The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles Readalong 2025/6 Part 4

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all, and welcome to Part 4. We Continue our CC journey. We are almost at the end, as there are only four chapters of the book left, but there will be a year round thread for those who wish to continue.

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, (and it's never too late to join in) 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!

Making sure I don’t get lost! <settles in with some knitting and waits for everyone else>

Im here with my crochet (known as crotchetting in this house!).

digitally bookmarked

I have given up this evening can't think, so making fish, chips and peas because I have been returned to my past and attempting Alevel maths questions to show willing to the eldest (what was I thinking) - I have come to the conclusion maths is the language of the universe so alien spanish! I have also forgotten most of my Alevel maths clearly (he is doing further maths which I did not do so at some point it will all be alien greek to me thank the nigel for internet answer pages)

Here for this lovely thread!

I tried some of the St Eval candles for the first time over Christmas, a selection of Christmas themed tea lights. I really liked the scent of them but also found they weren’t overly strong smelling. I especially enjoyed the inspiritus one.

Here I am. 😵‍💫😀

Thank you for the new thread @RainbowZebraWarrior

Since I am interested in all things illuminated manuscripts at the moment, the little elves in my computer that decide what I should read sent me this image - a 15th century monk spent hours producing this manuscript and then whilst the ink was drying a cat came along and wandered all over it, leaving only footprints behind. I can just imagine that monk's feelings!

Just checking in, thank you @RainbowZebraWarrior .

I came across this blast from the past today. I can’t decide whether it’s NVN, or actually classic and therefore VN. It made me smile, however, and that’s got to be good!

Look out for Tony Robinson- I didn’t recognise him at first watch.

😄 This is brilliant. Nigel likes a panto, doesn't he? I reckon he'd love it.

Quiet day here - I've got a friend popping in briefly for a cuppa then no other plans.

You may like this? Only 3 days left to watch on iplayer. It's narrated by another Nigel (Planer) and charts the emergence of childrens' TV after war time childrens radio.

I watched it with art student DC and we were blown away by the ingenuity of the animators, telling stories with simple tech in programmes like Bod.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06t3mhm

Thabks for the new thread. MN app not letting me tag anyone this morning!

WFH day, just about to log on, workout done earlier, meals all planned for the day.

I am celebrating a win, in 2024 I was 7 stone heavier and borderline for needing blood pressure meds. GP asked me to repeat a week of BP recordings at home recently so I started yesterday and the result was much lower, like 20 points lower, than before. If this continues I am well clear of the zone of concern. So pleased!

Also just confirmed the caterer for our 30th wedding anniversary party in May. We plan to go on holiday afterwards and we are just weighing up Shetland or Ireland or possibly the Hebrides. Can't decide but we need to get on with bookings!

There are some clips of Play Away or Play School with Jeremy Irons.

That’s amazing, @petitpasta . You are now a petitpetitpasta!

😂 I am indeed. I am down 5 dress sizes. Thank goodness for Vinted or I'd be bankrupt!

I've also joined a gym and become one of those people who does weights at 6.30am!

It's been a revelation!

Once upon a time I lost 5.5 stone. It was great. Sadly it has slowly crept back. I’m just at the ‘nothing fits’ stage, and hoping to lose a stone to expand my wardrobe a bit!

That's inspiring @petitpasta

I'm under no illusion that it will ever be easy. I know I will need to maintain this level of effort forever. I keep telling myself 'this is my life now'

Well done. I've been helping at a back pain course this week, doing the exercises with the class. I discovered that although I do the same leg stretches most mornings, I do not hold them long enough.

Still better than nothing but Im going to try to hold them a bit longer and do a few more...

Thank you for new thread @RainbowZebraWarrior I hardly ever comment but I read the thread every day, it's my favourite thing on the internet! Just dropped DD3 at preschool, having a cup of tea and summoning the energy to go to tesco for the 'big shop'. Need to get some cocoa powder for a practice birthday cake. It's both DD and DH birthdays at the end of the month and chocolate cake has been requested, I'm not much of a baker so I think I need a practice run!
Last time I was at tesco I bought a little pot of hyacinth bulbs for £2.50. They are absolutely gorgeous and have given me so much joy over the last couple of weeks. I think some more will be making their way into the trolley today.
Fish pie for tea tonight. Looking forward to the weekend as I'm swanning off for afternoon tea with a friend tomorrow, can't wait! Have lovely Fridays everyone x

Well done @petitpasta - that's quite the difference to your blood pressure!

