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!

That’s good to know. Chicken and pears here! But it is working, so that’s good. Just don’t know that I’ll be able to do the long term version as suspect will still be quite restrictive. Suppose I just have to keep trying

I think she would probably love it!!

Nigella in one of her books (How To Eat maybe) talks about her granny having a Christmas dinner on midsummer’s day. Sounds like a fab idea!

Ah I was told I would be on that, then for some reason it ended up being turkey and rice. My biggest issue was that the next lot of things I was allowed to introduce, I hated. (Lamb then Golden syrup and semolina or something weird like that) I kept asking my allergy dietitian to stop telling me "Yum Yum, guess what's next?" as I constantly replied "Nope. Don't like it, won't eat it" I was probably a right PITA to work with!

Hello and welcome! And also that sounds like such a wonderful sight.

I was brought up foraging (and also a bit of a skip rat) so I know where all the local - public - sweet chestnuts, cob nuts, damsons, pears, apples, sloes etc are. I have also knocked on neighbours to ask about picking rose hips and quince and have always been told yes. I usually have a feeling as I have usually watched them going to waste in previous years.

Sun came out here evebtually, although it is due to be very cold again tonight.

Done a few short different beach visits today. Its a good job I love where I live, as I ain't going on holiday any time soon (DD is really struggling with everything again)

What beautiful views @RainbowZebraWarrior. Sorry to hear DD is having a tough time.

I didn't get the house - they told me I was second in line if the first person doesn't end up going through with it, or another of their properties comes up. Got some other viewings booked now for Friday and Sunday.

Having a NVN day - had a McDonald's breakfast mid-morning and the kitchen is a mess (mainly I just need to empty and refill the dishwasher!).

Sorry to hear that, and hoping that you might end up with it anyway, or that one of the other properties at the weekend is even better 🤞

Oh the dishwasher is my nemesis. Certain tasks are just draining and feel like climbing a mountain. One of the reasons I get my hair washed at the hairdressers is because it is something that totally zaps my energy. Having someone else do it means that I can use that energy for something else. Spoons and Pacing is a well practiced way of life now. I manage my expectations house and garden wise, but it can still be upsetting not being able to properly 'keep on top of things' I have been promising myself I will wash the car for the past two years! Also, needs must re: McDonalds or whatever other easy option there is food-wise.

I used to read and post a lot on the Chronic pain (?) board which we fought for on here. There are some great tips from others in similar siumtuations for things that help in everyday chores. Worth a look if you've never checked it out before.

Looking forward to Springwatch tonight, but sad that it's almost over. I am hoping that Iolo might find his way in my neck of the woods as he seems to have been working his way up the country. We've had a load of whale and dolphin sightings in recent weeks as well as our local seal sanctuary going from strength to strength.

I have said it before, but if anyone finds themselves in my neck of the woods, do shout up as I am always happy to play tour guide!

Tired tonight. Thinking of a simple Greek Salad for dinner and an early night.

Welcome @peachmelbanice to meet you.

lovely views @RainbowZebraWarrior. Wishing you a lovely early night and some good sleep which would probably be worth more than gold to me just now.

sorry about the house @martha79. Keeping it all crossed that they either come back to you or else your viewings are fruitful. Don’t speak to me about the damn dishwasher. I swear to god I must load and unload it at least twice a day and there are still pots everywhere. It’s my most hated job. Like bloody Groundhog Day.

A very heightened co farmer and insane weather (lashing rain and anthracite clouds one minute, blazing sun the next) have not for a fun day made. He was a little more balanced by home time but we will see what tomorrow brings. A very long walk through woods and some summery looking meadows and a stop to see our cows enjoying the summer pasture was the best medicine, though he needed his space for much of it, as per picture. We have done a record 22,000 steps today as we haven’t really stopped moving.

