The Year Round Nigel Slater Discussion Thread - Part 5

[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 on Mumsnet 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!

@RainbowZebraWarrior no wonder you're exhausted! I hope you manage some moments of peace this week. Your sparkly find is lovely. I think it would be a super paperweight

Nice lull between heatwaves here. Temperatures look to be above 30C again next week. I managed to get a couple of very wafty lightweight dresses yesterday in a charity shop as I hadn't bought any very light dresses in my down sized wardrobe and everything from last summer is two sizes too big.

Meeting my new CEO at lunchtime. My old boss called me yesterday to say that they would now offer pay in lieu of notice instead of garden leave which would mean I could start my new job earlier.

DH was told yesterday that his contract won't be extended which is disappointing. He will have to look for another role from January. He has a applied for a couple of things. I would dearly love a break from this uncertainty. I'd also like to be able to book at leat one of the big trips we have been saving for!

Our book club discussion about Verity was funny last night. We all hated it so we spent probably 90 seconds discussing it and then all decided it would be best to move on 🤣

I love old coins @Confusedmeanderings especially short cross and long cross hammereds. Sorry to hear that your fair was also hard going. I know I am not physically capable of the full day ones these days (traders have to start queuing at 5am to get into Tynemouth station and are there till 4pm) but I've managed a few hours here and there in recent years. Our Scarecrow Festival is 12 till 4 and doable with a couple of days rest afterwards. My biggest issue is that the North Shields ones are outside and they close the road off including the disabled bays, so logistically it just makes life very difficult and tiring. We will gloss over the fact that they then dont advertise these things at all awfully well...

Oh no to more uncertainty @petitpasta Bless you. There is nothing worse.

That sounds so scary for your boss' daughter @LatteLady I think I am a bit done with June now, too. Thankfully, mosquitos don't like me, but DD is heartily sick of being bitten.

I had a very brief spell at the beach this morning, but my hips are just screaming with pain constantly now. There is no relief from the codeine that I have been reliant upon for the past six years any more. Spotted a beachside sea view sauna is about to open so thought that could be good for my acting joints. £16.50 an hour!!! I can join the gym at the local hotel and have a jacuzzi, sauna and steam session every day for £50 a month!

I've just made a giant corned beef and potato pasty which will feed myself, Mum and Dad tomorrow. Just to make life a little bit easier / get ahead. I am just waiting for the accompanying roast potatoes to come out of the oven then I can crack on. I have been using M&S roast potato seasoning which is making a nice change.

Right. Let's get today's appointments done.

And again I've found an un-posted post! I'm losing the plot.
Afraid I'm also on the casualty list with health, work, and finances. All are significantly lacking.
I've been trying to just push through, but things where already spread thin, and the combination of situations, conditions, and heat has left me really struggling. There just doesn't seem to be any let up.
Additionally everything here has warped, so struggling to open and close doors and windows.

@MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset you know it was right, but just so sorry you've had to say goodbye to such a good friend.
@RainbowZebraWarrior Good to hear your Dad's op has gone ok at least, but sorry to hear you're both going through so much. My hips are also beyond service, especially the left one which I can no longer lie on at all. No pain killers granted here, so hot baths and hot water bottles are all that's left.
@martha79 At least this lot let you know fast. fingers crossed for you.

Hello @Violinorbanjo, I'm told 25th of July is the July Christmas. Personally I need the dark and cold for it, but I just can't help be interested anyway... and hello to @GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf and thank you for a new piece of vocabulary.

@ElegantDresses I know this was a way back, but yes an excellent turn out for the 'Last Ride Home.'
Sadly it's become impossible to continue as was, as they are being asked to meet costs of £80,000 to £100,000. But hopefully it's raised lots of money both for Childline and Barrow charities, and Dave Day will continue to do good things as lots of smaller events.

