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!

Beautiful sunrise, looks like rain here at the other end of the country. Going to treat myself to coffee from my favourite shop on my way to work - slightly out of my way but worth it ☕.

Enjoy your coffee @leporello

Lovely sunrise @RainbowZebraWarrior

I wasn't up that early, but it's brightening up here. I've got my first appointment with the Long COVID clinic (by video call) shortly, then will think about what to do with the rest of the day.

DH had to be in a neighbouring town at 10 for a 10-minute appointment this morning but there is a fabulous garden centre between here and there so I tagged along. Spent 10 minutes in TK Maxx waiting for him (sniffed a lot of candles then reminded myself I have a lot at home) then to the GC for a (delicious freshly baked) scone and a pile of seed packets as some of mine are a bit old and germination has been a bit hit or miss this year. Big debate over whether it makes more sense to buy seeds or strips of plants so came home with a nice mix. Unfortunately it is too cold and wet for my fair-weather gardening tendencies so I’m not doing anything much with them today. I did somehow pick up two different brands of rocket, which is odd as none of the children like it so I really don’t need much 🤦‍♀️ I blame Monty for talking about it in the gardener’s world I watched yesterday (from about 3 weeks ago I think. I didn’t know, assumed it was the most recent. Stupid Iplayer)
Had book group last night. We were all tactful.
Good luck at the clinic @martha79

How did the appointment go, @martha79 ? Hope it was helpful. When the LC clinics opened, we in the EDS and MCAS community felt really hopeful as it seemed for once that Chronic Fatigue and Pain conditions were at last being taken seriously. Sadly, I think (like a lot of services) there isn't much support on offer. Still hoping you got something out of it, though 🤞

That sounds like good use of an appointment today @Celiathebanshee and a good scone is always a lovely treat. We have planted seeds today. It's been mostly sunny (after I scraped the ice from my car this morning) but we had some showers this afternoon. Not a bad thing as it has probably saved me from doing more than I should have.

I'm done in. Been awake since 4am and out and about since 5.30am. This is mostly my stupid body clock from now until the end of summer. Going to read for a bit, I think. I'm reading The Trouble with Goats and Sheep again.

Started my day with a dip in the Med, followed by a lazy, sunny day around Menton including a trip to the Jean Cocteau museum and a swing by the town hall to see the Salle des Marriages he designed in every detail - right down to the carpets curtains, lamps and doors to say nothing of his art work that adorns the Walz’s and ceiling. Such a lovely place for the people of Menton to get married in. Now enjoying an aperitif at the window and admiring the view…I’m going to miss it!

That’s a lovely book @RainbowZebraWarrior - I recently read ‘the list of suspicious things’ which had a similar feel (but a bit darker).
I did get outside for a bit this afternoon after all - the rain stopped and I found myself out there. Pak choy, broccoli, PSB all transplanted and a reasonable number of seeds sown. I’m out of compost again so can’t do any more until I’ve sourced some.
@LillianGish you definitely win! Very grey here today and absolutely zero glamour.

Loving the very blue skies @LillianGish!

Appointment went well, thanks - it was over an hour which was exhausting, but very thorough. I've heard very mixed reports of LC clinics but I seem to be lucky (by chance of living in the right place). They're very clued up on the nervous system disfunction theories and do a mix of individual and group support on fatigue, anxiety, managing at work, nutrition etc as well as a gradual 'return to exercise' programme. I now have a rehab plan to work through most of what they offer, over the next six months or so. I also have a shower seat on the way, as they were not happy when I said I sometimes sit on the floor of the shower cubicle on particularly tough days.

Treated myself to an iced (oat, decaf) latte and an almond croissant afterwards, and then just pottered about. Am trying to work out if I'm up to going back to orchestra rehearsals anytime soon, so trying a few bits of the repertoire for the next concert - treating the neighbours to Swan Lake this evening.

