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!

Now I want an elderflower froth of some kind!
Beautiful decs and views to counteract the not so beautiful weather.
I’ve spent a joyful morning so far with 100 new chickens that we took delivery of on Friday. They are doing so well, though still a bit ginger about actually leaving the shed yet. Though so was I as it is chucking it down. Back in wellies and waterproofs but to be fair the land needs it and everything is looking a bit more lush for the drink.
Nigel’s insta is certainly giving lovely garden this week!
have a lovely day all :) stay dry

Tentative sunshine here this morning, keep it up, sunny 🌞 😎! Came out specially for @RainbowZebraWarrior's special day.

Are the beeb doing Chelsea Flower Show coverage this year, does anyone know? I hope so, last year I saved it all for half term and had an iPlayer feast - would love to do that again.

Thank you. I think the sun is due to arrive by late afternoon / early evening here. I am meeting DD froms school with the dog and hot footing it to a glass art gallery and café for an hour (they close at 4) so fingers crossed as we intend to it outside on the balcony overlooking the river mouth and sea.

I've already started working my way through the Chelsea coverage and have book marked the iplayer page. Here you go 😊

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007lyhs/episodes/player

Happy birthday to yooooouuuuu @RainbowZebraWarriorwishing you a lovely, very Nigel, sea glassy, beachy sort of day of dreams.
My day off today so Im also hoping for a bit of Chelsea coverage as well as normal shopping, cooking, cleaning and wrestling with the dog who is now feeling well enough to try and run around but isn’t allowed to put weight on his leg, so it’s becoming a battle.
Im also going to put some of my bedding plants in their pots if it doesn’t rain this afternoon.
Have a lovely Wednesday all :)

I watched a bit last night, I bob in and out. Fast forward through the dull bits. Every year I say I’d love to go one day - haven’t got there yet but never say never.
Very grey again here
Happy birthday @RainbowZebraWarrior !

We went to the Hampton Court flower show and it was rubbish tbh. One big shop basically. It’s sort of put me off going to Chelsea though I assume Chelsea must be much better and more about the actual show Gardens as seen on TV?

My niece's young rottweiler has recently had an op for cruciate ligament. It's becoming such a job keeping her quiet that my niece is seriously thinking of asking the vet for some sort of sedation.

Happy birthday @RainbowZebraWarrior - hope you have a wonderful day! 💐

I am going to ask the vet for some tomorrow at his 10 day check up. He is going to knacker his new knee if he jumps up to quickly. He escaped his utility room/ prison yesterday and I caught him trying to climb the stairs just in the nick of time. 5 more weeks of this to go 🫣

I've been to Tatton a few times @piscofrisco and it is a massive shop, with people getting quite arsey and ramming ankles with their massive trolleys. (I secretly quite like coming home with a boot-load of random plants but yes I see your point). I believe because the Chelsea site is so small they don't sell stuff, it is just about looking at lovely gardens (and wafting about in a glorious frock sipping champagne and trying to spot Monty). I hope I am correct about that!

Well that’s much more me! Maybe next year. (I also say this every year). On the upside DH has just been asked to go to corporate day with a plus one (me) at Ascot. I need to buy a hat!!

I went to Hampton Court a couple of years ago. Dp got discounted tickets I think. I thought it was great. Weather wasn’t that great but I’d go again if I was in the area

Ascot how exciting. Please let us know what you wear and with what fabulous hat. Sounds like a fabulous day

Oh we had a wonderful corporate jolly day at Ascot about 20 years ago. I hired a fabulous hat in a bid to distract from my huge baby bump (DD2, now 19! (Obviously 🤦‍♀️)) For some reason I had the idea that Pimm’s was almost non-alcoholic so I had a very lovely time. Admitting that would get me lynched on AIBU wouldn’t it - but times were different and fortunately she is fine. (I wasn’t sloshed! Just had a couple)

Happy Birthday @RainbowZebraWarrior - hope you have the best day 🍾

@piscofrisco I went to a corporate event at Royal Ascot last year - it was great. I've donated this years ticket to a junior member of the team but I hope to go again. Was a lovely opportunity to get dressed up, and due to the hospitality we were able to get a perfect view of the royals when they came past in the carriages.
Enjoy.

Just realised I'm under a different name on this thread - posted a few times on the other threads with my original name!

A very happy birthday @RainbowZebraWarrior gallery and cafe sounds like a lovely way to spend the day.
Grey and drizzly here (my fault as I put bedding on the line!) but forecast says will be up to 29 next week! What's going on??

Happy Birthday @RainbowZebraWarriorhave a wonderful day. 🎂 🎂 🎂

Silly busy day at work here including much battling with technology. Didn't manage to stop for lunch but have just had an early tea of poached eggs on toast with rocket from the garden, and felt briefly quite Nigel.

