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!

Glad your book has arrived @MrsJLevinson

@piscofrisco yes, let's go - we can even stay in the Hunting Tower! https://www.chatsworthescapes.co.uk/stay/cottages/

Nigel has given me major garden envy this evening... https://www.instagram.com/p/DXcPx39iFmG/?igsh=aXdxeWlsc2lrOGZ2 - but I have at least watered mine.

Not taken any interesting photos today, so here's a Chatsworth one of mine from January a few years back.

I need to go back and catch up, but just wanted to say is your name inspired by Mrs (Judee) Levinson from League of Gentlemen @MrsJLevinson as every time I see it, my brain goes "Yes, Mrs Levinson"

Glad your book has arrived.

@RainbowZebraWarrioryes it is! Haha glad you like it 😂

I’m office based today so I will be leaving soon, looks like another nice day ahead.

Have a good day all.

What a SPECTACULAR Chatsworth picture @martha79
what do you do @MrsJLevinson if you don’t mind me asking? I’m imagining you to be one of my social care brethren.
my Mumsnet seems to have gone bananas or is there some new style for how we view threads all round? Whatever it is I hate it-adverts all over the place and it looks weird and confusing. It is just mine?
Up and off to work shortly and then a real treat afterwards- a ride on a friends horse. I was very good at riding when I was a late teen, but I’ve been on a horse all of three times in the intervening years. So excited and also a bit nervous. It’s like well…riding a bike (horse ) surely? You never forget how? maybe?
A lovely sunny Thursday to all

Morning all.

Just catching up after a crazy busy day yesterday. It was bitterly cold as we had a ferocious Easterly coming straight off the sea. Despite this, I still did two short trips to the beach as I am a glutton for punishment

Today looks cold and dull, but with not quite as bad of an Easterly. And so, I once again pull on my thermals. I have worked out that I wear winter clothes for 7 months each year.

My Dad has been waiting on the - clearly failed - 2 week pathway now for 6 weeks to have an operation to remove a horrendous skin cancer on his head which is now three times the size it was. The hospital kept saying they didnt have any doctors each time he rang. The secretary called him yesterday morning to book him in for 8th June (which will have been a 12 week wait) I went into lioness mode and ang the private hospital on the edge of the village to ask how quickly he could be seen there - Monday - then rang the GP to ask them to refer him via NHS due to the ridiculously unacceptable wait. All hopefully now sorted. Just waiting for a phone call today to confirm. Ludicrous.

Oh that photo of Nigel's garden yesterday was sublime. Mine isn't looking too bad at the moment, but will look a lot better tomorrow when the fence and equipment lying about the place turns into an actual fence. (Family medicsl emergency stopped play on Sunday)

Hope work picks up for you @Celiathebanshee I hated that feast or famine aspect of working for myself (and the non paid holidays!)

The orchard and flowers both look beautiful @piscofrisco also the hot pink cardigan sounds lush and right up my street. I think we have discussed the hot pink and orange combo love before.

Ah, a cascade pond sounds wonderful. I have had many water features over the years but always longed for a large pond. It's one of those things that's never going to get done, so I make fhe most of hearing the relaxing bubbles and trickles from my neighbours. I also enjoy making friends with the frogs and newts that come under the fence into my garden. And the occasional frught when I realise the heron is silently perched on the fence.

Chatsworth looks gorgeous. I'd say I would add it to my list, but I scrapped the idea of lists as I find it too much pressure. Happy to enjoy via others memories and photos.

Right, I have missed loads, but must get ready for school. I dont go to school, but you know what I mean. DD has started her GCSE history work 6 months early due to taking it 'off timetable' as an extra.

Not much in the way of photos to share, but here's a Carrion Crow from the ramp down to the beach yesterday. I shall entitle it "Ere! This is My Spot"

@RainbowZebraWarriorgod, that’s a wait and a bit for your husband! How awful, hope all goes well with the appointment.

