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!

@RainbowZebraWarrior yes, I'm trying to be sensible with craft purchases...hence finishing off before starting. I've finished two today - some crochet snowflakes from goodness knows when that needed hangers, and a paint by numbers. The snowflakes will go nicely on display once blocked overnight - goodness knows where the painting will go 🤔.

@DarkEyedSailor I see your furry muff, and raise you a narwhal plush muff with hot water bottle insert 🤣. It never leaves the house but I do love it.

That sounds quite the fall @PrizedPickledPopcorn ! Hopefully you're not too sore 💐.

*display at work - not here. I think they were just something I wanted to master when I first learned crochet.

A winter Wonderland indeed! The forecast is changing like the proverbial wind, and our next dumping of snow, which was originally not supposed to hit us until tomorrow morning, is now looking like it might come at around 1am.

One thing that I don't think Nigel has ever mentioned about snow, which I've enjoyed today is identifying bird and animal prints in the snow. The birds are fairly obvious, but I love seeing rabbit and fox tracks, as well as smaller rodents. Something to include in CC #2 eh, Nigel if you're reading. I particularly like seeing rabbit tracks as you can always spot the little puff of the tail after the hind legs.

A furry muff is indeed a wondrous thing @DarkEyedSailor (sniggers aside) My Mum has always opined as to why they went out of fashion. She remembers herself and all the other girls turning up at school with hand and ear muffs. Thinking about it, they are probably dangerous as you'd not be able to stop yourself if you fell. I do also love a hat with ear flaps too.

@martha79 I feel like Michelin Man, I have so many layers on, so I definitely get the restricted movement. I am largely prone atm, save for peeping out of the window every now and again to check for more snow activity.

Why can't we just hibernate for the whole of winter like bears?

Muffs are excellent for sitting in sledges while rugged men drive you around. In the absence of such opportunities, I stick to gloves!

Thank you for the sympathy- much appreciated! I do indeed have a variety of sore patches, including my shoulder. FOOSH is now in my vocab in case I need it again.

I could happily hibernate. My Fitbit has rated my sleep habit as ‘bear’. There were more exciting options, but I can’t complain about the accuracy of bear!

Good evening all,
Once again, I fell off of the thread. We all came down with (probably) Covid, straight after Christmas. Luckily the DC have been only mildly affected, but DH took to his bed for two days whilst I struggled on, looking after everyone
I've still no sense of smell or taste, and have backlash infections (bronchitis, sinusitis and a middle ear infection). Needless to say, I feel gorgeous right now 😂

Does anyone know, if lavender oil is relaxing, if you can't smell it? Sounds rather like a philosophy question!

Visited a steam.train (enthusiast), got some sea air, tried to keep going for the DC.

Already -2°C here, but only the lightest dusting of snow. We'll probably have rain tomorrow.

I've finally caught up on CC and this thread, it has been so lovely sneaking the peeks into so many, so different lives.

Am tucked up in bed, with a glass of red (can 'feel' the tannins), a scentless candle and 2 hot water bottles.

Evening! I’ve had a good catch up and admired the beautiful photos and talk of yummy food. Gosh what a balm this thread is.

I am sat with my feet inside my heated foot muff , thank you very much Lakeland Sale. I feel that I have reached peak French and Saunders. My yaktrax arrived today and have been applied to my shoes, very helpful along with my walking poles. And … really NVN, I have a pair of heated socks which run on a couple of rechargeable batteries which tuck into sock pockets! If only I could have had these in the years of playground duty, I’d not have suffered the terrible chilblains.

My client today was given the option to rearrange but battled through the snow and finally made it 1 1/2 hours after our original start time. Snow has fallen snow on snow, as they say. It’s been between -6 and 0 all day. It’s cold overnight but looks to be getting above zero tomorrow afternoon. It’s very pretty and pretty deadly.

I need some heated socks!!

I have lurked on this thread and the year round one since last autumn and it really is the most lovely part of the internet. I am not a cook but love watching cookery shows and reading about food so I may be inspired to give it a go eventually!

I have so enjoyed reading this thread, it is the most calming and cosy space. Sorry for all who are going through troubles and feeling unwell.

I’m going to attempt to post a photo or 2 in the spirit of the snowy season. Our resident robin who visits daily and our cat who watches said robin. The kids were meant to be back to school today but it was shut because of the snow. Hurray for snow days!

