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!)

Fog here, so very autumnal.

I should have gone down to the beach at 6.30, but was aware of feeling particularly crap during the night. I have woken up with a razor blade throat, so am chewing propolis lozenges. I swear by them! So I think it will be an At Home day today, although I'll still get my woodland walk in.

Plenty to read anyway, as I got these two beautiful books from the charity book table. Some gorgeous books and photos posted here. More food for thought. Also, note to self, pick up Autumn copy of Country Living!

Also, DD labelling everything in sight. Quite funny to walk into the kitchen last night and find the fusilli jar labelled "twirly buggers"

Right then. A vat of tea is required this morning!

Haha, fusilli are henceforth twirly buggers around here .
I didn't go full autumn with the cooking last night - still a salad, but a robust and warm one involving steak and potatoes with chimichurri sauce and charred courgettes and peppers. Perhaps one foot in autumn and one still in summer.
Planning to go to the Monday fireworks display tonight, watching from a little harbourside food hut that does live music. Think I will need to dig out a cardigan!

Twirly buggers 😂

Had quite a restless night and I've also woken up with a bit of a sore throat/ itchy ears. Have just stuck some of the local honey I bought into a lemon and ginger tea, hopefully that will help fend it off.

I really want pork chops now! But had a croissant with smoked cheese and ham for breakfast which was very nice.

Pork chop with sage & onion crust is my last meal order…

hope everyone who is coming down with a lurgy makes a swift recovery

had a lovely time this evening. Went for a pizza and then saw the comedian James Acaster at the local theatre. Courtesy of DP’s dsis who got him tickets for his birthday. Very funny would recommend

I love the lost words and the lost spells. Thought my children would go for them but they haven't taken yet (I buy books speculatively. I'm very much of the view that buying and reading books are separate hobbies - though I pretty much read them all eventually). I love a good fuddle for secondhand books. World of Books has been revolutionary for me. I got a copy of Georgette Heyer's "Envious Casca", the name of which has been changed in recent publications, with the old name for about £2 on my last browse.

Hope everyone's luck is looking up. Still very drought-y here. I am trying to persuade Mr MDaAS that we should install rainwater storage for the garden, toilets and washing machine. He's dubious at the moment but I am currently broke so need him to fund it 🤣

Totally agree about the buying and reading of books being separate hobbies @MichaelmasDaisiesAndAutumSunset I just love a beautiful book and also can't resist WoB. Fuddle is a great word, BTW. Wrt water saving devices, I think we all need to be looking rather urgently at this going forward. Definitely best to do before we end up in the same predicament next summer.

How are you feeling @martha79 I also had the ear thing as well as the throat and felt pretty dizzy and headachey yesterday. Managed my walk in the woods but was slightly more wobbly than usual.

Haven't had a pork chop in years. I'm not too sure I like pork any more. May have to try.

That sounds like a nice night @CrushingOnRubies although I must admit I struggle a lot with James Acaster. That's very much a female autistic v male autistic for me though.

Willing myself to get up. It's dark, but the beach calls and the weather is due to turn nasty from tomorrow.

<looks out of window and realises it's raining again and goes back to bed with lozenges>

Meant to ask @Bimblesalong How is your raw rosehip syrup mixture coming along? It's been interesting to watch the process and how much it's gone down since the sugar has started to dissolve. I think my blackberry vinegar is ready to finish and bottle today. I'm sure it's been steeping for 7 days. I have a pretty bottle waiting for it and might just get another batch straight on the go!

Morning all

Glad you had a good night @CrushingOnRubies - I do like James Acaster.

Definitely sounds like a morning for going back to bed @RainbowZebraWarrior. Mine hasn't progressed but still feels vaguely like there's something going on in there.

Tried to have a nice restful evening but my upstairs neighbours had a very loud argument - much shouting and stamping around. Eventually they both went out in their car and only one of them came back. I've still not actually met them but did overhear them telling someone the other day that they'd only recently moved in together... so that doesn't seem to be going too well!

It's a pretty grey day here and I've got some pretty tedious work to do. Will try to pop out and take my library books back at lunchtime.

Good morning, sympathies on the neighbours at loggerheads @martha79 - I had 2 nights of awful sleep thanks to a car alarm going off at random intervals in the street. Finally filled in Environmental Health's online form at 3.45 am on Sunday night and they called me about it yesterday - very impressed with the service. Car has since moved on...

Fireworks were cancelled as it was too windy and wavy to send the barge out to sea - went for a walk to see what they were talking about and the waves were indeed crashing all over the piers and proms; always a spectacular sight.

Heading off to check out our big new M&S food and fashion store today - nice to have a bigger store but I miss being able to pop into the town centre shop for bits and pieces on the way home from work.

@RainbowZebraWarrior I’m at the same stage - similar rosehips and bottling the vinegar today.

Morning all and thank you for the recipe @RainbowZebraWarrior will be trying that this weekend, sounds delicious.
Sorry you’re not feeling well, hoping you’re better very soon.
Can I just congratulate on the ongoing rosehip syrup by the way. Looks incredible.
And DD’s twirly buggers label did make me chuckle.

We've got another warm day here again. Originally forecast for rain all week but that seems to be wrong again.
The garden is looking awful. Dusty, brown and dry with only a couple of plants able to hang on. We’ve got a hosepipe ban like most of the country I believe and I’ve not been up to watering by hand for awhile. The only birds visiting our feeder recently have been wood pigeons. But I do like watching them having a bath.

Has anyone read the old fashioned/ simple pleasures thread that's been resurrected? Such a lovely read! It's inspired me to reserve an actual book from my local library and dig out and fill my fountain pen. Feels a VN thread!