Beautiful sunrise and Menton photos. My work is bonkers as usual. Today's madness was "please can you brief this exec committee and please can we have the paper by Friday?" Ermmm well I can but you might want to tell me what they want to know as that would be helpful in writing the paper...🤷‍♀️

Had news that I wasn't shortlisted for a job. It was a stretch if I am honest and I think they will have wanted someone more sciencey than me. There's something out there for me!

I have the house to myself tonight so I may go and peruse streaming services for something to watch. I feel like a nonsense disaster movie. And I might watch some more Silent Witness as I have got back into that.

All NVN I know!

Blue skies are very therapeutic @martha79 though there are an incredible number of steps here - both to get up into the old town and then into the apartment. Definitely not for the faint hearted! I think pottering has much to recommend it and is very underrated - no point pushing yourself too hard to try and prove some sort of point, much better to follow the advice you have been given today. Slow and steady wins the race - Swan Lake does sound rather lovely though. Wishing you well in your recovery - I think you will get lots of good advice and encouragement on here.
I love Silent Witness @petitpasta - especially since it moved to Birmingham. It’s mine and DS’s guilty pleasure - he was at uni in Brum so we do location spotting (it used to be filmed in Ealing where we lived when we were in London).

Glad to hear that the appointment went well @martha79 we get launched into lives we hadn’t expected at times and it’s a huge readjustment.

I had the trouble with goats and sheep on the go as well, as a side quest. Enjoying it. I read the list of specious things with bookclub last year. Terrific book but very dark.

busy couple of days at work and I suspect the inbox will be busy next week with follow ups and enquiries. I’m sticking to my plan to cut down though.

Swan lake sounds lovely @martha79 I see it’s on at the opera house later next season and must book it for mum and I to go to. My neighbours are still away, which is just as well as I’ve graduated from Scottish reels on the violin to singing Scottish folk songs with piano accompaniment (as well as a load of show tunes, which have been fun!).

Menton looks amazing @LillianGish , you’ll really miss it. The new Paris opera season info is just out - there are a couple of things I’m keen to see late this year, so I must get my diary in order.

Good morning all
More Lovely Menton pics and Whitely bay looking equally beautiful, if a touch chillier.
Glad your appointment went well @martha79. My Dad used to have a shower chair and I actually used to quite like having a sit down on it whilst I was washing my hair - so hopefully you see it as an nice addition rather than anything else. I’m glad you got a good rehab plan. Are your work still being supportive? I hope so.

Im in a similar debate over seeds or plug pants @celiathebanshee.I’ve taken on responsibility for the very overgrown sensory garden at work and I’ve got it to the stage of being ready for plants now, so I I need to get hold of some for it! It will end up being both I think due to budget but I’m desperate to have it looking nice again so it’s very tempting to get plants that are grown a bit already and put them in.
Im on a similar body clock to you @RZW.Awake since half three which is bad even for me. Lots of housework/cooking/errands to do today and I’m already knackered before I start.

DD1 had a day off on Monday and so came to work with me for a day. She loved it, and she got to see a lamb being born. She said ‘if it didnt pay nish I’d do your sort of job for sure’ and therein lies the problem with social care work. She would be so good at it too, it’s such a shame.

we had book club on Monday night and it was fine and a nice discussion apart from one woman (who unfortunately I had given a lift there and back as she doesn’t drive) who kept making (I hope unconsciously ) really racist comments about the book (which was a memoir of someone whose parents were Chinese immigrants and owned a Takeaway-it was quite good I thought and it had recipes interspersed with the narrative which I loved). It really spoiled the evening tbh, and I’m now going to have to find a way to get out of giving her lifts every month which will be tricky as she lives two roads up from me and we are the only ones going from this direction. I don’t know how I always seem to get myself in to these pickles.

still the bluebells were blue belling intensely at work yesterday and I’ve got a day off today so it’s not all bad-have a lovely Wednesday all :)

Whats for you won’t pass you by on the job front I’m sure @petitpasta

Hello all. Such wonderful photos of Menton and Bluebell woods. So good to see the pics of Menton as the steps really do rule it out for me.

