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!

I love Winterwatch, going to binge them over the weekend.

There is fabulous light today here - something about the conjunction of sun, wind and dark rain clouds that only ever happens in winter and is something to treasure.

I thought Hamnet was really beautifully shot but much less emotional than the book - I didn't cry one little bit and I am known for crying at films. Jessie Buckley and the children were incredible. It did go on a tiny bit! Especially the last scene. I was a bit bored.
I liked their dirty fingernails

What a nice bird feeder @RainbowZebraWarrior

This was indeed my rescheduled massage and it was lovely. Came back to find my other Nigel books had arrived - from a quick glance I am pleased to read his views on dishwashers (very much in favour) and that he occasionally eats supermarket sushi for lunch. I don't know what he makes of takeaway pizza but I think that's what's happening here this evening.

I will send you my address but only if your send me your bank deets so I can pay you @RainbowZebraWarrior! Well done for getting out on the garden.
We do our raised beds that way @PrizedPickledPopcornwith lots of dirty straw too for compost.
a massage and a take out pizza sounds just the ticket @martha79
and a happy Friday evening to everyone else :)
One of my most favourite days on the farm today as it was sheep scanning day when we scan all the ewes to see how many lambs we can expect. We have 181 coming (give or take) which is great and 40 more than last year. In the afternoon my colleague did his bone talk where he shows us all the skulls and things he has found round and about. Both activities the co farmers love!
(and so do I).
home cold and wet and have had some microwave bao buns for dinner as I’m too lazy for anything else, NVN but I think even he must cheat sometimes. Bath and early bed for me I think!

I'd happily watch Winter / Spring / Summer / Autumn watch every day. I've just finished Ep 1 and Mr Darcy was entranced by the curlews (he possibly recognised their call, as we have them locally) but moreso the Pine Martin. Wars pricked up and snout right up to the telly. Tried to get a photo, but was too slow.

Pleased to hear that Nige likes a bit of supermarket sushi. It's often my go to when I'm down the nature reserve watching birds. Supermarket or Takeaway pizza is also good, and when I was a chef, it was all the younger chefs lived on (as well as Subway and McDonalds which I'm not so fond of)

@martha79 the new bird feeder looks amazing now it's lit up. hopefully it doesn't attract rats Unimpressive shadowy photo through a rainy window incoming...

You are a woman of many talents, @RainbowZebraWarrior .

I seem to have been [unfortunately?] cured of my decision fatigue and am now expecting 3 parcels from Vinted and one from Amazon. I’ve sorted my wool stash and worked out a plan of action to get it down to manageable amounts. I’m making baby bonding squares with all the double knitting acrylic in pale colours. I have a big stash of super chunky which will make a great chunky jacket I have found a pattern for. By the time I’ve done that I’ll be ready to make the pattern I bought 20yrs ago, and then…. Then I will be able to justify more sock wool 🤣. Depending on the speed of progress I will allow myself to buy wool specifically for gifts I make. DM wants an infinity scarf like one I made myself years ago. I’ll try and do it for mothering Sunday, if not it will be her Bday in September. Vinted is full of gorgeous, nicely priced yarn!

I have tons of photos of my cat getting excited in front of Winter/Spring etc watch @RainbowZebraWarrior .

Yes to the dirty fingernails, @Celiathebanshee - that was a very striking detail.

Mr D loved the badgers, too. I always think it's funny that they don't recognise their own reflection, but see and get excited about other wildlife via the TV.

On the Hamnet dirty fingernail chat, I have direct experience of this. I posted a photo last year of me in a BBC period drama (Elizabeth the Virgin Queen) which I've attached below, and I can confirm that the lengths that Make Up and Wardrobe go to to make it all look real are quite awful. I had some sort of vile brown nail varnish painted on my teeth in order to make them look rotten. The dirt rubbed into my hands and up my fingernails was nothing compared to the days spent trying to scrape this off of my teeth. You might just be able to make out the brown teeth, and dirt rubbed all over my face, hands and up my nails.

