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!

What a wonderful conversation @RainbowZebraWarrior and the song, oh it's just beautiful.

Andy's wife does sound like a good person. I struggle to be optimistic about politics, but I really hope this is a decent fresh start for us all.

I just had my weekly counselling appointment, and during it, the van turned up to take away my heap of rubbish (I'd booked 'half a van' - load of dead printers, hoover, broken lamps, clothes that weren't even up to sending to the charity shop, lots of old packaging that had gone slightly mouldy in the cellar). We decided it was a very well-timed metaphor!

It seems to have got quite warm again - I popped out in the garden to rinse out the cat litter trays (oh the glamour) and was surprised by how bright and hot it was.

Thank you. I'm happy with it, bearing in mind how hard it is to listen to onesself and not be critical (or think "why didn't I say that?") One thing that was slightly jarring for me was my interrupting Tom. I am hyper aware of this, but find it impossible not to do. It is borne from enthusiasm, not rudeness and the trait is often referred to as 'cooperative overlappers' in the ADHD world. It gets on my own wick at times, though, so must absolutely get on others. Again, that is the awareness that an ND diagnosis brings.

I absolutely love the song, and have been happy to receive some lovely comments on Spotify.

DD listened to some and found the "where's the pepper?" Gary Rhodes story hysterical, so it has now become a bit of a catchphrase.

I also struggle to be optimistic about politics @martha79 and feel politically homeless most of the time. I do hope they give the bloke a chance though. That's the biggest problem with politics at the moment; tearing folk down before they have even had a chance. The scrutiny and obtrusiveness must be unbearable.

I remember Nigel just posting a black square when Trump was elected for this current term, so I am guessing he is either left leaning or centrist.

I really have to work at not doing the competitive overlapping thing @RainbowZebraWarrior . I’m not diagnosed ND (and not diagnosable IMO) but do have some traits. I haven’t listened yet but will put it on in the car tomorrow morning. What terribly sad news about Kevin Keegan, I don’t support any of the teams he played for or managed but he was still a hero to me.

I didn’t notice you interrupting especially at all. Thought you sounded great!

I'm gutted about Kevin Keegan as I adored him as a child and sobbed my heart out when he retired as a player. Him leaving SJP in a helicopter as his last game ended seems like yesterday. Also he was only 32 which was quite young, but he always said he wanted to retire at the top. I met him many times during his stints as our manager too as I used to regularly watch the team train back when the training ground was open to all. He was a great man.

It made me really sad when I heard the news yesterday. One of my most favourite football memories is the ‘I would love it if we beat them’ interview.

Aye. They don't make them like that any more. That was the season of 96 when we were 12 points clear at the top of the Premiership. I was walking up the stairs to my seat one match day and the lad in front of me had had 'Champions 96' put on the back of his shirt! We still had plenty games to go at that point. It wasn't meant to be for us, but we really should have won something under Special K. The Entertainers. Happy Days.

Anyway, happy Tuesday all. I really need to write that beekeeping presentation for Thursday. Meh.

I have listened to most of the podcast this morning, just lovely! It made me smile so much when he said his mum had written to Nigel about the profiterole recipe. I don't think you were interrupting at all @RainbowZebraWarrior just responding to the questions and letting the conversation flow, I have really enjoyed it and will finish it off later. Certainly made me want to get to the beach! We are about 45 mins drive from one here, so it is do-able of an evening but not regularly.

I loved the Gary Rhodes story 😂

Went to bed with a stiff back last night and have woken up with a very seized up one. Was meant to have a friend visiting to help build some flatpack but I've had to postpone as I can't stand up straight, never mind shift things about. Her car also broke down as she set off, so she messaged to say she was at the garage and she'd be late, as I was messaging to say I think we should reschedule. Just not meant to be today! I did get some nice Waitrose bits in for lunch if I can get myself off the sofa to assemble them later...

Thanks @piscofrisco @martha79 and @ElegantDresses Do you know what's been a special moment of joy today? DD looking through the lovely comments on Spotify about the podcast. She's proper proud.

Ouch re the back @martha79 hope it eases soon. Nice warm bath / shower and a bit of self massage might just work wonders. I always get told off by my Mum when I seize up (for doing too much) but sometimes it's completely unavoidable eh? Frustrating.

Also, I seem to have a giant dormouse rather than a cat these days. He recently got a new rattan type 'basquet' as he calls it, and just reminds me of a dormouse curled up in a nest.

I have finished listening now . The bit about the randoms you meet in choirs made me laugh. Ours is a bit more settled at the moment, the member who was winding me up has, thankfully, left.

What a lovely fluffy dormouse @RainbowZebraWarrior 🤣 The comments on Spotify are lovely.

I've spent the day alternating hot and cold on myself, and paracetamol and ibuprofen, plus a giant nap. It's eased off a bit, although I still can't quite stand up straight.

Lovely to see all the floral tributes outside SJP today. Made me feel very tearful. Also, thinking of poor Ann Widdecombe. Bless her.

I've packed a big charity bag full of all my remaining 'office clothes' with DDs help today. Felt very cathartic. We also took a stroll in a local dene this afternoon. I am trying to think of new places to go for walks every day in order to explore somewhere different. She doesn't like the beach, unfortunately. I have just finished the evening by assembling a huge veggie lasagne, and taking Dad to the allotment to put our lone remaining hen to bed, and also our lovely allotment neighbours bonny lasses to bed. They are such characters!

