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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Year Round Nigel Slater discussion thread - Part 4

676 replies

RainbowZebraWarrior · 11/04/2026 18:58

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!

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MrsJLevinson · 26/04/2026 09:49

I would like to do both flowery and edible things, I have a blueberry plant and some potato grow bags in my collection @martha79

That sounds miserable for your DD @piscofriscoI hope she feels better today.

I’ll be thinking of you on Friday @petitpasta

Quite a bit cooler today, I think I’m going to chuck some scruffs on and weed out the front.

piscofrisco · 26/04/2026 11:07

Hang in there @petitpasta.The job market is brutal at the minute. It’s not you, it’s that. Keeping it all crossed for Friday.
Do blueberries need special soil gardeners? I would like some for work but I don’t think we can run to special blueberry compost.
DD looks awful this morning. A slow day of film watching and I will read her what she has left of Hamnet for her book club this week. I might do the voices as I did when she was little :)

CrushingOnRubies · 26/04/2026 11:13

@MrsJLevinsoni brought some olives, pair of earrings for mums birthday (green copper turquoise studs) and a bottle of local gin (dp being away missed it and it’s one of our favourite things to go to. So I brought a bottle to make up for it)

Today I have just tried on my outfit for Flora day and it’s all sorted. Which doesn’t usually happen until after the bank holiday so happy about that. And about to take the dog out to the local national trust place. Was going to go on another walk on the coastal footpath but it didn’t work logistically.

@petitpasta🤞🤞🤞 for Friday

sueelleker · 26/04/2026 13:37

piscofrisco ; blueberries need acid soil, so ericaceous or azalea compost should do the trick.

martha79 · 26/04/2026 13:38

@MrsJLevinson potatoes in bags are a nice easy place to start.

@piscofrisco they need acidic soil, so if you don't have that you have to add something to alter the levels. I've never tried although with the amount of blueberries I eat, maybe I should. I love the idea of you reading to DD and doing the voices.

Well done on getting your outfit sorted @CrushingOnRubies

Having not had a clue how I was spending my day, I decided to venture out - picked up a Sunday paper for the first time in years (hello Nigel!) and popped into B&Q for some more herb plants. Particularly pleased with a thyme that I've planted in the front garden and I hope will fill a gap and creep over the wall a bit.

Celiathebanshee · 26/04/2026 13:38

Blueberries would be happier with special compost @piscofrisco but I don’t really go in for pandering to plants and they are usually ok (disclaimer: I haven’t tried blueberries!). If you have a coffee shop near you that leaves out bags of coffee grounds for gardeners I’d say you could mulch with that and give them a go.
A glorious day here yesterday and passable today too. The magnolia is out and smells amazing. I got up on a step stool and pruned the tops of the apple trees (trained at 45 degrees along the fence as discussed) so now I am sitting down with ice on my shoulder 🙄. I was warm enough up on my stool to consider looking out some shorts (I didn’t do it, important not to rush the summer wardrobe). Two loads of laundry on the line.
Skate wings tonight after a visit to the market yesterday. The fish man is supposed to be there once a month but he’s a free spirit and completely unpredictable so you have to have fish when he does turn up. What would Nigel do with skate wings?

martha79 · 26/04/2026 13:40

Photos didn't attach - Nigel making me want pudding!

Year Round Nigel Slater discussion thread - Part 4
Year Round Nigel Slater discussion thread - Part 4
Celiathebanshee · 26/04/2026 13:56

martha79 · 26/04/2026 13:40

Photos didn't attach - Nigel making me want pudding!

Ooh we have a panettone lurking

martha79 · 26/04/2026 14:14

Celiathebanshee · 26/04/2026 13:56

Ooh we have a panettone lurking

It sounds good!

Year Round Nigel Slater discussion thread - Part 4
RainbowZebraWarrior · 26/04/2026 18:54

Hello my Nigel lovelies!

Just catching up after a miserable weekend here - both from a weather and health perspective. Grrr. It's so annoying to be disabled, although I should be 'used to it' by now. DD cannot cope without me, as in she only goes anywhere with me and doesn't spend time with anyone else. Also, isn't able to navigate going out alone / public transport. And so off we went to the market again this morning. I got up in the night - was awake from 1am to 4am - and tripped over a pillow on the floor. So yet another injury. Anyway, I am grateful that DD keeps me going as I actually would have spent the last two days in bed, likely miserable.

