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!)

Good morning everyone, it's been very therapeutic sitting here with my coffee catching up.
Frost and below zero mornings have arrived here.

I wrote a few months ago how I had fallen off the thread due to 2026 being a year where the wheels fell off. I was hopeful that things were turning a corner, settling down. Unfortunately, 2026 continues. My lovely Mum died two weeks ago. Although she had been ill, it was very unexpected and I couldn't get there in time.

Me and my brother are planning her funeral, it's going smoothly with some lovely funeral directors. But it feels very strange now having no parents. I realise I'm in my forties, so I have been more fortunate than others, but I actually don't know anyone in my family or friendship group who are in the same boat, most people I know still have both.

I'm going to get out into the forest today for a good walk with dog, I'll take some pictures of our beautiful autumn and post them here later.

Huge sympathy to you @IngenTing for the loss of your mum. DH lost both his parents in his forties (well his father in his thirties - the year we got married) so he would very much identify with your comment about not knowing anyone else in your friendship group in the same boat. Like you, his lovely mum died very quickly and unexpectedly after a short illness. It feels very unfair. One unexpected silver lining for him is that it has brought him and his brother much closer and I know it has helped DH that he feels he has his own family with me and the kids (and also with my mum and dad - now just my mum). Sorry, I realise none of this is helpful in any way in your time of grief, but I just wanted to say you are not alone and I think I understand even just a little bit. I so look forward to your posts from Norway so I eagerly await your autumn woodland posts from your dog walk this morning. Hopefully you can find some comfort too in this cosy corner of Mumsnet

Thank you so much @LillianGish your words and understanding mean a lot and have helped more than you know. My Dad died very suddenly in 1996 when I was 12, so I've almost always known that this was coming in a way. I'm almost mad at her for not checking in to see how I am doing :)

Unexpectedly last Thursday I was called in for an interviewfor a position I applied for in early September. Didn't expect an interview chance at all. Attended the interview, tried my best, but my Norwegian was patchy, not in the right headspace at all. On Monday morning I was offered the job! I nearly fell off my chair! It's a wonderful little ray hope, but it has felt so strange not calling my Mum.

Your words about your DHs brother also struck a chord. I am finding me and my brother are also getting closer which is lovely.

I'm tired this morning, woke up too early at 3.30, so now it's time for another coffee and then my walk.

Sympathy @IngenTing , I do still have both mine, but we lost dearly beloved DMIL suddenly a few years ago after a very short illness (a couple of weeks) and it knocked DH and family and the rest of us sideways. I still miss her.

Very warm and humid here too, but raining quite heavily on and off, we had a torrential downpour about 8 last night. We were at choir and could hear it all drumming on the road outside through the open windows. Our choir leader is on compassionate leave at the moment so we had a stand in who is a gospel choir leader, totally different style but very enjoyable. He is running a workshop in Winchester cathedral next month I think I might sign up.

Huge hugs to you @IngenTing, must be so hard. And so well done on getting the job in the middle of everything!

I’m so sorry for your loss @IngenTing

I only lurk on these threads, but just wanted to say how sorry I am @IngenTing 💐

September's been a busy one but calming down now and feeling properly autumnal with the harvest moon and some slightly scary spring tides. Going for a good wave watch along the seafront with dd later.

I was in my 40s when I lost both my parents (not at the same time). Dds were both school age and among the first of their cohorts to go through this. Didn't help that FIL also died in this handful of years. All my thoughts to you @IngenTing, it takes a long time to get through ime so be gentle with yourself. And congratulations on the job offer too 💐.

Lots of love to you @ingenting.I still miss my dad every day and it’s been over a year (and he was 96 so it was not unexpected). Be gentle with yourself x

@piscofrisco sorry to hear of the family friction and really hope you can do something that marks your loss in a way that is meaningful to you.

@IngenTing sorry to hear of your loss too. Congratulations also on your job offer. I understand the pain of not being able to share news with your mum. There are still times when I wish I could tell my dad news. We lost him when DS was only 1 but I see so much of my dad in DS. His love of music and tech and his innate ability with tools. I cried on the day DS got his uni offer as I knew my dad would have been bursting with pride that he made it from over 400 applications to one of 10 offers. Thinking of you and hope the forest time is a balm for your soul.