That sounds hard @EphemeraleEudemonia sending Sympathy. I've not been able to 'work properly' for about six years due to my own health issues, then Mum, Dad and DD. I joke evey time I pull into out local hospital car park that we should all just move in there. I am lucky that I have very low overheads (was sensible enough to buy a very small house and lucky enough to pay off mortgage early) but living on peanuts is never fun.

Just back from Dads appointment and sat outside school with 5 minsto spare. He has an infection at the skin graft site. (Wonder if that's what caused the cellulitis - on the same side of the body- that was discovered yesterday) Anyway, swabs taken and we are to go back on friday. Ffs...

Must go and collect DD and take her for her appointment now.

I'm sorry your having a struggling time @EphemeraleEudemonia - the heat on top of everything else is such hard work.

Sympathies with the uncertainty @petitpasta - I was self-employed then on a series of short term contracts for a while and it's unsettling.

Blimey that's quite the pasty @RainbowZebraWarrior. I'm sorry you've got even more appointments to deal with.

I've had quite an afternoon - sent a load of house enquiries last night and got a last minute lunchtime viewing. Lovely little flat in a converted terraced house, where the landlords own them all so it's a nice little community. I've put a holding deposit down and referencing is being done now, so just fingers crossed nothing goes wrong/ they don't change their mind for some reason now.

I was also feeling quite OK afterwards, so I got a tram and a bus home instead of a taxi. I haven't been on public transport this year - in fact I don't think anything other than a train since I got COVID in October. But it was fine. Am probably running on adrenaline though and will need about 15 hours sleep later 😁

Afternoon. I'm looking out on some very welcome heavy rain and can almost hear my parched lawn drinking deeply.

@RainbowZebraWarrior you have had a LOT on. I'm sorry your dad is still struggling. The end of term is hard work - I was thinking again today of when we all originally started chatting and how hard things were for DD. Big picture, you guys are awesome!

Sympathies, @EphemeraleEudemonia I think it's not just the wood warping in the heat - another one on the way, yikes!

Absolutely everything crossed @martha79 Loving the sound of a little community and also that you've been able to put down a deposit, so hopefully uncertainty about living location will be a thing of the past.

Solidarity on the mosquito front. I have just been to the Rohan sale (their clothes last for years), and found some mosquito repellent walking trousers reduced. I've also been the marketing man's dream and have bought a mosquito repellent scarf. This is ahead of an Italy trip as the zanzari love to feast on me! I'll report back on efficacy.

Definitely got my fingers crossed like @Bimblesalong for you @martha79 as that sounds ideal. Also hoping your lawn gets a good drink Bimbles. Looking at the rain radar, we are due to see some here on the NE coast by around 10pm. In the meantime, I am a watering the pots as it doesn't look like it will bring a sufficient watering.

I started to watch a bit of the Norway vs Ivory Coast game tonight, but lost concentration. Have to say that I fancy Paraguay a bit after they beat Germany last night. Who knows what tomorrow's game will bring with England v DR Congo. Could go either way at this point. assuming Tuchel gives the defence a good talking to

Ooh, has anyone heard the new Olivia Rodrigo song? It's in collaboration with Robert Smith, and you can totally hear The Cure influence. Today's moment of joy right there.

@martha79 that’s good news about the flat. Have everything crossed that it doesn’t fall through.

Sorry about you dog @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset

@RainbowZebraWarrioras a Cornish girl
your pasty looks delicious. Sorry to hear about your dad’s ongoing health issues. He can’t catch a break by the sounds of it.

“Has anybody heard the new Olivia Rodrigo song”, @RainbowZebraWarrior ? I live with a 16 year old mega fan and already feel I know every word to virtually the whole album. As I do the previous two. I couldn’t sleep a couple of nights ago and it was one of her new songs going round and round my head at 3am 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ I don’t know what I think about the Robert Smith thing. I loved their duet of Just Like Heaven but the new one … not so much. It’s a perfectly fine pop song but not Cure enough for my taste!
I’m trying to get tickets on resale for their (the Cure, not Olivia) Wythenshawe gig next month. I’ve never seen them and they are really top of my list of ‘bands I wish I had seen’ so fingers crossed, except my whole family wants to go so I have to try and find five. It seems unlikely.

hello everybody. Good news on the housing front @martha79 , sorry to those who are struggling with their own and other people’s health, money woes and so forth. And so sorry for the loss of DDog @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset - I’ve only had cats but I know what a bit hole they leave.

