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 My Goodness. The film Tuner is incredible. Brilliant cast and plot. Really intense and suspenseful. I am an utter emotional wreck. If any of you get the chance, do go.

Leo Woodall. Outstanding ❤️

Oh that is good to know. I spotted it on the listings at our local arts cinema and wondered about booking. Will definitely book now.

Right, the new lawnmower arrived at 7:02 this morning. Yes, I was still in my pjs and no, I had not had my civilising coffee... I am about to put it together and take it out for a run... Or I might just take a G&T out into the garden...

Wow that sounds good, @RainbowZebraWarrior . Glad you enjoyed it - if a soggy wreck is enjoying - sometimes a good weep is so helpful!

Oh Lordy, @LatteLady I thought for a moment that you were mowing at 7.02am. That is … early for deliveries. I vote G& T whilst you read the operating manual.

I had a very late start due to feeling a bit grim after my treatment yesterday. Some drugz and lots of fluids have sorted me. It’s booking day today for some ballet/opera I want to see in Paris in the winter (rematch in Trudon, @LillianGish !), I’ve done so with fingers crossed health-wise and also for DH’s energy levels. Just sent him to have a nap as he’s tired out after a day of work. He needs to retire properly but his “work” is his passion - helps to keep him going like mine does for me.

I’m definitely up for a rematch @Bimblesalong - let me know when you have your dates. I went for a bit of a wander yesterday to check out JR’s Caverne du Pont Neuf art installation. Frankly I found it a bit underwhelming and to make things even more annoying it’s only accessible from the opposite side of the Seine to the Pont Neuf metro (how is that even logical). It’s supposed to be a homage to the time Christo wrapped the bridge and also a reference to the quarries from which the stone used to build Paris (including said bridge) was hewn. Afterwards I popped into Samaritaine, which seemed to be doing some sort of collab with the installation, and sniffed some Trudons - as well as having a squirt of a Trudon perfume (Médie) which smelled delicious, but was somewhat predictably over €200 a bottle. We are expecting a heatwave here so I am closing the shutters and lining the fans up.

Great news on the gardening leave @petitpastaim so pleased for you

I hope that weather will also apply to the south of France where I am bound on Saturday morning @LillianGish. I’m so looking forward to it.

That film does look good @RainbowZebraWarriori will see if it is on at our local arty cinema.

sorry you are feeling under the weather @Bimblesalonglots of love to you

take it easy on your jobs list @martha79i tend to think slow and steady wins the race.

we had an absolutely lovely day at Ascot. Lovely food and vintage Moet and I really enjoyed looking at everyone’s outfits. And we came away £45 up on the betting so a win all round. Feeling a touch dusty today and I’ve to take DD2 shopping for her trip to Taiwan. She has a list prepared which I fear will be expensive. We stayed over in central London last night so I’m going for a quick nose around coal drops yard before I jump on the train to meet her in Cambridge.

have a lovely day all

What a dream of a day @piscofrisco, enjoy your shopping (and perhaps a nice alka seltzer 😄). I'm on the train in the fog, a tad tired and grumpy over having to nag both dds over various issues last night. Still, the end of my busy-busy season is in sight, not long now before I can spare a moment to look at the garden etc.

Glad you enjoyed Ascot @piscofrisco DD did too although her feet were very tired last night after a 12 hour working day. 4 more to go. just dropped her off again. She just missed out on greeting the Royal Family because she was on her break and they asked her colleague instead. Not that she's bothered, I'd be excited though!

Daughters eh? I was ready to volley DD1 yesterday. She took my hair straighteners on a work trip with her, which I didn’t discover until the moment I went in my drawer for then to do my hair. My hair is untenable without them. I had to improvise an up do with limited resource and it looked awful. I’m still cross about it now. She can think herself lucky that I won’t see her until tonight as by then I might have calmed down!

Ooh what bit does she work in @ElegantDressesI might have seen her!

I'm not sure, she was so tired last night she more or less went straight to bed (out of the house 6am to 9.30pm). They recruit 100s of them and they only got allocated their jobs yesterday morning, she said she was stationed by some stairs to give directions, keep people moving, that sort of thing.

Well they were all certainly working hard and doing a great job. It was a very slick operation and it can’t be easy dealing with the many frankly quite trolleyed people as the hour gets later!

They did have a lot of training (induction day of several hours plus teams meetings). Security, safety etc. She has worked in pubs before so some experience of drunk people. Yes, she said it did reach a point of just wanting everyone to go home, she got away about 8 I think. But she said the music was good fun after the races finishes, good atmosphere.

Morning all

Good to hear about the film @RainbowZebraWarrior

I'm glad your new lawnmower arrived @LatteLady but also that you weren't mowing at 7am!

The bridge thing looks interesting @LillianGish, I hadn't heard about that.

Sorry you're not feeling too great @Bimblesalong

Your day sounds fun @piscofrisco and glad DD enjoyed working there too @ElegantDresses

It's both warm and rainy here this morning. The plants are enjoying it anyway. I've got a morning of meetings, a quiet afternoon, a bit of music teaching, then I'm done with the day job at least until Monday.

