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!)

Oh I'm sorry the lurgy has got you @RainbowZebraWarrior - you'd think nurses would know better!

Last I heard from the landlady last night, the nice lady has said she wants the flat, so fingers crossed that all works out. I'm trying to have a bit of patience with the noisy ones - I think it's their first flat together (possibly first moving out of home, certainly it was her mum who brought all her stuff round) and I guess it's not their fault if they haven't been brought up with common sense 😒

It's 6 degrees here which feels lovely and refreshing - going to pop out briefly in it to wake me up!

Hope you feel better soon @RainbowZebraWarrior and your neighbours sound like absolute idiots @martha79 , it's so difficult to know what to do for the best, isn't it? I've had some annoying and plain odd ones in my time but lucky at the moment to have an empty house for sale on one side and very nice new young couple on the other.

Negotiated dd1's birthday successfully yesterday - always a minefield as she doesn't actually enjoy birthdays and hates being the centre of attention. But she liked all her gifts (bar the theatre tickets I mentioned upthread) and was very impressed with the new Vietnamese/Thai restaurant in town which had loads of vegan options. So phew. One of her gifts was a St Eval candle - I thought of you lot .

Feel better soon @RainbowZebraWarrior and anyone else who has this horrible lurgy that's going round. I'm just getting over mine although still cough cough coughing all the time. There's something really nasty doing the rounds.
Just done school run in beautiful chilly sunshine, nice to have some cooler weather. Going to a yoga class in a minute then think I might treat myself to a coffee and cake in town. Work has been quiet lately (I am bank staff so only work as and when they need me) but it's getting busier from next week so making the most of my time to myself!
Has anyone ever made the banana and cardomom cake in Christmas Chronicles? I seem to have rather a lot of bananas and it sounds a bit different.
Fish for tea tonight. I like the fillets of sea bass you can buy with flavoured butters - lemon and pepper today. I'm sure Nigel would make his own but tesco do it pretty well 😀
Have a good day everyone

Yes, martha, that's the one. I'm puzzled as to why different sellers charge such different prices for it.

Thankyou @RainbowZebraWarriori would much rather move back but living where we are now is better for everyone else (except perhaps DD2 but she is away mostly anyway) and will be for at least the next 6 years. I figure it’s harder to settle if we still have one foot ‘at home’, plus if we sell our house we may be able to get something with an acre or two for my little care farm. Lots of ifs and maybes and I do feel very torn about it all. That said it’s out of our hands as to whether anyone wants to buy it so I’m not thinking about it all too much. Rest up. This bug going about is flipping horrible.

I hope the nice lady gets the flat @martha79a then you can combine efforts vs the noisies.
6 degrees here too and bright sun. Lovely.

as a fellow DD-who-hates-their-birthday owner I’m glad your DD’s birthday went well @leporello. I know the weird stress of wanting them to have a lovely day, they themselves among that as hard as possible and then you feeling guilty about it.

All being well I’ve got my favourite co farmer back today (he was off with the same bug last week-first time he has ever been off in 6 years), and then tomorrow I have a college group (of NT kids rather than my usual ones from the pupil referral unit) to prepare for. I’m weirdly more nervous about them than my ‘challenging’ ones. We shall see.
DH goes away for the weekend tomorrow and DD1 is also away until Saturday evening. I plan to see no one and do very little, and I cannot wait!!

I also hope the lovely lady gets the flat @martha79 as ut would be good to have a pal / ally and you might all be able to shame the young couple into behaving like adults.

DD and I both hate / struggle with our birthdays @leporello so I get it. Pleased things went better than possibly expected.

Ah my first thought was your farm @piscofrisco so I have thing crossed that the universe brings what you deserve in the not too distant future. You've made a lot of sacrifices my lovely and I feel the universe should 'reward' you for that ❤️ Also, you definitely 8deserve a quiet weekend to yourself.

