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!)

I have not managed to post for a few days, it’s been a busy week, but have read through. @RainbowZebraWarrior so sorry the covid has caught you, it seems to be everywhere again.

@noodlezoodle that’s a lovely thought, that there are other people on the thread awake int he small hours, I have a US based buddy on another long running thread and she often posts just as I’m off to bed (I go late).

Damn it @RainbowZebraWarrior
Hope your recovery is swift and full. I agree you don't want it knocking everything else off kilter.

I just did a long post which got swallowed when I had the temerity to try and edit it...

Basically, darn @RainbowZebraWarrior, how horrible for you - take care, rest up and see that varmint Covid off as soon as possible.

I'm in the new forest, waiting for poached eggs on toast at the lovely village cafe. Sitting outside as it's very popular, was feeling the chill a bit but the sun's just burst gloriously forth, so yay. Dd wants to look at the witchy shops in Burley so that's where were headed next. And a pony has just wandered into view + perfect!

I'm making the most of each moment, as Thursday dinner included a product that has since been recalled for salmonella risk...🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞.

Lovely @leporello we live not too far from the NF but of course never go there, it’s silly isn’t it. Was it you that mentioned the non-birthday celebrating DD? My family are all like that too, DH isn’t bothered about his and neither are the DCs (22 and 20). I like mine low key too, no parties, but go out for a meal or similar, the DCs don’t even really want to do that. DS got a couple of mates round to have Dominoes / play xbox on his 18th, DD just went to McDs with her friend. I have a round number birthday next year and people keep saying “ooh, you should do something” but I’m not sure.

A couple of pics, I bought some tiny squashes to go with my velour pumpkins, and found a clue glass bottle to add to my collection in a charity shop. Also saw lots of lovely leaves down on the way back from town

I think one didn’t post

saying it’s too big, I give up

Most of my pics with leaves on at the moment seem to be quite big sizewise (over 6mb) so I crop them slightly and it usually takes them under 6.

Lovely bottle and Pumpkins!

Not wanting to celebrate birthdays is really common in ND folk. It was my 50th during lockdown restrictions and everyone was messaging me saying we would have a proper party when we could. I just replied that No 'we' wouldn't be, thank you very much. It was bloody great as I'd had years of people telling me I was a miserable sod for not wanting parties and that was my turning point for not going along with what other folk wanted on my birthday.

ah good idea. I'm sure there used to be an option to reduce size before you posted them

Afternoon all, lovely autumnal pictures - I love the little ghostie @piscofrisco!

Hope you enjoy your break @leporello and have dodged the food germs.

So sorry you've got covid @RainbowZebraWarrior - I hope it passes quickly.

Had a rehearsal of my flute group this morning and we were reduced down to five thanks to various lurgies. Meant I really had to do a bit more playing than I have been doing, but that went mostly OK. Looking at scheduling one Christmas gig in but I may plan to organise/ lead more than play at that.

Tired this afternoon, just flopped on the sofa and watched Emma as it was on BBC2. Considering a takeaway for this evening although I still have endless meatballs...

Ive got my velour pumpkins on the go too, and some more sparkly efforts.
Ive had a lovely restful day, little lie in, beautiful dog walk through an ancient wood (and I encountered a house for sale which I believe would make a fabulous small Care farm-and on checking once home it’s just about in budget-so now we really need someone to buy ours pretty please). Now making a Lasagne for tomorrow and mid way through DD1 bloody well came
home having had a failing out with her Dad. I had plans to go to the arts centre on my own later to see Sense and Sensibility and now she will either cob at being left on her own or want to come which is fine of course , but I was so enjoying my weekend on my own. I realised that I don’t think I I’ve had a whole weekend on my own since June 2020. I met DH in the July, and then either saw him or had the girls or was at work in my care home on weekends, then we bubbled up for the second lock down, and so it went on. DH has never been away for the weekend before (though is away lots in the week for work) and even if he isn’t here I always have had a child or two knocking about . I actually love my own company as well… I never get bored. Humph.

At least the mighty Wednesday scored a last minute equaliser

A few pumpkin pics

A lovely morning looking at paintings in the Orangerie, an autumnal stroll through the Tuileries, lunch in a Japanese restaurant, a fabulous October display in a florist and a spectacular spice shop - so far so Nigel! Enjoy the New Forest @leporello - DH hails from those parts and I know it is glorious at this time of year. Sorry to hear you have Covid @RainbowZebraWarrior - hot water bottles are so underrated (Nigel probably has an eye-wateringly expensive one!)

New Forest is lovely, no salmonella yet...

I feel for you @piscofrisco, I love my own company too. My husband does quite a few marathons and ultras (madness) and I love it when it's somewhere far flung and I get some alone time.

Love the New Forest @leporello. We used to go camping there a lot when I lived in England and had several run ins with the ponies trying to steal food.

We had a chaotic picnic with several uninvited pony guests a few years ago @noodlezoodle. The girls found it hilarious.

@leporello hope your salmonella escaping continues 🤞

@piscofrisco sorry you're not getting to enjoy an empty house. I love some quiet time. I thought I had a quiet day today but then I had to go and do something quite lovely and have something on tomorrow as well. Too much 😆

Oh boy @RainbowZebraWarrior get well soon. You’re all over the rest and hydration. Hopefully Mr Darcy can help with nurse cat duties.

A perfect Nigel day @LillianGish and really rather lovely New Forest for you @leporello

@martha79 I hope you manage a concert. I shove Vicks first defence up my nose when I go to choir rehearsal. The alternative is giving up the things I love and staying away.

A day of resting and intermittent cooking to sustain FH, who has been busy trimming the garden back. The tomatoes are still yielding and look/ taste great. Yummy gf apple crumble with some of our frozen blackberries and a load of apples from the apple festival. To begin, a rich pasta sauce, which was made with chickpeas. DH now napping!

I kind of want an orange velour pumpkin or 2 now!

@Comtesse mine were from Hobbycraft a few years ago, they did have them for several years might be worth checking if they still do.

Hard not to share a photo which wasn’t outing! But went to a a black tie dinner for DPs work and this evening , and this is more of a taste of what I wore. Had my nails done and everything. VVVV Nigel

managed to fight off the lurgy despite said Dp coming home sniffling in Thursday.

Hope you feel better soon @RainbowZebraWarrior

I hope you feel better @RainbowZebraWarrior . Keep warm, snuggled up and resting.

Commiserations @piscofrisco on not getting all your quiet time. I quite enjoy my own company from time to time too.

@leporello my favourite New Forest pony encounter was when my husband and I were camping with a reasonable amount of kit, including a stove.

A young and glamorous couple rocked up in their car, pitched a very small tent, then slung a double hammock between two trees. They put a bottle of champagne and punnet of strawberries on the ground as they got into the hammock.

I was feeling a bit jealous of their style and spontaneity, right up until a pony trotted up and stole all the strawberries, much to their chagrin.

Urgh. Awake because the neighbours either got home or had someone arrive at 2am and then had loud music on since. I resorted to banging on the ceiling and they have quietened down but there is now someone on the phone right outside my door (they've just confirmed to someone that they've got cash so I'm now wondering if a takeaway or a drug delivery is about to arrive, or something else!).

It's not very Nigel but I'm having a cuppa and some Co-op toffee apple flapjack (Halloween special).

Hope you had a lovely evening @CrushingOnRubies - no photo showing up here yet.

Your cooking looks wonderful @Bimblesalong and the First Defence is a very good idea.

😂 at the cheeky pony @noodlezoodle