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 find @LillianGishyou win the candle prize for the year I think with that!
sorry you are feeling under the weather @martha79as always, rest rest and more rest.
Simple dinner and hibernation are the order of the day I think for us all by the sounds.
I am going to try to do my bird watch tomorrow. Though we don’t get many birds in this tiny garden here. I don’t have any bird feeders but if I did I would sling them up for sure!

The Dogs had a lovely walk along Rutland water and a lovely bath when home as the white ones looked like they had donned black muddy trousers and the sausage was basically just mud on legs. Now ensconced on the sofa with me.

Wow @LillianGish I’ll have to get to TKMaxx this week! Fingers crossed.
I went out for about 20 minutes @RainbowZebraWarrior . Didn’t get anywhere near the apples but I did pop the hellebore in a big pot with tulips and cut back the Japanese anemone and raspberries. Then was freeeeeeezing so I came in, better than nothing. I’ve just done a stock-take on my seed packets ready for spring.
DH retired at the end of last year so is taking gradual baby steps into the world of cooking (I’ve done it for 30 year and I’m fed up!). Toad in the hole tonight, fingers crossed

Gosh @LillianGish that is absolutely wonderful! We just get fairly run of the mill stuff in our two TKs locally. I can but dream. Your luggage will be beautifully scented for the run home.

I’ve not sat down for long, although am taking a moment now and have discovered the entire Poirot cannon has been put onto Netflix. It’s a bit of an indulgence of mine!

We’ve a bootful of stuff for the tip tomorrow, although most of it is a dreadful broken computer chair that DH has been hanging on to for ages. Hardly a dent made in the room that DH has been squirrelling stuff away in (I’ve not been up there for almost a year) but it’s a start. There are a few things in there that came from his mum’s that will need sorting - but we need a functioning bedroom up there, so it’s a steady clear as we go. I’ve also pruned all of the hydrangeas as they are starting to bud and look too leggy.

Following on from that, on the TK Max website, they have 800g trudon candles on sale - for an awful lot of money. You’ve truly done well @LillianGish

What an absolute bargain @LillianGish!

@Bimblesalong Poirot is one of my favourite 'comfort watches'.

My insight into the life of Nigel today - I had to clean out the shower plug filter thingy (a truly disgusting gunky job) and was thinking that Nige probably has a very luxurious bathroom. He certainly does! https://www.worldofinteriors.com/story/nigel-slater-london-home At least he also does his own cleaning...

Thanks for reposting that article @martha79 - a reminder (as if we really needed it) that being truly Nigel is completely unattainable to most of us as we have to accommodate too many other people (and all their stuff) in our lives. I like the fact that he does his own cleaning - it hints at the supreme control he exercises over every detail of his house (because let’s face it he could he easily afford to pay someone else to do it)

I feel that too. The last couple of autumns/winters I’ve been pretty low, I assume it’s SAD or something like that, but my motivation and mood is really low. I was worried about stopping AD’s for this winter, but actually with this book and thread, writing three wins a day, and a SAD lamp, I seem to be feeling much better actually. Pretty impressed by that!

So thanks everyone for some positive vibes, and of course the great Nigel!

All the talk of birds is somewhat apposite today because we saw a wonderful murmuration this evening. We've spent today driving up from Somerset to spend the week in Alnwick. We were driving along the A1 at dusk, when I spotted a murmuration up ahead. We were able to enjoy it for a few moments and then it turned and swooped low over the car. It was like being in the middle of it! I've seen lots of murmurations before, but not this close! Glad we were in the car though - there was quite a lot of bird mess on the windscreen once it had passed!

Tomorrow has been set aside for Barter Books! I will go along and browse to my hearts content, but a book or two and settle down somewhere to read them and DH will join me for lunch. Perfect!

@RainbowZebraWarrior hearing about your lovely spring candle ideas has prompted me to write to Beauty Pie and ask if they will ever reintroduce their Freesia, Patchouli & Moss candle. It's so lovely that I am hording the last inch of an old one in the hopes that if it's gone forever (likely), I can recreate it myself. We'll see!

Very envious of your murmuration @ConfusedmeanderingsI’ve been trying to see one for weeks-going to places they have been frequently spotted near us etc and not a literal dickie bird! In fact the only one I’ve seen was a tiny one before Christmas, also above the A1! Perhaps they enjoy major north to south routes! Enjoy your week away-Alnwick is beautiful.

so annoying when something you love is discontinued @noodlezoodle

up at 5am with daschund, who is now back in bed snoring away. I can’t get back to sleep so I’ve had a read of my book-I’m reading ‘the correspondent’ and I’m really enjoying it, listening to the inevitable rain on the window, and thinking about getting up as DSS’s have early football and I will do them pancakes before they go. DH and I have a sound bath booked later which I’m looking forward to. And it’s only a ten minute walk away which is a bonus.
Have a lovely Sunday all

How lovely. We get quite a lot of starling murmurations up here. I saw one recently beside St Mary's nature reserve in Whitley Bay and we get them flocking every evening on adjacent farmland. They are incredibly noisy. Enjoy your trip to the NE of England, and your Barter Books visit. I think it was this time last year you were up here IIRC.

