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!

Once you've tracked them down to try and found one or more you like, do look online though -definitely Burts Bees and Eliz Arden can be got much cheaper online.

I also concur with @SqueakyDinosaur as I am also a Liz Arden / Burts Bees / Clinique Black Honey wearer. I also like this Nars one, which I'm wearing today I buy online as its rather embarrassing asking for the shade name at the makeup counter (although there are even worse shade names). Similarly, their blush in the same shade. I used to buy a similar Prada one, but it's pricey.

www.lookfantastic.com/p/nars-afterglow-lip-balm-3g-various-shades/12436381/?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&variation=11761858&shoppingpid=15NARS&affil=thggpsad&kwds=&thg_ppc_campaign=20538672234&adtype=pla&product_id=11761858&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=20538672234&cq_con=&cq_term=&cq_med=pla&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20538673854&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIu6b2kr-zkgMVP5JQBh1L6TBxEAQYASABEgJ8sPD_BwE

I think I'm OVAH the schtoopid Nars names - yes, of course I had an Orgasm stick in my 20s but it was only ever really useful as blusher, not nearly as versatile as they claimed.

I used to go to NY quite a lot in the 2010s for work and there was a Sephora directly under the office block. I loved that shop - there was a brand called Tarte that used to do transparent, jellyish blushes in pushup sticks like tiny pink deodorants. And I once got well over 10 OPI nail varnishes for under $30 in the sale there.

Well done on all the frog eating, people!

Enjoying the make up chat. The only time I'm without anything on my lips is when actually playing a woodwind instrument as it's not very compatible. But always at least lip balm the rest of the time, and usually lip gloss of some sort - my favourite at the moment is actually a Primark one that's sort of peachy-beige and tastes of watermelon.

Had a nice mini-outing - drove to local big park and wandered around in the fog, went to the farm bit and saw some lambs being fed, then to a nearby supermarket cafe for chips and a cuppa. Felt a bit wobbly in the cafe (I told my friend I'm like an easily overstimulated toddler at the moment) but otherwise ok 🙂

Another black-honey-on-thin-grey-lips person here! My mum and granny are of the generation who really didn't wear makeup much at all but wouldn't leave the house without lipstick, and they both always looked fine. I haven't inherited it and look pretty ridiculous if I wear lipstick unless it is with a full face (which I only do on very rare occasions, on a proper night out) although I do always powder my nose because I tend to shine.
My frog was paying my tax bill and doing my invoices, both ticked off hooray.
The food programme on R4 this morning was all about honey - the bit I heard (I was driving) mostly about counterfeit honey. Very interesting although DD1 distracted me by wondering where on earth Sheila Dillon is from - I had never noticed what an odd accent she has before!
I also went for a run. I have done absolutely no exercise since about May, having shoulder issues that I tried to resolve with physio for months until he finally conceded it was not working and referred me to a consultant, then I had a massive needle stuck in and am now on post-needle physio. So I'm back on C25K for something like the eighth time in my life! I do fine with it but somehow it never seems to stick. Anyway it was cold and damp and grey but I only had to run for 5 minutes at a time and I feel quite pleased with myself (but tired). Then I went to pick DH up from a walk and we saw a lovely heron very close and a nicely hovering kestrel, so that was all very cheering.

I have all the lipsticks… I used to be quite fussy about colour but I think I’ve got more neutral with age. I have a £2 one from Boyes that gives a sheer blue/purple iridescence that I often put on top of things that are too orange. I don’t wear it on its own as I’d look dead. I have a mulberry that I’ve been trying to finish for months now but it just keeps on going- it’s totally matt and lasts a good 24 hours. I have a bright orange that’s designed for black skin and looks ridiculous on me but I loved its purple cousin so can’t quite give it up. I put glosses on top to tame it a bit. I have three tiny bottles of lip stain that I use lipstick/gloss over.
Eyeliner in Green, aqua, purple, mainly. Lots of. When I wore contacts, I’d wear several colours for that iridescent feel. So much fun.

