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!)

Today was my art group day. I finished A painting I have been working on. I thought I'd share it with you, so here is a Somerset harvest.

Thank you for all the lovely warm wishes and wise words, they actually give me a lot of comfort. DH also lost his Mum suddenly at the beginning of March. So I feel for him as well as it brings back feelings that are still are very raw. I can't quite believe that within 6 months our kids have lost both grandmothers. The loss of that warmth and security has left such a hole. I remember when I first moved from the UK back in 2010 in my late 20s, Mum was like "You can always come home, don't worry". It's very strange, that now she is gone, in the near future her house will be sold and I can't actually go home.

Good walk for me and the dog yesterday, he loves the trail and likes to have a drink from the stream halfway around. In the winter these are cross country ski trails.

@piscofrisco I'm starting to think we could be the same person :) The Charlatans, Wednesday! I have a very lovely story about a recent visit with the very lovely Tim.
As we will be over in the UK shortly, I'm thinking of taking DS (14) and DD (7) to the Wednesday game on 17th. DD is the proud owner of a Wednesday shirt circa 2006ish, we found in a football shop in Hamar in the summer. I really, really want to take them to Hirsty's social, (so they can finally appreciate the man who comes up in conversation at least 3 times a werk), but the tickets come to £368! So it might just be regular seats. But it will be so good just to go again, it's been a while.

Sorry a what now @ingenting?A visit with Tim???? Good Lord but I love him. I’ve met him twice, and the second time he remembered an interaction we had had on Twitter about fig rolls. It has actually been one of the chief thrills of my life to date. I listen to Up at the Lake a lot at this time of year as it just seems a very Autumnal /wintery album to me (even though it was actually written and recorded in a very hot LA summer according to Tim and not wintery at all) . Beautiful pictures. I hope your peaceful surroundings are bringing some small solace. I realised after Dad died that he really was home to me-I loved Mum
and Dads house but it doesn’t feel the same at all now he is gone so I very much relate to that sort of weird homelessness feeling, even though I hadn’t lived there for twenty years. I was saying to DH yesterday how rootless I feel living here (where we wouldn’t have chosen and don’t know so many people or have much connection), and not really identifying with childhood homes anymore. It’s a discombobulating feeling.

As @Bimblesalongsaid-this thread is a lovely place to feel at home and escape the horrors and I treasure it.

I love a micro rice @martha79and tbh, I think Nigel would approve if he saw any rice I attempt to actually cook properly as it invariably comes out very badly.

smashing painting @Confusedmeanderings and so seasonal

I am about to start a very small cross stitch @CrushingOnRubiesi highly doubt it will go well as it is not my forte but you never know. I have also got some air dry clay to fiddle with and it’s my mission today to find some massive oak and chestnut leaves to use as templates for some little trinket dishes I’m planning. If they go well we can attempt them at work with the co farmers.

Another lovely pic @RainbowZebraWarrioryou do take some crackers!

Thankyou all for the best wishes re Sunday. I feel quite sick with anxiety over it. I consoled myself last night with an old episode of Foyles war which I’m currently binge watching as I somehow never watched it first time around (which is odd as it’s so up my street), and an early night. I cleaned everything in this house yesterday and I was thoroughly knackered by the evening. Nice to have a very clean house for once. It will probably last all of 12 hours. I put some of my Autumn bits out in honour of it now being October-September has flown!

Have a lovely Thursday all

Crikey. It's October. Where did that comes from? I am starting to remember how this affects me now. From April to August I jump out of bed at 4am and am enjoying the peace, birdsong and light. This week I am confused when my alarm goes off, absolutely certain that it must still be the middle of the night. I will adjust, and I know that Nigel will help with this.

Sorry to hear you are feeling discombobulated @CrushingOnRubies

That is a fabulous picture @Confusedmeanderings

I have been very aware lately of potentially losing my childhood home (which I am still only 200 metres from and visit every day) so I can understand how adfift it must make you feel when it's no longer there as that safe haven. I am trying to plan how I could buy my step sister out if need be, if the circumstances arise.

Air dried clay dishes sound lovely. I also hqve a leaf project planned @piscofrisco that I saw in the NT magazine. Might also be a good one for your co farmers. P75 of the mag if you have it, if not here's the gist:

Oh. I also drove past a house yesterday who's garden was FULL THROTTLE Halloween. I guess a lot of folk go big and go early now.

Btw, the Harrods Home Fragrance 12 Days of Christmas advent is out today. A snip at only £350 and includes plenty of VN fragrances including Trudon Ernesto 270g candle.

www.harrods.com/en-gb/p/harrods-of-london-the-12-days-of-home-fragrance-advent-calendar-2026-000000000000338043?srsltid=AU7gw4X9AWGqgPn0R7ToVOMRqk9eRFSKisg0rOUZWM27G90EgCWr9QVlHJ8

Alternatively, M&S beauty advent is also out today for Sparks members. £75

Thank you for the advent calendar prompting @RainbowZebraWarrior- I have Harrods tastes but M&S budget, so it looks like the Sparks job again. Although I have about four years worth of 'decolletage cream' lined up on the dresser, should really get around to using it.