Came home via 4 pharmacies, none of which had the medication DD1 needs for her ear infection, only to be told at the last one that it hasn’t been widely available for 5 years. Got GP to prescribe something else, and send direct to chemist, went back to chemist, of course it hadn’t arrived , chemist then about to shut. What a faff. Try again tomorrow I suppose.

made dinner for everyone, dogs running amok, DH stressed about work and DD1 is about to drive to Sheffield to see her boyfriend (which fills me with stress as it’s late and rainy and she is tired).

so all in all an Incredibly Un-Nigel day and I shall be glad to get into bed. Im reading a book about Johanna De La Haye who lived and successfully held Lincoln castle in the 1100’s. It’s a bit rubbish tbh but I’m enjoying the escapism.

Lordy that all sounds stressful. My Mam always says that she preferred it when I was a baby in my cot and knew I was safe and sound. I totally get that, and not least because DD has never yet been independent. (never even played out with other kids) At some point, I hope she will, but it will be terrifying for me as she is not streetwise in any way.

When I think about the fact that I was out clubbing till 3am on a school night in sixth form, aged 16 / 17 I am amazed my Mum was ever able to sleep.

On the subject of housework, I am a resident on the long running Flylady threads (and am the OP of this month’s thread). I have been on them for at least 15 years and it has really helped me. I reckon over the years at least half the regular posters have been ND, had ND family members or had significant health issues or caring responsibilities, if anyone would like to join us you’d be welcome. We are a safe haven from the “it only takes 5 minutes a day what are you talking about” crowd. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/housekeeping/5536785-its-june-come-and-join-the-fledgling-flyladies?page=2&reply=152839208

But please stay on this thread too!

Oh I keep forgetting about that thread. I currently have this book beside my bed. I intend to start reading tomorrow.

Thank you for the welcome everyone.

Hello @martha79 - thank you! It really is a beautiful rose. I’ve been looking for one for a spot in the garden and wanted something that was just the right combination of pink, peach, apricot and butter yellow. It won’t flower this year as I’ve bought it too late but I’m excited for next year. I’ll add a photo of what it will hopefully look like!

@Bimblesalong it certainly felt like a gift. All the more so for how fleeting it was.

Oh @piscofrisco you have cows! I love cows (despite being a little scared of them). They’re such marvellous animals.

@RainbowZebraWarriorThank you, and what lovely photos.

That rose is utterly gorgeous @PeachMelbaRose

I think some of you will already have the rain, but it's sunny here so far. The wall of water is creeping from west to east and due to arrive with us at around 9am and is in for the day. My plan, therefore, is, do the school run, dash home and have a hopefully productive Fly Lady day. I'm off to catch up with the latest thread now.

Have fun all. Nearly Friday!

That really is lovely @PeachMelbaRose

What a tough day @piscofrisco, I hope you had a restful evening.

Definitely got the rain here. My heating has also kicked in this morning!

@RainbowZebraWarrior I haven't been on the chronic pain board much but am on the daily chronic illness thread. I've tried flylady in the past but following a system never seems to stick (see also hundreds of abandoned planners of many sorts). The dishwasher always feels like a massive job, until I do it while I'm e.g. microwaving something for five minutes and realise it doesn't actually take that long...

Just work today, and must get a grocery shop sorted too.

The weather here is, and has been for some time, really awful. We got bees in April and unfortunately they swarmed about three weeks ago (I missed that they had been building "queen cells", I saw them, checked them but thought they were just "play cups" - practice cells not being used). So we lost the queen and about half the hive.

A very lovely man talked me through preserving some queen cells and splitting the remaining colony so that I had two shots at getting a mated queen and saving the colony. That all happened when the weather was beautiful and warm, and it is now like October. I can't check them, and it's driving me nuts. Last night I bit the bullet and had a look at my split. One of the queen cells had been chewed out of, but I couldn't see a queen (you can't always) and the number of bees was very low and most of the original frame had been abandoned. They are in a nuc box so are likely very cold but I can't do anything about that. I'm completely gutted. I feel so guilty that I have rollucksed this up because they are really so cute and lovely.

Oh bless you. Don't beat yourself up about that. It's not easy keeping bees. Me and Dad are playing catch up since he was unwell. He was in the process of splitting colonies when he ended up in hospital. There's been a massive catch up operation and I think we are now in as best place as we can be for the time of year. We have 50 hives though and I don't know how much longer that's sustainable.

