Year Round Nigel Slater discussion thread - Part 4

[RainbowZebraWarrior]

Hello all and welcome to this lovely space for our continued chats.

A bit of background for anyone not familiar with this topic:

The Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles readalong usually takes place here between November and February each year - the Christmas Chronicles being a book written by Nigel Slater full of winter recipes and anecdotes - It has been running for a few years, and the contributors collectively decided it would be nice to have it running all year round.

So here it is. It is a place to appreciate all things Nigel-esque. Think seasonal food and recipes, enjoyment of nature, gardening, appreciation of the weather, and sharing of news and small moments of joy. It's a calm, cosy space for gentle chat and merriment so pull up a chair, grab a drink and relax.

A very hearty welcome to friends new and old!

Shall we have a little ‘desks of shame’ sidebar? I’ve just headed in to tidy mine and it is bad. I’ve marked it as sensitive in case Marie Kondo is looking

Just spending my lunch break in the garden another nice day here.

I saw Nigel’s desk picture…I just abandon mine after the end of each working day when I’m WFH and close the door on it- cups and all….👀

@LillianGishLovely picture, Paris must be amazing this time of year. I’ve also ever visited in the autumn/winter time.

Lol at desks of shame. I have given up on mine. DD has essentially taken over it with, well, all sorts of crap. Will take photo once home.

Anyone thinking of going to see this shepherd movie with Hugh Jackman in it? - The Sheep Detectives - it sounds rather lovely.

Oh, also meant to say gorgeous photo @LillianGish I love chestnut blossom as it synchronises with my birthday here (later on in May)

I am going to fashion a home made coldframe from bricks and this when I get home. It's basically a massive polycarbonate propogator lid from B&Q for £8 odd.

This is lovely, and he does look well. And has a lovely cardigan.

Tricky to get a good angle on my desk because I sit behind it in a sort of nook so I can look out towards the door and window, but this is roughly my working view (plus laptop). Coffee scented candle and M&S Apothecary 'Warmth' hand cream. That cupboard hides a lot of sins (mostly tangled cables) mind you!

Yes, I also admired his cardigan (I do love a nice cardigan) and his crisp white shirt. Your salmon dish looked amazing last night, BTW and properly had my mouth watering.

I love that range from M&S and often snap up the gift baskets when they are on offer at Christmas time. I've had a bit of a switch around candle wise today and put all the winter themed ones away in the wardrobe. Currently have a home made Lime and Bergamot one under the candle lamp. This is the prototype that I made ages ago with the intention that I would make more for the Easter fair we did back in late March. Never happened... but now I smell it, I will try and make more later in the year.

Just back from the library after picking DD up from school. Got accosted by various staff asking for custom made candles, so have made a list. I've also been asked to do more talks after other local libraries found out how well our beekeeping talk went. I've had to say it might be Autumn time as I'd be foolish to book too much in (which I've had a habit of doing in the past)

Also picked up a book at the library which is a diary of a nearby Northumberland female sheep farmer. Looking forward to reading that. Dropped off more books at the Sainsbury's charity book table and picked up a Linda McCartney cook book that I remember my Mum had in the 80's. Hoping DD will flicked through and pick out some recipes to try. Have also picked up a 2026 book challenge leaflet which has a tick list of read a favourite book again, an award winning book, a banned book, a book published this year, a poetry book, a book by a local author, a memoir, etc. Looking forward to doing this too and can probably tick off a couple already.

Driving home, I passed a Tuk Tuk. That was an unusual sight for North Shields I can tell you. I thought it must be something to do with a takeaway delivery then looked on social media and see there's a bit of a local Tuk Tuk spotting comp going on. Also saw a new business about to open; an Italian panuozzo and sandwich shop. I'm up for trying that and hoping it will be good.

Spring is following it's usual pattern here; quite chilly / changeable during the day and gloriously sunny in the evening. I'll take that all day long. Managed a short walk / hobble on the beach earlier and saw a familiar dog walker waving madly. When she got closer she proclaimed to be very happy to see me as she had noted my absence in recent days, then presented me with a bag of seaglass she had collected for me. So lovely! This happens so much now I feel rather blessed (to coin a naff phrase)

Speaking of sea glass, I have paired up loads of sea glass for stud earrings and roughly 'designed' these (via internet templates) postcards which I am going to have made up to poke the studs through for selling.

Hope your DD is feeling a bit better @piscofrisco and you, too. DD had this latest 'cold' for the last few days with the same symptoms you describe.

Looking forward to hearing all about this year's event @CrushingOnRubies It always sounds amazing!

Anyway, sorry for the stream of consciousness post. Can you tell I am feeling a lot better?

