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!)

Sorry to read your update @LatteLady and I wish you all the very best for the treatment ahead.

The figs look fab, and the blackberries must be enormous! I ordered some figs on a whim at the last minute on my sainsburys shop and we enjoyed a couple yesterday with goats cheese. Very nice, very Nigel.

Really sorry to hear that @LatteLady, I hope treatment all goes smoothly.

They are indeed massive blackberries!

Well I am sorry to hear your news @LatteLady I hope the medics have been looking after you properly. Might be time for an EPP project with some beautiful fabric?

So sorry to hear your news @LatteLady I hope you have a little time to breathe before the forthcoming surgery and treatment plan, never mind the window climbing shenanigans! I have egg cups should you need some sending your way x

also really sorry to read your update @LatteLadyi wish you all the very best and take care of yourself

thank you @UnimaginableWindBirdi had the base in mind when I brought the flowers. I have some sunflowers which are on the turn and looking forward to when they led over so the base can have pride of place in the living room.

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis @latteladysending you all the love and I hope they come up with a plan for you asap.

And all the best to you for tomorrow @celiathebanshee.I’m ashamed to say that our house only ever gets a proper clean when we have visitors coming. I just can’t be bothered the rest of the time past the obvious and necessary things. Largely because DH is a nightmare and untidies things faste than I can tidy them.

Those are indeed huge blackberries @martha79

we had an interesting afternoon. We took the dogs for a walk round a village near us, and DSS spotted a huge plume of black smoke and flames a house high in the back garden of a house we were passing. There was no one about so I went to knock to check if there was anyone in, whilst DH called the fire brigade. No answer at the door but I could hear a tv, very loud so I went around the back and there was an old couple watching TV totally oblivious to the inferno that was their garage and getting closer to the house. I managed to rouse them, get the lady into her wheel chair and get them out and to the road, all the while terrified the fire would blow something up or get to their gas pipe or something. Fortunately the fire brigade arrived after about 15 mins, and their house was fine, though their garage was absolutely gone and the flames were huge!
we left them being looked after by their neighbours poor things, they were in such shock, but it could have been so much worse! Bit of drama for a Sunday anyway!

Thinking about you, @LatteLady

A cup of ☕️ for you @LatteLady and I hope this thread offers a cosy corner for you as you navigate your treatment.

@piscofrisco that was a super good deed 🥇

Very well done to all of you! Especially considering your own past experience. Hope you're doing ok x

Weirdly It was actually quite good for dh to see the actual effects of a fire in progress and how panicky it feels. He was out having his hair cut when our house went up, and we had to call him to come back. When he arrived 45 mins later with half his hair cut, the house was mostly toast so he missed all the drama and I don’t think he’s ever realised how scary it was to witness.

That's a really good point actually.

It's like when you're going through something awful personally, and friends say "oh that sounds tough" but they naturally don't / can't truly understand. Then a similar thing happens in their life and obviously they totally get it.

Oh gosh @piscofrisco, I hadn't realised that you had personal experience of a house fire. It must have been very emotional for you. But it's great that you were able to help the family and raise the alarm.

I'm sorry @LatteLady to hear of your diagnosis. Take it easy and look after yourself (no more climbing through windows!)
Good luck @Celiathebanshee with your surgery hope all goes smoothly.
Wow @piscofrisco what an experience. Well done for a very good deed. Must have been a scary thing to see especially with your past experience.
It's not Very Nigel here this week as we have builders in replacing our bathrooms. Can't relax in the house when there are workmen here. I can never seem to act normally or go about my everyday life without feeling extremely self conscious!

Oh @Markknopflersheadband I'm the same. I have to look madly busy at all times. Good luck! New bathrooms will be nice though

I used to like it when I was still working, and my husband was retired. I'd come home to find all the work done!

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis @LatteLady hope this thread can be a support in however small a way. A little corner of lovely things and kind thoughts. Also sending healing vibes to @Celiathebanshee. I’m with my mum for her cataract surgery which seems fairly straightforward, but has been a bit bewildering at 89, going from sight that was, in her view, OK or at least perfectly adequate, to v poor sight with a patch over the “good” eye following the op and having to rely on the “bad” eye (macular degeneration)! She is now struggling to remember she needs specs for reading, but not for distance and then sunglasses in the bright sunlight, when all these functions were combined in her old specs ! We will get there!! In the meantime I have enjoyed sprucing up the garden - especially the fragrant task of cutting back the lavender - and being followed all over by the sweetest Robin who actually hopped through the kitchen door this morning in search of crumbs.
@piscofrisco your fire rescue story gave me goosebumps, especially knowing your own house fire history. Dreadful as that must have been, it is one of the most Nigelesque experiences on the thread, though not one any of us would aspire to share.

