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 would absolutely report word for word all of that to your landlord. As an ex copper, telephone calls saying "I've got the cash" at 2am are for weed, not food. 2am to 4am at weekends is the busiest time for dealers.

Hobbycraft still sell the Pumpkins. They have different designs every year and will be reducing them v soon (we are there at least once a week)

This is my permanent display in the hallway. Some are Next or Hobbycraft and some are home felted by myself and DD. I am missing a grey one, as next doors dog ran in a while ago and made off with it.

The Robin hanging above is also a permanent feauture as it is the last thing my favourite aunt made for me before she passed away a couple of years ago.

Loving your decor. You have just reminded me that I took some of mine and used it to decorate my Scarecrow Festival stall last month. It's still packed away in the boot. I must get it back out. Sorry you didn't get the weekend to yourself that you quite planned. Did you see the film?

Food looks gorgeous @Bimblesalong DD made me her veggie quiche last night so I didn't have to cook and I managed a small portion.

@RainbowZebraWarrior
How are you feeling today? I hope you’re managing to do absolutely nothing except rest (very hard when you’re a Mum!).
I can see your DD has been helping out with cooking, the quiche looks delicious.

Crisp morning here. Taking RippleDog out soon for a beach walk then coffee and cake.
Went to M and S yesterday and got a Garlic and Herb beef joint for £3.50!!! Usually £14. They are clearing out their freezers for the arrival of the Christmas food. Lots of desserts had been reduced but they’d sold out.
Other notable finds were the Ginger and White Chocolate cookies.
They. Are. Heavenly. I ate 2 yesterday and will hopefully be able to snaffle another one today 🤫

Enjoy your Sunday everyone. Definitely feels like autumn now. Bliss.

I thought it was all done by text these days (I encountered some people via an ex a few years ago, my eyes were very much opened to what a text and a dodgy taxi driver can bring, incredibly easily).

Anyway, yep, got a message ready to go to the landlady tomorrow. It's annoying because if they occasionally said we've got some people coming round, I'd happily stick earplugs in now and then. But not be woken up in the middle of the night.

Glad you managed some food @RainbowZebraWarrior and I hope you're starting to feel a bit better.

Just sorting out a grocery order (Deliveroo bringing me vegetables rather than drugs) - planning a sausage casserole for today.

@martha79 my friend's DS used to go to special school in a taxi. from things he told her and using a tracking app she figured out that the driver was doing drug runs on the school run. It is bloody scary.

I actually slept last night, and although I ache all over, thats not unusual. Went for a 15 minute walk yesterday and will be doing the same today. I also need to pick up a parcel somehow. I am less than 4 days in, so it will probably bite me on the backside next week, but you never know!

I didn't get the beef joint, but got the pork saltimboca at the beginning of the week (also reduced in the same M&S range) and it lasted me 3 days. I noted this year that they have had the white choc and gingerbread cookies in since the start of Sept. I know they are very popular but I can't eat them. The chocolate button shortbread on the other hand...

I forgot it was all text these days. I used to watch the taxis lining up outside my old pub dishing out the gear to a steady stream of (mostly) middle aged fellas pre DD. Always the people carrier taxi's, so yes, usually the ones who also did the special school runs. Absolutely no shame or morals some of them.

Ah that’s made me smile re the pony @noodlezoodle. I love the New Forest. We went for a friends 50th and stayed in this amazing house in a clearing in the woods-ponies at the door every morning. One of the best weekends I’ve ever had.

Waiting impatiently for @CrushingOnRubiesglamourous pic!

