually comes in Spring if at all. Hopefully the atmosphere in the pub will be convivial.

Happy New Year to you all. New Year is a strange time, isn't it? I find it a bit melancholy.

Support to everyone going through difficult times.

I hope 2026 brings good things to all of you on this thread. I lurk mostly, but this is such a comforting corner of mumsnet.

The bread needs to be toasted then sprinkled / soaked with cider. The slices are then placed among the branches as offerings to the spirits (IIRC) but also to the Robins.

Those robins will be struggling to fly after the cider.

Happy New Year 🎊✨🎊✨🌨️🌨️🌨️. Snowing here in Scotland

Good Morning! (Just...but still morning!).

Wishing you all a happy, and peaceful new year.

Glad to see you're feeling more human @DarkEyedSailor , be careful not to over-do it though!

I'm also feeling much brighter today, poor dd2 is still vomiting 😥. A very unexciting NYD here - dd1 has gone to work at Southwell races - they apparently have very few of their own staff so borrow from our racecourse every meet. She doesn't mind - they pay for travel time on the coach too! I'll be steadily pottering, trying to start to bring some order back before Monday rolls round <sigh>.

Might start in the fridge of abandoned cheesy dreams - I know the chicken the girls dad wanted to eat didn't get eaten so will now need to be chucked (why he couldn't just let me freeze is beyond me 🤷‍♀️)...Probably a hefty chunk of the contents are past best by now. Which is sad, such a waste. It's my one truly indulgent "chuck it in" shop of the year.

Very much looking forward to quietly catching up with CC with a candle, over the weekend. Lots of quiet and slow needed. But, purposeful quiet and slow 😊

Small win - I bought a Snowflake Cookie candle on Vinted for £8...arrived yesterday wrapped in bubble wrap only, no fragile sticker. Amazingly, intact! Could I chuff sniff test it last night to make sure it smelled right before clicking "everything ok". Just had a sniff while clearing the table of various dumped stuff from the week, & it is indeed right 😊! Very happy to have a backup - it's getting quite hard to find.

Happy new year to the women of the best thread on Mumsnet!

A slow day here. Currently roasting a ruinous expensive leg of lamb (nearly £42 from our local butcher 😮, it smells amazing though). Lunch for 6 - roast lamb with redcurrant and red wine gravy, goose fat roasted potatoes, roast carrots, tenderstem broccoli and leek gratin followed by lemon tart and sticky toffee pudding) then a relax with a book this afternoon. Back to work tomorrow, although I am hoping for a quiet day as most of my managers are still off and the teams below them are running on minimum staffing. Will use the time for planning for this year.

I have decided I will try making no knead bread this year so I've been googling recipes this morning. If anyone has suggestions I am all ears / eyes.