If you ever need to ask anything, please shout up on here or DM me. I can ask my Dad and get back to you pretty quickly. He would really rather help if there's anything you are struggling with. He has 35 years as master beekeeper under his belt. I also have 35 years experience, but I am still the apprentice. That's how it works.

We have just started extracting and I am cutting comb and boxing it as we often get asked for this. We have a festival in two weeks, so at least, for once, I am a bit ahead of the game. Don't know wether to make candles or save that for the Christmas fayre. Candles don't sell so well in summer.

Thank you that's so kind - so far have found the beekeeping community very helpful!

Oh @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset don't feel guilty, you're doing your best and there's so much to learn.

Important alert - it is elderflower season in the south of Yorkshire! Smells lovely outside (even if the rain is knocking them all off).

Elderflower out here, too ❤️

And so begins my annual mutterings of "summer starts with elderflowers and ends with elderberries" It's so pretty. Like intricate lacework.

After wittering on yesterday about local sloes and rosehips, my neighbour with the big corner plot (my closest access to both as he has a mixed hedge of dog roses and blackthorn) has just cut it right back with a hedge trimmer. He's just inherited the house from his parents so I have a feeling that's probably that, now! I had watched the blackthorn flowering in April with glee, too.

Oh amazing - I'm North Lincs, so must go and check if it's out here too (it should be, right?). My dad makes amazing elderflower syrup that I have to hide from the children as they use it in and on everything until it is gone (particularly stunning on homemade buttermilk ice cream, sadly a pleasure now lost to me - at least temporarily).

I’ve got some lovely elderflower cordial we made at work last week in the fridge. Smashing.
The wettest and at times bloody cold day on the fam today. We had a bunch of uni students in today learning about outdoor therapy and I’m not sure they haven’t been put off for life by the weather. One of the co farmers had an epic meltdown, chairs flying everywhere and lots of shouting. We all felt a bit emotional after that as it’s so horrible seeing someone in anguish like that. So im not sure what the take away for the poor students was.

Finally found DD’s medication so at least she can start that and hopefully start to feel better .

RZW is your woman for bee keeping advice @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset. Following my recent bee keeping course I’m in awe of people that know how to do it-there is so much to know!

Ive just improvised a fantastic Asian inspired salads dressing to go over a sort of noodle and cabbage salad I knocked up. Can I remember what I put in it and the amounts to be able to recreate it? Nope. Ruddy meno brain.

hope everyone is dry and cosy.
and a happy World Cup day to those who celebrate. Never been less excited for a World Cup. I’m sure I will get into it. The joy of it for me is watching weird obscure games at odd times, but I feel like we’ll lose those a bit due to the times.

I've been thinking about you today @piscofrisco Not least because of the weather. Pleased DDs meds got sorted.

Re: uni students. It's best that they see the worst side of things, as if they are considering that type of care, then they will know wether it's for them or not. Better to find out now.

Re: dressings. I made a jerk type marinade for my Dad a couple of years ago. He keeps asking for me to make another jar full. I have no idea what I originally put in it. Every time I make it, it looks totally different. He never says anything. My Mum also 'recreates' it for him with varying results. Tbh, if it's spicy and hits the spot, he's happy.

I've just dug out my replica 1990 England shirt that I bought two years ago for the Euros. Mens XL. I could barely squeeze myself into it back then. Looks like it might be quite hip and baggy now (although the current football strip trend is tight, but I don't have the muscular structure to pull that off!) I gave my original 1990 shirt to an old Greek boyfriend. When I say old, I mean it in both senses of the word. He told me he was 24 when I met him back then. My best pal did some instagram stalking recently and he is now an almost toothless old man!!

Oh that’s a smasher of a shirt that one

@MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset My FIL keeps bees and lost two queens recently. When he talks about beekeeping I always think it sounds so delicate and complex. Try not to feel too bad about it (although I understand completely and would feel exactly the same); it’s hard and complicated!

Thanks - I’m just annoyed with myself. I knew what I was looking for but failed in the execution. Hey ho, onwards and upwards.