Good luck and fingers crossed. They do a gorgeous sounding ginger, almond, and orange blossom one that I'd love to try. Failing that, making your own is great fun and can be very rewarding if you manage to get it near as dammit. 🤞

Edited to add: apparently they discontinued the ginger, almond and orange blossom one a couple of years ago, but recently brought it back. Hopefully they will do the same for yours.

Looking a little brighter here today thank goodness. Rain forecast all next week so it will be a week in the kitchen candle making for me. Snow forecast for the week after.

We will be off to our market in an hour, but I've just remembered that Dad is dropping honey jars off to be sterilised beforehand so I best actually get up. Our two jewellery sellers that we frequent at market are missing today, so it will be mostly pokemon stalls we are visiting. My comissioned sea glass jewellery will be ready in 3 weeks so I am rather excited about that.

I found a box of 12 mini hexagonal jars under the sink last night so I am going to fill them with seaglass and sell them at our fair for a couple of quid each. I have too much now so I'll save the best for myself. It's amazing how many people sell it on ebay and vinted.

Oh and I meant to say last night @Comtesse 3 wins a day and a bit of Nigel is definitely a tonic. I still try to write a 'moment of joy' in my diary every day as well as getting a bit of nature every day. It definitely helps keep the winter blues at bay.

Have a lovely Sunday, all.

Oh and TK maxx website are trying to sell 270g Trudon candles for £34 more than Trudon currently sell them for. Not sure what that's all about!

This thread is like a wonderful winter boost. This has been a very tricky week at work with lots of difficult stakeholders all pushing their own agendas so this thread had been a super retreat from that. I did manage to get to the hairdressers though and have my first ever curly cut. Well, it's a revelation. My hair started going curly about 3 years ago (thank you menopause) and it was so good to talk to a curly hair specialist and get some product and technique suggestions. I really want to embrace the curl (after all I spent eye watering sums on perms in the 80s and 90s 🤣) and am more confident that I can manage my tresses now.

Yesterday DH was out captaining a county chess team so I had a lovely day to myself. I did a cardio and a pilates class then came home for a quick shower and to take delivery of the food shop then I popped out for a little wander around a couple of charity shops. I was delighted to find two perfect long sleeve, longline yoga tops for £7 for both of them and I also found this rather pretty little vase for £1. I've been looking for yoga tops on Vinted and finding nothing suitable.

Today is a pub lunch (canalside pub with a roaring fire and massive Yorkshire puddings) for DD's boyfriend's birthday. Then we're off for a viewing of the venue we're using for our 30th wedding anniversary party later in the year.

Over Christmas we went up to Cragside, haven't been since the kids were young. (Really worth a visit at that time as it was all decorated for Christmas). On the way back down the A1 at dusk around Morpeth we saw two separate huge incredible murmurations, nearly crashed the car! It must be a hotspot.
Have been loving the ongoing rhythm of this haven on the internet but major incident at work in the new year derailed any contribution. I had such a peaceful Christmas and it's partly down to this so thank you.

I always forget the Birdwatch, but coincidentally yesterday we popped to the garden centre to buy a bird feeder. It's up in the garden where I can see it from our living room windows. Some cute little coal tits and a robin so far... Love seeing the birds, they are always so busy!
I've found this winter so dark, especially in the mornings, but today is a sunny day and for the first time it felt a bit lighter when DD3 came to wake me up first thing. Also there's one daffodil out already in the garden. Brighter days ahead. Enjoy your Sundays everyone x

There's definitely high occurrences of murmurarions in Northumberland. Especially along the A1. I'm about a mile from the Northumberland border here.

I love Cragside and I wish we still kept our bees there, but trying to cover vast areas of the North East became a bit too much.

I love that vase @petitpasta

Speaking of Northumberland, i meant to post this after we had the snow earlier this month. A spectacular ariel view of our Lady of The North at Northumberlandia.

I have finished listening to Christmas chronicles I must admit I do enjoy listening to Nigel. I will look through the book as l do like the pictures.

What a lovely snowy lady @RainbowZebraWarrior!

Glad you had a good haircut experience @petitpasta and excellent charity shopping.

Great hearing about all your bird/ murmuration sightings. It's very wet here today, but my kitchen does have glass doors out to the garden so trying to see if I can get myself set up somewhere comfy - and see well enough - to do the birdwatch.

