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!

Gorgeous picture @RainbowZebraWarrior, I'm glad it went well! Lovely to hear DD is getting back to her sax playing too. I own a saxophone and technically know how to play it, but I find it very hard work!

Very well done @Bimblesalong - very pleased you got into the choir. What are you singing?

@piscofrisco It's awful how much bad sleep affects us. I'm in a phase of restless nights/ busy dreams at the moment, and have had a couple of night this week where I've either been freezing or boiling hot. Find myself trying to work out if it's a Long COVID thing, or a perimenopause thing, or just that I've always been pretty rubbish at sleeping...

I'm starting my morning with teaching Bach again, then just bits of housework and gardening. My collection of perennial plug plants arrived yesterday so I popped them all in the ground, and I'm expecting the rose and peonies I ordered to appear today. But I also need to get some proper resting done. Cooked the beef thing and the chicken thing I got from Waitrose last night so have lots of cold leftovers for the next couple of days.

** "It's awful how much bad sleep affects us. I'm in a phase of restless nights/ busy dreams at the moment, and have had a couple of night this week where I've either been freezing or boiling hot. Find myself trying to work out if it's a Long COVID thing, or a perimenopause thing, or just that I've always been pretty rubbish at sleeping..."

@martha79 This is me, too! I have had the awful sleeping and busy dreams and am a crap sleeper at the best of times. DD and I have also had the hot / cold thing for the past week. It's driving us nuts as we constantly questjon whether we are coming down with something / is it the time of year / is it our EDS (she also has EDS) Sympathies x

I've just made rhubarb syrup as I wanted it to make long drinks with sparkling water. The sparkling rhubarb drink we usually buy (Cawston Press) is ridiculously expensive for what it actually is.

Its been put into the bottles I usually use for Nigels apricot brandy, since they are now 'available' until September.

Mr Darcy didnt want to get out of bed but we wanted to change the sheets, so he is now a burrito cat. DD is rolling about on the bed crying with laughter. I'ts obviously rather comfy, as he has been there for 10 purring. I am standing here like a lemon waiting to put the new sheet on.

Sorry pisco, I missed this. Sending you huge but gentle hugs as yes, tis utterly shite sometimes. I am feeling slightly brighter today after a better sleep.

I hate watching myself back on video as I am a Wild Gesticulator. I talk massively with my hands and every time I said the word 'beehive' yesterday, I made the shape of a beehive with my hands (as if I was trying to show it's size and shape) I did point this out to my audience, telling them it was because I couldn't bring an actual beehive. Anyway, they seemed to enjoy it!

I suppose I could always go live on Instagram with the next one. I'll have to practice and have a ponder.

Mr Darcy looks so cosy! And rhubarb syrup sounds very nice.

There is a man in my garden fixing my side gate - I knew he was coming sometime, but not today, he just turned up. Don't really feel like I can relax now. Will be nice to have a gate that doesn't stick every time it rains and doesn't have bits falling off it, though.

Wow!! What a beautiful cat!!

Thank you, Nigelistas!

@RainbowZebraWarrior it’s called “the secrets of bees” - worth watching. How lovely to hear of dd’s music, she is really blossoming. I love the idea of a meaningful inscription too.

Solidarity @piscofrisco it really has its moments (particularly when post-treatment drugs for me amplify the impact 😵‍💫)

@martha79 we are singing a programme of favourite religious choral music, such as I was Glad, how lovely are thy dwellings and Lottti’a Crucifixus. It’s so lovely to be part of. Tomorrow I am going to a Messiah Singing day with another choir, one of those “instant”’ones with a performance in the evening.

All being well, today’s Covid jab won’t be too spicy. I was limited to Moderna on the nhs, which I react to very badly, so have ended up shelling out nearly £100 for Pfeizer - same chemist, same day, same vaccinator 🙄

Mr Darcy is a real charmer. So lovely to see him. Another gesticulator here - comes with speaking Italian and has got worse since Makaton training!

Ha, I’m always Makatonning as I use it at work all day. DH is learning it by accident as a result. It comes in handy if we need to communicate across busy pubs and such!

I hate having workers in the house @martha79i hope he was quick!
Lovely Mr Darcy-a beautiful cosy cat!

Me Darcy looks very cosy

a sea of bluebells on my walk today!! The purple / blue and green is my favourite colour scheme.

Such a nice photo @CrushingOnRubies

@piscofrisco he took a few hours but I now have a very sturdy gate so can't complain.

@Bimblesalong - nice tunes! I love the Lotti. Hope you enjoy the singing day tomorrow.

Had an odd day what with the unexpected workman, and the deliveries I was expecting saying they'd be here by 1.30pm then getting delayed multiple times and turning up about 4pm. Not done a lot but not really relaxed either. Still, my new plants are here and soaking in buckets to plant tomorrow. I'd forgotten I'd ordered some very bright pink poppies too.

In an attempt to sleep better tonight I've got clean sheets and PJs, been for a little sunset walk then had a shower in the dark and am keeping the lights off now. Listening to an episode of 'Open Country' from a few weeks ago about the Thriplow Daffodil Festival.

Hello (peeks around the door, deep breath) can I join? Just wanted to share my weeds/flowers from the garden. Any frothy foliage looks good with a floral frog.
Anyway, I planted too many sprouting broccoli plants last winter and they’ve gone to seed - these are the yellow flowers.

Hello @Snooks1971 , you’d be very welcome to our gentle corner of the internet, especially when bearing flowers such as those in your photo.

Beautiful bluebells, @CrushingOnRubies It really feels like nature is getting going.