Btw, @PrizedPickledPopcorn you may think i have many talents, but they are limited, believe you me. I can not sew, knit, or crochet to save my life, so I am in awe of yourself and others who can.

Oh, you look awesome @RainbowZebraWarrior , period-authentic grime and all! A fair few period dramas get filmed round here and dd1 is always applying to be an extra (because she has 'long natural undyed hair' which is important apparently) but then chickening out before it starts. Maybe one day... I'll have to check out the Elizabeth I drama, sounds like my kind of thing.

Dd2 is texting me frantically telling me that somebody on the Traitors was her friend's stepdad. Fame!

My MrD’Arcy stopped us watching any nature programmes. He was ok about fish, whales etc, but as soon as anything with legs crossed the screen he went ballistic. Period dramas were a bit dodgy too, with horses pulling coaches. I don’t remember him getting upset about a single horse, though, just those in traces. In contrast, single dogs weren’t acceptable. As he aged, we could get away with the odd dog appearing in dramas, but nature programmes were a no go.

‘Just those in traces’ made me laugh :) our dogs go bananas at any animal on TV, so all nature programmes are out. I have to watch Countryfile locked away in the front room. One of them also loathes Clive Myrie for some reason so Mastermind is tricky.

You look amazing @RainbowZebraWarrior - very authentic!

Wildlife programmes are tricky here too - I tend to watch more on my laptop these days, where I may get an attentive cat companion and maybe the odd swipe of a paw. There's been a couple of incidents where TVs have nearly been knocked off their stands due to a bird 'chase' or big cat programme.

It's amazing how many of us are affected by our animals and nature programmes. Poor Clive Mirie though eh? bless him!

I am very excited for the last couple of days of my Jadvent calendar, and I know they save a lot of the best till last. I've really enjoyed it and it's brightened these dark January mornings no end for me. I would definitely do it again. Too much else doing in December to fully enjoy.

St Eval has an extra 10% off sale stuff with EXTRA10. There's not much left, but their advent calendar is still available and it brings it down to £27.

I have really enjoyed Nigel's writing this festive/winter season. I think it has helped me to slow down and take some 'me' time. The simple act of lighting a candle and reading a book has connected me to other kindred spirits across the continents.
I received A Thousand Feasts for Christmas and would love to read more too. Are the Kitchen Diaries the best series to get?
The St Eval Winter Thyme candle is on its way to me. I too have organised my knitting and made plans /goals for the next few months. Simple pleasures.

That's so lovely to read, and I think it's probably how a lot of us feel. After ATF, the Kitchen Diaries books are definitely my favourites (and most dipped into) I also read or listen to Toast about once a year.

I put my oil filled radiator and candle lamp on in the conservatory about an hour ago, so im hoping it will be warm and toasty enough for me to now go and sit with a cup of tea, flicking through some books and watching the birds. I love Saturday mornings.

Good morning all. Bright sun here today for a lovely change. I’m about to walk into town for my nail appointment and little pole about the last sale bits in the shops. DH has taken the DSS’s out for the day to watch Manchester City-I just dropped them at the train. So I have a lovely afternoon to myself which tbh after the way DSS2 has behaved this morning is very much needed! And breathe. I’ve got a steak and some sesame soy brocolli for my solo tea which I’m really looking forward to and I tend to watch one battle too many (as I’m trying to watch all the Oscar nominated films this year, or as many as available to me)

Afternoon. Lovely and sunny here amidst the clouds.
I’ve just stuffed my face with bagels and butter, made from sourdough discard. Gosh this kitchen science is complicated - still haven’t managed to make a sourdough loaf but would like to. Faffy to say the least and so much easier to bake a traditional yeast loaf.

great pic @RainbowZebraWarrior

We had a charm of at least 5 long tailed tits on the feeder this morning, accompanied by robins, blue tits and a black cap. Lovely. Are we nearly at birdwatch weekend?