So sorry @RainbowZebraWarrior didn't mean to ignore your welcome! I posted and then haven't been back since. We're still working on the house and it's just so stressful every time that it takes days to get over every project. This midlife 'breakdown' isn't fun at all!

Will read the thread now. Am hoping to somehow be able to relax a bit this autumn.

As always, 💐 to anyone who needs it today.

We have started Christmas songs at choir in September. As much as I love Christmas songs still
not sure how I feel about singing them when I’m not yet wearing jeans

Gosh @CrushingOnRubies that is early. We will have 4 weeks after our performance of Belshazzar’s Feast in November to get our Christmas spectacular together 😬

@LatteLady sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Look after yourself and hopefully this lovely corner of the internet can be a refuge for you.

@Celiathebanshee I hope all goes well with the surgery.

@piscofrisco the fire sounds very dramatic! As students, many years ago, we had a chip pan fire in our flat. I will never forget the fireman emerging from the building with the casserole that had been in the oven and saying "well your tea is alright anyway!". To show you how long ago it was, the hall of residence had a small number of studio flats for married students and we were the first unmarried students to be allowed to have one! It was considered quite shocking!

Christmas songs in September would not sit well with me I don’t think either. The leaves have barely started to turn. We are still
celebrating Harvest type things at this point and it was so hot yesterday that I was back in my shorts.
Hope your mum is ok@liliangish. I am trimming back all the lavender on the farm today-there is lots so we have the luxury of powered secateurs which makes it easier. They are like tiny chainsaws.
married students @ celiathebanshee! There can’t be many of them about nowadays.

house Reno is stressful-my sympathies to those going through it-@NigellingMyWayThroughAutumn
and @Markknopflersheadbandtoo. I loathe having workmen in the house too-I’d sooner just go away and leave them to it. The Dogs constantly want to be where the work men are and it’s a nightmare.

I could see the house where the fire was from the A1 as I drove home yesterday. I hope the people
are alright. I’m just happy it didn’t get to their actual house and was just the garage. Though no doubt it will smell for weeks.

we went out last night as DH’s senior leadership team were having an away day and night and did it where we live it’s it’s in the middle of York and London where half each are located. It’s funny seeing them all soap up to DH a bit (as he is their big boss). That said, we took the Sausage Dog and he got far more attention than DH. He sat on everyone’s knee like a little king. If ever I end up single again (and in the unlikely event that I could be bothered to date), he would be my weapon of choice, he’s like a magnet!

Tired Tired this morning.

Have a lovely Tuesday all

Morning all

Well done for your quick thinking @piscofrisco

Hope your mum's recovery goes well @LillianGish

It is too early for Christmas songs - we had a vote at my flute group and decided not to look at them until November (although to cheer up the few people who were disappointed by this, we're compromising on some 'winter but not Christmas' tunes in October).

I'm running an all-day online event today - trying to Nigel it up with some nice candles on my desk and good snacks (I've got lots of hummus and veg).

Morning all.

I always imagined if a christmas event was being out on, then rehearsals would start in sept. As in panto / choir events etc. I agree that Sept is too early to actually hear them though and thats why I avoid the Fenwick christmas shop as that all starts in September and the staff must be bonkers with the music by Halloween!!

Best of luck for your Mum's recovery @LillianGish My Dad needs his cataracts doing, but can't right now due to his other ongoing medical issues. I also have an awful feeling my Mum is losing her sight. It never ends, with elderly parents, eh?

We had a very sad pilot whale stranding here on the Northumberland coast in the last 24 / 36 hrs. The British Marine Life Rescue were amazing, and it could have been even worse without their involvement. They reckon the recent earthquakes in the North Sea could be to blame.

Just stopped off at Tynemouth after dropping DD in at school. The surfers are out and the ferry is just making it's way in from Amsterdam.

Good Morning lovely Nigelistas

Just a quick update from me, I'm having the last of my hair buzzed off today and I'm almost looking forward to it, I cant bear the constant shedding, I now have a collection of 5 wigs in varying lengths and colours and am on the hunt for a couple of turbans to wear at home, DD is being most helpful in this quest.

As for Christmas, my plum brandy smells amazing and I have to do things like pickled onions and various other bits of preserving. We have decided at the pub to do a free santas grotto, so we are begging various local companies for donations, some quite large, we want a proper wooden 'xmas market' type shed, decorations, sweeties etc, no presents as the kids will get a sweetie from santa and write in a big sparkly book their name and want they want. My SIL, aka Mr Christmas will be santa, he loves it!

Much love to all x

BTW RZW, i'm so envious of the landscape you have around you, it's truly beautiful