Burns Night tonight! I'm afraid a Scottish school education put me off Burns entirely, but I do like haggis. I don't have one though, and I can't be bothered going out to acquire one, so maybe something for during the week. Did have a friend over for a cuppa this morning though and we had Tunnocks teacakes so that'll do 😄

I'm in Barter Books as I type! I have selected a couple of books and I'm ensconced in the old waiting room by a coal fire having a good read. Perfect!

@RainbowZebraWarrior you have a very good memory, it was indeed around Christmas time last year that we last visited! For those mentioning Cragside, that is the only thing on the agenda this week. We've been before, but not for a while so we thought a revisit should be done. Other than that, we'll take each day as it comes. Normally I'm a shocker for planning a holiday down to the last minute, but back in the summer we spent a week in the Dales and I didn't plan anything, we just decided things on the spur of the moment. We also banned the TV for the week. We came back so relaxed we thought we'd do the same here.

Now .... Sausage sandwich or toasted crumpets from the buffet?

Well that was an eye opener, down at the market. I decided to visit a couple of stalls who sold their own hand made candles. I'd been wondering what to charge for mine and was amazed to see that one marker was charging £15 and another £17. I'd been panicking about going above a fiver! I'm going to have some labels made by the fella who makes my honey labels and consider charging a tenner each.

Mmm Tunnocks teacakes @martha79 DDs headteacher is a Scotsman so they learned all about Burns night at school on Friday and got to taste haggis (well, except DD as shes an awkward fussy beggar, even though they had a veggie version)

@Confusedmeanderings my immediate thought was "both" to sausage sandwich or toasted crumpets. Pleased to hear you are taking it easy. I remember you racing around all over the place last time.

Stove has been on here since we got back from market a couple of hours ago. The weather is atrocious, and driving home along the seafront, the North East coastline is wild today. Bread is proving in front of the fire and potatoes are par boiling for roasties.

I would definitely pay a tenner for a lovely handmade candle @RainbowZebraWarrior. I actually prefer the veggie haggis - hmm, might see if there's any left in the shops tomorrow.

@Confusedmeanderings I hope you have a lovely break - sounds like it's got off to a good start.

I sat and listened to the radio and did the birdwatch - mainly soggy magpies!

Morning all.

Rain, cloud and darkness again today. Gosh I am desperate for a sunny, dry day so I can get down to the beach and the nature reserve.

I have a new bespoke walking cane arriving this morning which im really excited about. I bought my last one five years ago, and, whilst there is nothing wrong with it, I have been hankering after an 'evening' stick so to speak. I'll post a pic once it's arrived.

I've not posted in so long. Went back to full-time and in person work last week. After 2.5 weeks off for christmas, then a week of being utterly floored by flu virus followed by part-time working from home while recovering, this was a huge shock to the system! It's nice in a way though - I have such a wonderful team and it has been nice to see them all again.

There's also something nice about the dark early mornings at this time of year (at least when dry). I am definitely not a morning person but reasoned with myself a few years ago that I don't want work to get me when I'm at my best - I'd like the evenings to be my time, so I trained myself to get up early, starting work at 7.30am, so I feel no guilt at leaving at 5pm when others are trying to finish stuff up (I'll do that the following morning). Also I get Friday afternoons off, so it's win-win. I hated it at first but now have come to enjoy the stillness of the morning. The sun always comes up just as I'm getting into Edinburgh city centre and the view is glorious.

@petitpasta , I embraced my curls and found a curly specialist hairdresser three years ago and haven't looked back. In fact, I think this coincided with my plan to start work early - I can't imagine how early I'd have to get up if I were still straightening my hair every morning; it used to take me about 30-40 minutes every day. Now I just give it a shake, and sometimes a spritz of water, and I'm good to go. I don't like bragging but I actually get stopped on the street quite regularly, with people telling me they think my curls are amazing. My mum hates it - thinks I look unkempt and unprofessional, I'll probably lose my job any day now because my hair isn't "sleek".

Had PiLs over for Burns Supper last night - ate far too much and had a really uncomfortable night's sleep. Haggis was nice; I do think that whether veggie or traditional, there are some really awful versions out these, and also some nice ones. This was from our local butcher - will definitely use him again next year. I also made a plain cheesecake but added oats in the base, topped with raspberries and a drizzle of honey, and served with a dram of whisky and called it cranachan cheesecake - it seemed to go down well!

I'm trying to find a St Eval Wild Gorse candle in the wild - I don't want to pay the shipping fee, nor increase my order to £50 to qualify for free delivery. I decided to treat myself at the weekend but all my usual places for buying St Eval let me down on this occasion. Hopefully I'll find one before the spring.