Well we had heavy rain this morning and now the sky is bright blue and the sun is out and it's 20C. Last day of September too.

Our new sofas (bought with my redundancy money) arrive on Friday which is timely as DD is moving out on Friday and is taking our old ones with her. Very excited...about the sofas just to clarify!

So sorry @IngenTing look after yourself. Well done on the job. I totally get it about wanting to call your dm to tell her your news. I'm sure she would be very happy for you.

I picked my borlotti beans today too @Bimblesalong - so pretty

Lots of love to you @IngenTing go steady. I hope nature offers some soothing feelings

Sympathies @IngenTing 💐

I hope Sunday goes better than you fear @piscofrisco

Reece Shearsmith (The League of Gentlemen and Inside No. 9) is on latest Dish podcast. Reece is a big fan of seasonal cooking and talks about nigel recipe he cooks every New Year's Eve. This is followed a bit of fond Nigel chat before moving on to Bob Mortimer chat.

If you are in a hurry Nigel talk starts 19.26

open.spotify.com/episode/0CQFRYL85k9Tg1BjIkgXGK?si=BnX1beqKSgSAU9URS12k1w&utm_source=copy-link

More successful stew-making this evening - chicken, olives, peppers, carrots, green beans, onions, tomatoes, smoked paprika and a little bit of chilli powder. NVN microwave rice as ever!

That looks lovely @martha79

It’s very lovely to pop in here, see lovely piccies and offer support. It’s important to remember that there is a lot of intrusive stuff in the news that, whilst important, we usually cannot change. Focussing on this calm, nature and friendship is very restorative.

I'm so sorry to hear about your lovely Mum @IngenTing sending gentle hugs x Congrats on the job. Bittersweet, and I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to have not been able to call her and tell her all about it.

That all sounds so difficult @piscofrisco and very sad. I hope you get through it ok and your mum and sister eventually manage to put their differences behind them.

That looks lush, Martha and I am adding it to my crockpot repertoire thank you! Can't whack a bit o' microwave rice, either.

Thank you so much for this! I adore the incredibly talented Reece S and he can do absolutely no wrong in my eyes. I luffs him even more, now, and am off to listen.

What a beautiful post, Bimbles ❤️ Back atcha!

Gosh yes. I haven't been reading the news but haven't been able to avoid news the last few days. Food, flowers and friendship help so much.

Absolutely. The world is all largely rather hideous right now.

Must say, that was a treat and a half there watching Reece on Dish. Almost everything he talked about aligns with this thread. Don't want to put too many spoilers but it was interesting to hear that Nigel won't go to people's houses for food. This is me, too!

Would love for them to get Nige on Dish, or a similar podcast. He has done some in the past. In the meantime, we are chomping at the bit here for Traitors to start tomorrow night.

Here's today's snap from the woods. It's getting rather deep and 'scuffly' with leaves now 🍂 🍁

@IngenTingI’m so sorry to hear about your mum. 💐

funny day here, think I’m just a bit discombobulated. MOT day which is never my favourite day of the year. Car had to have a few bits done but nothing serious.

one of those days / weeks where one silly little thing and I was in floods of tears at work in front of colleagues. Think it all got too much.

almost finished my cross stitch and I can wait to show you all.

I hope the Derbyshire visit goes well @piscofrisco And that family friction can be avoided.
I'm so sorry to hear about your mum @IngenTing . I lost my mum very unexpectedly about 20 years ago now. I can't believe it's been that long. Then I lost my dad about 10 years ago. I think it's true that you never quite lose that urge to tell them your news. I know when I got my breast cancer diagnosis I desperately wanted to talk to my mum. I also think it's true that when you lose someone, the opportunity to become closer to someone else often arises. My dad when I was growing up was always quite a remote personage. He was quite an old fashioned father in many ways. After my mum died, we grew very close and I realised that in many ways he had simply been overshadowed by my mum who had a very large personality. Like another poster, now I have lost both parents, I have become much closer to my brothers. Although I wish I could change the reason why, I do really treasure the relationship that I now have with them. I hope that getting out into the forest brings you a little bit of peace today.