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!

What a great find @frozendaisy - sure they'll love the day out.

I was quite impressed that my friend had a real newspaper with her yesterday - we ended up having an in-depth conversation about Michael Flatley based on a tiny article in it! I often mean to get a Sunday paper but forget.

I've tidied the leaves and pottered in the garden - discovered that the chard and potatoes I planted last year have done quite well despite total neglect. Popped to the shops for some other bits and picked up some new bowls too - I use bowls more than plates and am always running out.

Planning Nigel's squash, oat and bacon thing, some Canarian potatoes and also this https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/chard-potato-chilli-saffron-omelettes-yogurt/ as I have a lot of eggs. And something with aubergine.

@martha Nigel does a food article in The Observer on Sunday - not sure if it’s every week or just with food monthly magazine

but it’s not a bad place to start with a Sunday paper

We too have a lot of eggs. The youngest moving out has completed changed our food consumption.
That sounds like a real treat, @frozendaisy , and I bet you’ll find it better than you think, too. I’m sure there’s some beautiful silk involved somewhere. And I’m always taken aback at the comparative time lines as well.

@PrizedPickledPopcorn thanks. It is actually massive, and not just for me, it is a huge medical breakthrough in general. I possibly played it down a bit. My moderate / borderline severe asthma required steroids at least twice a year and had me having attacks almost daily. The constant winter laryngitis also seems to have disappeared. Life changing! Sadly, the biological meds aren't likely to be rolled out wholesale any time soon as they are hugely expensive and take a whole lot of hoops to jump through funding wise.

Love your make up tips. The green eye shadow photo reminds me of what I used to wear. I had a Clarins 'monet inspired' palette which I possibly still have in my wardrobe. Likely well past it's best, but I shall keep it none the less for posterity.

@sueelleker yes! No need for windscreen wipers!

@PrizedPickledPopcorn see, those pictures are exactly what id like to do. As it happens I gave got a glimmerstick lying around somewhere, i think I need to find it and have a practice! I did try a winged eye once, but the makeup all settled into my wrinkles 🤣

I’m looking forward to a read of the Sunday supplements later today when we go for our hotel stay. I used to buy the Sunday times every week but I felt the magazines and style section went downhill (and definitely shrunk)so I stopped bothering.
We conquered The old man of coniston and beyond yesterday and what an interesting walk it was, with lots of scrambles to be done and old copper mines to look at as well as the scenery. The weather was ok-top shrouded in cloud and we got a drenching in the last hour or so, but nothing a nice pint by a big pub fire couldn’t solve. DH very achey but I’m fine which I put down to ratcheting about the farm all day.
We are going to do a bit of boating this morning on Windermere in the mizzle.We’ve fallen in love with the Lake District and we will definitely come back, though I suspect it’s murderously busy in summer? It’s quite busy now even, at the end of a long wet January.Bowness was very lively last night!
have a lovely Sunday all

Morning all. Today is the Celtic festival of Imbolc which marks the halfway point between the winter and spring Solstice. Traditions invokve candle lighting, cleaning homes, honouring St Brigid (Celtic goddess of hearth, poetry and healing) and setting intentions for the year.

Wr actually have some events locally, including one next week to mark the seasonal reopening of Bede Museum. I'm contemplating popping along as they also have some baby Highland cows on the farm there.

Yes the lakes are crazy with tourists in summer @piscofrisco My favourite time there is autumn because of the stunning colours. My best pal always swears by November and February, although shes just cancelled her February trip as her husband had a stroke and is in a bad way. I'm so gutted for her as her whole life has been turned upside down.

Right. Tea needed. Struggled around town with pain yesterday and my knees and shins are still shot after falling in December. Today I will be sensible and take pain meds before leaving the house, wear my hymo suit and take my new walking cane!

Enjoy your Sunday everyone.

N.B. mentioning the pagan festival of Imbolc reminds me to check on how @EphemeraleEudemonia I hope you're OK my lovely as things had been very tough from your last update

Yes I will be trying to find a tree to tie a little bit of fabric around for St Brigid. (It’s meant to be a scarf isn’t it? But as away I am improvising!)