I haven't tried the banana and cardamom cake @Markknopflersheadband although I'm not sure why, so I have added it as my cake to bake this weekend.

It is face bitingly cold here. The last couple of days have been like winter. Not entirely unpleasant, but you can see how much it has blindsided people. Slight frost this morning and everyone on the school run remarking to each other that it was 'Baltic' I must admit, our after school woodland walk yesterday felt like December. Damp and grey, with tons of damp leaves underfoot and our breath hanging in the air. I think it's the low sun that adds to the wintery feeling.

Yesterday was funny as after I'd parked the car, I went to pop something in the car park bin before heading into the woods. A rat stuck his head out of the full bin as if to say "wotcha got there, then, missy?" then dived back into the bin. A lot of folk go there with their lunches and - I'm guessing by the number of takeaway jacket potato boxes there seem to be - the rat must be bored of the old humble potatoes!

Had a brief stop off there this morning to help clear the sinuses. Lovely light, and as I say, face numbingly cold, but in a Good to Feel Alive sort of way. Spotted some witches brooms on the trees!

I've shoved some pork in the slow cooker and I have some Japanese milk buns, so nice easy pork sliders for me tonight. Having said that, I also have buttermilk in the fridge so American biscuits would go down well if I I cba.

Also, I seem to have my seasonal celebrations slightly muddled. Is it Halloween or is it Christmas? 🤷‍♀️

It all merges into one from here on out :)

A wild and wooly night here! Lovely.
Unfortunately our entire towns water supply was knocked out all of yesterday by a burst water main. It’s being repaired but we don’t yet have water as we are on top of a hill and I suppose it takes a while to repressurise. They put a water truck in Morrisons car park and it caused gridlock and an actual fight. What is the matter with people?

had a lovely horse ride after work yesterday. Achey this morning.

Students today who will no doubt not be happy with the windy slightly showery conditions. Eek. I’m hoping the leaves will really start to turn now as of yesterday in the woods there were only a few very small signs of Autumn, despite it being much chillier. It really still looked quite summery.

Have a lovely Friday all .

Oh my goodness, I'm so behind. Bloody hell, how is it October? This week I've had TWO meetings that started before sunrise, and I'm not impressed!

@Bimblesalong, your embroidery is breathtaking. That is absolutely next level!

@piscofrisco I'm glad your family weekend passed relatively peacefully. My go-to approach in tricky situations is to pretend I'm an anthropologist documenting the habits of the tribe. Totally stolen off the internet and possibly unhinged, but it helps!

Sending you my sympathies @IngenTing. I don't think there's any age where you're prepared to lose parents. What lovely news about your job and I'm sure your mum would be delighted. My mum's been gone several years now and I still talk to her every day, but these days with more joy than pain.

Good luck with the sling @Celiathebanshee, that sounds very awkward.

Congratulations on the running @martha79, that's amazing! I hope the lovely woman neighbour moves in, and peace abounds.

A few people mentioned being awake at 4am recently. That's 8pm my time, so if you're up and it feels like you're the only person awake in the world, just know that you have an internet friend who's awake and pottering around the kitchen, under the same sky.

@RainbowZebraWarrior those tins are gorgeous! I hope you feel better soon. I know you have limited spoons and yet somehow you're prepared to spend them being so generous with your time and attention and keeping our gang together. I really appreciate it.

It's Fleet Week here in San Fransisco, which is intended as a celebration of the armed forces, but also involves hours of fighter planes roaring overhead in display formation, so loudly that it rattles the whole flat. It's basically like the red arrows flying just over your house for three afternoons. I absolutely hate it and will be spending the next 3 days wearing noise cancelling headphones. I will try to sooth myself with thoughts of VN autumn and winter planning!

A few people mentioned being awake at 4am recently. That's 8pm my time, so if you're up and it feels like you're the only person awake in the world, just know that you have an internet friend who's awake and pottering around the kitchen, under the same sky.