@piscofriscoI am indeed part of social care, I am a social worker. What about you?

A good thing about this office is that I am next to quite a nice pond haha.

I'm impressed at your hardiness going near the beach in this whistling bitter wind, @RainbowZebraWarrior. Our beach has very fine sand so it's basically unapproachable on days like this, although you can get a good free exfoliation I suppose.

I would so love to visit Chatsworth, it's on my big house/garden bucket list.

What a nice crow. I spent my lunch break in the garden yesterday watching a jackdaw flapping about and posing on my neighbour's chimney and making all sorts of noises (my Merlin app told me it heard a raven at some point, but I think it was just the jackdaw being weird).

I've been awake for almost four hours already today and I'm not very pleased about it! Fairly quiet day at work though.

Hurrah for LoG! I have always said that Reece Shearsmith would make a beautiful woman!

@leporello I'm a Geordie. We are renounded for having no sense being hardy. I was at the beach in January ever day no matter what. Minus 6 you say, ahhh. I might pop on an extra cardy! The beauty of going when the weather is foul is that there is nobody else there! January was actually the last time I wore a coat as I can't bear bothered with them. It's all very Four Yorkshire men! 😆

Just been on the radio that today's high will be 20 degrees in Devon. The low is 10 degrees in Seaton Delaval in Northumberland which just so happens to be where I am right now for my weekly visit to NT Delaval Hall. Going to hot foot it home now though. Might leave it a couple more weeks before coming back as hopefully the wisteria arch might be coming into bloom.

Right. Home and housework to do (well, set the robovac off and bung the dishwasher on, then I can get back out to the beach. I've already got the slow cooker on; Jerk chicken treat for my poor Dad after all this waiting for appointment palaver.

Lovely crow. I wish I was nearer a beach!
Perfect weather today. We are waiting for our last 5 ewes to lamb and have been up to sign and sing them some encouraging songs this morning. They are basking in the sun and we can see
the lambs moving around in their bellies.

I was a registered manager for 24 years @MrsJLevinson-mostly supported living and community mental health services, and some work with unaccompanied minors-but managing that lot through Covid was not fun so I’ve kind of opted out, done a few therapeutic qualifications and now I work on a care farm where adults with LD and kids that can’t be in full time school for various reasons come and we therapise as we farm. It pays a pittance and there is zero career progression. I LOVE it.

It’s a gorgeous day here! Shame I need to spend it working…..

@piscofrisco I’ve made referrals to similar places before for therapeutic support. The work you do is amazing! Wish there were more options and resources around for this on the whole.

Merlin just doesn't recognise our starlings at all - but they do make some really peculiar noises, human-like whistles and chattering noises like the cat makes when she watches them

Ah, seeing the lambs moving around in the ewes bellies. How amazing! ❤️

The sun came out here. I mean, it airnt warm, but I will still take that.

Found some lovely hag stones, bonfire glass and a great chunk of pirate glass. Arrrr!!

Merlin picks up our starlings (they nest in my eaves) and they also do all the whistles, clicks and chattering noises. If Merlin doesn't recognise common UK species like Jackdaws or Starlings, then it's possibly on USA settings (or another part of the world) Worth checking as it can be very inaccurate / borderline useless otherwise.

Forgot to show the pirate glass. It is part of a bottle bottom. It almost looks like a stone until you hold it in front of a torch and see the yellow colour. You kind of get used to spotting the difference, though.

If anyone is interested in reading up about pirate glass, this is quite interesting:

www.beachcombingmagazine.com/blogs/news/the-truth-about-pirate-glass?srsltid=AfmBOorOVrJyIpEGNaAmqSC5jt_rg5dCQf5HcqxDD00_waVFu5ttsdA_

Public service announcement: the may is out in my garden. Clouts may be cast.

amazing pirate glass @RainbowZebraWarrior I have never heard of such a thing!

I've never been sure whether May in that quote is the flower or the month.