That doesnt sound great @martha79. Definitely tell the landlady-that’s two weekends on the bounce isn’t it? So sorry you are having this to deal with. Our two doors down neighbours in our old house had huge parties every other weekend (he was a known drug dealer and had some sort of protection racket going it seemed-the house was like Fort Knox on an ordinary street). They had a garden party room with some very powerful speakers. The base would shake our house from two doors down. Thankfully he got nicked in the end and went to prison for a bit and it was a lot quieter then. But prior to that it was so tricky as we didn’t want to anger the horrible beast by complaining.
DD2 says the regular-ish Deliveroo man actually offered her boyfriend some ‘extras’ @ElegantDressso I would imagine that’s a fairly frequent sideline for them especially in student areas, where apparently they are all doing Ketamine like it’s going out of fashion. DD2 is shocked by it and that’s something given
her, erm, chequered history (I hope and I do think that she got all that out of her system during her scary wilderness years but I suppose one can sadly never be sure).

Your DD is very clever @RainbowZebraWarrior. My ones can barely make themselves a bit of toast despite me trying to teach them some basics. Glad you managed to eat a bit. Do not try to get up today-I know you will attempt to over do it if you even feel slightly better. Stay put! That’s an order!

I am going to M and S today to pick up a parcel for DH so I may now foray into the biscuit aisle @RipplePlease6. DH claims to be broken after hiking up some mountain in Wales yesterday and has a four hour drive home so he will be in need of treats and so will I, as he will no doubt be bemoaning the state of his knees all afternoon 😂

I did not make it to the cinema as DD was feeling quite upset about whatever went on with her Dad and is also cough cough cough (so I think we know what’s coming). We elected to light the log burner and watch the original Sense and Sensibility with Emma T and Hugh Grant instead, which criminally she had never seen. She loved it and to be fair it was a nice evening in the end, even if not what I had originally planned.

The sausage dog has allowed me a long lie in this morning -which is a miracle as he usually gets up and wants out at about 5am. I actually slept last night, 10-6, with the help of some American sleeping tablets my brother bought me over when he came -I call them my Texan helpers 😂) so I’ve woken feeling rested at least, if slightly fuzzy due to the medication. Had a tea in bed and will get up shortly, get the Dogs out for a nice walk and then have a tidy up and make some soup for Dh coming back hopefully mid afternoon. Bit of life admin to complete and I’ve made the Lasagne for dinner already so a slow Sunday afternoon to complete my weekend of leisure. Lovely stuff and I do feel better for it.

Have a lovely Sunday all

Just a quick note @piscofrisco or in case anyone else is looking for the white chocolate and gingerbread cookies, they are an instore bakery item, so live next to the freshly baked scones and breads. They are also usually ro be found by the self service tills alongside various other cookies. Cellophane six pack.

I spent days looking for the buggers in the biscuit aisle last year.

This is a very valuable public service announcement, and I thank you as I would undoubtedly have done the same and left empty handed!

Ah, this will explain why I can't find them on Ocado!

@piscofrisco it was one weekend, then a quiet weekend but a noisy Monday/Tuesday, then this weekend.

I can believe it about the taxi drivers and the middle aged men - ex's friends were all 40s-50s, civil service managers.

Why is it taking so long for my photo to load?? It’s nothing risqué just a handbag…

Nigel’s Insta is home made biscuits today….is he reading and trying to inspire us to greatness?!

Ha, yes @piscofrisco - Nige is telling us "who needs M&S?"

However, I cancelled my cooking plans too and have just had fish & chips delivered. It was excellent.

Bumped into the guy from upstairs who was smoking on the doorstep when I went to get my delivery - I thought I'd introduce myself as I'd not actually seen him before (I met her briefly when they moved in). He apologised for the noise last night, told me they'd had a big row and she's left (this also explains why he's been up and downstairs smoking and swearing on the phone all day). So I may hold off on the message I've written for the landlady for now, but it doesn't fill me with hope that there won't be more - I'm pretty sure the flat lease is in her name, if not both. It's been three weeks for goodness sake!