We too had very heavy rain @Bimblesalong - not surprising since I live 5 miles from you. Lovely for the garden but I do slightly wish I had covered the furniture and brought my washing in 🤣
I’ve been working today for the first time since 3rd June. Freelancing has always been a bit feast or famine but I’m ready for a bit of feast now please. Also had my pre-op for shoulder surgery in which the nurse was adamant I am 167 cm tall. Having been 165 my whole life I found this quite surprising but she wasn’t budging. I’m hoping it was the same inflation that had me weighing 3kg more than I should (but I fear that was last week’s trip to Amsterdam and jolly summer drinking in the heatwave).

I'm one of those people who leaves their washing out whether it's raining or not! If it gets wet, it'll dry. Plus we live in a mile and a half of a nuclear power station and I have a theory that if it rains the radiation in the atmosphere will make my whites whiter 🤣🤣🤣

We leave washing out too, overnight, rain, whatever, we’ve got two loads out this evening. Still no more than a couple of drops of rain here in the last fortnight or so.

@EphemeraleEudemonia sorry things aren’t going well at the moment. Yes, I can see why Dave’s Day has had to draw to a close, after I first googled it it was all over my socials for a few days and the scale of it is quite something but obviously has a huge impact on other users of the road network, police etc. My DH is privileged to have witnessed it.

@martha79 fingers crossed for the flat, it sounds lovely.

@RainbowZebraWarrior sorry you are having to carry so many medical appointments for everyone at the moment, it sounds really hard.

I’m off to bed, it is lovely and cool tonight, I have been toying with putting the duvet back into it’s cover but we are forecast another heatwave in a few days so think I will get out a thicker nighty instead.

Thanks for the sympathies, fingers crossed, and @RainbowZebraWarrior for you and your Dad.
@martha79 fingers very crossed for you, that hopefully this is it and you will be able to plan forwards.

Helloooo everyone -I’ve no hope of catching up but will do a skim today. Hope you are all ok.
a busy few weeks here-made it to Harry Styles and then the south of France for dh’s work thing, (hectic) (and my solo few days which was lovely), DD2 got to Taiwan (I’m on pins obvs but she is having a good time I think), DD1 is being an utter knob and I’m ready to volley her, and my phone chose to die in the middle of it all, hence my absence here. Plus the heat which has been…unholy and working on the farm was unbearable.
First day off proper today and boy do I need it.
Right let me try and catch up, missed you all :)

Good news... the leak is apparently repaired, Thames Water sent through a notification at 5:30am, unfortunately the water pressure is still not back to normal... but should be at some time this morning!

I finished binding the quilt for Mavis last night and feel quite content with the results, hoping she commissions me for further quilts moving forward. The only challenge is that I have discovered that using a finer needle gives me better results but the eye of the needle is soooooo small. Bugger getting older!

Last night, I set out my Vincent Star quilt and it looks like I have to make the same amount of blocks again, but I am quite pleased with how it looks. I am really enjoying handsewing this whilst listening to audio books, so if anyone has any recommendations for something to listen to, please let me know.

Good to see you back @piscofrisco

Sending love, positivity and joy yo anyone who needs it today. It is the most perfect summers day here to mark the arrival of July. I went to the beach for an hour picking treasures before my hopsital appt to flood my body with feel good hormones, and flood my body it did.

A lady around my age fell in step with me and explained that she was also looking for seaglass. She only came to the beach in this day every year to mark her sister's anniversary. All she needed was to find a peice of green seaglass and she would be happy that her sister knew she was thinking of her. Once we had secured said green glass, I bade her farewell. A few seconds later I remembered I was clutching a sea glass heart. I called to her and gave her it. For comfort, hope, whatever. She gave me a massive hug.

