Cooking In Cashmere

Update!

2018-07-13T11:28:00.000+01:00

I've noticed that there have been a few new followers of this blog recently. A big welcome to you - I'm delighted that you want to read more of my writing.
However, as of December 2017, I stopped writing on this blog and decided to move my creative space to a new site: https://rutterramblings.wordpress.com

Cooking In Cashmere will always be dear to my heart as the Internet space which encouraged me to pursue my passion for writing, but I felt that it was time for a new site that would allow me to write a bit more freely about non food-related issues. (Having said that, food still features heavily!) I like to write about places I have visited, thoughts I've had and other general reflections on the big and little things in life.

You can subscribe to the new blog to receive email updates, or follow it via Wordpress itself.

Enjoy!

Reflections on Dublin

2017-10-01T09:21:00.002+01:00

I step out of Connolly Station into the grey streets of Dublin, the same streets immortalised by James Joyce almost one hundred years ago. Every time I visit the city I am struck by its intense openness. There are no masks, no touristy façades here (well, perhaps one or two); instead, the city chooses to reveal itself as it is – grey and green, damp yet cheery – to everyone who asks for it, tourists and residents alike.

Today, we are going to the National Gallery. It’s not yet half past ten in the morning and the gallery – just a stone’s throw away from busy Grafton Street – is quiet, populated only by a few keen art fans. We pause to pick up a map as we enter, only to be told by the woman at the desk that there’s no need for one. Instead, she directs us to the exhibition of Irish artists and the Turner watercolours displayed on the top floor, and wishes us a pleasant day.

We start our journey on the first floor, which takes us through the bloody history of Ireland painting by painting. We see a little boy surrounded by fierce armed men; we see landlords evicting their tenants and stark portrayals of the potato famine. I recognise the General Post office in a painting of the Easter Rising and marvel that O’Connell Street has changed so little since then. We see the foundations being laid for Daniel O’Connell’s statue on O'Connell Street, and the colourful, blurred innards of a railway station alongside an IRA flying column, rudely rendered in thick daubs of oil paint.

A little later, we visit the gallery of European artists. It is small, but filled with tiny treasures: an early Van Gogh, a brightly coloured Picasso, a bronze Renoir sculpture. These are complimented by beautiful paintings I’ve never heard of before, depicting exotic scenes of India and an English walk in bluebell woods.

The Turner exhibition is busy. It’s almost twelve o’clock and the gallery has begun to take on a more vibrant air. We step into the gallery and stop to allow our eyes to adjust to the dim light. Watercolours and half-completed sketches line the walls: paintings of candyfloss skies curling around the thick pillars of Venetian palaces; rugged Alpine gorges tumbling with water, and then at the end, a tree. It is so different to the other paintings that I wonder if it has been painted by the same artist or if it is just in here by mistake. We end up buying a print of this very painting later on.

When I leave the gallery, I find my parents waiting for me outside. We exchange a tired look, making the unanimous decision to stop in the café on our way out, weary from seeing, looking and absorbing.

As we tuck into crumbly, moist slabs of carrot cake and cups of hot coffee, I look up into the airy atrium surrounding us. It is an open space; a space which acknowledges the value of the past, yet refuses to dwell on it, looking ahead to the great things of the future. Just like Dublin itself, really.

Walking the York City Walls

2017-09-18T09:21:00.000+01:00

Today is the day. Today, we’re going to walk the York city walls.

These large, imposing stone structures enclose the old town now as they have done for many centuries, though now the town has expanded, overflowing onto the other side like an unstoppable living organism. The walls are unbelievably thick, constructed from heavy chunks of stone, and I wonder just how the builders managed to transport them without injury all those years ago.

We enter the walls by the Bishop’s Gate, posing for a photograph on the way. I almost feel like I’m going back in time as we step off the noisy road and into the wall, where a strange sort of calm pervades, high above the cars and pedestrians of the city below. Did the Roman soldiers on patrol sense this, too?