Into October today, I think this may be my favourite month. Autumn leaf garland is up and my candle from The Haunts witchy shop in Frome will be burning.

I have childhood homes scattered about the country but do always feel a pang when I pass my mum's last house. I'm always relieved to see her front garden being cared for. I think if it was paved over or left to grow wild my grief would come roaring back. It's never far below the surface even 9 years on.

Lalala not listening 😂Gosh the Harrods one sounds lovely though.

Happy October! I haven't been setting my alarm for a while (part of trying to calm my nervous system down) and the last few days I'm finding myself waking up not long before 7am, thinking it's much earlier.

It's such a strange thing how 'home' disappears - my mum still lives in the house I mostly grew up in, but it's not really felt like home since my parents split up (about 15 years ago) and very much not since my mum's hoarding took it over. I won't go there now and I dread eventually inheriting it.

In more cheerful news, it's a sunny morning - must have rained overnight as everything is very shiny! And I've joined a new local women's walking group I saw online, who are planning just a wander round the park and a cuppa as their first outing. Thought it'd be nice to get to know a few people who live nearby and it all sounds quite gently-paced with dogs, kids, grandparents etc.

@Confusedmeanderings I LOVE your painting! The sky is particularly wonderful.

It may be October but it's going to be 19C here today. Feels odd.

DD moves out today, already had one call asking what an electricity meter looks like 🤣!

I have a nail appointment later so I am planning to stop off at the big M&S food in that town and stock up on a few bits. Will definitely buy soda bread, wholemeal bread and the thin fennel salami pizzas. Some rhubarb tea cakes will no doubt also fall in my trolley! If I was very Nigel I would make the soda bread I'm sure.

Happy October everyone!
It’s beautiful here in the SE. The dogwalk was ruined when RippleDog decided to roll around in something repulsive!
But I think I’ve managed to wash it off now. The acid test will be when DH and DD come home and either say nothing or shriek, What the hell is that pong?!
We shall see.

I’ve been loving the darker evenings and have started using my scented candles whilst cooking dinner, really cosy.
One day into October and it feels so much closer to Christmas 🎄

I just got ridiculously excited at the prospect of rhubarb teacakes, then realised it was the mallow kind not the toasting sort. I don't think the toasting sort would be possible although if I made rhubarb jam with some nee season pink rhubarb, that might do the trick. Pop that on the list for early Spring!

I just had to deliver some honey to a person who likes to chat. Unfortunately, she has quite extreme views. I was meant to come straight home, but went to the beach for some light relief instead as I haven't been this week. Curiously, it was rammed with sea glass pickers. It's as if someone has told everyone! Anyway, I was thrilled when I found this turquoise marble just sitting in the pebbles, and some other lovely treasures. Gorgeous day considering it's October, although the sea is starting to warn that it's big winter tides from now.

Marble didn't post..

I thought the same about the tea cake @RainbowZebraWarrior - I wonder if you could put small chopped up bits of rhubarb in in place of the Sultana I think that might be really good actually. Excuse weird typos and punctuation and capitalisation. I am voice notes today because my surgery went ahead so I’ve got a sling on my right arm and currently a nerve block on it and I am extremely right-handed. I’m not one of these people who can chop and change and change at all my left hand is pretty much useless. I’ll be in a Sling for three weeks, so that’s going to be interesting. I’m home now. I’ve watched landscape artist of the year. I’m now halfway through the first episode of the new bake off which I haven’t watched for years, not since it I left the BBC I do love Nigella but some of the contestants are a bit annoying. I think I might have a little nap. Looking forward to traitors tonight. DH is on catering duties for the next three weeks so I expect we will have interesting things. He’s not really a cook he tends to forget what he’s doing.I should try and introduce him introduce him to the ways of the Nigel.

Sorry for gibberish

I would LOVE a real rhubarb tea cake!
So glad you got your surgery @celiathebansheeand I wish you a speedy recovery.
Beautiful marble @RainbowZebraWarrior
Hope DD’s move went well @petitpastabig day!

well done on joining the walking group @martha79thats very positive!

Lord is was hot today eh @RipplePlease6. I can’t believe it’s the 1st October. One of our Dogs loves a roll in unspeakable things too. I feel your pain.

went for a lovely ride on my friends horse after work. So joyful. Perfect weather for it and we hacked around the country lanes only stopping for the horses to pick up windfall apples to munch on as we went. I did three day eventing in my late teens (but no riding to speak of since I was 18 or so-you never forget how though), and horses are just the thing that brings me back to feeling so centred and happy every time. I wonder if 46 is too old and creaky to get back into it properly (and also which of the kids I would have to sell to fund it).

home now and installed on the sofa with the candles aglow, awaiting The Traitors.

