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!

Oh FFS! I was doing some last minute chores last night (charging the under cupboard lights when I heard a knock at my front door and my upstairs neighbour (the one who buys me gin for being the one to do the garden) appears. Remember the chap who I reported for behaving oddly in the front garden, his name is now Colin the Lurker (he left an app't letter for the local hospital behind on his last visit) had returned and Ryan who was coming back from the gym caught him in the front garden before he legged it. We checked the Ring Door Bell footage and there he was doing his paranoia promenade around the garden and re-arranging the bins (they are in colour order!). So, I got back on the 101 website, quoted the previous report number and I am now awaiting a call from the Police.

I know he needs help but could he just take our house off his list of good places to lurk?

I hope it will get a touch warmer for my boat trip! It’s already 26 degrees here. A hot day at work and then a very loooong drive for me today.

quite right Belgium! What a joke FIFA are. Disgraceful

lurkers always choose to lurk in the places you least want them to lurk in my experience @lattelady

It's just warming up for you now Pisco. Look! The sun has popped out! It's 18 degrees and was nicely pleasant for a shirt sleeved sea glass stroll. I have also just received my latest copy of the Northumbrian magazine, and it has a picture of one of our puffins on it.

I am going to sunscribe to The Simple Things magazine as it seems right up my street. I feel like someone here may have mentiomed it befofe. Possibly @martha79

Agree about lurkers. They tend to be creatures of habit, but hopefully yours will find a new fixation elsewhere @LatteLady

Have just finished my walk and am happy with my finds. Just as I thought "I haven't found a marble in ages" Up one pops. Some pretty colours today. Makes up for not being able to get down to Seaham at the minute. I am going to spend the next week sorting and grading my glass, then have loads of craft ideas planned for us to do in the summer hols.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I read Simple Things on the library app, might have been me.

Been to pick up the keys, not sure why I didn't wait for rush hour to pass a bit as wasn't a pleasant journey. But is done and I was greeted by the local wildlife (currently celebrity of the local Facebook page).

Congratulations @martha79 loving the local wildlife.

We are on the end of term helter skelter as well as getting ready to travel - it may be as warm here whilst we are away on the croissants!

Love the peacock @martha79! We have a local celebrity peacock called Dave. He lives on a farm on the outskirts of town but has been known to go on tour and cause a local flurry of Facebook posts.

Been out for brunch this morning - French toast with poached rhubarb. Absolutely delicious. Now home to "support" youngest child with taking all the cr@p from his room to the tip. Out again this evening.

I've decided not to do a shop this week and to use up lots of things from the freezer. It's remarkably liberating! I do need to buy Greek yogurt though as that's our staple breakfast / brunch / lunch.

I also need to choose a paint colour for my office. I've chose these curtains and I am unsure whether to go pale pink or lilac for the walls. I want to go green for the paintwork and ceiling but I am not sure if the green / pink combo has had its day or not. I have promised myself a new armchair and do quite like the idea of pink velvet for that.

I wish I could just get an interior designer. I'm really not good at this at all!

Fresh Botanical Eyelet Curtains | Dunelm https://share.google/DQuYCmHymiBhw9o4z

Loving the local celebrity peacocks!

I love pink and green, @petitpasta but I think a pink chair would look better with a green background. Kitchen green from little greene is a fab colour and very calming. I chose it for my bedroom and when a pal of mine called round, her interior designer daughter had just chosen it for her lounge.

Hope @piscofrisco is doing ok. A tad breezy on the coast / out to sea today, but quite refreshing. 20 degrees. Makes 24 feel stifling for us though as we arent used to it (that's the forecast for tomorrow)

Lovely curtains @petitpasta - I think I would go with the pink and green combo in some form.

Had a terrible sleep last night and I've spent the whole of today running a workshop on Zoom. And it's 30C again. I have some tidying to do in the cellar so I may do that this evening as it's cool down there.

In Nigel-adjacent updates, my new place has an induction hob. Thankfully the new pots I bought towards the end of last year will work on it, though the couple of old ones I kept won't, so will have to throw them out. It's going to take a bit of getting used to - I used one for a few days when I was housesitting for a friend, but never really mastered it. I'm also getting a new fridge-freezer delivered on Saturday, which I obviously intend to be a chilly haven of Nigel-like lovely treats. Or I might settle for remembering to defrost it occasionally.

fabulous local wildlife @martha79congratulations on your new place.