It’s a damp morning and a soft, feathery mist has gathered gently on the rooftops. It’s not enough to obscure our view, but coats the city in a light, downy dust, enshrouding it in mystery. We begin to walk along the ramparts, stopping every now and then to admire a building on the other side or consult the map to see where we are. It’s a new experience for my family and I, who, having owned a dog for the past thirteen years, are more used to tramping along a muddy forest path than atop these upright, proud walls.

As we progress along the snaking ramparts, we receive short yet profound glimpses into the lives of York’s inhabitants. We’re practically walking over their back gardens, privy to the messy, mossy lawns and paving stones covered in weeds, as well as the neatly-landscaped hedges and gardens strewn with children’s toys. It’s strangely intimate, and we discuss the potential merits and pitfalls of living in such houses.

In some places, proprietors have taken advantage of the wall. There are several tiny cafés tucked in amongst the old gatehouses, decorated in twinkling fairy-lights and furnished with cosy chairs; an oasis of peace away from the hordes of camera-wielding tourists just a few minutes away. But even this feeling changes as we get closer to the Minster. We pass the train station – beautiful in its own way, when viewed from the walls – and notice a building that looks as if it has come straight from an Amsterdam canal. It becomes even more intriguing when we see that it is surrounded by electronic gates. Is it a hotel? A government building? We resolve to look for it online later on.

The time has come for us to quit the wall, just under an hour after our walk began. We’ve had a tranquil start to the morning, but cannot ignore the rest of the city entirely. We decide to keep the remainder of the walls for our next visit, which comes just a few months later, and so, our minds turned towards thoughts of a hot drink, we descend.

Whispers of Autumn

2017-09-10T18:26:00.000+01:00

Today felt like the first real day of Autumn.

I've been in France for the past two weeks, which is still in the last leisurely days of summer. It was bright and sunny and even the wind was warm.

Here, it's a different story.

When I woke up, I felt that the weather had changed. There was a slight chill in the air, and I had to wear a dressing-gown - not out of habit, but out of necessity.

It was one of those days where you can't quite tell what the weather is going to do. At first, it felt cold and blustery, so we piled on the layers of jumpers and warm socks. And yet, when the sun came out in the break between church and lunch, we found that we were too hot, and had to undress. Our afternoon walk, too, was deceptive: we walked into the chill wind, heads down, hats on, only to find that when we turned around to walk the other way we needed to unzip our coats and walk at a more leisurely pace.

We picked blackberries this afternoon, dashing out in between the showers of rain to pick handfuls of glossy, sweet berries. We made blackberry and apple crumble for pudding, and I gathered some more to make into compote for tomorrow morning.

I had forgotten how much I truly love Autumn.

Control

2017-08-02T09:55:00.001+01:00

I’m Emma, and I hate not being in control. I’m a perfectionist at heart, and often it seems to me like the best way to get things done is to do them myself, because only then will they live up to my own high standards.

I struggled with group work in school, because I would have to work with other people who had different ideas to mine and different ways of implementing their own ideas. I remember one history project where we had to pair up and create a multimedia powerpoint – complete with animations and music – and, because there was an odd number in our class, I said I would happily make one by myself. And I did so, and it was brilliant. Or at least, it seemed so at the time.

During my teenage years, my need to be in control slowly started working its way into other aspects of my life – mainly involving food. Having seen how, when I put my mind to something, I could usually achieve it (I’m thinking particularly of exam results), I decided that I could do the same with food. I had an idea of what my dream body would look like, and knew that, if I was committed enough, I could change myself and look how I wanted to look. I started watching my diet and became completely obsessed with what I ate, with that body ‘goal’ always at the forefront of my mind – even on holiday.

However, bodies don’t work quite in the same way as exams. And what I didn’t understand was that whilst I could change the amount of muscle and fat on my body, there were some things I couldn’t change, like bone structure and genetic make-up. When this truth finally hit, I was crushed. I would cry myself to sleep at night, weeping into my pillow because I could never, ever, look how I wanted to. It was just physically impossible. I would try to comfort myself, saying, “It’s alright. God is in control. He made you. He’ll change you to how He wants you to be. By the time you’re twenty, everything will be sorted out.”