I don’t have a desk but DH has an entire office of shame that I can’t even bear to go in.
Lovely pictures of Paris @LillianGishand it sounds a splendid weekend @Leporello,lost dissertation aside.
we are planning a farm trip to go and see the sheep film! It will be a nice way to celebrate the end of lambing (Clover STILL keeping us waiting).
DD still rough and I’m alright, just bone tired. I’ve spent the day shovelling disgusting sludge out of the bottom of our now drained duck pond. Not the most glamorous of jobs but at least I had managed to borrow some waders! It was absolutely roasting hot all day until about 3 when it clouded over. I’ve sun burned the back of my neck!

Oh @leporello Voces8! Heavenly! Glad the dissertation was retrieved.

wrapping @RainbowZebraWarrior gently in bubble wrap!

heavenly April, @LillianGish I’m working hard to get my travel sorted, frustrated by the first world issue of will tourist flights be available ….

Excellent desk of shame @Celiathebanshee Show us it all Nigelled asap!

Right, book club for me. Not a dull moment around here!

Oh yes ok, @Bimblesalong ! It does look better and what you can’t see behind me as I take it is the piano, which was previously hidden under a massive pile of sheet music (and dust) and is now all neat and tidy and packed away until one of the musical children comes home to mess it up again 🤦‍♀️. And I have repotted the houseplants in this room too 🙌 I just need some work to come in now, I didn’t really want the whole month off although my garden is looking nice and I have been enjoying the weather!
Did I tell you I went to night school last week? It hasn’t been a thing here for years (since Covid? Maybe before that) but they are gradually bringing it back and I went to beginners watercolours. Back again tomorrow and I’ve been painting carrots as homework

This was my very clear desk less than a year ago with just a few Nigel books and a candle on it. Unfortunately this is what severe ADHD and hoarding tendency DD has now created in my space.

I’m not even going to post a picture of the desk in our spare room/ office. It’s very cluttered does occasionally get sorted mind

What a variety of desks 😄 I do have clutter elsewhere, mainly clothes that I can't be bothered putting away. Oh yes, and the top of the piano downstairs. And we'll not talk about inside the bathroom cabinet.

Really like the card for the earrings @RainbowZebraWarrior

Night school sounds enjoyable @Celiathebanshee - love the fact you're drawing carrots!

I had salmon again tonight with rice and veg. Food plans for this week include various pasta - puttanesca, and a thing I used to make with sprouting broccoli and anchovies. And a fish pie. Got some alcohol free wine (Waitrose own, which is ok) and had a glass of that this evening with crackers, manchego and olives. Been watching Rosemary & Thyme - they were also pulling sludge out of a pond @piscofrisco!

I think it was @RainbowZebraWarrior who mentioned magnesium cream as well as taking it? Discovered I have a tub of magnesium, lavender and camomile body cream (think it was a Christmas present) so have stuck some on my feet along with taking my capsule this evening.

What a transformation @Celiathebanshee! I’ve had a bit of a tidy, but I still have lots of extraneous stuff on there for fiddling and distraction. DH came in from work earlier and rather gratifyingly commented that the room felt calmer. I showed him Nigel’s inspiring desk and he noted that you can only see a small corner in his Insta post so wondered if he’s got a load of clutter shoved up the other end, out of shot! Some how I doubt it.

Morning all.

Yes, it was me who mentioned the nightly magnesium cream ritual @martha79 I did it last night and also remembered my magnesium tablet, and again I have slept through (till 5am when the birds started singing)

I am currently enjoying a lovely cup of tea and some toasted Kelderman Dutch rye bread. Unfortunately, my brain hates me and has jumped to the 'end of show song' in Dirty Dancing. In the shrill tones of Baby's sister (natch)

All together, now: "join hands and hearts and voices, voices hearts and hands. At Kellermans we come together as the mountain stands..."

You are all very welcome to that earworm today. I am all for sharing!

What handsome desks! I like your lamp @LillianGishand your wallpaper @Celiathebanshee
Thats exactly the kind of thing my brain does too @RainbowZebraWarriorand has made me smile.
You have inspired me with the salmon @martha79so I’ve marinated some and pre-made a sauce for bang bang salmon bowls later.
Dull and cold this morning-sun couldn’t last forever I suppose. DD no better but her Dad will come to see her today (bonus that Dh and I will be at work so we won’t need to make small talk with him) and hopefully she will get up a bit and have a bath and what not which always makes your feel better. I haven’t broken the news to her that her sister is coming home for a few nights tomorrow (they have a love hate relationship unfortunately currently in an hate phase) as it won’t cheer her up at all (but I am looking forward to seeing her). Off to work back in the woolies for the morning at least as it’s chilly.
A lovely Tuesday to all

What a feast of desk pics! @RainbowZebraWarrior, yours looks like dd1's on a good day! She swears it all makes sense to her so I leave her to it.
I don't even have a desk 🥲. If writing etc needs doing, the dining table or laptop on lap have to do.

