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!

It really is the hope that bloody kills you. I honestly thought we had a chance for once.

Waves to @RainbowZebraWarrior - fell off the thread when I went back to see my mum. Lots of gardening and sitting outside (also sympathising with @ElegantDresses over the endless wrangling over trivial things - mine will be 90 next birthday so trying to make allowances, but it can be wearing). Back to Paris for Bastille Day and the defeat of France - and now the defeat of England (in the words of DS, they parked the bus at 57 minutes!) Have now lost all interest ( even for the impending France-England match). DH returns later next week - which will probably require an adjustment in itself. I am now so accustomed to his absence I managed a video call with the dishwasher repairman who somehow navigated me through a repair (involving wangling the dishwasher from its niche and tipping it at a 45 degree angle unaided!) Actually feeling quite proud of myself, not only for the repair, but also for managing the video update despite pointing the camera in the wrong direction for much of the call. NVN at all! Adding the view from under the brolly at my mum’s house, the glorious Thames and my weeded path (which will no doubt be grown over again when I go back, but is strangely satisfying!)

The football was….poor. But as you say RZW I at least no longer need to book dd2 an expensive taxi from Heathrow.
My Mum excelled herself with being unpleasant last night, so much so that my MIL actually intervened. She has left in a huff this morning. I wonder if she has a UTI, but she won’t take kindly to me suggesting it. We have a week until we go to Cornwall and I am dreading what should be a lovely holiday because of it :(
Still sweltering hot on the farm today and I’ve a very active co farmer. There is a day for narrowing wood chip and today is not it! But we persevere.

well done @Liliangishon fixing your washing machine! You must feel like superwoman!

@piscofriscoi remember you mentioning your upcoming trip to Cornwall. If you need suggestions of any beaches which are particularly awkward to get to and not suitable for difficult mums to access let me know, so that you can have a breather.

@LillianGishit can be such an adjustment when do comes back from months of being away. Yes realising you can manage you can fix things like the dishwasher (well done!!) and then finding that the load is suddenly shared again.

You have just inspired me to go and weeding some of my gravel path @LillianGish I've made a good start, but it got rather hot, so I will revisit this evening. It will be nice to be able to walk the path again (it's circular and goes around the front garden with beds on the sides and a large, central bed. It used to be my pride and joy!

Oh @piscofrisco that sounds awful bless you. Definitely make sure you build in some "me time" during your holiday. Offer to do all the daily errands like going to get the fresh bread each morning. Thats always been my strategy to get time away from folk.

Hmph. The third place play off eh? The game nobody really wants to play (or watch)

Ha! Have you anything at the bottom of a very steep cliff that requires crampons and a tent?

I think Nigel says in Toast that his dad desperately wanted him to be into sport but he really wasn't. I'm sorry for the football disappointment - us Scots just never get our hopes up 😂

I hope your holiday turns out well @piscofrisco - parents can be very difficult.

@LillianGish well done on your dishwasher wrangling.

I'm now off work until August! Just the small matter of moving house to do in the meantime... I have a plan but some things are up in the air, e.g. I can't sleep at the new place until either my new mattress arrives (awaiting a delivery date) or I get my sofa bed transported over. And I don't particularly want to leave the cats on their own overnight in either the new place or in the current chaos, so need to figure out when they move too! Unless we all just collapse in a heap on the bean bag...

It is freezing here today with a crazy Northerly wind and rough seas. Great for sea glass!

DD breaks up for summer hols at 12.15

Welcome to summer in Whitley Bay folks. Don't forget to bring your thermals!

Ah but you look lovely!
29 degrees on the farm due later. But DH and I are off to Norfolk this evening in the hired campervan where the forecast seems quite chilly. I am very excited nevertheless!

Ooh that does sound exciting. It's been 15 degrees here today but felt much colder because of the wind. We go down to single figures tonight!

You look beautifully windswept @RainbowZebraWarrior - I'm honestly envious of your weather, been lugging stuff about in 25-ish this afternoon and it wasn't fun. Bit cooler tomorrow though.

NVN stock-up of the new freezer...

That's a great photo @RainbowZebraWarrior !

I am typing from our very comfy van in Norfolk! It’s fabulous! It has a little but very well appointed kitchen and a lovely comfy bed, and we are very cosy listening to the wind outside. There was a band on at the campsite bar last night and all was very lovely-so so far so good.

Ooh. Sour ice pops. I absolutely need these in my life @martha79

That sounds so lovely @piscofrisco

I have had a lovely peaceful morning after being woken by a crash at 4am. A wind chime that hung from a hook in the kitchen came crashing down into Mr D's food bowl. Anyway, I have made the most of it by pottering about and sitting in my conservatory with a cuppa.

