A Pastry Break Amid the Chaos...

Oh March, you absolute mofo!

Every year it's the same. March is the BUSIEST month. I've just totted it up and there are eight birthdays; birthdays of people I know well enough to send a card and present. Then there are the nights out and catch ups. On top of that, we've had Mother's Day that involved making the post. Plus, what with Easter being early this year (April 5th) there's a bit of prep needed for that too. Finally, and most importantly, it's MY birthday. Hello forty-eight! March is INTENSE.

The thing is, I love it. I like having plans and seeing different people. I like being busy - especially after the cosy hibernation of the new year. This is the time when, having emerged from the Jan/Feb chrysalis, my beautiful butterfly can soar. It just takes organisation. I've currently got March's calendar saved on my desktop. It tells me when I need to have posted cards, when I can fit in time to shop, and when I'm eating out and where. Right now, we're half way through the month and I'm on track so far. Fingers crossed it lasts.

Leeza McAuliffe

Writing News

Leeza McAuliffe is Branching Out is complete. I think. The only thing that could change it, is my sister. She was mad busy at the point when I needed beta readers. Now the Easter holidays are imminent, she's got time and is keen to read. I should tell her, 'Nah, it's all done, but thanks anyway,' but the thing is, she's got eyes like a hawk. If there are any remaining typos, missed apostrophes, or general inappropriateness, she'll spot them in an instant. My final draft is locked in, saved as a PDF, and ready to upload. But while I'm waiting for the front cover to be complete, I'll give my sister time to do her thing.

Culture

On Saturday I was at the Royal Albert Hall. Get me! I know what the Royal Albert Hall is because of the Last Night of the Proms. And I know what the Last Night of the Proms is because when I was a kid, I'd get a knitting needle from the bits and bobs drawer and pretend to be the conductor when the orchestra played Rule Britannia. On Saturday night, there wasn't a union jack or string section to be seen on. Nope, it was a live recording of the podcast Off Menu. Loads of laughs, and fab to see Ed Gamble and James Acaster interview Kiell Smith Byone.

Meanwhile, I'm quietly smug about my 2026 reading habit. I'm still averaging a book a week, still trying not to be competitive about it, and still enjoying filling my head with words. I've just read Nick Hornby's Juliet, Naked, and I'm about to reread Camp by LC Rosen.

Who says the perfect gif doesn't exist?

Food and Drink

Despite what I said at the top of the blog, I had two very lazy days in the week. Due to the convergence of my period along with being home alone, there was a chunk of last week that could be poetically entitled 'Wallowing in Pastry.' I couldn't be faffed to cook, didn't have the energy to do much more than read/type in bed, and so any food items needed to be handheld and cold. In related news, aren't almond croissants lovely?* I saw off more than a couple last week and they hit the spot perfectly. Now? I'm cooking for two (not pregnant - just no longer home alone) and I'm post-menstrual. It's back to the veg and the balance of it all.

James, Kiell, and Ed at the ROH

Out and About

Yep, I had my second London jaunt within a month. It's just the way it worked out - defo not the norm. Two weeks ago I was catching up with Uni mates and this time I was catching up with my podcast friends. (Ed and James, right?) Beyond that, I had a lovely potter around Highgate Cemetery - it's the most calming place to visit - and ate a fit Sunday roast. Back in Merseyside for the foreseeable now.

Did you have a good International Women's Day? A happy Mother's Day? Have you enjoyed yourself lately? What with my busy-ness, it's easy to forget to enjoy it too. Let's all stop, take a moment to clock the fun, and then keep on having it,
yeah? Yeah.

Have a lovely week, folks.

*I'm now questioning whether croissants are pastry and I don't think they are. They're bready, aren't they? But the flakiness? Bread doesn't do that! Someone check with Mary Berry and get back to me.