Sorry to hear of your friends troubles @RZW.Dh and I were talking yesterday about how nothing is promised so we have to do more of the things we love and not wait til other things change before we do. The time is never going to be perfectly right to do the travelling, or start the education or the business or whatever and it’s later than we think I guess.

Absolutely agree. I'm pleased I did everything in my 20s and 30s. When I turned 30 I had this almost manic spell of bucket list stuff that I did. Worked out well for me as I didn't have DD till 40 and now I'm a bit crocked at almost 55.

Thankyou for tagging @EphemeraleEudemonia RZW. I’ve also wondered how she is getting on.

@piscofrisco that sounds divine. We used to love a Sunday with the supplements but the quality fell off - and the price! Another reason I like the Libby app for magazines. Your holiday sounds lovely. I am absolutely with you about doing things rather than putting them off. Younger me pictured a later working and retirement life in full health but having gone through the health challenges that are to some extent still dogging me, I do the things when I can, albeit modified if required.

I think I did imbolc early as I was up late wiping down the picture rails and cleaning the grout on the bathroom walls and floor with a special brush. My brain is an extra strange thing at times!

Happy Imbolc! I was reading yesterday that one tradition is cleaning and salting the front door step, which I reckon I did as I cleared the leaves, hosed it down and put a bit of grit down in case it got frosty again last night. Taking it easy today so it'll be more candle-lighting than anything I think.

Glad you're enjoying the Lakes @piscofrisco - I spent most childhood holidays there as my grandparents had a caravan on a site there. Good memories, although also memories of a lot of rain!

Made an accidentally huge omelette last night and turned some more of the filling (onion, potato, chard, little bit of bacon) into a sort of bubble and squeak this morning.

Morning! Pinch/punch etc. Slow start here as I was at a (NVN) silent disco last night in the cathedral! I was a bit unsure beforehand as I’m not really a dancer and couldn’t see how it would work with not being able to chat because of headphones, and the cathedral is an odd venue, I thought. But my friend really wanted to go so I said I’d keep her company. Oh my god so much fun! I loved it and we are 100% going again next time 😂 it turned out to be really good for the soul and I’m still smiling this morning. There’sa lesson there I seem to keep having to learn, about new things etc

Happy February everyone. So pleased January is done, it's felt like at least 574 days long!. Busy day today as I am away for 3 days with work this week and I really need to turn up my ball dress. Speaking of said dress, I forgot to share a picture. It's a but of a vinted bargain -£25 for a dress that was over £150 originally and had been worn once!

I need to cook a chicken and do a whole lot of salad prep for the week (I chop it all up into silicone bags in the fridge so it's easy to grab and go). I'm also off to see the housemaid this afternoon with a friend.

Interesting to hear your medical news @RainbowZebraWarrior. People forget how debilitating asthma is so it's good that you finally have some relief.

Oh yes sprouts for weeks yet! Probably April is too late, but any point between November and March is legit in my eyes….

See, I do like sprouts but within limits! 🤣

Silent disco sounds great @Celiathebanshee, glad you enjoyed it.

The dress is gorgeous @petitpasta

I've had a nice Sunday - I would have been at orchestra rehearsal this afternoon but it's confirmed I made the right decision to skip this term as I felt relieved and calm about not being there. I've finished a book, went for a little walk, bit of Vinted shopping, did some cooking. Made a curry with some of the squash and aubergine, and roasted the rest of it. Will do a version of Nige's savoury oat thing tomorrow.

Hello, all.

Oh @petitpasta that gown is stunning and you look amazing. Good luck with the altering / taking up as it looks like quite a sheer fabric over the top. It would be a bit beyond me (I'm a wondaweb when taking jeans up sort of girl) Anyway, you will be the absolute Belle of the ball ❤️ Do tell us all about it after the event.

That omelette looks awesome @martha79 We have done something similar this evening and made a massive 'superplant lasagne' it has around 20 plants in it including a walnut and seed topping! We have decided to serve it with roast potatoes, because, well, why not? It is Sunday after all. It reminds me of a young chap who worked for my Dad many years ago. He was Italian, and would bring the biggest veggie lasagne in to work for my Dad that his Mama made every Friday which lasted us all weekend!