Happiest of birthdays @RainbowZebraWarrior. My mum and I used to go to Chelsea every year until she became too infirm to walk round (it does require stamina!) We loved it - best day of the year, devised our own route to miss the crowded bits at the most crowded times, took our own lunch to avoid queuing for food, enjoyed a Pimms by the bandstand when we needed a sit down. There is section where you can buy stuff from various garden accessory retailers, but they don’t sell off plants until the end of the last day when they ring the bell in the pavilion (I remember when it was a marquee!) I much preferred it to Hampton Court. I’ve just treated myself to some peonies which I always associate with Chelsea time and I’ve also come home to a rather lovely chair which used to belong to my dear friend who died last year and so have created a reading nook in the window (though I can’t sit there without shedding a tear at the moment.). It’s my own birthday next week and I’m thinking of planning a week of lovely things myself since DH is flying to LA on the day itself to organise coverage of the football World Cup (NVN) and will be away for six weeks. Hope you are doing ok @EphemeraleEudemonia - your sensitive photo made me laugh!

Happy birthday @RainbowZebraWarrior A virtual bunch of peonies to @LillianGish , what a lovely chair to remember your friend by.

We’re sat out in the evening sunshine listening to birdsong. It’s been a quiet day of nature and cakes - listening to nightingales singing whilst picking mulberries in a country park earlier today.

Listening to nightingales singing whilst picking mulberries sounds VVN indeed @Bimblesalong.

Eeh, Man. You lot are just ruddy lovely and really know how to make a girl's day special. Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes. It really means a lot ❤️

Re: Chelsea FS. I'd also love to go, but I don't do well with the train journey plus the schlepping around, so make do with the TV coverage. I went to Harrogate flower show one year and have to admit, that lovely as it was, it's just a massive market place. Sounds a lot like Hampton / Tatton. We were all on a Civil Service coach trip, and it was quite hysterical seeing us trying to shoehorn all our purchases back in on the coach!

Ascot sounds exciting (in the same vein) and I absolutely insist on seeing the hat you choose @piscofrisco Hope you get something sorted for the doggie determined to break out and get about before they are ready. It's a struggle, and I remember our previous beloved dog trying to do the same (although she had an amputation, so just fell over initially) She became amazing on three legs eventually though and got all the love in the world from everyone who met her. Who doesn't admire the determination of a three legged dog, eh?

Ah, that chair is beautiful and sounds like it will serve as a lovely memory of your friend in time @LillianGish although I totally appreciate how choked up you must feel about it, too. I remember you telling us about her x

Loving your story about Ascot @Celiathebanshee 😊

Listening to nightingales whilst picking mulberries sounds utterly divine @Bimblesalong as does nature and cakes. Hope you enjoy the rest of your time there my lovely.

I have had my hair done, been for a lovely sea glass pick down the beach (chatted to many pals I have made down there) called by my NT property and picked up a pack of 9 painted sage seedlings (all the more precious as it was my Dad who advised them to plant these 10 years ago when he installed a beehive there) I've seen my Mum and Dad for a catch up then dived home quickly before going on the school run. Timed it perfectly as my best pal was just pulling up to deliver my birthday gift. Collected DD with Belle in tow to go to this gallery / café whereby Belle made best pals with the owner / architect's dog Fly. Utterly fascinating story. The gallery used to be an old smokehouse among other things down by the Low Lights on the Fish Quay. The glass fronted building is made from 38 car windscreens and it absolutely stunning. Had a walk on the Low Lights beach and was going to take DD to see Wor Sam's Brit Awards at the Low Lights pub he used to work at, but we ran out of steam. I've promised to take her next week as it's half term.

Thank you all so much again for the birthday wishes. It really has made my day!

A few pics. Also a link to the gallery / café should anyone find themselves in 'Shields and fancy a visit.

moltengallerycafe.com/

Ooh, and also a couple more highlights from today; hearing an interview with the brilliant Pedro Pascal this morning, and receiving this gorgeous sea glass fabric today with a couple of little freebies.

@RainbowZebraWarriorglad you have had a great day. Was the Pedro Pascal interview the one with Gary Davis on radio 2 at breakfast? I heard that interview and thought he came across really well.

the architecture of the gallery is impressive love the use of windscreens as windows

Sounds like a lovely day @RainbowZebraWarrior, I'm so glad! The gallery looks amazing. Realised earlier that this place must be near you? https://www.instagram.com/our_tower_home - been following their adventures in doing up the building for a while and am fascinated (whilst also being too scared of heights to contemplate living that high up!).

I've got one more day of work to go until I'm off for a week (plus weekends) - got a few things planned in but I think I also need a list of little treats.