Amazon! I’m still trying to work out how to connect them to their app which will mean I don’t have to roll my trousers up to change their setting 🤣

What beautiful photos @ObstinateHeadstrongGirlie and I love your posting name.

6 January

Epiphany or Twelfth Night

I am constantly on the lookout for celebrations, personal, public, or local. If necessary, I will borrow them from other cultures (I would happily celebrate Hannukah if I didn't feel, as a non-Jew that it might be seen as rather inappropriate) My enthusiasm was only an excuse to bake a cake. Epiphany is the twelfth and last day of Christmas. It is, for some, a religious celebration, that of the coming of the Magi, bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. Truth told, the date is more in my calendar for being the day the decorations are supposed to come down.

I made some buns last night. And then some more as they all got eaten. My one bakery skill. So I’m counting those as my epiphany cake. Good lord but it’s chilly this morning. I have slept poorly as the daschund was up a lot in the night being idiotic and I’ve got my most very favourite but most active co farmer today. And on top of that I’ve promised dd2 a trip to the cinema this evening to see Marty Supreme. Today will be powered by alot of tea. And buns.
A lovely Tuesday to all….
Ive ordered the socks @Bimblesalong

Love the chubby Robin @ObstinateHeadstrongGirlie

Crikey @WeMeetInFairIthilien that sounds like a mighty rough ride you've had. Sending gentle hugs for a full recovery

Hello and an 'official' welcome to you @ObstinateHeadstrongGirlie Love your pics (who doesn't love Robins and Kitties eh? - and snowy pics!) Gosh I wish our schools would shut. I am absolutely dteading going out there this morning. Getting the snow and ice off the car and navigating the slippy pavements is utterly energy sapping. Don't mind the actual drive. I've got almost 40 years experience of that and actually learned to drive in the snow.

Foot muffs and heated socks. I definitely need to investigate these further! I also must take the trees down / put the potted one outside. Ran out of steam last night.

Safe travels anyone who has to be out and about today. I'm putting off really, but I guess I'll go and get ready then maybe sneak back into bed after school run and a quick cat food dash

@Bimblesalong I'm going to need more heated sock info please! I have a pair of heated gloves I used during chemo but they're a bit rubbish & need to be plugged into a battery pack constantly 🙄.

Still no snow here 😥...not that I'd really like a snow day or anything!

Happy Epiphany everyone. I still have the tree up and lights on, but will take them down tonight. I hate doing it.

I made Nigel's cheese, potato and rosemary pie on Sunday. It was delicious.

@lucysmam no snow here either, just very cold.

A belated Happy everything, and Happy New Year, and belated birthday wishes to @martha79 and hope you're not too battered @PrizedPickledPopcorn
Have caught up bits of the thread I was missing, and the really lovely snow pictures have been a salve as aside from being taken to various hospitals I've been pretty much stuck in bed for the last few weeks, missing everything. All the pics have been magic but particularly lovely to see the Metro decorated with snow @LillianGish, (and sorry to hear about your neighbor).

I have been stupidly ill since mid December when amongst all the lovely things from the Christmas markets in Belgium and Germany, I also brought back a particularly unlovely, hard hitting variety of flu, which tried to become pneumonia. Added Covid, bronchitis, and a damaged leg developing serious issues, along with some long term issues flaring up, to everything for fun.

Everyone's had one or more of the infectious offerings and poor Ds particularly knocked sideways. Far too much time at hospitals and very exhausted despite being pumped full of all sorts.
But the biggest casualty has been my ancient trusty laptop which got a drink spilled on it.
Currently (possibly temporally) working in a fashion, but takes around forty mins to convince, by clamping the lead (battery defunct) in the port, only moving on it's cushion very gingerly, not turning it off, and with an external keyboard and mouse attached to it, which is causing it to continuously scroll, which is a little like seasickness to work round. So if I vanish I'm probably back to able to read but not respond.

Today is where we become out of sync with most, as while everyone else is taking down their trees, the finishing touches are going up on ours, as today's our Christmas day. Had hoped it might snow, but the couple of inches a few days ago is probably it for us.
We do celebrate on the 25th as well, though this year it had to be on new years eve because I just couldn't earlier and everyone else was ill enough to be unbothered.. We combined a late Yule with seeing the old year out and the new year in, but everything including today's celebrations, is having to be a much lower key version of normal events.
But we're finally able to start enjoying some of what we brought back from the markets, as well as finding out which of some preserving experiments have been worth all the effort or not. (Will put pics up later if it's possible)

@RainbowZebraWarriorI recommend Yak Trax which I use in snowy and icy weather to give grip. We don't drive in the snow up here - we're not from as far north as this and can usually get everywhere by foot.