I have come close to microblading and permanent eyeliner and lipliner, @Bimblesalong but chickened out. So I get very long lasting eyeliner and lipstick, often with tattoo in the name. I like waking up looking like I’m actually in, rather than vacant. My washing/skin care regime is, shall we say, non existent. I layer it on as and when and wash it off as and when.

My absolute favourite things are lipsticks that I can swipe on my eye socket and cheekbones. I go from looking dead to friendly in about 30 seconds.

I seem to pass as respectable. Surprisingly, reading that back.

My frog was a very small one… I’ve been saving my used coffee pods for recycling, and only realised when I went to take the very full bag that I had the wrong one. So the wrong bag’s been getting fuller and fuller of the wrong pods. I finally ordered the right bag ready for decanting them in a day or two when it arrives.

Congrats to all for swallowing their frogs today. Im a great believer in getting them out of the way early, too. Im only too aware as a person with ADHD, that things can spiral badly when frogs are ignored.

That said, im going to leave this here for accountability. I need to deal with my late uncle's estate. It's an utter mess and I need to put a call in on Monday to the Bona Vacantia team after his estate has ended up going to the crown.

I am loving this Trudon Arosa candle. For some reason, it reminds me of my Nanna. It has a smoky, Amber / rose scent and is very comforting.

I am out of spoons as usual for this time of day, but moreso after being repeatedly soaked and a crappy Friday rush hour drive home. Im also £125 down after a visit to Smyths toys on the way home (Pokemon related) DD is about to bag up some collectable figures she no longer wants, so we will be taking them to Be More Geek tomorrow to see what they offer her for them.

In an effort to energise myself, I am playing Feeling Called Love by Pulp on Alexa. For any fellow Pulp fans, they are going to be the first act this year on Radio 2's Piano Room on Monday. Alison Limerick is also due to feature some time in February @piscofrisco I know your DH is a big fan of her song Where Love Lives.

I also agree about NARS' stoopid names @SqueakyDinosaur It's all a bit juvenile really.

Well done on the outing @martha79 not easy when it's so cold and foggy. Chips and tea in a café sounds good. I have neglected to prep any dinner for myself this evening so far, so it might be chips and a cup of tea here. Sounds quite like winter comfort foods to me!

Also well done getting back to running again after the shoulder issue @celiathebanshee Im assuming it was a steroid injection you had? Hope it's provided some relief. I know it differs from person to person.

I love the sound of your aqua / purple etc eyeliners @PrizedPickledPopcorn I used to love a thick, bright blue eyeliner and then went through an Amy Winehouse style flicky black eyeliner when I had my café for some reason. It was probably due to cooking all day that I felt the need to look in some way glam and not just permanently knackered.

Speaking of medical issues further up post, I'll share a personal medical breakthrough in a separate post.

Speaking of promised posts and unfinished stories… I’m sure we were promised a story about someone’s underwear threatening to fall down!

And were you going to tell us something Vinted related? Did I miss it when I was skimming as I’d got behind?

I think the sold posts are disappearing after a few days, I must have just had a particularly busy run. Some beautiful shoes are on there, I’m going to need to do a wardrobe survey.

Loving all the frog theory, my froggy things were tax, phoning a savings bank and buying a railcard (which involved taking a photo of myself, the DREAD!) - but all done thanks to you inspiring lot. Phew.

Barbotage (scraping calcium deposits with a needle) and then some steroid for relief @RainbowZebraWarrior . Not nice and it certainly hasn’t provided relief as quickly as I had hoped, but still hopeful I won’t need to progress to surgery 🤞🏻

@PrizedPickledPopcorn the Vinted update is also related to my medical revelation (which may also now end up sounding a bit boring)

Anyway, I bought a White Company advent calendar in 2024, and my much looked forward to Winter candle gave me an asthma attack. I had to give it away and I was a bit gutted as everyone else seems to love this fragrance.