Hope that doesn't end up being a dysfunctional yo-yo relationship meaning more disruption for you @martha79

Feeling surprisingly tickety boo, here. Had a lovely walk in the woods earlier as we haven't missed a day there in months. Trees are really turning now and we saw an interesting ladybird on the car as we parked up

First proper roast of the autumn - beef and Yorkshire puddings, the full works and a full house as both DD and DS were here. Followed by plum and cinnamon crumble - with thanks to @Bimblesalong for the inspiration! DD and I then walked it off in Père Lachaise which is becoming more atmospheric than ever as we head towards Halloween. It’s a great place to wander as you never take the same route twice. We were rung out by the bell announcing closing time today which always kind of freaks me out as I wonder what would happen if you didn’t find your way to a gate in time and got locked in.

We had an unexpected visit from DD (uni) this weekend. She needed to come back tomorrow for a dental appt but decided to come last night, it's not far away. She said she was at a loose end because her housemates had gone to a gig she wasn't interested in and we had a quiet night in last night, then for a family drink tonight at the pub to mark the first anniversary of the death of DH's friend. DD then headed over to the pub where she used to work and that was a couple of hours ago. So that's been nice.

This morning I volunteered at a local
apple day. This event has been going for years and gets bigger and bigger, it draws huge crowds. Nice buzz and tasty apples. I was manning a stall for a society I'm a member of and did apple cutting for tasting for half an hour too (long enough, the tasting station was cramped and awkward to work at). Good fun though.

Talk of New Forest ponies made me want to share these pictures I took earlier this year if the ponies living on the Quantocks Hills. I have to go across the hills to get to Taunton and I love looking out for them. There are also some free ranging Highland cattle, but I don't see them very often. When I was having cancer treatment, the journey over the hills was something to look forward to when I knew the rest of the day was going to be rubbish!

Oh they are gorgeous @Confusedmeanderings

Your crumble sounds wonderful @LillianGish and apple day sounds fun @ElegantDress

@RainbowZebraWarrior I immediately thought the same about the back and forward! She was back in the evening with her mum to collect all her stuff but I wouldn't be surprised at all if they're back for 'discussions'. I did hear her mum ask him about twenty times in a row "why did you think it was acceptable?" to which he didn't seem to have an answer!

Lovely fiery sunrise here this morning which sadly didn't photograph well. Thinking of popping out for a walk before I start work properly. Then I have a day of adminny/ printing jobs, counselling appointment and actually making the casserole I was going to make yesterday.

Just woken to the sad news that the Marché des Enfants Rouges - an historic food market dating from 1615 and jam packed with individual food stalls and restaurants - burned to the ground in the early hours of this morning. @Bimblesalong will know it I’m sure - and Nigel himself no doubt since it was one of the most Nigelesque settings in Paris in terms of individual stall holders and eateries. No one killed, no one injured, but all the businesses completely destroyed.

Sorry all, I didn’t make it clear where the Cookies of Wonder are stocked at M and S. Yes, freshly baked at the er, bakery.
I ended up devouring 3 out of the 5…NVN I know but extremely enjoyable nonetheless.
It’s not just me that adores them as I noticed a ginger and white chocolate cookie Christmas tree decoration in store, unfortunately not edible.
We had the £3.50 beef joint last night and it was delicious. When I looked at the ingredients I was pleasantly surprised to see no additives and all were recognisable, didn’t expect that with a frozen joint.

Taking the hound out shortly, food shopping then going to take parents out for tea with DD.
Glad to hear you’ve come out the other side @RainbowZebraWarrior but do take things slow.

Awful news about the market @LillianGish, what terrible timing for the traders too. Hope they can make it through.

I've been eyeing those M&S cookies but have had a stern word with myself - not till December!

My photos never come out well on here but I have to show you our adopted child, whom we met for the first time yesterday - I am IN LOVE!

@leporello
Your adopted child is beautiful! Where did you find him/her?

This is Zaya, who lives at Marwell Zoo and recently had cubs (also absolutely gorgeous, bit sleepy when we saw them). I bought DH an adoption for our silver wedding earlier in the year, which included a free ticket to go and visit. In a moment of exquisite timing, she came slinking down towards us as soon as we approached the enclosure, then stood by the fence giving us a good hard stare. It was just lovely.