@Bimblesalong ah, I think I remember your pal from Spain. Isn't he your best friend from school? Nice to have a catch up and pleased to hear that your DS2 is still doing well at the hotel. A cold drink by the river sounds just the tonic! Sorry to hear about your Mum and the frustrating alarm situation. My Dad is deaf and until recently wouldn't wear his hearing aids. Very frustrating.

Ooh. Some good purchases at the food festival there @CrushingOnRubies I'd also love to see these copper turquoise earrings. They sound gorgeous.

I think Nigel would do skate with a brown butter and caper sauce @Celiathebanshee I used to be a chef in a fish restaurant and that was pretty much our go-to for Skate. Served alongside a tomato salad is absolutely delicious. I am likely too late for this recommendation tonight, but maybe next time.

That sounds so frustrating and disappointing @petitpasta and I echo that it is not you, it is the current climate. I have eveything crossed for Friday for you.

A new lawnmower is an exciting purchase @MrsJLevinson and I can also confirm that blueberries need ericaceous compost. We have around a dozen, and in fact, my Dad has just asked me to buy some more as his allotment pal has just gifted him more cuttings.

Bless your poor DD @piscofrisco it's awful having the sickness reaction after anaesthetic. I hope she turns a corner soon. I remember having a private operation some years ago and it was palatial. The chef popped his head around my door the next morning and asked what I would like for breakfast. I said "everything" so I was treated to an absolute feast. I am lucky in that I only experience tachycardia after anaesthetic and not nausea.

The cold and grey has been a feature here too @martha79 and it's been a bit gutting after the rest of the country seems to have been bathed in sunshine. We managed a high of 10 degrees yesterday and it is raining, now. Hopefully May will bring better weather all round. Hope you're doing ok after struggling yesterday.

I've likely missed folk / stuff as my brain is still a bit addled with pain and fatigue, but hoping tomorrow is a better day 😊

Fruit trees laden with blossom here, too. It actually looks like it could be another mast year. 🤞

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Celiathebanshee · 26/04/2026 19:36

That is precisely what I did with the skate, @RainbowZebraWarrior , following a retro Nige recipe from real fast food. DH and DD had some mussels too (not me, allergic) and we had steamed purple sprouting and samphire, and garlic bread for the juice. All good.

martha79 · 26/04/2026 19:49

Sorry you've got another injury @RainbowZebraWarrior but glad you've been able to get out a bit.

I feel much better than yesterday, thank you - almost 'normal' most of the day although I have just been hit by tiredness now and got into bed. It got warmer here and I feel like I've actually got the sun a bit.

That sounds lovely @Celiathebanshee.

Fish for me too this evening - salmon with pistachios, olive oil, garlic, thyme and lemon, over a bit of pasta and salad.

Year Round Nigel Slater discussion thread - Part 4
MrsJLevinson · 26/04/2026 20:05

@martha79your dinner looks fantastic! Me and DP love salmon so will definitely be giving that one a try.

I’ve had a productive day, cleaned the house upstairs and down - finished with a lovely nap.

I did log on for a couple of hours this evening, constantly feels like I’m playing catch up with work stuff. It doesn’t happen often and I don’t like to do it, DP is thinking of blocking my work laptop from the internet at weekends ahaha.

@CrushingOnRubiesall those goodies sound lovely, and Flora day! Will you be taking part in one of the dances?

My blueberry plant came potted already, it’s got flowers on so I am hoping for fruit! Will have to look at potatoes in bags!

CrushingOnRubies · 26/04/2026 21:07

@MrsJLevinsonI’m not dancing but accompanying the students in the children’s dance so have to dress like I’m going to a royal wedding.

@RainbowZebraWarriorwill take a photo when I’m in better late. The colour of them is really beautiful

MrsJLevinson · 26/04/2026 21:08

@CrushingOnRubies the outfits always lool
amazing! Is it the first dance with the ladies and gents in the hats and top hats?

CrushingOnRubies · 26/04/2026 21:19

MrsJLevinson · 26/04/2026 21:08

@CrushingOnRubies the outfits always lool
amazing! Is it the first dance with the ladies and gents in the hats and top hats?

That’s the midday dance. The first and last dances is the “maidens” dance because they needed to dance before they sorted the fires out for the lords and ladies. They dance in pretty summer dresses.

