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!

Bookmarking this for a listen later. May is amazing garden wise. I said to a couple in an NT garden this week that there was a good reason why Chelsea FS takes place this week each year. The alliums, laburnum, wisteria, rhododendrons etc are all utterly stunning.

This looks utterly idyllic Bimbles. Wow!!

Gorgeous ❤️ Difficult times for you for sure, but pleased you've had some time to process and also had great support from your DH. Honestly, consider all your options, then consider them again. I didn't ever think I would be happy taking time out, but it was a great thing in the end. I think we worry too much that we will never 'get back into the throng' but actually the throng can be a bad thing. I used to support my staff to the point whereby I probably neglected myself. Taking calls on holiday, worrying about their circumstances more than mine. Yep. Been there, done that.

Take another moment to breathe once you are home. and think about yourself. It is so easy to have a holiday then once back home get back to the 100MPH life. Listen to your DH if he is happy / able to support you both financially and emotionally. Best of luck with all the applications, but be mindful of not taking a job because you think it defines you as a 'successful woman / person'.

I hope that makes sense.

A massive and not so humble brag from me tonight.

DD has come home clutching aaaaallll the half term awards. Senior Leadership award for 100% effort, positivity, confidence, dedication, maturity, kindness, excellent exam results, supporting others, perfect punctuality and attendance. Form teachers award for similar. History and Deputy Head award for being an absolute joy, and having a smile that makes her day. It goes on.

She has also won an award for a poem she wrote at the weekend. It has been put forward for the 'I had a dream' Young Writers national poetry competition. Her teacher wrote simply "You have amazed me with your creativity, ideas and poetry writing. What a talent you have! I am so excited to find out how you do in the 'I had a dream' competition. KEEP WRITING"

Thank goodness for brilliant teachers!

For context, I sat through eight years of First school and middle school and watched her face crumple as she won nowt. None of her qualities were ever recognised. We were demonised as a single parent family and I was regularly judged and dismissed because she apparently came from a 'broken home'

She was also almost totally mute until just over a year ago, to say nothing of her anxiety levels and depression. We had some long, dark years.

What a difference a year makes (and a bloody good school!)

My Mum and Dad were overjoyed when she showed them her awards (we had to call by after school and show them) and gave her £20, but better than that - she doesn't know this yet - she has loads of gifts from me tucked under her pillow for her to discover later tonight. Including some rare Pokemon that I said I was unfortunately unable to source 😊

Oh @RainbowZebraWarrior that's so amazing, well done her (and you for persevering and getting her to a better school). Tell her your imaginary friends (what a friend of mine calls friends she's met online 😄) also think she sounds like a truly brilliant person!

Thank you, my lovely. That means the world to us, and has been a brilliant, and unexpected final 'birthday treat' for me this week.

@RainbowZebraWarrior i am the random tourist with something in her eye at a very delayed gate at the airport. Wow. Just wow. So proud of her and you. How far you guys have come.

Good Lord! What great news re DD @RainbowZebraWarriorim vicariously very proud of her and of you. You two are a great team!
Just back from getting DSS1 from his ‘gathering’-they dont say ‘party’ anymore. What seems to happen is they all sit around on their phones and the girls get very dolled up and they might chat a bit and someone has usually snuck some drinks in so some people are a bit tipsy-from what I can gather.

Absolute bedlam on the farm today with co farmers having literal meltdowns, jumping in the pond, getting lost, losing ducks on their way between ponds, forgetting to feed the goats and etc etc. All in boiling temperatures and covered in sun cream and ice lolly. now home from seeing pal and child pick up and I’m treating myself to a glass of very cold rose on the bench outside as that has been some day.

safe travels Bimbles.

counsellor sounds a winner then @martha79:)

thinking of you and keeping it all crossed for your applications @petitpasta.I would struggle to take summer off too, but equally don’t push yourself too hard-this bit of time could be a great reset for you whilst you are waiting for your next good thing to come along and I’m very sure it will.

glad you had a lovely day @Celiathebanshee

Good list for my trip @LillianGish Thankyou. Is the beach private did I read somewhere? Do I need to be patronizing an establishment to go on bits of it? Or have I got that totally wrong?! Excited!

congratulations to those who have broken up today. What a lovely Friday feeling that must be!

@RainbowZebraWarrior lovely news to start the half term with. Huge well done to your wonderful DD, but let's not underestimate her amazing Mum that pushed and fought to get her in to this school. So a massive well done to you too!
I remember on a previous thread (different username) the hoops you had to jump through. A mother's instinct is always right!

Fabulous news re DD @RainbowZebraWarrior - I remember when her school was closing and it felt like the end of the world that she would have to move. What a blessing that turned out to be! Very well done to her. Onwards and upwards.
That beach is not a private one @piscofrisco though it will undoubtedly be busier in June than it was in April.

I've been quiet on the thread for a few weeks because life has been somewhat difficult lately, but I've been reading it when I could. I just had to jump out of Lurkerdom though to say wow @RainbowZebraWarrior , how fantastic for your DD!

