The Year Round Nigel Slater discussion thread part 6

[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

N.B. The Christmas Chronicles thread proper will start in late October, ready for the book beginning on 1st November (seems a long way off, but will be here before we know it!)

Yes I’ve been to ground zero twice and I was astonished by the tiny foot prints of the towers. That museum/memorial is really fantastically done.

It's been an emotional day here, and in two of my meetings my colleagues told me about where they were on 9/11. One of them was very close to the Pentagon, and finds it very difficult to talk about. Can't believe it's been 25 years.

Such a day. Dad was flying into the Us to lecture and we couldn’t contact him for a while. I recall watching it unfold on tv, weeping down the phone to my mum. The next day, one of my inspirational colleagues led our school in an assembly to help the children to feel supported and understand (I was primary senco at the time).

Today is VN. I’m off to Sadlers for some dance and will then take a side quest to bond st to sniff things in Santa Maria.

We were flying yesterday, and muttering about the liquids in plastic bags thing, till we remembered why. The DCs weren’t born, but I remember it vividly, everyone clustered around someone’s desk at work with the internet freezing. It was a US company but no sites in NYC, we were worried about our colleagues in upstate NY and their families though.

It's sobering to read everyone's accounts of that day 25 years ago. My Mum's brother was waiting at Heathrow to fly to LA. He was about to sign a deal which would have netted him over £1 million. All flights were grounded, he eventually headed home (although we didn't know if he was already in the air / what else was going to happen with other planes etc and comms were all over the place as others have said) The deal never happened in the end as the world obviously changed overnight.

The world is such a precarious place, eh? We are only here by chance, and even then, we run the gauntlet of chance every day. The lottery that is life. So much bad, but then so, so much good and joy, too.

A girl I did tutorials with at college was killed in one of the towers. Another woman I knew was a flight attendant with American Airlines flying out of Boston who would have known the crew on the planes from Boston. A colleague had a friend who worked on the top floor of one of the towers. It’s so strange how it touched so many people around the world.

We still feel it keenly today. I was only thinking a couple of days ago about what times we have lived through, also reflecting on the pandemic experience.

I sent thoughts from London, a VN moment in the trudon department at Fortnum’s. I also visited the craft potters association, opposite the BM, a shop I love and have occasionally purchased from.

A slow day today, I intend to make minestrone soup and some bread.

I love Fortnums, and will have to give the craft potters association a look next time I'm quiet at work.

Unfortunately, I am currently in A&E having had a biphasic anaphylactic response. I'm OK now, but my eyes are completely gross and they don't seem to know what to do with me (I am using the time to finish some work while I don't have the children with me 🤣).

happy Sunday one and all.

Oh, @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset how terrifying! I hope you feel properly better soon. Did you know what set off the anaphylaxis in the first place?

My goodness @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset, I hope you're ok.

Thanks for the lovely spot of Nigelness @Bimblesalong

I made it along to a rehearsal of my little flute playing group yesterday, for the first time since (I think) March. They've kept it going marvellously but it was nice to be back, and play a bit although my stamina is pretty awful.

Pretty tired today after that, so I'm pottering at home, changed the bed sheets (got a lovely vintage 1960s/70s cover on that I'm very fond of) and just made an overly elaborate salad - pea shoots, red chicory, radishes, black olives, cucumber, bit of raw mushroom, crushed hazelnuts, seeds, grated strong cheddar, lots of olive oil and apple cider vinegar, some citrus spice mix on top.

Goodness! @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset , so sorry to hear of this but glad you’re in the right place to be treated.

How lovely to hear that you made it to your rehearsal yesterday, @martha79 . Stamina is a bugger, isn’t it? I’ve just had a nap and am wondering how I’ll manage as I’m out early tomorrow to go to a school (I usually work from home and the children come to me). The salad looks fab. We counted 13 different fruit/seed/veg contributions in the soup I’ve just made. I also turned out a loaf, so did earn the nap. I’m going to make a cuppa and sit and sew now, the light through the window is good.

Oh good lord @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunsetI hope you soon feel better.
Ive just purchased a candle from Essence of New York candle company, that promises to be a dupe of a Trudon one. I shall report back. Minestrone is just the ticket for Autumn @Bimblesalong.
Well done on the flute rehearsal @martha79

I am still feeling very knackered and virus-y. Had promised to go and see my Mum yesterday which we did, got back at 7, straight to bed.
Managed a walk to town today, now recovering on the sofa watching football with the girl Jack Russell. I’ve a hundred things that need doing around the house and I can’t be bothered to do any of them. I really need to shake myself.

It’s a beautiful afternoon here. DD1 has gone out with a new friend she has made at work which is a relief as she didn’t know anyone here really and I’m sure was getting sick of hanging out with us.

I saw that Nigel had put on his insta a pic of a delicious looking custard filled brioche, and now I really fancy something with some confectioners custard in it.

I had a look around the National Daliah Collection today. Absolutely beautiful and took lots of photos.
Here is a small selection.

@MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunsetsorry to hear your in a&e. Hope you’re selling better soon

Oh, those are beautiful.

I have the week ahead as annual leave, and if originally planned to relax, but DD is moving into university next weekend, so I'm mostly preparing for that. But I have a plan to go to Harrogate for the day on Tuesday and go to the Turkish baths and RHS Harlow Carr (and also Rigby and Peller if I have time) which I think will be a lovely day out.