I found another heart a few minutes later which I may keep for the next soul who may need it.

Right. Off to hospital.

I really enjoyed listening to Craftland by James Fox. It's about all of our vanishing rural crafts like barrel making, leather tanning and reed harvesting. It's a delight, in fact it was so good that, having listened to it I went straight out and bought the hard back and read that too.

What a lovely gift for that lady. I hope the heart brings her some comfort.

Hope today's hospital trip goes as well as it can

Oh I have Craftland on my TBR pile but I might do it on audio if that comes recommended, thanks.
Beautiful glass hearts, @RainbowZebraWarrior
@LatteLady I would love to learn to quilt but so many activities so little time. I went to the knitting and stitching show in Harrogate a few years ago and was blown away by the quilts there. DD1 is at uni in Bath and I am determined before she graduates to go to the American museum there and see their quilt collection.
My robins fledged! And most excitingly my camera trap caught it - I don't think I can share a video here though, can I? But I'm pretty confident I haven't shared anything under this username that I would regret admitting in public so here it is on my instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DaPvKycly0d/

That's so lovely @RainbowZebraWarrior

I don't envy you on the farm in the heat @piscofrisco!

That podcast sounds really interesting @petitpasta - I've been enjoying The Plodcast (Countryfile Magazine podcast) and one called Countrystride about the Lake District.

Thanks for all the good wishes on the flat - I have just signed the contract!

Oh look at their little fluffy selves 😍

That so lovely @RainbowZebraWarrior
and absolutely Hurrah on the flat @martha79

ssnding lots of love to everyone poorly, or with poorly relatives and for lost canine friends a huge paw shake -I’m sorry to hear it .

I’m in awaiting a Pest Control man as it seems we might have rats 😕. Useless Dogs have been no good as a deterrent at all.

Hurrah for contract signing.

Hurrah for cute, funny little Robins fledging.

And Hurrah for me as I don't yet quite need my hips replacing. Turns out I had tore a ligament when I fell in December, if it had been scanned and found at the time, I would have likely have been put forward for knee surgery, but apparently my body has done a grand job of almost repairing it itself 💪 Just a bit more time for inflammation to go down and it to fully heal. Turns out I've also been walking around for probably years with hip bursitis. Going to have some targeted physio and then steroid injections if need be. My quad muscles are so flipping weak after losing 5 plus stone, I have to build them up. Thinking of taking the plunge and going back to Yoga!

So I am allowed to still go to the beach. Just have to be careful and build in plenty of rest (which they know I already do cos of my EDS) / not lie on my worst side.

Craftland added to my Audible list. I paused it for 3 months and they have just given me 3 months at half price when it resumes.

Looking forward to watching England later at a sociable time. Have already got my corned beef pie and roast potatoes sorted for dinner. Some wine is already in the fridge. Currently having the large central white badger streak on my head remedied (roots)

Ahhh. Today is a good day! Am going to order these duckie pyjamas for Mr D for Christmas 🐥🐈

Having had a rat problem in the past, you have my sympathies. Ours got in via the loft then down the cavity walls. I woke up one night to a crashing about in the pantry. Opened the pantry door to find one of the buggers had knocked over all my oils in a bid to rip open and scoff a garlic and chilli sauce sachet. I often recite this anecdote to my mother when she trots out her "Apparently rats don't like garlic" advice. No, mine bloody loved it!!

Oh. Meant to ask say, I was in Lidl whilst waiting for Dad yesterday. They have started selling Guanciale. Might be a good sub when we are all looking for Lardo for that CC recipe (I forget which one, but I know we discuss it every year)

I suspected we had them, it was confirmed when one ran over DSS1’s foot whilst he was making some toast. They clearly don’t give a fig about dogs, people, or anything else.

Great news on yer bones!