How are everyone’s dahlias doing? Mine are now sprouting (in the utility room) and showing some green. I tossed out a load from last year which had some sort of blight. DH has cleaned the pots with jeyes fluid and I have fingers crossed. I restocked from Farmer Gracey this time, as I’ve had good experiences previously - all are labelled with little bits of cut up plastic milk cartons marked up with a CD pen!

@martha79 sounds like you have a garden day ahead - the forecast is looking better for the next few days. I love freshly washed (and ironed) bedding. Hoping to have the spoons to sort mine on Sunday ahead of a busy working week.

Just spent a precious few moments catching up. Honestly your photos and this thread is really helping me find a little retreat from the madness of unexpectedly having to look for a job / apply for my own job.

I had some good feedback from my interview on Wednesday and they are meeting next Tuesday to consider 'next steps' so that sounds positive I think.

I'm another one struggling to sleep at the moment. Dd has bought me some magnesium butter foot balm so I am going to try that.

@Bimblesalongyes it’s all springing along nicely here. That was one of the most interesting things about my trip up north last week. Down here in Cornwall the daffodils are very much over, in the midlands and northern England the daffs are starting to go over. In Scotland they are still in full bloom.

I am sleeping fine at the moment. However recently am having the weirdest most vivid dreams which are making me feel like I haven’t rested. Think stressful scenarios and situations

Evening all, I had a beautiful bluebell walk with a friend today too, and had half an hour in the potting shed last night potting on seedlings, I only sowed these two
weeks ago and look at them! French beans. I am loving the lighter evenings for gardening. No dahlias here, I've never actually tried growing them. I usually have sunflowers, sweet peas, poppies and cornflowers for the allotment, plus French marigolds for companion planting. I love the fragrance of the latter, we had them in the garden when I was growing up and the smell takes me back.

Welcome @Snooks1971, I love your use of the broccoli flowers.

Also like the smell of French marigolds @EasterlyDirection - I used to help my mum put the bedding plants in every year.

@CrushingOnRubies I'm also having a phase of ridiculous, stressy, weird dreams at the moment, last night was like a long and confusing movie.

Lovely sunny morning here so going to get some washing on to hang out then figure out where I'm putting all the plants. I've never grown dahlias but I do think they're lovely.

Hello @Snooks1971lovely floristry. I’ve been meaning to get a flower frog and you have convinced me.
Ive got Dahlias on the go in the poly tunnel at work @Bimblesalong also from Farmer Gracy and they are going great guns. I had all the co farmers weeding and raking yesterday as I planning a bed of scented stocks around our quiet time out bench. They did not love it, but I did :)
good feedback is great @petitpasta.Keeping it all crossed for next week. Applying for jobs is a full time job in itself sometimes. You are quite clearly the best. They should just give you the job and have done.
i wonder if it’s some weird moon phase or something affecting all our sleep and dreams… if so it can do one as I’m fed up of being knackered.
I am hosting an event for the new to the area group this morning- a dog walk and coffee. I thought no one would come and 6 people and dogs are coming so it could go either way. I’m electing to take only my best behaved Dog (not the Sausage clearly). Suppose I had better get up and get going. Bit nervous.
have a lovely Saturday all

I take magnesium supplements and massage my arms and legs every night with Neom magnesium body butter, then do my face with a facial oil. It definitely helps (as I notice the difference when I forget) and even the act of doing it feels restful and soothing in preparation for sleep. Self care and all that.

Morning all and welcome @Snooks1971 what marvellous use of sprouting broccoli!

I am.excited today as I have just had the first of the Jersey royals delivered <easily pleased> and more - beautifully pink - rhubarb to make more cordial / syrup with at it is delicious. We are going to swirl yesterdays leftover rhubarb pulp through some vanilla ice cream tonight.

So i have done the litter tray and had my groceries delivered early, we will be heading to the market in half an hour, then going to try and stop off for lunch at our favourite cheapie bistro on the way home. We tried the other day, but it was heaving and noisy and DD just legged it! The key is getting there for opening.

Ive been referred to MSK for my knee, although the cyst that has developed is just a coincidental skin cyst. The GP thought it may be phlebitis at first, but we agreed not in the end. Ive had a quote for my dilapidated fence and it's going to be replaced next Saturday. Then, I really must start getting the dahlias in. I keep running out of time / space and energy. I'm going to try then outside with cloches atop.

My conservatory is like a jungle and I can't put anything out here unprotected until late May. My peas and beans will be 6 ft tall by then!!

I also feel I must track down a Bluebell woods. Gorgeous pics!

Hope your doggie / newbie friends club goes well @piscofrisco

Hello again and hope everyone has had a good day. I picked up my pendant this morning and am completely in love with it. It is pleasingly chonky and heavy as it has a thick, solid silver back as well as bezel. It also changes colour all the time depending which way the light catches it. I feel it was really meant to be found by me and I have just realised what it reminds me of. The Aurora Borealis! ❤️ It will therefore from now on be known as my Aurora pendant.

Evening! Thank you for your lovely welcoming messages! What a lovely and kind part of MN (I’ve been here for 20 odd years on n off) and threads like these remind me why I’ve stayed. Oh and for the odd drama!

@piscofrisco a flower frog is a must! They were popular years ago and are having a resurgence thanks to the likes of Willow Crossley etc.
I got my set of 4 frogs from Amazon but it might be worth asking around any older folk/relatives if they have any. My mum dug hers out again after she saw me usung mine last year.
About 4 years ago we cleared my FIL house and no one saw any use for the ancient frogs! Bring back the frogs!

I’ve attached my last year frog efforts from the garden. Sweet pea stems were too fiddly widdly. I was proud at the time but think they look terrible now!
Happy Saturday night 🙌🏼

Didn’t attach. Too old for this.

I got a copy last year and plan to join in this Christmas 🤞🏻

Rainbow; That pendant is gorgeous. It reminds me of Abalone shell.