Someone seems to have flicked a switch here today saying "it's now almost spring!" The coast was heaving today. Hundreds of folk walking along the promenade enjoying ice creams and chips. It's been so quiet in recent months, so it takes a lot of getting used to having extra folk around who don't usually brave the winter weather like we do every week. The sunshine was a welcome treat to my aching bones, mind.

I gave up on the Sunday papers years ago for similar reasons to you all. I now get my Waitrose order on a Saturday evening which comes with Waitrose Weekend paper and Waitrose magazine. I'm good just reading about food and nature. The rest of the news being largely awful.

@Bimblesalong you sound like me. I often tackle a cleaning job late at night in a fit of frenzy. Usually accompanied by me madly muttering "well this won't do" whilst clearing the pantry of out of date mince pies, or noticing fluff and dust on the radiators and skirting boards. DD mostly puts her headphones on and leaves me to my ranting.

Now, sprouts; in theory, I love them. In practice, I am bored with them by boxing day.

Gorgeous full moon this evening and Jupiter is still shining brightly for anyone with clear skies.

Oh, I also meant to mention the silent disco @Celiathebanshee It was lovely to hear that it turned out so well. I could imagine doing something like that, and also loving it.

Pleased to hear you feel like you made the right decision @martha79 difficult still, but you need to give yourself time to rest and spread your spoons wisely until you feel your energy return.

That lasagne looks delicious! DS1 was cooking today. He had friends over all day, and made a slow cooked pork roast. They brought a crumble. We left them to it, and ate the leftovers at tea time. He’s a dedicated follower of recipes. He asked me what the proportions of swede and carrot mash are, so I guessed, and he followed up by weighing the carrots and swede to my guessed proportions. Which made me smile.
I was thinking of you, RZW, as one of them brought a jar of raw honey from a relative’s hives.

I’m not a fan of newspapers- DH was a very habitual weekend paper man, but I eventually weaned him off. The fingerprints are awful. He gets an online one now.

As I’ve been knitting my squares I’ve been thinking about all the mums and babies. I hope they know that we’re all rooting for them. The squares are made with love and good wishes.

I will absolutely go to the next silent disco I see, inspired by you @Celiathebanshee . I’ve often thought I’d fancy one!

Church seasonally, today is the end of Epiphany/celebration and the start of Ordinary. It’s Candlemas, commemorating when Simeon and Anna recognise the infant Jesus in the temple. It’s the Nunc Dimittis, the most beautiful and moving verse, ‘"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel".
It’s part of the funeral liturgy. Elderly Simeon had been promised that he would see the hope of salvation, the baby, before he died. He cradles the baby and rejoices that salvation is near, and that he is now ready to die.
It’s very satisfying, a strong sense of completion.

@petitpasta that is a beautiful dress, and such a bargain! I hope your adjustments go smoothly, and you get to enjoy wearing it again. I’m making a waistcoat with beautiful coppery embroidery in the fabric, which I’m hoping will elevate some outfits to evening wear while we’re on holiday.

That is a gorgeous dress @petitpasta - and such a flattering neckline on you. I can’t really see from the photo that it needs taking up - could you just wear a higher heel with it? It looks as if it fits beautifully.

@petitpasta what a beautiful dress, you’ll feel a million dollars in it! Have a wonderful time at the ball.

I'll add my name to the list of admirers lof your dress @petitpasta . It's gorgeous!

I know exactly why the weather has changed in your part of the world@RainbowZebraWarrior - it's because our holiday came to an end and we are now back in the south west 🤣🤣🤣

The Lakes are definitely crazy with tourists in the summer @piscofrisco . Spring and Autumn are a bit better though. I used to live on the edge of the Lakes near Barrow in Furness. Its a lovely part of the world. I still have a bit of a connection to the area because I rent cabinet space in an antique shop in Bowness.

2 February

Candlemas, Japan and the best present of all

The feeling you have on Christmas morning. That there is something special about this day, even before you are awake enough to realise what day it is. Well, that.

Ah, the last CC chapter.

I checked Nigel's insta last night and there was a great post from him. I especially love the hint (again) that he is writing a new book, so hopefully it won't bd long befofe we have something new from him. He is 70 this April iirc.