MrsJLevinson · 26/04/2026 21:43

@CrushingOnRubiesI never got to see it in person when I lived down there, but often saw bits on the news and it always looks lovely. Such a nice tradition!

CrushingOnRubies · 26/04/2026 21:49

MrsJLevinson · 26/04/2026 21:43

@CrushingOnRubiesI never got to see it in person when I lived down there, but often saw bits on the news and it always looks lovely. Such a nice tradition!

Love it!!! It’s the best day of the year

RainbowZebraWarrior · 27/04/2026 06:34

Morning all.

Rather dull today, but boy do I feel 100 times better. 7 and a half hours sleep (remembered to take my magnesium yesterday; coincidence?) It's quite astonishing being able to actually think clearly.

Off to celebrate feeling more human with a big mug of tea.

Hope everyone has a good Monday. Can't believe it will be May on Friday!

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piscofrisco · 27/04/2026 07:00

Oh glad you got some lovely sleep. Try difference between that and a broken long night of wakefulness is astonishing. You just feel so much better!
I’ve woken absolutely full of cold (was trying to kid myself it was hay fever yesterday but today I’ve got the shivers and a new headache to go with it). DD was so ooolry yesterday bless her and so fed up. She has dressings in her nose that will take ten days to dissolve and her inner ear is swollen and feels blocked where they put a gromit in. She thought she would be fine by today but I don’t see it. It’s horrible feeling stuffed up like that in all your ear and nose tubes.
Still, sun is shining and birds are tweeting. Hopefully we will both feel better as the day goes on.
have a lovely Monday all

martha79 · 27/04/2026 07:42

Oh poor DD, that sounds so uncomfortable @piscofrisco. Hope your cold clears off soon.

Glad you slept better @RainbowZebraWarrior. I had a good solid sleep from 9pm-1am then was wide awake for a couple of hours, so not at my best this morning.

Work today, but only got one meeting so a fairly quiet day. Have you seen Nigel's post of his desk on Instagram this morning? I rather like my desk but it doesn't quite look like that...

Celiathebanshee · 27/04/2026 08:54

I just had the same thought re desks @martha79 except I can't say I like mine - I've had so little work recently that we've been keeping the rest of the house tidy by dumping all the random detritus on my desk and you can barely see it for piles. Perhaps I will tackle it this morning (I won't)

LillianGish · 27/04/2026 10:58

April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom…in the Palais Royale. An absolutely glorious weekend weather wise. We had my niece staying with us so we walked our feet off all over the city wearing summer dresses. There was one particularly Nigelesque moment as we walked through the Marais and were suddenly overwhelmed by the most delicious scent (not always a given in Paris!) I looked around to see the doors of Cire Trudon wide open - the smell was emanating from there! Right - off to tidy my desk. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to DD @piscofrisco.

Year Round Nigel Slater discussion thread - Part 4
leporello · 27/04/2026 11:11

Happy Monday to all, I'm still basking in the glow of a glorious weekend. Saw the wondrous Voces8, stayed the night in the loveliest b&b with dd2 who nipped over from Bristol to see the concert with me, sunny riverside walks and a charity shop haul of dreams. Wisteria out everywhere. Heaven will look like this for me, I think.

The only fly in the ointment - dd very stressed after spilling water on her laptop and seemingly losing her entire dissertation 😱. I thought a gen z like her might have backed it up, but no... And then, this morning, as if by magic, it all came back. So the grumps were unnecessary - but understandable in the circs.

RainbowZebraWarrior · 27/04/2026 12:44

Gawd bless Nigel. He posts those immaculate desk photos every few months. Hopefully the next one will have a new book on it!

I loved watching this. He looks really healthy and happy. I thought he looked and sounded a bit ill on his most recent interviews and ATF snippets.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXls1YzlYJS/

The Observer Food on Instagram: "To celebrate the new-look O, the Observer magazine, our food writer @NigelSlater reflects on 33 years of utter joy. He shares his kitchen diary with us each week, but this time Nigel sits down to explain why the refres...

4,899 likes, 143 comments - obsfood on April 26, 2026: "To celebrate the new-look O, the Observer magazine, our food writer @NigelSlater reflects on 33 years of utter joy. He shares his kitchen diary with us each week, but this time Nigel sits down to...

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXls1YzlYJS

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