Good luck with the big shop @Markknopflersheadband. I love the look of hyacinths but they make me sneeze, sadly, but will virtually admire yours from afar 😄

Just been out admiring my neighbour's tiny snowdrops, and the daffodils in my front garden are making a good effort too.

Thank you for the new thread @RainbowZebraWarrior Lovely that you have access to sea glass.

Very fragile computer nurtured back to life (as long as it's not shut down or moved off it's cushion) with many external aids but no sound.
We have a couple of days of Christmas celebrations left here, so trying to make the most of it as everything's had to be scaled right back this year as a result of getting so ill. But we had a lovely time on the 6th and it snowed for us. Only a tiny bit but it was enough to bring some extra magic.
Currently experimenting with a making ornaments at a saleable level.
Don't know how insane this is, but it's kept me busy at least.

Mainly been stuck inside and mostly in bed, as am currently unable to get into wheelchair without help, and need to be able to fit into others routines.
'Outings' has been mainly hospital, and on the last one, spotted Magnolia tree buds showing pink tips.
Not in good shape but very grateful to now be being propped up by B12 injections, potassium transfusions, and steroids, which are making some difference, but I've been stupidly blindsided by it all.

Hoping I've just been unlucky, but general view is I may need to start looking at living within my limitations more, which I'm not at all good at or really ready for.

For some reason because I wasn't well in the lead up last year, in the back of my head the child in me assumed it meant I'd got that experience over and done with, and it didn't cross my mind this year I 'd get properly ill at the worst period to do it.. (I really need to grow up!) I think I may have to plan for the idea of being unwell for next year. Hopefully that will cause the opposite to happen!

Am dreading the physical ability and energy needed to take the tree and ornaments down. Seriously lacking both abilities currently. and others struggling to cover.

@Confusedmeanderings Sorry you're going through hard challenges but just to say, a bit later than you, when I was in London I also used to quietly visit the Old British Library reading room, but clandestinely well away from the inquires desk. I was fascinated by the dome and I thought it was the 'hallowed halls of all knowledge' and basked in the idea of just breathing there.
I suspect I got away with a lot because I used to sit drawing a lot especially in the then rarely visited basement 'ethnographic department'. I suspect everyone thought I belonged to a reading ticket holder.
Did you know the shops opposite the museum at all?
I love the evidence of the medieval cat doing as cat's do, echoing down the centuries.

@petitpasta That's very impressive. Well done you.

@martha79 The persimmon bread pudding recipe,sounds amazing. Wondering what using alcohol infused rosemary in it might do.

Brilliant @petitpasta,can I swank along with you and say that today I am wearing a skirt in my pre-baby size for the first time in 23 years 💃. Thanks, gallstones!

I love that so much @Confusedmeanderings, little things like that bring distant times to life, don't they? I noticed a few of our sixth formers wearing hoodies with gothic script on the back, wonder if it's coming into fashion.

That fireside set up is perfect @Bimblesalong, can't fault the reading material 😀.

Thanks so much for the new thread @RainbowZebraWarrior, I've been genuinely worried about them ending... But it's not Candlemas yet...

I adored Playaway and watched it religiously. My Mum and Dad still comment that I'd sit cross legged in front of the telly and be in some sort of trance. They reckon they could shout my name and i just wouldn't hear them. Richard Cant always struck me as a really lovely man. His son is an actor and is Richard Coles' partner (totally useless piece of info there, but i feel rather happy for them as Richard has been through a rather awful time in recent years)

That's incredible. Well done! I was 5 stone heavier in Sept 2024 and 'only' have another stone to lose until I'm at target. It is sloooooow now though. I've been on BP meds since my early 40s but in Sept 2024 I was borderline for cholesterol and Diabetes too and it shocked me into action. My BP is better than it's ever been in my whole life (I'ts always been problematic and I'm m on a high dose of meds) so I might ask about dropping down by 5 or 10mg at my next review. I reckon it will likely take me another six months to get to my target (and a healthy BMI), but at least that will stand me in good stead for the joint replacements I need.

Oh I am desperate to go to either the Hebrides or Shetlands. Neither are very easy to access, and the planes to Shetland are expensive. A pal of mine runs Aurora trips and he's doing one to Shetland this year. You 'just' have to get yourself to Aberdeen, and he picks everything up from there. Aberdeen is a long drive or train ride though. One day...