Spectacular icicles forming - we are going to need to be careful leaving the house, particularly at the back 😲

More snow this morning and continued amber warning - will look up that pie @Bimblesalong

I have an excess of potatoes, and pastry, but I think I’m out of rosemary. I foolishly dug an overgrown one out thinking I’d easily replace it. Pah.

Our robin visited yesterday to remind me to put the food out. They only bother during nesting season and hard long frosts. The rest of the time our feeders are snubbed and the food gets mouldy.

I am feeling far better than expected this morning. The prophylactic ibuprofen has done the trick. I’m a little tight and my finger is even more clicky than usual (I’m one of those people whose every joint crunches and pops). Otherwise, I seem to have got away with it. It’s the kind of day to avoid sharp knives, and hold the banister rail, though.
I’m so pleased you are well enough to celebrate @EphemeraleEudemonia. What a rotten run you’ve had. I’m looking forward to hearing about the preserving experiments!

Happy Christmas @EphemeraleEudemonia, sorry to hear you have been so ill, but happy to hear you can celebrate today. @AngelChoirsInstead I share your sadness at taking down the tree, but find Nigel’s description of the process - lovingly wrapping each decoration in tissue so they can sleep in heavenly peace until next year an inspiration and I now take more pleasure in the task. It’s an opportunity to sort everything out and adds to the joy when it comes to unpacking everything next year.

Oh @EphemeraleEudemoniathat sounds like such a trial - I'm so sorry you got so ill. Enjoy the festivities today!

(Your description of your ailing laptop did make me laugh 😂)

Still feeling very unwell today and it seems that @PrizedPickledPopcorn and I are kindred spirits as I also took a tumble on the stairs yesterday. I don't think mine was as bad as yours; my legs have been fairly jelly-like since this virus took hold and they just gave way three steps from the bottom. No injury but I got a bit of a fright and have decided not to venture too far from my blanket sanctuary until I feel close to normal again.

"We" took down the decorations last night - I gave instructions and dealt with the wrapping and packaging while DH wrestled with it all. Nigel's entry today about cotton strings inexplicably winding themselves around branches definitely resonated. I then instructed DH on the preparation of Nigel's winter soup - the same one as I mentioned upthread, from Appetite - although we spent three days eating it last week, I'm craving it again and not sure I can stomach much else. Definitely not lost my sense of smell, at least, as it smelled divine as it was simmering all evening. I also had some stir-fried greens and noodles last night, with copious amounts of garlic, ginger and chilli in an attempt to clear my tubes and boost my immune system.

I have three separate friends with birthdays today. One is someone I've known since childhood, so I've always associated 6 January with celebration,even before I'd heard of Epiphany. Living in mainland Europe for a while has cemented it as an important day in my calendar. But no celebrating for me this year. A Ukranian friend has invited us for dinner tonight but sadly not while I'm feeling like this, so I shall stay home with my soup.

Still no snow here. I'm cold but also needing to feel fresh air so have windows open at the moment.

Good Morning and a very happy 6th to one and all.

Not too much snow here but very cold. I'm taking a year out of the worst of life, very selfish of me but I am not going to watch the news or anything that does not soothe my soul. Our new regime has started, seems to be going well, no frivolous spending, Shopping to be done once a week at Lidl (seems very good quality so far) and a menu plan to stick to.

I'm listening to classic fm, watching the birds and keeping calm, however, nearly lost the plot when DH 'helped' to put away my precious Christmas decorations, He's never done it before so why this year? It remains a mystery 🙄

You've been on my mind @EphemeraleEudemonia as obviously I knew you'd been poorly over Christmas so I thought things must have gotten bad when you hadn't posted in a while. So it's very good to hear from you and I wish you all the very best for your celebrations.

Poor you @PricklyBob Sending gentle hugs. Stairs terrify me and i havent been able to navigate them for around five years now. Lucky really that I bought this bungalow near to Mum and Dad when I was pregnant with DD almost 15 years ago. I somewhat future proofed my life at the age of 40.

Pleased to hear that you aren't suffering too much @PrizedPickledPopcorn Phew!

Vinted bargain of the year so far is this beautiful gold flecked St Eval Sandalwood pillar candle that I have just collected. I am over the moon to have snaffled it for just £1! Also just picked up some lovely panettone in pretty tins for £1 each in Sainsbury's