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!)

Also sending hugs your way @piscofrisco and Boooo to more poorliness!

@martha79 I had a similar thing - and a very overactive imagination like a lot of kids I guess - when we used to go camping in the wilds of Scotland. Tree stumps would look like bears and foxes and end up almost coming to life at dusk in a "Did that just move?" way. I'd stare at them for hours. Bearing in mind I was in my own tent alone from age 9 I used to scare myself silly, but also secretly liked it!

You are an absolute superstar @Bimblesalong Blackberry Vinegar! Bingo!! That's what I'll make next. Seeing as I had to rearrange the seven bags of blackberries in the freezer last night, it's certainly a great way to use them. I've said before that I don't like fruit pies or puddings, so vinegar is perfect 😊

@RainbowZebraWarrior my granny’s recipe.

Oh, this is fabulous! Thanks, Bimbles ❤️

Apparently the vicar used to call around for a spoonful if he had a sore throat (in the 1930s when Gran was a young bride). We were all regularly dosed with it in warm water for colds.

I think she used to use white vinegar. I’ve gone for apple cider vinegar this time as I bought a bottle from a farmer’s market.

I’ve picked and bottled the raw rosehips - thanks for that recipe.

Brilliant stuff! I've just come back from browsing the 'naice' vinegars at Sainsbury's and they seem to have doubled in price overnight! I know my Dad has some apple cider vinegar as a pal of his gave him a crate of it from Costco recently, so I think I'll pinch some of that.

How are you doing @YuleBeBack ? The Poncetastic thread should be starting back up on Monday, although I don't know who will start the thread this year. Fancy it?

All well with me, thank you! Work is very busy and the children too, but all ticking along. I love the poncetastic thread (I even love the Christmas clean along!)
I made a big list of what went well last year so I know what to do again (plus a list of “don’t bother” stuff)

I love the poncetastic thread too, but my poncing tends to be imaginary only because we have a small house with 4 adults and spend a lot of Christmas visiting others rather than having guests here. I also don’t take time off work now the DCs aren’t on school holidays because I prefer to use it in better weather.

The Christmas clean along is a new one for me I think.

I have spent a happy half hour this morning preparing Blackberry vinegar. I had some elderberries too, so have chucked them in. I have then just spent an hour topping and tailing rosehips and poking them with a knife, only to find that, once layered with sugar they only come half way up the killer jar. My own fault for picking the most enormous killer jar. I sent DD and the cat into the garden to forage more rosehips, but we shall have to top up later on after stalking the hedgerows.

Got a few bargains and a freebie in M&S this morning and treated myself to a cuppa and a bacon butty. Don't usually do this until DD is back at school, but she enjoys a bit of time to herself now in the morning after becoming accustomed to me heading down to the seashore each day, so I have had a couple of hours retail therapy, including getting some much needed household bits from B&Q.

My new bookcase has been in situ for a week now and I absolutely love it. I looked for months to find one that would fit the hallway space and it looks like it was made to measure. I have spent many a happy gour this week arranging my books and a few treasured bits and bobs.

Need to go to the library later, do our walk and also waiting for notification of DDs new specs. Can'believe e it's Friday again tomorrow!

Did you get the oven sorted @martha79 ?

I’m going to try this vinegar recipe! We have so many elderberries too

Sorry to hear of your health woes @thebabesavedme.
Love a granny recipe. Would never have thought of blackberry vinegar.
i dip in to the ponceing thread. If makes me a bit jealous as I don’t have the time I would like to ponce.
Im still not able to keep much down, even water is making my stomach heave. FGS.
dd is up at least today and has been downstairs for a bit which is good . We spent all day yesterday in bed watching telly which on a weird way was quite nice as it’s what we used to do (with her sister) of an evening when they wee little before bed, or if they were poorly. Might have been better had I not be throwing up every hour mind.

Hope you feel better very soon @piscofrisco.

I found a suitable throw for my office and found a candle which goes perfectly in my candle drawer plus a bargain £8 table from B&M and my reading corner is all set up.

We've had some very welcome rain overnight. It's much cooler too. I'm wearing jeans - the first time since May!

Hope you're feeling better soon @piscofrisco as that sounds awful!