Ooh. How fabulous. Waiting patiently for t' May to be out here too, my lovely, so that I may cast a clout, too. Won't be long. Springwatch starts in around four weeks, too, so I am so looking forward to that.

Been meaning to say...

@martha79 sorry to hear about your early waking again. DD (14) made me sit down and watch the Perimenopause episode of the Simpson's last night (the Parahormonal I think it is called) I laughed and cried in equal measures, as, A. She recognised what I went through, and B. I was never sure what parts of my symptoms were chronic illness related and which were Menopause related. At the time, Davina McCall was advocating testosterone as a cure-all.

I have just had one of my regulars at the door buying some honey. She asked if I had been on holiday. I replied that the colour in my cheeks was a combination of wind burn and hot flushes. I look like a very ruddy farmer!

Looks like we are going private for my Dad after a day of ridiculous to-ing and fro-ing between the GP and hospital. There should (and is) an NHS referral option when the 2 week pathway fails, but it gets to a point where you just think Sod It, this needs sorting.

Sending good sleep vibes to all.

Pretty sure it’s the flower but there is nothing wrong with being cautious if you prefer to go by the month!

<pain in the arse alert> Yes, the saying relates to The May (as in the Hawthorn flower coming into bloom) However, it is usually late May by time we shed our thermals here, so whilst the May flower may be out in early May in some parts of the country, we also wait until the month of May is out / finished before we cast a clout.

Gosh. I bore myself at times with how much I look into these things. I used to have a 'Farming and Country Quotes' scrap book as a kid.

<as you were>

I’ve cast lots of clouts today as the Mag is well and truly out and I was boiling. Absolutely joyful to ride a horse again this afternoon. Loved it. 10 years since I’ve been on a horse and you never really forget. Though I suspect I will pay for it in aches and pains tomorrow.

Clouts still on this morning but may be cast later as I'm warmed up by an unscheduled sprint earlier to get over the harbour bridge before it was raised - supposed to be 8am but this morning they were clearly feeling radical and went for 7.57 instead 🤨. Made it, phew.

The perimenopausal sleep disturbance is horrible, somebody at Italian class recommended something I've forgotten the name of (helpful) but will look at the jar when I get home.

Enjoy your riding @piscofrisco
, what a day for it.

Glad you enjoyed the horseriding @piscofrisco

@RainbowZebraWarrior I don't think I've seen that episode, I'll look it up! Good luck with everything with your dad.

Did not sleep well again last night, tried staying up longer to see if that would help me be properly worn out, but was just over-tired. Still, it's my weekend - I have my regular Friday morning teaching shortly, then no plans until Monday. I've been online/ on screens far too much this week, so aiming to do more reading, little walks, pottering in the garden, maybe clean and tidy the kitchen cupboards if I've got the energy.

I don't think the May is out here, but will check on my wanderings over the weekend. It is only 3C here right now though, so the clouts can stay firmly on. Sunny though, just about to hang some washing out.

Feeling radical! I love that.

Was it magnesium for the sleep? I take that and its really good.

How lovely to be back on a horse @piscofrisco pleased you enjoyed it.

No May here yet either and a very chilly 1 degree. Thermals on again...

That episode is pretty much brand new @martha79 Part of Season 21 I think, and is so spot on. It's not just the early waking, its the 'eyes snap open at 4am and your brain is whirring' scenario.

My pal and my neighbour are fully ensconced in erecting the new fence, so I am going to run away and leave them to it. Treating myself to a new torch this morning so off to Argos to pick that up, then the beach.

Hope you manage to get to the beach this weekend @piscofrisco

I am such a smart ass that I briefly lost my pirate glass yesterday. I was chatting to some visitors who were asking questions, so I put down my walking poles, bag of seaglass and chunk of pirate glass to show them directions on my phone. I waved them off and wandered off myself only to realise that my chunk of black glass was still somewhere on the - pebbly - beach. 30 minutes later and I did find it. I am taking my bum bag today <stylish>