I love pink and green together @petitpasta, I think a pale sort of sage green would be gorgeous with those curtains and a pink chair.
On the celebrity peacock subject, at our old house there used to be an escape artist peacock who lived nearby called Steve! He found his way to our garden a few times, and used to come right up to the patio windows and look in.
Congratulations on new flat @martha79 hope you will settle in quickly. I'm sure it will soon be a Nigel-esque haven.
Very hot here. Can't really be bothered to do anything. DD is full of beans and bouncing about. Because it's so hot it's hard to give her much exercise so she's a bit hyper!
Wonder what Nigel does during heatwaves? He's probably in his beautiful shady garden with a glass of something chilled. Not wrangling an over excited four year old while trying to cook tea. One day my life will be More Nigel...

@Markknopflersheadbandyour DD is reminding of my dog. Because she usually gets walked later on in the day by the evening she’s crashed but as she’s getting morning walkies she’s got energy by tea time

I love the curtains @petitpasta, brilliant as they look so fresh!

I spent the morning in school doing my governor's safeguarding review, which is always a bit nervewracking as you are never quite sure what might might be raised and there was an update released to KCSiE (Keeping Children Safe in Education) yesterday, but my DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) was across it. He had a couple of parental issues to do with Healthcare and I was able to share a way to get the support that they need, so the day job does come in useful, occasionally.

We have a large Admin team because it's a three form entry, inner City, Primary school... usually I bring in cakes or chocolate and I thought, no one wants that in this weather... but I do know that the icecream van stops close by at home time, so I left the bursar with money for ice cream for the team, which I hope will have been a nice surprise this afternoon.

On the way home I picked up some linen pjs that I ordered... the bed has been changed, so think of me squeaky clean after a bath later this evening.

Caesar Salad, sans achovies for supper tonight, followed by blackberries from the garden and some Greek yoghurt. #chompchomp

This has been a good day.

Ah, @LatteLady what a kind thing to do! Surprise ice cream always goes down well with a team, in my experience! I still fondly remember the Calippos that my boss brought in for the office a couple of hot Summers ago!

I'm invigilating exams at work tomorrow in what will be a warm and stuffy room, an ice lolly would be heaven!

@LatteLady yes, I’m a governor too, I spoke to our DSL yesterday where she mentioned that the KCSIE update was huge this time but she is very good and will manage it well. My day job is completely unrelated to education and children but it is surprising how often something I know about through work comes in useful.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I met a friend the other day and she had a stunning pendant on, with blue and green stones, I asked her what they were and she said seaglass which made me think of you. They were so bright, really lovely.

@Markknopflersheadband my parents used to have a wandering peacock in their garden, he used to hop over the 6’ fence, he belonged to someone down the road. He was a stunner. But they moved away, to this day I wonder how you transport a pet peacock.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DakNM_MxPm4/?igsh=MTZxdG1oM3dxZDUyYQ==

Haha. I had a feeling he would post an effortlessly stylish and cool basement pic sometime this week.

Myself, well, I have gone for the plodging approach to keeping cool this morning.

Oh @RainbowZebraWarrior that photo is wonderful. It makes me feel cool just looking at it.

Just back from boxing class and enjoying my smoothie. Then have to brave the inferno and take two car loads of rubbish to the tip (again. They should do loyalty cards...).

Need to pop to Lidl for Greek yogurt and bananas and may sneak one of their low GI bakery loaves which are amazing. Off out tonight. Tomorrow night we are going to watch many of DS' friends in this ensemble whichbis always two hours of pure joy

www.facebook.com/share/v/1E5imaTkxh/

@RainbowZebraWarrior what a cooking picture. You’re very fortunate to have the sea so close.

@petitpasta that looks and sounds like great fun!

I managed to get my work done early so went to a daytime air conditioned screening of “private lives” - not Noel coward but a stylish French film. There was only one other lady in the cinema who admitted she fell asleep! I enjoyed it and loved the colour scheme of the visuals and great clothes - apartment.

That ensemble looks really fun @petitpasta!

I have sea envy @RainbowZebraWarrior - the water looks lovely.

Film sounds great @Bimblesalong, I love a quiet cinema.

I've plodded through a day of meetings and appointments being too hot. My new bath robe arrived but I'm certainly not putting it on at the moment!

