I recently received my final grades for my Masters degree in Creative Writing. I achieved what I had hoped for, and was pleased – though the numbers were likely cushioned by the allowances made for our 'exceptional circumstances.' This past year has been one big fat exceptional circumstance – an unbroken chain-reaction of strange and … Continue reading Unfinished business
I spent my summer of 2018 happy in the knowledge that I had a job lined up – a good one – for three months in London, and that the rest of my life would go from there. Every stage of my experience up until then had been mapped out, hopping and studying from one … Continue reading From September to September
I live on a hill by the sea. Our house is old and pink, and sits just above a viaduct. Huge arches stretch across the valley by our house, and walking down the hill, through the ferns and branches fringed with lichens, you can see the sea. If you walk the other way, down the … Continue reading The Sound of the Sea
A few weeks ago, I found myself sat quite spontaneously in the audience of a free talk at the Oxford Literature Festival. It was the first day I had ever spent in Oxford; the sun was shining, and being vaguely aware of the festival (though believing it was all academic events ticketed and behind old … Continue reading Read to Me: Why Books Shouldn’t Always be Silent.
Towards the end of 2018 I finally eased open the covers of Daphne Du Maurier's famous Rebecca. The effects were, quite frankly, breathtaking. I mean - I was holding my breath for whole pages at a time, reading into unholy hours and continuing chapters in my dreams (always, for me, the sign of a favourite … Continue reading Last year I dreamt of Manderly: Reviewing Rebecca
Dear reader. Despite doing plenty of cooking, working in a restaurant filled with delicious dishes, and - of course - maintaining my deep love of eating, food just hasn't been on my mind over the last few months. Hence the lack of words about it. However, since leaving uni (where cooking and eating were my … Continue reading Life Between Mealtimes
Fish was never the issue. I like fish, and I don't have a problem with fins or gawpy faces. But it was crustaceans I couldn't do. Lobsters, crabs, prawns... they were - well - a differen't kettle of fish...I think a good part of my dislike for crustaceans - be it under my feet or … Continue reading Food Stories: The Seafood Saga
Christmas, in my books, is about two things: family, and food. And to be honest, the swing is probably 40-60 in favour of the latter. Really, I think the two are quite closely linked. You build your favourite food traditions with the people who, year on year, you share the holiday with. You bake with … Continue reading Christmas Time : camembert and wine
Bread. It’s an ancient recipe with countless variations, and it’s always been a staple. Versatile, filling, cheap to make and in most cases delicious to eat, it’s one of those foods which is so good, so reliable, that it’s earned its own unshakeable place in almost every kitchen. And yet I have a confession to … Continue reading An Ode to Bread.
Not my most cheerful title, I realise. But it’s true – if you’ve never had a serious allergy, or never loved someone who does, then you probably haven’t given the topic much thought. And I don’t blame you – neither had I. Almost a year ago, I met my boyfriend, Andrew. I also met the … Continue reading Food Allergies: The Little-Considered Killer