That sounds like an excellent salad @martha79 and minestrone is always on rotation in this house @Bimblesalong , I might pop it on the meal plan for this week as it has been a while. (I use Nigella’s recipe, omitting potatoes and adding a tin of tomatoes).
Hope you feel better soon @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset - that must be very frightening although you sound very calm
Just back from moving DD2 into halls in Edinburgh. It is a horrible thing, leaving your child so far away, even though I know she is more than ready and capable and will have a wonderful time. We had a nice weekend though, met up with her a couple of times (and did the inevitable Dunelm run - their profits from September must see them through the rest of the year, I think!), met some old uni friends of each of us, went in the national gallery and the nice secondhand bookshop, had a pilgrimage to toppings, and DH got to spend some time in Avalanche records which is his happy place. And just wandered about a brilliant city.
Gorgeous dahlias @CrushingOnRubies

Hello all. Shattering day yesterday. I got up at 4am to make some extra candles and I'm pleased I did as we sold out completely. Our little beeswax owl candles always sell out first, so I should really make triple the amount. I am going to start stocking up now for our Christmas fair.

We always have a stall right next to the Tombola. It's a huge draw, and we have the benefit of buying a few tickets early before the hoardes of folk descend. The beauty of having this in a wealthy village is that the prizes aren't crap. We spent £12 and won:

(I feel this is almost like the conveyor belt on The Generation Game)

2 very good bottles of wine
A lego blind bag
A pair of JL leather gloves with 100% cashmere lining
A posh Tea and biscuits caddy
A big pack of tupperware style tubs
A nice necklace from Next
A Pokemon plushy
A Smiggle Pencil Case
A Tamagochi
A Thumper plushy
A box of Milk Tray
A tub of Cadbury Heroes

We gave loads of other prizes back like kiddies books and toiletries.

The lady who wanted me to do a bee talk came to chat with me. I explained that Dad has prostate cancer, among other things, and that we were struggling a bit. She was so sympathetic and immediately understood. Turns out her husband died of prostate cancer. I think I'm going to do it. She only wants a 15 minute chat, and if I can't give back to my immediate community, then I feel like I have failed as a human being. Perhaps she came across badly in her phone call.

@Bimblesalong Lovely pics of Trudon goodies. I also had the same thought yesterday about the Pandemic. It's good to reflect, and I always felt at the time that it was similar (but nothing in a way) to what our grandparents went through during the war. Btw, I see the Aurora stats are starting to jump up!

Your salads always look amazing @martha79 They remind me of the delicious salads my Swedish friend made me whilst we were both travelling in Australia. We would take turns to cook each night, and I always looked forward to her offerings. Glad to hear you also got back to your group, and hopefully your stamina improves going forward.

@MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset Hope you are doing ok my lovely. We have been there. Usually a few hours of observation is enough, but I hope you know what the trigger was and have appropriate care and meds going forward xx

Photo from the kitchen in the village hall yesterday of cars lining the lanes for our incrrasingly popular Scarecrow Festival

Just wondering if anyone else bought any tickets @RainbowZebraWarrior 😆

Pleased to hear of the rapprochement between you and talk organiser. Face to face negotiations can be easier.

Evening all, @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset how scary, I hope you are back to normal soon.

@piscofrisco sorry you are still under the weather.

@RainbowZebraWarrior glad you have reached agreement with the pesky woman, sounds like a good outcome.

Well, I didn’t say, but we have been to Prague for a few days and my goodness it’s beautiful. Very enjoyable. We managed to swerve the air traffic control problems too.

Today has been spent pottering around and visiting my parents. Did a good hour of sorting out my potting shed this morning while the rain pitter-pattered down and had a cup of tea and the radio on (wifi doesn’t reach quite that far so I have a trusty old transistor radio up there, sure Nigel would approve, although I can’t imagine him listening to 5Live, more likely Radio 3.

Parents - arrgh. Lovely to see Dad as always, he is in a home and nice to chat to. Mum OTOH is a nightmare, extreme anxiety and if you try and escape her clutches she just keeps asking for one more minute, one more minute, wait till I’ve sorted X and if you say you need to go she starts screaming “you have no idea how hard it is being on your own, you’ll be old one day, I might as well just kill myself”. This in front of DD. I just don’t know how to solve this, no matter how many times I try to reassure her about X she wants to repeat it over and over and if you do manage to play a trump card she just moves onto something else.

Crashing on the settee this evening after having a stand in Watchet as part of their 1940s weekend. Loads of people dressed up and some of them looked amazing! Some of the women looked so glamorous and the men looked so dashing in their suits and trilby hats. There were lots of people dressed in uniform. We also had a man dressed as a spiv, with a load of cheap watches pinned inside his jacket and a butcher who was the double of Lance Corporal Jones in Dads Army.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I know what you mean about the Pandemic being reminiscent of what our grandparents went through during the war. Of course the two are not comparable, but there were definitely some hints of it.

Well done @martha79 on getting along to the flute rehearsal. And your salad sounds delicious.

@MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset the anaphylactic shock sounds very frightening. I hope you are fully recovered now.

Hehe, Indeed. Usually, it sells out in an hour. They managed to keep it going for three hours this year. Mighty impressive!

A very Nigelesque day today wandering round Cragside NT house, including the most delicious red Thai squash soup and a cheese scone and then discovered that the man himself has been in my very favourite cafe in Birmingham!