Picked my DD up from school yesterday and got there a bit early. Just as they were just giving out the yearly awards. A huge cheer and applause rang out across the yard, as the head teacher gave out his award to the most amazing pupil. One who has overcome overwhleming hurdles, struggles every day, but gets on with it anyway. One who has become a published author this year, has over 1000 house points and has grown enormously in confidence. My DD.

After getting home from Dad's latest hospital appointment later on, we remembered the day we both went to tribunal to get her into this school. I think they thought she was just going to be another 'problem kid' passed from school to school. Little did they know that they were gaining a loyal and valued pupil.

Apologies for the brag, but most will know here that this is a huge thing for us.

Feeling so calm and stress free this morning. I've planned gentle activities for us for the first week off. Today we are writing haiku.

What beautiful words about your daughter @RainbowZebraWarrior
Your love and pride just shines out. She sounds inspiring. Hope you both have a wonderful summer holiday together.

That’s amazing about your DD. @RainbowZebraWarriorhope she enjoys a well deserved 6 week break.

Thank you. She and Mr D are enjoying a well deserved lie in.

I've just been browsing this book I picked up in a charity shop. It's very like the old Be-Ro book inside image-wise. This cutting from Woman's Weekly August 1935 just dropped out. It's all quite fascinating. Love finding things like this. Little moments from the past (can't quite believe it's almost 100 years ago!)

That’s incredible @RainbowZebraWarrior and so well deserved. What a change in a year.

Thank you x

Do you know what was really lovely? DD said he seemed genuinely pleased and proud of her as he shook her hand. Moreso, she said she had a feeling it was coming, as her guidance leader sidled up to her as the HT was about to make the announcement. The guidance leader asked DD if she would be able to go up on stage, and DD said no, so some sort of pre prepared signal was given to the Head, who then came into the crowd to give DD the award. The guidance lead is an old school friend of mine, and it's been great to have her in our corner. I love that they thought ahead about DD potentially being overwhelmed and how to best to deal with that to avoid distressing her.

Truly incredible people ❤️

That is amazing @RainbowZebraWarrior I feel proud by association! I’m a governor at a special school and seeing children who have struggled elsewhere and then blossom with the right support is a big part of the motivation to do what I do.

@LillianGish solidarity re elderly mothers, mine is STILL texting me about the same trivial matter. However I have dumped a few of her tasks onto DB who has been letting me shoulder the bulk of it for a long time. Fabulous view of the Thames. I found my way to the source of it for a walk a year or so back, was rather lovely.

It’s cooler here today, 24degrees coolest in weeks and a nice breeze. I am still in my PJs but have been catching up with cleaning and tidying. About to get showered and dressed and pop into town.

Still not decided whether to watch the football tonight, what a let down it was on Weds. Starting to look forward to the domestic season now, I rebooted my Fantasy Premier League login earlier.

Ooh. DD has finally gotten big into football and I am wondering if she would like to do a Fantasy Football team each. Thanks for mentioning @ElegantDresses I did it for years and loved it. We have already pinned NUFCs fixtures and worked out which games we reckon will be live on TV so that DD can watch the big players she's come to love from the WC. (Mainly Haaland from a Premiership POV and we play Man City on boxing day at home so that should be a surefire tasty TV fixture)

She's watching the game tonight. I've said I will dip in and out as I am a bit fatigued by it all.

We've just been to Morrisons to get the Mr Freeze Ice Pops Deal @martha79 😀

Very well done to DD @RainbowZebraWarrior - it's lovely that school are acknowledging all her hard work. And I hope you enjoy the ice pops! I haven't tried them yet but hopefully when I get back to the flat tomorrow they'll be frozen.

I've spent the day with one of my oldest friends - known each other for nearly 30 years. She still lives in Scotland so we usually meet up somewhere on the East Coast but she offered to come down for a day to help with packing (I did ask if she wanted to stay overnight but she had to get back). It's been lovely, and we got quite a lot done. And when I needed to just flop for a bit after lunch, we put a film on and both dozed on and off through it.

Had pizza delivered for lunch so I'm just finishing that off for my tea and then collapsing in a heap. Tomorrow I'm transporting and unpacking kitchen stuff, and waiting for my new bed to be delivered.

Oh, and spotted my olive tree has a few olives. I'll be gone before they're big enough to pick though!

So lovely to read about your DD @RainbowZebraWarrior. So good to hear of young people thriving.

I had a lovely afternoon tea today and then home to watch the proper Argentina v England match aka the rugby. Very good game. Just switched over at the end of that match to the surprising news that England are beating France atm. All in all a good day.

And that is why it's called The Beautiful Game

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