Do Better, May...

So what do you think? Was T.S. Eliot right? Is April really 'the cruellest month'? 

You know what to do, May.

Looking at the current global news cycle, it's not far off the mark, although not confined merely to April 2025. Still, let's spin this as best we can. We're about to shake off the month's shackles, and embrace a new start with May. Perhaps things will look and feel a little more upbeat on Thursday. Maybe?

Meanwhile, I'm packing for the annual Bond caravan mini-break and keeping my fingers crossed for the perfect caravan weather. What's the perfect caravan weather? Why, thank you for asking. It's bright sunny skies, a cool chill in the air, and a total absence of rain. The temperature should be around the fourteen degree mark, and jumpers and/or fleeces should still be required. It should be chilly enough to need PJs in bed but not so cold that I'm shivering throughout the night. Based on previous years, it could literally be anything - rain, shine, or gales and widespread flooding. The latter has been particularly common in the part of Wales I'm visiting. I'll keep you posted.

A sneak preview of my editing list

Writing News

I've gone through my notes! Yep, after my massive read through last week, I collated the notes I'd made, and added them to the pile of Post-Its on my desk. The ones where I'd had a random thought at some point during the writing of draft one, and noted it down for a later date. I also scrolled through my notebook app. There's all sorts of snippets on there. Again, when I've been on a train or at someone's house and my mind has wandered to my book, I've noted it down. Now everything's combined, and they're all in once place. I've got a massive list of bullet points to work through and the next few months have some sort of structure.

Apologies for the Howard's End spoiler
but it got written in 1910.
You've had time to read it.

Culture

There's something about a Bank Holiday that makes me crave a certain type of TV viewing. A lazy weekend demands a mini series. It must have period costumes, and be an excellent interpretation of a classic novel. I want stifled desire and rigid class structures. I want people to break free of societal expectation, and be daring and bold as they throw caution to the wind. Reader, I want an E.M Forster adaptation!

And so it came to pass that I bought the 2017 BBC series, Howard's End on iTunes. For £5.99 I got four hours of quality telly. I've read the book and I've seen the Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins film, but this version is the best. (IMHO) It makes so much clearer the choices that individual characters make. (Like, why would Margaret ever marry Henry? Why can't  Helen leave Mr. Bast alone? And why would someone leave their house to a person they've only just met?) On top of all that, Hayley Atwell and Matthew Macfadyen are brilliant. Now that I've got myself in the mood, I want more. I'm currently rewatching Middlemarch (1994) and next, I'm going to see off Far From the Madding Crowd (1998). It's so lovely to have plans. (Oh, and obviously I'll be rewatching Conclave at some point. It'd be rude not to right now.)

Anchovy butter on
homemade bread.

Food and Drink

One day I'll stop banging on about anchovies. I promise. But before I do, I'll just leave this with you. Get a tub of your butter/butter alternative and empty it into a bowl. Add four tins of chopped, drained anchovies and mash it all together. Add a decent shake (half a tablespoon? More?) of smoked paprika and perhaps some garlic? Whatever flavours you like, really. Mix and mash until the anchovies are a mush, and the whole thing is a shade of reddy-brown. Now squish it back into the tub. Ta-daaa! You've got yourself some anchovy butter!

Right now, I'm using this on my toast, on my butties, and as something in which to pan fry prawns, eggs, or veggies. It's as versatile as you want it to be. And in non-anchovy news, I'd forgotten how lovely a crunchy lettuce leaf could be in a sandwich. I've been having lettuce, cucumber, and cheese butties for my recent lunches. (Not forgetting the anchovy butter, natch.)

Out and About

Writing to my MP and emailing Keir Starmer was all well and good, but I wanted to be more visible in my support for trans people. Peaceful protests were planned all over the country, and on Saturday, I joined the one in Liverpool. It felt good. It was interesting to note the vibe of the crowd, though. Lots of young people - as you'd possibly expect - but lots of older people too. People with signs that indicated they weren't trans but were gay and had seen this shit before. I heartily belted out TRANSPHOBIA IS NOT FEMINISM and TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS at regular intervals and felt ashamed for the people who are cishet like me, but don't recognise those sentiments to be true. 

On we plod. This time next week, I'll have completed a three day caravan extravaganza with multi-generational family representation. And yes, I know I've described that like it's a three-peaks challenge or Tough Mudder event. If it rains, and we're all squashed into a teeny-tiny living space, it'll feel like the most gruelling of challenges. Fingers crossed my desired weather arrives to save the day. More next Monday... yes?

 
Have a lovely week, folks.