What a lovely post @noodlezoodle

I think 2pm your time is 10pm in UK so when those blummin jets are roaring over your house, we're all here for a chat and pottering about getting ready for bed.

Get well soon @RainbowZebraWarrior
I too have had the dreaded lurgy which a friend thinks was American COVID! The difference being that along with the UK cough, sore throat, swollen glands and fatigue, there is sickness and/or diarrhoea. It was horrible and the recovery was shockingly slow.
3 times I thought I was better and threw myself back into things but my body thought differently and I was back to resting.
Sending comfort to anyone else out there who is poorly.

@piscofrisco, oh my goodness, my aunt posted on Facebook about being stuck in a supermarket car park all night waiting for water, she must be near you. Hope it gets sorted out soon.

We're expecting storms later; I'm on church unlocking rota and decided against putting the flag out lest it end up in the harbour.

Off for a weekend in the New Forest after work, very excited and keen to see the pigs roaming and sniffing out acorns. We need to be careful of rutting deer on the roads though...🦌

This is a great idea @noodlezoodle. We live near several RAF Bases and have the Planes ratting the windows every few days. I hate it too.

sounds Covid-y to me @RipplePlease6deffo what I had and it took me weeks to feel better reliably.horrid.

Enjoy your weekend @leporello. Hopefully your Aunts water is back on now-ours is-but it took out the whole town and lots of surrounding villages so it must have been a big old leak!

Afternoon all. That's a really lovely thought for our early mornings @noodlezoodle

The lurgies seem to be out in force. I've just booked a COVID vaccine (£90, ouch) but not until the end of the month. Not really planning too many 'risky' outings before then though. I got some of those propolis lozenges @RainbowZebraWarrior - they taste really nice!!

Popped out to the park yesterday, the dahlias really are stunning. Having a quiet day today ahead of a rehearsal with my flute group tomorrow and hopefully a mini-jog on Sunday. Made meatballs in a slightly spicy tomato sauce yesterday and there are rather a lot of them so having them variously with rice, pasta and some nice sourdough bread.

Upstairs neighbours remain quiet-ish (they do seem to wander about a lot but I don't suppose I can tell them to sit down 😂) and the listing for the other flat is now down so that's a good sign for the nice lady moving in.

An autumnal update of some Nigelesque lunches, very un-Nigel dawn blockades at DS’s uni and our feline visitor who is making himself more and more at home. Love the fact you are taking control of the situation in your new home @martha79. Sending healing vibes to all those suffering. First chilly day today - though damp rather than crisp. Nigel doesn’t really tackle the damp or rain does he? If anyone could make me love it it would be him!

Settling in on the sofa post flu jab. May the odds be in my favour! I am starting to feel warm and woozy so will grab a couple of paracetamol. I take antihistamines daily, so hopefully these will help against any side effects. I have my Covid jab booked for a couple of week’s time, sadly private, as I need pfeizer but the NHS is only offering Moderna around here. I’m hoping to get it sooner as a walk-in to the places doing it privately but need to allow time for reactions and rest. It seems to be circulating and I am also circulating now and need cover!

I hope you’re at least on the mend @RainbowZebraWarrior

@martha79 you are banking the excellent tenant points with your landlady. Your upstairs neighbours sound very immature and tiresome. I hope they soon settle down and that the landlady is effective if things need to be done. Sounds like good possible neighbour, I hope the best and loveliest comes through.

I have swooned at Nigel’s insta from Charleston Farmhouse. One of my most favourite places on earth. Imagine, supper with Nigel and friends around the table there - what a dream that would be. Love the sound of the banana and cardamom cake. I don’t bake much as DH is gluten free. I do adapt recipes, so will take a look at that one.

It is certainly autumnal and damp outside. The dahlias are starting to suffer with the rain, I hope to get a little longer out of them. The more compact heads are surviving better.

@piscofrisco you’re really in the wars. Gosh. This is where the preppers will be smiling with their water and beans. I hope you have drinking water available at least.