It's back to being hot here, but at least I can dry some bedding before the storms hit tomorrow.

I had a lovely brunch this morning with my aunt (who is more like the big sister I've never had). Lovely french toast with cooked peaches and greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey. I may replicate it for a winter Saturday breakfast. The peaches and nectarines available at the moment are so lovely.

I had a quick glance at it @petitpasta, will go for a proper read. I've done a bit of that sort of thing today - went to the library at lunchtime (quite busy, good to see it being well-used), sat on a bench in the park, met a friendly dog who brought me his ball to throw. Wrote a postcard to a friend to say thanks for helping with the house move. Had a break from work this afternoon and played the piano for five minutes - I'm not a good pianist but I had a phase some years back where it was helpful stress relief (have to concentrate so hard I can't think about anything else!) so trying to get that back.

The sun's come out now but it's very windy, lots of leaves coming off the trees.

Oh that simple pleasures thread sounds right up my street. I shall go and look for it.

We've had a bit of upset today. Went to our favourite local Italian restaurant that we have been frequenting since DD was a baby. In fact she has had five birthday parties there. DD says to me that she was thinking of ordering the minestrone soup for a starter as she liked the look of it when I had it last. She asked the server if it was veggie as it didn't have a V next to it on the menu. The server said that chef sometimes uses chicken stock, but she would check with him. Came back and said he hadn't used chicken stock today. DD says actually she will play it safe and have her usual potato skins that she's been having years (veggie for two years now). The server told her that did she know they were cooked in the same oil used for the cubed belly pork and squid dishes. DD promptly burst into tears. Cue the owner coming over (who is lovely) and asking who had served us before and why had we never been told. DD said she had never asked. The owner said "Ah, well if you've never asked" DD points out that the reason she's never asked is because they are marked as vegetarian on the menu. The owner asked to see as it was "news to her" and looked gutted. Drinks on the house, but unfortunately not good enough. We left, and will likely never return which is a massive shame as it really was our 'go to' place. Gutted for DD. We've made her a lovely, garlicky, home grown ratatouille for dinner, but her trust in restaurants is shot and being autistic, she has a limited food repertoire anyway. Bless her.

I can't find the simple pleasures thread but then I don't know what topic I'm looking in. If someone could link that would be really helpful. Thanks

Its this one I think Tainbow? I looked for it in middle of night and had to use Google to find it as MN search offered threads with simple and single for some reason.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5446917-old-fashionedsimple-pleasures-that-you-still-enjoy?page=8&reply=154364573

@RainbowZebraWarrior someone on the Simple Pleasures thread said

"The Archers omnibus on Sunday mornings
The Shipping Forecast late at night
Walking on the beach in winter looking for sea glass
Working on my allotment
Writing Christmas cards
Hand knitted blankets
Cheese on toast
My very simple cafetière - keep your nespresso machine!"

But I know it's not you because you walk on the beach all year round 😁❤️

Hellooo all-just dropping in from our hols. Montenegro is very beautiful-we are staying near the old town in Budva which is a sort of walled citadel and very pretty and atmospheric. a long walk yesterday suggested that they are building rapidly however, Lots of monstrously large hotels being knocked up which is a shame. We have done lots of boating, swimming and eating. (Well everyone else on the eating as my stomach doesn’t feel quite right after my bout of sickness last week). Pleased to hear the weather is cooling at home and looking forward to getting home and
feeling more comfortable. It’s very hot here as you would expect. Hope everyone is ok :)

That's horrible for DD @RainbowZebraWarrior (and also a bit dodgy dietary-requirements-wise, I would think, to not state that on the menu).

Glad you're having a nice break @piscofrisco

It's a very grey morning here, with much rain and thunderstorms forecast later. I'm working, maybe trying to pop out to the supermarket before the rain comes, and going to an online launch event for an interesting-sounding research centre later. Had some excellent, very herby scrambled eggs for breakfast!

Thank you ❤️ Looking forward to reading with a cuppa later. Just waiting outside the hairdressers for them to open. This time last week my stylist didn't turn up for work and is now history.

Good grief @RainbowZebraWarrior thats awful for dd and as @martha79 says, not good on the food standards side of things.

have a lovely holiday @piscofrisco , hope you soon get to enjoy the food.

I bottled my blackberry vinegar last night. I had a taste from the spoon and it almost took my head off! Will be great for coughs with some hot water in it!

Yes indeed. DD also pointed this out to the restaurant owner.

I've just bottled mine this morning. Made it with honey in the end. Tasted a teaspoon and thought the same as you. I've added a bottle more honey which has mellowed it and it should mellow further in the coming months like chutney does and lose that pungent vinegar flavour. It will be a good addition to the arsenal, so thank you for your grandmother's recipe.

I was out in the front garden just now picking apples, and DD stuck her head out and said "Hey, doll*! You know it just smells like straight up vinegar in here, right"
Haha. I think I night move on to Blackberry vodka next!

*Yes, DD calls me doll and dollface. She is 14 going on Victorian! 😆

Love this!

I'm desperate to sit down and read it, just got to get a few more jobs out of the way first.

Definitely dodgy from a dietary requirements perspective.

The online launch event sounds interesting and now I fancy herby scrambled eggs!

It's a new research centre exploring the traditions of carnivals and processions. I saw it online and immediately wished I had gone into studying carnivals and processions or something equally niche.

I fancy some fruity vinegar... I do have one big kilner jar, maybe I'll just go and see what the local fruit shop has as I can't think of a handy foraging spot at the moment (there are places not that far but I'm still only doing very short walks, although they are very gradually getting longer).