I need to make a start at chipping into the mammoth task of decluttering our attic room this weekend. Little by little will do it. I also have ds 2’s room as a project this year now that he has left home (sniff!). There’s a lot of random art I can hang on his walls which until now has been stacked in the sitting room.

It’s great to have a bit of space @piscofrisco DH has gone to investigate a random potential Roman shrine and will be way longer than he estimated. Music and a book before a starter declutter.

Yum

It's Birdwatch weekend this weekend. Sounds like s good one for you! I also found the whole sourdough thing complicated. Those bagels look great though.

Awful here. Dark and raining. Not a bird to be seen. Must rey again tomorrow afternoon, so fingers crossed for better weather.

Finished winterwatch. I'll now be eagerly counting down the months to Springwatch. Have placed my final seed order, and i shall wait for Sarah Raven to offer (was it 30 or 40% off?) the Dahlias. I think it was around Easter weekend when all the good garden discounts popped up. Also loved seeing stuff appearing in the shops, so I've bought my onion sets and bamboo canes alongside some new plant tags yesterday.

Enjoy your 'me time' Pisco and Bimbles!

Just plonking this RSPB link here as a reminder that the Big Garden Birdwatch is this weekend. Meant to do this yesterday

www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch?mac=bwmith0230&utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=bgbw-2026&utm_content=ppc&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23350271479&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxd6qmp-kkgMVWJVQBh3g0QTZEAAYASAAEgJ2MPD_BwE

I always forget about the Big Garden Birdwatch. I'm just settling down after a walk so will try to do it tomorrow. I did see a load of goldfinches while I was out though.

Your bagels look excellent @Bimblesalong

Hope you're enjoying your peaceful afternoon @piscofrisco

Don't feel great today so apart from the walk - which was nice as the sun has finally come out - it's been a quiet one. Am tracking (online) a friend who's doing a 50 mile race today so just seeing where she's at then going for a nap!

We are doing our bird watch tomorrow morning. Will go and fill the feeders beforehand (is that cheating?)
I intended to prune the apple trees but I went to the farmers market then wanted to finish my book and then had to get DD1 from the station and somehow it is 330, I am on the sofa with a cup of tea and the trees remain untouched! I got a great hellebore from the garden centre this week, too, and that needs a home.

Have been off the radar for a bit as I am back in the UK visiting my mum, but had to pop straight on here after picking up the most incredible bargain in TK Max Windsor. I was browsing the scented candles as I know lots of you pick them up for a good price there when I spotted a familiar pale green box. Trudon Spiritus Sancti - no price tag, but when I inquired at the till I was informed it was only £6.99 - I must have looked shocked as the assistant asked if I still wanted it!! Have tried to explain to mum what an incredible find it is, but she finds it hard to get her head around the fact that anyone would pay £95 for a candle and thought £6.99 sounded about right.
The Richter ballet looks amazing @Bimblesalong. So pleased to hear about your DD @RainbowZebraWarrior - I have been following since all the worry about her previous school closing and I’m so happy it all turned out for the best. In my experience it is often the way that things which feel like huge obstacles at the time turn out to be gateways to something much better. So glad it worked out well for her.

I wouldn't consider that cheating at all. My Dad pruned his apple trees in the dark the other night. My mother said she was watching him through the French doors balancing on an old dry stone wall to get to the higher branches. She had to walk away. He's just one of those people. She's also unimpressed as he put some fake grass under the trees temporarily in the Autumn to catch any windfalls, and of course it's still there and her snowdrops, muscari and aquilegia are all underneath. Oh dear!

So, so cold. Just been out to deliver a get well soon card to DDs favourite key worker at school. Food order has just been delivered and now I think it may be hibernation time! Need to think of something simple for dinner.

What an incredible find @LillianGish Wow! The candle find of the year, I'd say. Thanks for your kind words about DD. Definitely a gateway to new opportunities. I like that.