Love a random earworm @RainbowZebraWarrior! I did sleep better last night, and was in bed a bit longer this morning, partly I think because it's so gloomy and grey.

Hope DD feels a bit better today @piscofrisco. Your salmon bowls sound good.

Logged into work to discover what I was meant to be doing this morning has been postponed, so having a slower start. Avocado (with lemon juice, paprika and a sprinkling of savoury seed mix) on toast for breakfast. I need to make the fish pie today due to use by dates, so will assemble that throughout the day.

Grey and gloomy sums it up here, too. I read on the BBC weather pages that some could get temps of 24 degrees later this week. It's never going to happen here, but hopefully, some of you might be basking in sunshine in a few days.

I am compiling a 'week of treats' list for myself for my birthday week next month. DD read it and said "Oh bless" and I must admit, they are, shall we say, very simple things (they need to be realistic / doable for my circumstances) So far I have; Get a KFC, Take a meal deal from Sainsbury's to eat at the nature reserve - to include a birthday cake muffin - and go to the cinema whilst DD is at school. I might also add getting another piece of custom-made jewellery made, which sounds much more appropriately indulgent!

Another recent lovely video / interview / tour of Nigel's garden. He also confirms that he didnt go away earlier this year like he usually does to Japan (I think he also went to Finland last year)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n0YoRphmrZM

Just to say that the video I've just linked to is so beautiful, but also so are the comments that people have left. Worth a read through.

@RainbowZebraWarrioryour week of treats list sounds delightful, is there anything you want to see at the cinema?

Loving everyone desk pictures!

I went along to a fused glass workshop with a friend last night, first time ever working with glass. I really enjoyed it, but boy was I a little weakling with cutting the glass up!

Thank you for that, Rainbow, I’ll enjoy watching it later. I’m off out to an indulgent wagging off school feeling, as I’ve booked a film at the local art house cinema. I have a lot of tissues as I understand it’s a weepy sci-fi one (Project Hail Mary). I don’t like the larger cinemas as there tend to be a large number of people who just don’t get it and are on their phones, chatting, crunching loudly, etc. I’m sure there are those challenges in the smaller cinemas but it tends to be less prevalent.

Lovely desk pics. Glad to hear you’re enjoying an evening class @Celiathebanshee . The local offer on those has really narrowed down in the last few years and with art colleges closing. It’s good to see availability.

Glad to hear you slept better @martha79 . It has gone so chilly today, I feel like hibernating!

The baby robin family has fledged and is hiding in various places in my garden. I came out of my office for lunch, to be greeted with a fluffy little fellow, staring at me from under some leaves. What a sweetheart. I’ve planted some good covering in the form of shade-loving wildflowers, so that the newly-fledged have some cover. We don’t have too many cats around but there are buzzards - although I’ve never had one in the garden.

I really enjoyed project HM @Bimblesalong - it’s a fun audiobook, too. Enjoy 🥰

It's going to depend on whats out. I am still hoping to see Magic Faraway tree before it goes, but think I am going to miss it. We are going to see The Sheep Detectives on Monday, however, for my birthday, I think the Mandalorian and Grogu will be out. Thats a must for me. Also, Masters of the universe is out on 6th June, with Nicholas Galzitine playing He Man. DD and I both love him, so that's on the list too!

Ooh fused glass sounds fun, but I don't think I'd be terribly good at cutting it either, seeing as I can't get the lid off a can of tomatoes. What did you make?

@RainbowZebraWarriormando and grogu sounds like a good choice!

I made a flower scene, the glass slides into a lantern. I’m looking forward to picking it up ☺️

Your list is great @RainbowZebraWarrior! I quite fancy the sheep film. I've got a free ticket for a documentary about land/ the right to roam which is on at our local independent cinema next week, and am hoping my energy levels will behave to go to that (https://escapes.cinematik.app/ for free cinema tickets by the way, it's quite good if you can make the few dates they offer). I like the independent one or we also have a Light which has the comfiest seats and seems to not get too much rowdiness.

@MrsJLevinson the workshop sounds fun.

Had a very long meeting this afternoon and I enjoyed the debating but it's also worn me out. Abandoned my fish pie plan for this evening and have just had ready made falafels, hummus, bread and olives.

Thanks so much for posting that video @RainbowZebraWarrior - Nigel’s garden is everything you would expect it to be, with his long table echoing the zinc counter in his kitchen. I have been fiddling about with my window boxes today - a poor substitute for a garden, but I do have herbs in the kitchen so I can open the window and, even if I can’t step outside, I can scrunch up some rosemary and thyme just like Nigel. Very envious of those with gardens - I’m going to visit my mum next month to get my fix of spring gardening in her huge plot that she struggles more and more to keep in order.