Well after a will it or won’t it happen conflab. The dog’s groomer has had air con fitted and the poor thing can have her thick black jumper removed.

I’m killing time with a glass of Rose Wimbledon and some crisps before collecting her.

have a bbq/ housewarming party invite tomorrow. So said I’d make a coleslaw. NVN but it goes down well and easy to make. Can’t be arsed to slave away with a new recipe on this heat.

Air con in the dog groomers seems like a no brainer @CrushingOnRubies (as it does for most of the UK atm) We don't have anywhere near the crazy temps up here like elsewhere, but Mr D is melting bless him. Having a fur coat can't be much fun right now eh? Hope you enjoyed the Rosé, crisps and Wimbledon. I am so proud of Arthur Fery and hope he goes all the way. Goran Ivanišević won as a wild card back in 2001, so it can definitely be done!

That dressing gown is gorgeous @martha79 Where is it from if you don't mind me asking?

Oh that ensemble looks amazing @petitpasta Do enjoy. It would be right up my Dads steet.

Hope the invigilating went ok @WhoAteMyBiscuit and anyone else who has had to navigate stuffy and sweltering workplaces today.

An air conditioned cinema seems like a wise choice today @Bimblesalong Pleased you enjoyed it. I need to make a list of things to watch and see if I can fit them in. Lots coming up this summer.

I have never been so grateful to live near the beach. Being able to sink my toes in the sand and feel the cool waves lapping my tired feet was just the tonic I needed between dropping DD at school and taking Dad to his latest hospital appointment. I got slightly soaked with some bigger waves, but thankfully Craghoppers cropped pants are very quick drying! I am lucky (again) that there is only 3 miles between me, DDs school, Mum and Dads house, the hospital and the beach. Not much else is happening apart from those four places atm. Garden has gone to sh*t, but that's just fine. Dad has six hospital appointments next week (he is currently being seen for four separate conditions) and there are some complications involved. He is still managing to see to all the hives which are situated on four different farms, but doesn't know if hes coming or going. Bless him. I have the utmost admiration for him. But then, I always have had. If nothing else, this summer will go down as the one where We Were There For Each Other.

Rubbish picture, but happy with this find today. A multi striped piece of bonfire glass.

@RainbowZebraWarrior it's from John Lewis.

Morning all-home after my few days away which were very lovely. And mercifully cooler. Home is like a furnace. Back to woe today and prepared to melt. Will catch up through out the day but wishing y’all a happy Friday

I am loving all the sea glass @RainbowZebraWarrior - makes me miss living on the coast so much! Also love the bathrobe @martha79. We've had a lovely few days with fabulous school reports for all three (I am so proud of the eldest - every teacher has said how hard he has tried) and today is prize giving, which will be hot, boring and lengthy!

After that we are into holidays. I have scored John Martyn's "Fairytale Lullaby" for the instruments they play and I am going to have a bash at getting that up and running. We're not going away this year and I'm hoping I can get on the horse a bit more. He's had to have his hocks injected and his sacro-illiac next week. However, last time we got three years out of the injections, so I'm hoping we get another decent stretch so I can get out and competing again. Summer of getting us both fit and then competitive winter would be nice (we always seem to be injured in some way or other in the summer).

DDog is greatly missed, particularly by other DDog. On the upside other DDog is being much more human-oriented and I am getting a work buddy in my office most days, which I enjoy. Hive looks good and lots of honey (not honey-bound though, at least I don't think so). With no sea to swim in, I got in the (massively over-sized because I have no spatial awareness) paddling pool in my pyjamas this morning with the girls. Very refreshing! Hope everyone is surviving the heat - our lawn is not! Happy Friday!

I'm glad other dog is keeping you company @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset

Hope you've not melted @piscofrisco

Just disgusting weather today but I think this is the worst of it for a while. Not that it's getting much cooler but at least staying under 30.

I got a lift over to the new flat with a few things this morning - have to sit there tomorrow to wait for fridge freezer to be delivered so wanted something to sit on! Crashed out on the sofa this afternoon then I've been to the cinema this evening - first time in about a year as the Long COVID nervous system stuff made it seem too overwhelming. But aside from having to put my earplugs in, it was ok, and the air conditioning was lovely! Saw the new Minions film, very silly.