I have had a five minute breather in what is now my very cool garden. The dahlia's are starting to bloom. Feels quite late in many ways, but hopefully there will be plenty of summer weather left for them to enjoy.

Hope you get a good night's sleep tonight @martha79 and are able to stand fully upright tomorrow with a bit less pain.

What a lovely chatty podcast @RainbowZebraWarrior and the beautiful song at the end, I so enjoyed listening.
Lovely photo of the hen. Does she have a name? We have a friend who keeps chickens and names them all after elderly relatives ie Ethel, Mavis etc. They're so characterful.
Hope your back feels better soon @martha79 a giant nap sounds perfect. Two days into the summer holidays and I feel like I could use a giant nap!!

Backs are terrible when they go @martha79 you have my sympathies. And mine always goes when I’ve got lots to do. Take it easy if you can.

I wish it was cooler here though allegedly it’s coming. Everything we have grown is bolting or wilting and the animals are most disgruntled at not having anything tasty to eat. They can eat the yellow grass and it fills them up but it has no nutritional value and probably tastes like dust. It will rain at the weekend we are told, Just in time for me to go to Cornwall of course. The Farm looks like the Sahara so yellow is the grass.
I’m hosting a corporate event today wherein lots of people that work for a large arms manufacturer with a local factory are coming on their corporate volunteering day and will be painting fence posts. I’m Dubious as to how much they (or me) will enjoy this.

DH is all of a tizzy this morning as he was asked by the office of the new PM to provide a bus stop for the publicity about the bus fayre caps. It was first erected in Downing Street but then for reasons unexplained he has had to organise for it to be moved to Bath. It’s been a right faff tbh and he has got the hump that the bus stop does not even prominently feature in the publicity shots. I will never hear the end of it 🙄

have a lovely day all

I hope your corporate volunteering day goes OK @piscofrisco. How bizarre having a bus stop put up that then isn't seen!

My back is a lot better today but I feel quite wobbly - woke up at 4 then had a variety of naps since. Waiting in anyway for people to pick up various bits of musical equipment from me and just trying to do small bits of packing - I've cleared the mantelpiece so it now looks rather empty in here.

Our little lone hen is called Bridget @Markknopflersheadband She is getting old now, and just eats non stop. We are thinking of getting a couple of new hens to keep her company (the most recent two died in the past month or so) but we are also trying to be pragmatic going forward about what is the sensible thing to do with our limitations and Dad's ongoing health issues. We have also decided for the first time in 35 years not to take the bees up to the Heather this year. I will explain more in a separate post and I hope it doesn't come across as too self indulgent.

Sorry to hear you're feeling a bit wobbly my lovely. It's so annoying when you get a flare up of pain that the rest of your body seems to join the party with things like dizziness, fatigue etc. Hope you manage to shake it off soon (I say that like it's possible to just imagine it gone, when I know myself that it's not possible)

Just know that you have my heartfelt sympathies x

The grass is so yellow and dead here too, and we haven't had anything like your temps. So deflating though when your job involves trying to get the best from nature and the earth. I get your DH's frustrations, as, when I worked in Comms for Govt, we often worked through the night doing crazy things for the cabinet office, only to find that they were never used. The political aspect and other frustrations were ultimately why I eventually left. Hope the corporate gig went well with all of your own frustrations nonetheless x

@martha79back pain is the worst. Hope you feel better soon.

@RainbowZebraWarrioryour podcast was amazing! Loved how you talked about everything you you talk about on here especially your sea glass necklace and this little group. And of course Nigel.

did Tom literally just stumble across you on a bench or was it pre arranged how did it come about? Sorry if that question has already been asked.

2 more days of work until we finally break up.

@piscofriscoyup due to rain in Cornwall on Sunday. And then next week but when I looked last it was the rain icon for the whole week but if you delve into it further it was raining till 10am most days then ok for the rest of the day.

edited to say:-And actually for me rain isn’t now due till Friday week

Yes, Tom walked onto the beach and I noticed him in my peripheral vision. I looked up and he said "I'm drawn to you as you are obviously collecting something" I replied with "Yes, I am collecting sea glass" He gave me the intro about having a podcast called Strangers on a Bench and asked if I was up for it. I told him I thought I had heard about it, and asked his name. He told me it was Tom, but said not to give my name, as obviously it is meant to be anonymous. We sat down on a couple of rocks, he miked me up and we just went from there. Totally unexpected and unscripted. Totally natural. As I say in the intro "What a chance meeting!"

We chatted for around and hour and a half. That has now been edited to the 50 minute podcast you heard. He confided at the time that he and his partner (who is also the editor) had recently split up and she had also had a late Autism diagnosis. I am only divulging this because he made it public last week. He asked me if I was a difficult person to be in a relationship with, and I more or less said that he was projecting. That question was cut, perhaps unsurprisingly.

I got back home after picking DD up later that day and told DD about it all. She went "You Met Tom Rosenthal? As in the guy who wrote Lights Are On?" I was like "Is he famous?" <clueless>

The two big rocks in the centre of this picture is where it was recorded on 30th April this year. We did 'pretend' it was on a bench though.

Best of luck with the last two days! x

Well it wouldn’t be Cornwall without a bit of mizzle I suppose.
My Mother is STILL annoyed about the damn chicken. I beg of you.
The bus stop made it (slightly) on to Sky News but was mostly obscured by, well, a bus. Which really rendered it utterly pointless but DH was slightly assuaged. There it is in the background on the left 😂