I have chronic urticaria, so was put on biological drugs via the hospital in early 2025 (I've taken high dose antihistamines for 30 plus years and they basically stopped working, I essentially get hives all over my body all day every day) So, Omalizumab is a biological injection administered in hospital on a monthly basis, usually prescribed to folk with severe asthma, but I was given it off licence to try and control my hives. It was semi successful, and I'm back to having my urticaria controlled via high level antihistamines for the times being. However, I have had moderate asthma for 40 years. Preventer and reliever inhalers taken daily. Well, it's disappeared. I read a medical paper recently that stated Omalizumab has recently been found to actually reverse moderate asthma, and that seems to have been what's happened with me.

So, I treated myself to a WC Winter candle from Vinted, and hurrah! I can tolerate it. I haven't used any inhalers for around six months. Totally amazing!

Boring, but also rather a revelation after 40 years, and also one less medication to take.

Now, who was it with the knickers story?

What great progress @RainbowZebraWarrior - really pleased for you!

Pulp and the Piano Room is a great combination, will look out for that. Talking of 90s bands, I had tickets to see Suede in a couple of weeks but am not going to be up to that, especially as it's standing only. Put them up for sale yesterday and they went instantly (the gig was sold out) - so although I'm sad about it, I'm trying to think positively that I've cheered up someone else's week. And also got my money back, of course.

Having a glass of alcohol free fizzy wine this evening - I got it to have at Christmas but really haven't fancied it until now. Cheers all!

We've come to the end of our Northumberland week. It's been mostly wet and cold and we've spent the time quietly pottering rather than rushing around doing loads, but it's been lovely. I bought a rather gorgeous majolica teapot in an antique shop. I intend to keep it for a while before putting it in the shop.

Joining in with the make up talk, I have never managed to get the hang of applying eyeliner although I would love to. I loved Heather Shimmer back in the day. Now, like a previous poster, I like the long stay lipsticks. Not anything really bright though, I always think I look weird with bright lipstick!

@RainbowZebraWarrior it is definitely eye-opening when a long term condition you've had suddenly disappears. I have worn glasses all the time since I was 4 years old. I was very longsighted and essentially blind as a bat without them. Then at the age of 64 I got cataracts, had them corrected and the surgery for that also improved my eyesight so much that I now only need them for reading. But it seems so odd not to be wearing them! Even now, the first thing I do on waking is to reach out to the bedside to put my glasses on. Then I wonder why I can't see properly as I head to the bathroom!

Well done @Celiathebanshee I had a frozen shoulder dealt with after months of physio - think they called it hydrodilation and it did the trick. That side tends to be creakier still, so I make sure I have plenty of olive oil.

Good to hear of lots of frogs being dealt with.

Very glad to hear good news healthwise RZW.

Confusedmeanderings; I was exactly the same. Had both mine done under GA< and woke up to find I could see across the room. It was amazing. I tried varifocals for a while, as I wasn't used to not wearing glasses, but now I only wear glasses for reading. The thing I like is not wearing glasses on a rainy day!.

I love Tarte @SqueakyDinosaur. Their concealer is particularly good, though I’ve recently been converted to Erborian. CC cream and glow cream especially. I was lucky enough to go the launch party for Sephora uk and came out with a great goody bag! It felt like Christmas! DH was nonplussed as he couldn’t see what the fuss was about.
Well done on all the frog eating all!
Lambs @martha79! I’m very excited for lambing at work this year. It’s magical (and also grim at the same time) when you get to see one born and wipe its little face with straw. Then I think I have the best job in the world!
Im so pleased you are able to enjoy your white company candle RZW. It must feel like a great win after all the medical stuff you have been through. Well remembered re Alison Limerick! I love Pulp. It was obligatory if you grew up near Sheffield in the 90’s. We used to go to a northern soul night at city hall just to dance on the light up Dancefloor on which they filmed the video for Disco2000. I wonder if it’s still there.
well done on your run @Celiathebanshee. For all that I’m relatively fit I couldn’t run round the corner. I’m just not built for it I don’t think.
That said we did a great three hour walk around Bowness yesterday afternoon (in watery sunshine no less, despite awful rain for most of the journey). Today we are climbing the Old Man of Coniston. The Lake District is quite stunnning. I was last here when I was about 8 and DH has never been. He is amazed by it.There are snow capped peaks and everything! Beautiful.
Have a lovely Saturday all

@piscofrisco happy weekend - hope you enjoy your walk. The light up dancefloor is indeed still there - I've been to a couple of the Day Fever afternoon discos and danced right there, not that long ago.