That is beautiful

@Celiathebanshee glad you’ve had it done, we’ve just been through 7 weeks of DH being in a sling after breaking his dominant arm just below the shoulder so I have seen what it is like, he is phasing the sling out now only uses it for longer walks and has been able to drive again as of yesterday thank goodness - he went back to work after a week and DS and I have had to drive him as well as get ourselves to work, it was an hour extra a day for me or two for DS. He could do very little for about three weeks, the worst was getting socks on (he bought a gadget to help with that) and he had to buy some slip on trainers. Next to no housework or cooking but we soon got into a routine around that. Hope you get some good sleep.

@RainbowZebraWarrior beautiful marble

@piscofrisco sounds like a lovely day with the riding

Well, I have come down with a streaming cold, but got the dratted PIP form in the post today, that’s a relief, anyone who says all you have to do is say “I have ADHD give me some free money” is very, very wrong. Also relieved to be rid of all the extra driving I do like driving but looking forward to having the time it took back again. On the downside DH’s car is much nicer than mine and I’m missing driving it. Never mind, I am hoping to replace mine next year.

Glad you’ve got your surgery @Celiathebanshee you are entitled to all the pillows to make you comfy whilst you sleep.

Morning all and TFI actually Friday at last. Still can't dral with the darkness. At heart, I am a total Spring girl.

Anyway, so pleased to hear youve had the surgery @Celiathebanshee onwards and upwards ny lovely and hope you manage to get plenty of rest / help.

Ah @piscofrisco that sounds like a very much needed magical moment. I think you do need riding back in your life!

The walking group sounds brilliant @martha79 when is it starting? I have contemplated joining sinilar, but I just don't deal well enough with people and the unknown well enough.

I am queuing for Pokemon this morning so am getting wrapped up and drugged up as my pain has been hard to manage since it got cold and damp here.

Traitors was fab though. I always know when I have enjoyed something when the time goes that fast and I haven't wriggled and stressed my way through the whole thing.

Need to get some stuff done today as the house is getting on top of me, however I am also totally building in some rest time. A lovely member of the Poncetastic thread sent me the pattern and instructions for Partridge and Pear felt decorations and I now have all I need to get going, so I am booking myself a slot propped up on my bed with pillows to get that started tomorrow. I spend a lot of time lying on my bed so may as well do something useful. Wish me luck. Looks relatively easy, but I'm not the best at sewing and my hands are very rubbish.

Happy friday to you all.

I’ve got that embroidery pack @RainbowZebraWarrior - I’ve definitely made a pear and I think a turtle dove. They take me quite a long time ( also not a sewer, also I only have interest in the run-up to Christmas) so my intention is just one a year

@piscofrisco
Me and DD managed to get RippleDog into the bath (no mean feat) and gave him a good old shampoo. Going by the colour of the water, it was definitely something unspeakable 😱
We also tuned into Traitors last night, loved it, as did Richard E Grant who got a bit carried away in all the excitement!!

Our local beaches are open all day to dogs from October to April so there’s now not the rush to get there early. Enjoying a leisurely breakfast.

@Celiathebanshee
I also hadn’t watched Bake Off in a while…mainly as I can’t stand Paul Hollywood.
Nigella is great on it, ego not as huge as PH’s and generally a positive force. I’m really enjoying it and when the first contestant was ousted I got quite emotional, thank you menopause.
Those iced gems looked delectable.

Another beguiled by the idea of a rhubarb toasted teacake - surely this could be done...

Enjoyed Traitors last night, voted Richard and Amol best dressed and just loving Richard's utter relish for it all.

My keyboard is broken so I'm trying to type using two different ones; it's annoying - no letters q, a or z and no number one. Might have to bite the bullet and get a new laptop.

@ElegantDress , Citizens' Advice helped us enormously with dd's PIP claim form.

This is amazing! Well done! You should be very, very proud.

First properly chilly morning here. No2 (7) had a massive fit of hysterics this morning and so had to be taken to school separately. I think it was because she'd lost her maths book and was worried about what the teacher would say. It was in her tray when we got to school. I really feel for her - I can remember so vividly feeling like that and the arguments I had with my parents, when time just seemed to be rushing past so fast that you are paralysed and can't do anything. Not sure I know how to help her. But obviously will try.

October always feels like a clean slate to me. Hope everyone has a good Friday!

@leporello thank you I got help from CAB with it last time, but I had to lay it on with a trowel to get an appointment. I managed to get it for DS in the first instance, then about 3 years ago I went through a very anxious phase (DH was going through the prostate cancer diagnostic process at the time) and DS had made such progress on using transport that I felt we were getting fraudulent so I rang in and declared a change, what I didn't realise is that the change form is different to the initial / review ones and I had to go through what had changed or not for every single question not just the one I was worried about and as DS had gone from age 16 to 20 of course there were changes due to maturity. I got so tangled up I had to get help. This time I found it much easier, but that's still relative, it is still a horrible process. I keep all the paperwork each time which helps.