That looks gorgeous and very cosy @petitpasta

We bumped into my Dad and the dog in the woods today, so had a joint foraging effort. Here's Dad literally in the hedgerows, gathering cobnuts. And our Belle looking on (complete with a snaffled apple, as is her wont)

The blackberry vinegar sounds great, got me wondering where I might be able to pick some fruit.

Not got the oven sorted yet, their usual repair person is away until next week - I can manage with salads and the microwave in the meantime. Had a nice salad tonight with bacon and artichokes.

The wind must be blowing a certain direction this evening because I can very much hear the nearby football match that is about to start!

I love a good dog pic! Foraging here is slim pickings due to the drought, but fortunately we have had a couple of days of rain. Hopefully more soon.

This weekend everybody is descending on my parent's house for the week (we just stay here being a mere 40 minutes away and do a lot of extra driving). Looking forward to seeing everyone. I might make a cake. I owe my Mum a coffee cake from her birthday so I might do that (doesn't hurt that it's my favourite too).

Work has suddenly become very busy, for which I am grateful - if tired. It's unusual for August but hoping it signals the start of a really strong end to the year (not a front-loading of work). Fingers crossed!

good morning Nigelistas

Had such a good nights sleep last night, bliss! No work for me today and so I shall mostly be making Plum Brandy, Plums from the tree in the parentles garden.

Got my first HRT patch firmly attached to my leg, pray god it starts working.

Just a little laugh for you all, I have been using some HRT stuff that you 'insert' (hope you get my drift) last week I said to DH 'do you fancy seeing if my new cream has worked?' all sexy like

opps posted to soon, anyway poor DH looked like a rabbit in the headlights and says 'Please can we wait till it rains, this heat will cause me a heart attack if we try that carry on' 😂Oh the joys of getting old😂

😂@thebabessavedme that's funny. I hope it all works for you, especially once the weather is cooler 😂

Mostly quiet day with a bit of housework here. It's quite sunny but apparently only 15C, I haven't ventured outside yet. I'm eyeing up a Danish bakery which isn't too far away for a possible walk later.

Hope you enjoy your family weekend @HannahDefoesSpringFling Don't forget thay photos of cake are mandatory here 😋

We have an abundance of everything here, although the sloes aren't looking great this year. The squirrels have stripped the nuts from most of the trees in the woods, except the ones on the perimeter as they don't tend to venture that far so that's what Dad was getting yesterday. I've just finished the rose hip syrup layering. Darn those Hedgehog rose hips. Spiky little suckers!

I have A LOT of tomatoes and apples. I am currently browsing an old indian cookbook and have just come across 'split peas with tomatoes and apples' This sounds ideal, so am going to give it a whirl. I was thinking of making a dahl anyway for DD and a Chicken Dhansak for myself, so a lot of that will use the same base ingredients. Ooh, I do love a friday night curry fest. All the more so as it's cold here and we have the heating on!

The beach was wild this morning, but this little rock pool was very calming to hang around by

Sorry it took me so long to type that, I missed a load of posts!

Hahaha 'all sexy, like' I love that @thebabessavedme If you were suffering any hot flushes at all, I found the patches dealt with that instantly. Fingers crossed for you anyway, and aye, getting older sure ain't glamorous eh?

Just tagging @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset for your good wishes for family cake weekend.

Thats an amazing photo. Makes me want to go to beach. Have douth Devon trip planned in September

Also, this has put me in mind of Victoria Wood's The ballad of Barry and Freda;

"My mother sent a note to say you must excuse me!"

Thank you ❤️ I knew I'd tagged the wrong person as I was rushing and meant to check back

Hello everybody, I've been awol for a good month - just lots going on with the kids home from uni / travels, and school hols, and actual away hols and so forth. I thought I'd just dive back in here instead of trying to catch up on everything I missed. Hope all are well x

Lovely photos @RainbowZebraWarrior hi all, hi @Celiathebanshee

I popped into b and m earlier as they had some Lego botanicals kits on sale and I want one to take on a family holiday for us to do together. TKMax is next door and I’ve come out with some bargain “this works” candles, with a few that are still selling for £32 on their website (£12.99 at TKMax). Candle Klaxon.