@leporello have a marvellous weekend and tell us all about it. I hope your aunt is managing some rest and hydration.

@RipplePlease6 that sounds grim and very much like Covid. Hope you’re well on the other side and at least will have some jolly little antibodies.

@LillianGish puss is magnificent. Thanks for the beautiful pictures of the city of light. I hope the very UN but terribly French protests are soon resolved.

Happy Friday evening all!

Revision guides and an 18th is how we have been spending the past couple of weeks!

I did make dumplings in last weekend's stew for the first time (vegetable suet let's not go mad) that's as Nigel as I could squeeze in!

Took 4 teens to Alton Towers where they were lucky to get onto Smiler in the dark. So the opposite of Nigel. We had two nights staying on site, it was open late and we had to remortgage the house exiting via the gift shops! Needless to say they have "done" Alton Towers.

The next teen birthday (early December) we are taking at least 10 of them AXE THROWING - nice and safe eh!

We have a weekend trapped in the house revising and cooking, I don't think I need to buy anything more, so I might, MIGHT, finally make mincemeat for mince pies this year, I have all the bits, even the sherry/port/brandy, not sure will check, as I am sure I can make a better mincemeat than what is in bought mince pies. I will not make a cake, that is beyond me, and I like the puddings you buy, again don't have the time right now, but mincemeat I think I can improve.

For this dark, slightly cold, windy Friday evening, we have garlic laden pizzas just coming out of the oven and neighbours are coming over for a couple of hours and I plan on making spiced martinis and cosmopolitan cocktails. I do like a bit of lotions and potions, with pretty glassware. Cardamon vodka? Yes that appeals.

Have a fun and/or relaxing/rejuvenating weekend all.

I did get a fat, red, pretty stove top whistling kettle.

That's Nigel I would say.

Slow boiling or something quill

@Bimblesalonghope you don’t get side effects from your jab. Had mine last week and it was just the usual sore arm. Covid is booked for a couple of weeks time. Have had them together before now. And I was so poorly. My suppressed immune system just couldn’t take it

covid is doing the rounds around here too. Wishing everyone a speedy recovery who needs it

I dare not have a flu jab, I think it would finish me off! Hope you feel fine on waking tomorrow bimbles and any ill effects are swift to depart.

I love Alton Towers @frozendaisy. I still think it’s the best of the lot.

I’ve spent my first lovely evening of my weekend on my own dibbling about with some air dry clay (ghosts for Halloween and a trinket dish based on a leaf I picked up earlier), whilst watching Foyles war with a glass of red on the go. This is living I tell you! I used to die of Boredom if I stayed in of a Friday night and here I am perfectly content….not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing!

Lovely pics @LillianGish- like RZW you do take a lovely picture :)

I made that cake! I thought it was really nice actually. Quite different to the usual banana cake and went down a treat!

I was also just going to say what a lovely post @noodlezoodle Great to hear from you as always. The jets sound like they would be great for an hour or so, but not three days!

(I meant to post the above yesterday)

I am totally not with it. Just tested instant and fat positive for covid. If anyone wants to know the symptoms of the current strain, it is nausea, sore throat, muscle aches and banging permanent headache. I strangely haven't lost my sense of smell and taste - yet - this time. I can pretty much cope with it so far, but my biggest issue is that my other autoimmune conditions go into overdrive and my meds fail to control them. Obviously pain on top of pain ain't great either, but fingers crossed it doesn't get any worse (prepared for the yo-yo ing between feeling slightly better then crap again)

Love to all. Will try and catch up now.

Oh nooo @RainbowZebraWarrior… rest and rest some more. It’s all you can do. Sorry mate, it’s bloody grim.

Cheers, pet! I have a hot water bottle. I never think to do a hot water bottle, but it is very comforting.

The cotton wool head with this is something else, mind.

Hope you enjoy your me time this weekend (loved Mr Ghosty)