Pleased you had a good appointment @martha79

I'm shattered. 2.20am it was this morning when I woke. I am hoping that sheer exhaustion will eventually lead to a full night's sleep!

I was supposed to go back to the docs after falling in December if things didn't improve significantly. My knee is still sore, but I was putting that down to my arthritis and EDS. However, I've just discovered two cysts which suggest some meniscal damage. Chanced a phone call right now and got through straight away. I have an appointment on friday.

Evening all

Wow, those stairs are quite something @LillianGish

Lovely bluebells @piscofrisco! I'm all for the shower chair if it saves me some energy. Work are still being good, thanks for asking. We are having some budget cutbacks at the moment which means they've reduced travel/ in person events, which is unfortunate but quite well timed for me.

Glad you managed to get a quick appointment @RainbowZebraWarrior

I was awake at all sorts of times last night so pretty washed out today. But I've made it through the first day back at work, and only one more to go before it's my weekend. Had my lunch in the garden, then five minutes later it was pouring with rain and it's very dark this evening. Gammon steak for tea with a big salad - got a bit fed up of the ready meals so I'm back onto easy-to-cook things this week.

@piscofrisco I think I know the book you're talking about. Takeaway; stories from a childhood behind the counter? I saw it on the book table this week and didn't take it. I am kicking myself now as I really fancy reading it.

Pouring down here, now, but we have been pretty lucky this past few days. I got a cordless strimmer and cordless mower and managed a quick sweep around with the strimmer this afternoon. I have made the decision not to plant any more seeds as I am aware that I am doing way much more than I am capable of anyway, so time to adapt and adjust again. It's the sensible and only option.

Ready meals can be bloody depressing @martha79 so I rely a lot on certain fail-safes. I love the chicken joints foil trays from waitrose. 25 mins in the air fryer and I have some chicken with either bagged salad, microwave rice or crusty bread a few times a week. If I can be bothered, I cut it up and whack it in the crockpot with a chopped onion and ready made curry sauce for a weekend treat.

That’s the one @RainbowZebraWarriorit was a nice gentle read and I loved the recipes in it. Though it made me starving hungry whilst I was reading it which possibly wasn’t the main point.

Chucking it down here too but we just got a very vivid double rainbow.

I’ve spent the evening so far trying to cheer DSS1 up , (he came home from his Mums crying his eyes out a she’d had a go at him about something or other), feeding everyone chicken schwarma and chips which I made from scratch, and trying to stop the dogs tunnelling through the kitchen wall where they think they have a heard a mouse .

running on total empty now due to waking up so early so looking forward to Dh getting back from work so I can hand DSS duties over to him and go to bed, (in the nice clean sheets I put in this afternoon!)

Did anyone watch HIGNY on Friday BTW? I've just caught up with it now. Monty Don did a sterling job, and I always feel that its good to see folk being more natural (as in a bit sweary and less inhibited as you'd imagine they would be at home watching and commenting on the news!) I'd actually like to see more of him like that. His Social media is much more enjoyable than his GW persona IMHO.

A couple of final window shots as we prepare to leave for the long train journey home. Taking some orange blossom scented goodies home with me to whisk me back when I’m sitting in Paris. Glorious bluebell photo @piscofrisco,

DD1 has decided she is coming to France with me now. It’s quite nice of course that she wants to come but I really was looking forward to going on my own for a few days. Does that make me a horrid mum? I won’t say that to her obvs!

I really like Monty. For some reason my DD2 has took agin him and keeps telling me he is guilty of some sort of product placement scam in GW? Is she making this up entirely? I’ve heard nothing of it-and nor do I care especially as I like him and his Dog, and I’m extremely envious of his garden :)

Isn't there some sort of daft Alan Partridge / Monty Don spoof conspiracy thing? I have a feeling that involved a product placement / bribe storyline. I remember watching a video ages ago where Alan meets Monty in a hotel lobby and makes some sort of accusation or proposition. I remember it being quite funny.

I am bored in general with GW and Monty, but as I said last night, quite enjoy seeing him in a different habitat so to speak.