There is a disappointing lack of lambs in my job, although we have recently been looking into the possibility of some sort of therapy animals at events.

I've not got many plans today - post a parcel and clear the heap of leaves from the front steps. So far though, I've been drinking tea in bed, listening to Ramblings and Farming Today.

Oh, now considering a spot of Nigelling as I like the look of his recipe in the Observer today. But really, still having sprouts??! 🤣

Enjoy your hike up old man @piscofrisco but please take care. The forecast today is gusty, sleet showers (90%) and a temp of Zero but feels like -6. I'm guessing you're seasoned hikers and have all the necessary gear, but it can just turn a bit nasty once you're at the top if youre not familiar with the terrain, especially if there's fog.

I'm an hours drive away and used to hike there every other weekend until recent years.

@martha79mine went on the compost heap weeks ago!

@Celiathebanshee that sounds really unpleasant, and had DM told me she’d had it I would have doubted she’d understood the process correctly! She’s having injections into her shoulder. She had a replacement years ago, but the bone has deteriorated further. The only option now is to rotate the artificial joint 180 degrees and reattach, apparently. They are quite keen to do it. She’s less keen… One stumbling block being needing personal care for weeks after. She’d probably need to go to a convalescent home.

@RainbowZebraWarrior that’s massive, and very exciting! I’m so pleased that you are finally getting to enjoy your candle. I was prone to urticaria in my youth. Broke out in hives in my driving test. The examiner had been incredibly nice to me- really encouraging and affirming. When I glanced in the rear view, I realised why! Red and white wheals all over my face and neck.

@Confusedmeanderings my approach to eyeliner is not to try to hard. I use Avon glimmersticks. I wind up the end a few mm, put it in the outer corner of my eye, pointing upwards, and blink on it while rubbing it to and fro. I’m trying to do the upper waterline. In the process, a bit gets on the lower lashes, too. Look and then do it again to get any gaps or pat it with your finger to soften any dense lumpy bits. Get a pearl, mid colour to start so the effect isn’t too intense. You get a soft, blended look. Like a smoky eye but with colour. I cannot do, and don’t think I’d suit, that sharp, precise wing business.

All this exercise you are doing is making feel a bit lazy! We’ve booked a couple of excursions on our holiday, and we’ll need to 15000 steps apparently. I’m a bit worried I won’t keep up. That said, I’m sure there’s a ‘sit there and eat ice cream, we’ll come back for you in an hour’ facility!

Like this… the soft beige brown is the most forgiving, but I can’t wear those colours. Makes me look red and puffy.

I’m not sure why I’m giving out make up tips. I’m really not qualified! It just lands in my ‘ooh look, lovely colours!’, enthusiasm. Like wool, fabric etc! Love a bit of colour splashed about. I’ve heard it called something like ‘serotonin dressing’. Other people can do french chic, I do playschool teacher chic.

This is the sort of misty landscape I adore 😍

Happy last day of January all

So I met H for a cheeky lunchtime pint after art group yesterday and bought a newspaper to do crossword. It’s the eldest teen’s best mate’s 17th birthday today and he has everything he needs/wants we had asked him numerous times “what do you want?” as a present with little useful response.

Flicking through the paper Voila one 5 star review of the Samurai exhibition at the British Museum. It’s not my thing, but the teens will love it. One all singing all dancing half term day out to London on us, will take them to Camden after to eat.

And I wouldn’t have known about it if we hadn’t have gone for a cheeky pint and bought an actual newspaper. We get the Saturday one delivered but don’t have the time for them everyday and like most just cherry pick what I want to read from website. But I do get real papers when there is time to read them, you do end up seeing things that you otherwise miss.

I am taking it as an old skool media sign from the gods, we needed a solution to the present dilemma, and trust in real print presented one with hours to go!

Tickets purchased, H has booked the day off (he wants to see it as well) so 4 males and me! We will buy catalogues, or whatever as we exit via the gift shop. It won’t be a cheap day.