I have booked myself a lovely room with a view for two nights. Back to being just me now as DD has a work thing so can’t come, and tbh it can’t come soon enough!

Ive been up with the birds this morning and sat outside in the very early morning sun with my tea. You can already feel how hot it’s going to be later.

Bee keeping course today which promises to be sweltering in the full suit I would think-but I’m so looking forward to it.

have a lovely Saturday all

Oh enjoy the beekeeping course pisco. Can't wait to hear all about it

I dont know if you have already been told this, but dont wear any perfume or body spray (ideally just unscented deodorant) as the bees really don't like the chemical human scents.

Thank you so much my lovely and sorry to hear you're having a difficult time. Sending gentle hugs to you.

Oh good tip-that wasn’t mentioned!

Hope you are ok @Confusedmeanderings

Morning all,

A big well done to your DD @RainbowZebraWarrior

@piscofriscobee keeping course sounds fantastic! I’d love to know how you get on.

I am sat outside having a drink, quite cool at the moment. Yesterday was incredibly warm, me and DP spent the majority of it sorting out his new car. We both ended up with headaches so it was an early night for us.

Hope you got home safe and sound @Bimblesalong I typed a reply to you last night and it didn't post and I have now deleted it thinking it did post. Never mind. It was just to say thank you and appreciate your support especially with your education knowledge / background.

@piscofrisco Your day yesterday sounded utterly mad my lovely. Pleased you survived it and were able to unwind with a chilled glass of wine. Love the description of The Gathering. I remember when I used to go to all the cool bars in Newcastle city centre on dates about 7 /8 years ago, I loved people watching largely due to boring dates and all the young lads would be at one end of the bar on their phones, the young lasses at the other end taking selfies and posting them on socials (which the lads then probably 'liked' via said phones) There wasn't really much in the way of interaction / actual communication. A far cry from My Day.
Paul Gascoigne tried his chat up line on me once; "Here's 10p. Gan and call ya Ma and tell her you won't be home tonight" (accompanied by mandatory cheeky wink)

Off to see Mando and Grogu in an hour (a nice, quiet early morming iMax showing) and I also have a free birthday Popcorn to collect. Fingers crossed for some Mando merch!

Woke up this morning feeling like I was abroad! Such a massive difference. All my pals on the beach were in puffa jackets two days ago. Yesterday it was full of families with deckchairs and tents etc. Must admit, I didn't like it. I'll be going for an hour at sunrise each day to avoid the crowds this week until the kids are back.

Thank you so much for this and thanks to everyone else too ❤️

@RainbowZebraWarrior
Massive congrats to your DD.
She sounds awesome and I expect a lot of that is courtesy of her excellent Mum.
I was a single Mum for many years and was judged. I can even remember being in the staff room and a fellow teacher commenting on a pupil’s lack of progress being due to their unmarried mother, knowing my situation.
Utter rubbish.

DS1 went on to achieve (Brag Alert) the highest GCSE grades at his school, AAAA* at A level, a 2:1 for an MSc in Chemical Engineering and he now works for a hedge fund.
He also has Asperger’s so I am very, very proud of him.
I hope your DD enjoyed her surprise pressies!

My friend who I mentioned has Fibromyalgia, said she would very much like to chat to you, if that’s still ok.

Having breakfast now, looking forward to half term. It’s beautiful outside.

@Celiathebanshee
Operation Mincemeat was fantastic! The actors were so talented at, er, acting but also the singing, dancing, quick costume changes!
Would recommend to everyone.

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@RainbowZebraWarriorthats amazing about your dd. reading all of your posts about your DD. She has truly flourished at her new (ish) school. You must be so proud of her.

heatwave hasn’t reached Cornwall yet… it’s flipping cloudy here. Not so much worried about the heat but some blue sky would be nice at least.

I am blinking back tears in the coffee shop @RainbowZebraWarrior, I'm so happy for you and your daughter. I wish there had been a similar provision for my dd1; we live in a beautiful place but it's rural and poorly connected so there isn't much for young people like her. Her school was excellent but just too big and busy for her not to drown in it.

Heatwave central here, I'm in my favourite harbourside cafe, there's a little fayre with stalls outside and the girl at the counter goes to my school and has just said some very sweet things to me. Feels good.

Apparently I slept through a huge shed fire about 500 yards from my house last night - I was awoken by sirens and shouting around midnight but thought someone had overdone it at a barbecue and ambulance had been called...

Nigel's garden photo has truly inspired me; I'm planning a potted flower takeover of my patio now. Have a great Saturday and enjoy the sunshine (if you have it).

Forgot to say - how could you resist Gazza's sweet talk @RainbowZebraWarrior?! 🤣🤣🤣

So pleased to read the amazing news on your daughter's achievements @RainbowZebraWarrior. A real testimony to your perseverance too.

I am currently sat in a farm shop cafe garden enjoying a brief peaceful moment before the M25 and M1 beckon. Planning to stop off at Wrest Park on the way home.

Need to google what this plant is. It's not only beautiful but bees seem to love it