No, you aren't a bad Mum. If you were looking forward to some me time, then all of a sudden have to change mindet, then that's always going to be a bit disappointing.

I am in so much pain everywhere. I have to do a beekeeping chat at the library today. It's just a drop in session and only a couple of hours, but I feel so broken. At least DD will be helping me. By the way Pisco, our main bee presentation is in July, so I haven't forgotten that I'd send you some info / slides once I have done them.

Once DD is back to school next week, I must get back to building in some rest time. My Mum is going to have to crack on, as she has now been in bed for 3 weeks after falling and hurting her back, but can actually move and walk better than I can. Trawling the beach will have to go on the back burner for a bit, too. I know that walking on unstable ground is contributing to all my body's woes! I have bought myself a deckchair to take down on sunny days, though 🌞

Right. Get up, drink a pint of tea and pack the car!

I'm going to miss your window views @LillianGish - can only imagine how much you'll miss them!

I don't have a TV licence so haven't seen any Monty for a while, but do generally like him. I remember reading his (first?) autobiography years ago, which was an interesting insight.

I'm sorry you're having so much pain @RainbowZebraWarrior - take it easy as much as you can. Hmm, deckchair is a good idea...

Ready meals were decent ones (Frive) but it gets quite repetitive after a few weeks - although the meals do vary they have a certain style/ taste about them. I have indeed stocked up on Waitrose 'things that can just be stuck in the oven' - there's a lemon chicken with feta one and a chipotle beef amongst others. And lots of salad and tortilla-type wraps.

Work here but last day before my weekend, just hung some washing out (it's very windy again but dry so far) and hoping for some lunchtime sunshine.

Phew! What a day. I hadn't realised that the library had been taking bookings and running a bee themed craft workshop in the run up to our beekeeping presentation. We were just setting up our tables then turned around to see about 60 eager children and parents sitting on the carpet waiting for us to start. I had nowt prepared, so just stuck my beekeepers veil on and winged it! Two hours later and I was hoarse, but can honestly say that I have never encountered such a brilliantly behaved and engaged set of kids. I feel privileged to do this, even though it can be rather exhausting, the fact that folk actually care about bees makes it all totally worthwhile. All the children got bee stickers and took photos of themselves wearing my veil. Always lovely to see their smiling faces. No opportunity to take any photo's of our set up, so here's a pic of me since it's now all over the internet anyway 😊🐝

Wow @RainbowZebraWarrior gorgeous piccie and what a day you’ve had. We’ve been watching the documentary about bees - on the Disney channel of all things - and really enjoyed it.

Popping my head in after a busy day to say that I passed the choir audition tonight! Yay! I had to sing a song, do some aural tests (like the ones I did with my piano exams) and then have my range checked by singing scales (it’s broader than I realised). Off to sleep with a head full of lovely music from tonight’s rehearsal.

Ooh is that Secrets of the bees, or a different one?

Well done on the choir. That sounds like a proper, serious choir indeed.

We are off to the city later this morning. Into Forbidden Planet to preorder some Pokemon exclusives and then a trip to the music shop. DD had been struggling with hand pain and given up on her saxophone, yet secretly started up again, teaching herself while I have been out helping Mum. She surprised me the other day by taking it out and treating me to Careless Whisper! So we are buying some new reeds and asking about getting a meaningful inscription engraved on her sax.

Seeing the GP about my knee later then have someone coming to quote for the replacement of the broken fence. Two fat pigeons landed on it yesterday and bits just fell off!

What a lovely picture and well done you @RZW!Please record the next one and send! I would love to see it!
And applause for you @Bimblesalong-what a thing it must be to be able to sing like that! I’m very proud of you from my little corner of the internet :)
a grey morning and not much sleep for me again, I’m in an atrocious sleep cycle. I feel knackered and bloated and fat this morning and not much h like work at all, which is not very like me and even though I know it’s logically down to the lack of sleep, is making me feel a bit wobbly. FML it’s not much fun being a middle aged woman is it? Even at a base level without any of the things lots of people on here are dealing with to boot. We should get bloody medals!