News

Whether you've been out for a meal or a drink, had a haircut, joined friends in the garden or returned to browsing a bookshop, it's been good to feel our lives opening up again.

There's some way to go, of course, and the terrible situations overseas remind us of how fortunate we are currently, and how careful we still need to be.

While each day I delight in living near the river and in a very distinctive and beautiful part of the country, my reading this week has caused me to think wistfully of other regions in Britain I'd like to visit again before too long - the Dorset coast, the west country, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Moors - places which have inspired artists and writers over the generations. Find out more about 'Landskipping' by Anna Pavord, below.

One way to get to know a landscape well is by walking, of course. And a reader of this newsletter and regular book group attendee, Sarah Atkins is soon to investigate the Suffolk landscape when she undertakes a sponsored walk along the length of the Sandlings Path, 58 miles from Ipswich to Southwold. Sarah is due to retire from her role as deputy headteacher of a Colchester primary school this summer and wants to fund a trip to the theatre for the pupils as a leaving gift. This excursion is likely to be the children's first experience of live performance. If you'd like to support Sarah, you can take a look here. 

We're entering the season for literature festivals now and many of these are combining online with in person events. Having finally attended the Hay Festival last year - remotely - I'm thrilled to see that the extensive and wide-ranging programme for 2021 will also be made available online. Do give it a look as there are some fascinating topics covered. I found it hugely inspiring and thought-provoking last year. Details are here.

I'll be involved in hosting a number of speakers at events in Suffolk, and online, throughout the next few months, so do look out for details in the coming weeks.

But tomorrow we'll be gathering together online for another book group meeting.

Although Browsers Bookshop in Woodbridge has now reopened in line with government guidelines, it is not yet possible for this to be the venue for our monthly meetings. We'll have to wait a little longer for that.

Instead, we're continuing to meet on Zoom and I think we've all found it a valuable way to keep in touch and share our thoughts on our reading.

The discussion is open to everyone to attend, so if you're not normally able to make the trip to our Suffolk town and would like to take part, or just listen in, please respond to this email and I'll send the details.

We'll be logging on at 8pm to talk about 'This Lovely City' by Louise Hare, and I'll reveal details of next month's title too.

Thank you for reading.

While we're still unable to travel overseas, my reading this week has taken me to some notable cities of the world. London, New York, Berlin, Milan and, of course, Paris are all acknowledged in the history of the iconic magazine, Vogue (details of the new book 'Glossy' below).

And I've enjoyed thinking of some of my memories and associations with the French capital, not least the hospitality offered to strangers.

There's the wonderful Shakespeare and Company bookshop on the banks of the River Seine. Opened in 1951, this English language bookshop became a meeting place for writers and readers, even offering a bed and a meal to those unable to find accommodation elsewhere - in return for working a shift or two in the store.

And there were the marvellous tales of the Supper Club organised by the late Jim Haynes in his home. Dinner would be available to anyone who wanted to drop by as he sought to "introduce the whole world to each other".

But this week I read an article in the New Yorker magazine which detailed how Parisiens have been opening up their homes to asylum seekers.

Since the start of the pandemic, a lack of state-provided housing in France has meant that migrants are often forced to sleep in makeshift camps or in Métro stations so in an improvised, ad hoc scheme, residents have been making spare rooms available and offering a bath and a hot meal to individuals and families.

Such kindness and compassion is uplifting and encouraging to read as we begin to think again of community rather than isolation going forward.

The sad news of the death of Prince Philip on Friday has brought much media coverage about the man and his achievements.

While he has been a public figure, and familiar to all of us, for so long, we always learn more about the essential goodness of an individual on their death, and also the troubles and challenges they had to overcome.

While there have been numerous biographies about Prince Philip and more will undoubtedly follow, I was surprised to learn that he enjoyed poetry, was a great letter-writer and had also written, or co-written, some 15 books himself. Many of these were collected speeches, others recalled his carriage driving, and a number were about wildlife and his concern for the environment.

Though now we have entered a period of national mourning, this coincides with another step in the easing of lockdown.

It means from tomorrow we can visit bookshops and libraries again, to browse shelves and select new titles.

While we've noted how books have been a huge solace and inspiration to many of us in the past year, bookshops have, of course, not been considered essential. And in France this has been particularly contentious. However, in their current lockdown that decision has been revised. Now bookshops have been given special dispensation to remain open, considered as vital to life there as ... florists, music shops and chocolatiers.

Happy Easter! Among the chocolate, spring sunshine and boat race, it's a weekend to consider belief, faith and trust. But it's followed hard on the heels of April Fool's Day this year.

The news is regularly challenging our perception of what is true and false at the moment so it was interesting to see how media outlets, entertainment programmes and big brands approached the annual custom of practical jokes and hoaxes, particularly in these difficult and precarious times.

As my mind has been on dogs - with my reading of Simon Garfield's new book (details below) - there was a cute and heartwarming tale of the police engaging the help of our four-legged friends. The South Australian force has launched the Small Area Urban Search And Guided Evacuation dogs here.

We may have been buying more new books in this past year, so a product has been released to remind us of well loved and familiar volumes. Called Papier, the new scent is 'sweet with just a hint of the musty smell of aged paper,' and 'conjures memories of old-school reading with a sprinkling of violets and a dash of tasteful potpourri'. Find out more here.

But I did my first double-take while reading news from the publishing sector. An imprint of HarperCollins announced that it is no longer using punctuation in any of its books or communications, quoting the respected novelist Cormac McCarthy as saying "If you write properly, you shouldn't have to punctuate". The publishing team was led in their decision by researcher Dr Lucas Matthews, whom you can see explaining more here.  

Among all these wry tales, though, was a wonderfully amusing and rather lovely enterprise which isn't a one day wonder. Micky the rescue pony has been delivering books to readers in Wiltshire, inspired by the story from Jojo Moyes, 'The Giver of Stars' which featured as my BBC Radio Suffolk read last month. You can find out more about Micky's story here.

Thank you for reading. Happy Easter!

These days small tasks or niggles can seem mighty challenges or major setbacks. Many things are no longer familiar or everyday, and we have to assess and reassess chores and activities to ensure they adhere to restrictions keeping us all safe.

Lockdown may begin to ease tomorrow, but we are aware that this is slow and cautious progress. And for some people, who have been more isolated, it may be more difficult to make the transition than others.

I've been inspired in recent weeks, though, to learn about people who've wanted to discover the true extent of their potential, mentally, emotionally and physically.

You can read about how Vanessa O'Brien decided to climb mountains in my recommended book this month. Scroll down for more information.

But I was asked to interview four Shropshire men about their plans to row the Atlantic later this year. You can read about them here.

They are all over 50, one is partially sighted and their predominant experience of rowing is in the gym. And they signed up for the challenge in the midst of a global pandemic. It's meant that the delivery of their boat was delayed, courses for the qualifications required by the race organisers have been repeatedly postponed and they have had only rare occasions in between lockdowns to meet and train together. But their indomitable spirit, positive attitude and commitment to each other is truly uplifting and inspiring.

“I think we’ve all got the attitude that nothing’s unachievable,” says Martin Skeehan, one of the crew. "We will make it happen. It may seem impossible, but break it down and take the first step, and then the next one.”

So whether we're planning to climb a mountain, row the ocean, or get through the week, that's a simple message we can all remember!

And for this week, things look cheering with some sunshine and warmth forecast, and the hope of Easter to celebrate.

Thank you for reading.