Doing bits and pieces of decluttering as I go - did the bathroom cabinet and some drawers of make up and stuff yesterday, which I've been meaning to do for ages anyway. I have kept the various bath products which people have given me for Christmas etc despite living somewhere with only a shower for the last four years - I am determined the new place will have one!

Ascot sounds amazing, but you're right about the trolleyed folk @piscofrisco Folk descend upon Tynemouth for more drinking after our local ladies race day in July. They arrive in their fancy finery and then end up in a total state of streaked mascara, tears, missing shoes and fascinators. It's all very Patsy and Edina.

Side note: Trolleyed is referred to here as Troll Eyed after my Mum once misread a text from me and my beat pal in Greece over 20 years ago. We said we had gotten a bit trolleyed on the first evening. She replied with "What's Troll Eyed?"

Sorry to hear of DD troubles. I have an almost 15 year old who still holds hands with me every day in the street, so thankfully I am grateful for that. Slightly different set of problems though.

I have a nesting pair of bullfinches in my garden and they are providing me with so much delight. They are usually such secretive birds, but I feel privileged that they have chosen my lovely wildlife friendly garden with plenty of hedges and hiding places.

Raining here, too. Of course. It's hairdresser day. Errands etc to do etc. Meh. I'm tired today. Lawn isn't going to get cut again though. This time last year I had spent every day in the garden since the beginning of April. I think I've sat out once this year.

Sending hugs to all who may need one.

Ha Ha @ trolled eyed - think of me later, doing a late shift in the pub for the England game (not fun!)

Love to all x

Thanks guys, I’m on the up today!

Ascot sounds amazing @piscofrisco . I hope the hair crisis is manageable today!

Glad to hear you’re getting ahead @martha79 . we do this in short bursts although i have to feel brutal. DH is such a hoarder that whenever I get a place cleared, I know he will end up stuffing it with things.

@LillianGish yikes to your heat forecast. I think shutting the windows and hiding in the dark is the way forward. I used to go to the misty fountains in Republique, just round the corner from where my friends lived and stand in them to cool down. Wonder if they’re still there. Parisian apartments just aren’t made for this type of heat — you should all be in Provence, summering.

Had literally nothing to do for part of this morning so I have ticked off one of my garden leave jobs and have set up a little admin station in the kitchen. Drawers contain notepaper, one of those roller things that obliterates your address on mail before you recycle it, stamps, envelopes, the utility cupboard key and radiator bleeding tool, a calculator and ruler, tape measure, cheque books etc. Some of it may get junked if it isn't used in the next 6 month but I am feeling very pleased to have ticked a job off.

And yes I do know it isn't November but I was trying to find a calendar page with no identifying info on it!

That is very organised!

Pleased to hear you're on the up, @Bimblesalong

Best of luck with the England game @thebabessavedme I hope things aren't too rowdy!

I'd like to share one of my favourite books in the whole world. I realise now that it was a pre cursor to All Things Nigel. It is a childrens book that is set out chronologically, with things to do indoors and outdoors, cookery and garden ideas, etc!

It was published in 1966 and is just delightfully whimsical; making paper planes, making a guy, playing conkers, etc. It didn't come into my life until around 1979, and even then, parts of it were a bit old-fashioned
I love it so much.

I wonder if Nigel has ever read it.

Oh and it also has a seasonally appropriate poem at the beginning of each month.

Here's June's:

@RainbowZebraWarrior
That book looks absolutely gorgeous, illustrated by Shirley Hughes?

Sorry all, I’ve just realised that I name changed for another thread and my new name @SaraCrewe06 has come up on this new thread.
I was previously @RipplePlease.

Yes, illustrated by Shirley Hughes. I particularly love this illustration of a Guy. Such amazing memories of making a Guy each year and trawling around with him in a wheelbarrow calling "Penny for the Guy" along with making turnip (swede) lanterns which took hours to dig out. The fact that we were allowed out at Halloween wearing bin bags and carrying a lantern with an actual candle in it was probably grossly irresponsible, but then again, safety was also drummed into us.

We've had some crap news today regarding my Dad on the same day as Jeremy Clarkson's similar revelation.

It makes me all the more determined to take pleasure and fun in life, and see beauty and joy as much as possible.

[Boring Rainbow announcement]

July is Disability Pride Month. It is very often overlooked. I have been asked to take part in a compilation video about Disabilty using just one or two words. My user name relates to my medical condition, so I chose the words "Warrior" and "Strength" I can't upload videos on MN, so here are a couple of screenshots of me essentially being as close as I will ever get to being a Jedi Knight (with my light up walking stick) DD is a very patient camera operator!

@RainbowZebraWarrior sorry to hear that you have had some bad news about your dad. I hope he is getting the care he needs and you are all able to look after each other as you process this news.

I do like your light up walking stick! If you have to use one then why blend in?