And yet, the years passed by and nothing seemed to fix itself. I still dipped in and out of my struggles with food; I still looked at myself in the mirror and automatically pointed out all of the flaws. I had acknowledged God’s sovereign power over my life, but that didn’t affect the way I lived it. I told myself that I was resting in God’s plan, but in all honesty, I wasn’t, because I couldn’t bear to let go and not be in control. Even when I thought I was taking care of my body for God – because He created it, and I thought I should look after it – I was still fixated on what I could do to change myself so that I could be who I wanted to be.

I thought I was able to sort out my own problems. I thought I was capable of fixing everything that was wrong in my life. I thought that I could decide what I wanted to do, and do it, going to God to ask Him to support the decisions that I thought were best for me. I was willing to go to Him for comfort, but I was reluctant to let go and truly hand over my life to Him, because I had no idea what that would bring. I knew that I probably wouldn’t like what God had planned for me, at least not at first, and I didn’t know how to allow Him into my life like that. I was scared that He would change me.

On reflection, I can’t believe I was ever afraid of letting God into my life. God does change us, but He changes us in the best way possible – into the people He created us to be. Why would I try to define my own life if I could let the One who made me and knows everything about me define it instead?

It wasn’t until I admitted that I couldn’t control my life that I found true freedom. Once I recognised that my plans – as good as they may have seemed at first – were ultimately flawed, I could give my life to God, resting in the knowledge that His plans for me are far better than anything I could make for myself. Even when I don’t know what’s going on in my life, I know that the God who made the universe does, and what’s more, He cares about me and every aspect of my life. He simply asks us to trust Him. He knows it’s difficult to put our trust in something we cannot see; He knows that we find it so much easier to ‘do life’ on our own. But He knows who I was made to be, and He will form me into that person, if I let him. And we can trust that that person will be wonderful, because it was designed by God – God, who is so loving that he actually is love[1]. How could anything he designed be bad?

This applies to so many aspects of our life, not just our physical appearance. God knows not only what you’ll look like in ten/twenty/thirty years, but He also knows what job you’ll have, who your friends will be, where you’ll be living, right down to the words you’ll be saying. [2] It’s incredibly liberating to know that even if I don’t know what I’ll be doing in the future, God does.

For me, learning to trust in God and hand over the steering wheel to Him has been a slow and gradual process. It’s not easy to admit that we can’t do things on our own, particularly when we’re proud of being so independent. Trust in God doesn’t just happen with a click of the fingers; it starts with the recognition that our ways are flawed and utterly, utterly rubbish when you compare them with the plans of the One who created the whole earth. It involves promising every morning that you will try to follow His way and not your own – even when your own may seem simpler, or, at that moment in time, much better. For me, it involved accepting His plan for my life, and accepting that His plan didn’t necessarily look like my plan; recognizing that although I wanted to look a certain way, God knew how I was meant to look years before I was born.[3] I started trusting in Him, and was finally able to let go of my need to be in control. Once I started – and once I saw how good God’s plans were – it became easier, and it spread throughout the rest of my life. I started trusting that He knew what I was to look like, what I was to study at university – and I still trust that He knows what I’m going to do after I graduate.

In our culture, it can seem a bit odd to say that you have no idea of what you’re going to do in your life – and it’s even odder to admit this with a smile on your face. I’m not saying that it’s impossible to worry about the future (because, let’s face it, we’re all human, and we all get caught up by these worries sometimes) – but I like to think that if worry does strike, it will only be momentary. I won’t be relying on myself anymore – on my abilities, on my looks, on my own personal desires and ideas about what my life should look like – but on God. He is the One I trust, and He is infinitely bigger than anything else in the universe.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

- Proverbs 3:5 – 6

[1] 1 John 4v8

[2] Psalm 139 v4

[3] Psalm 139 v13 - 16

If you'd like to chat more about anything I've mentioned in this post, feel free to email me on cooking.in.cashmere17@gmail.com.

Great Expectations

2017-07-28T11:16:00.002+01:00

I wrote this post back in March, just after my second term ended. I'm a bit older and wiser now, but the words remain relevant for me today - and, I hope, for you, too.

Before I moved to university six months ago, I had so many ideas and expectations about what university life would be like.

It would be full of stir fries and sweet potato stews made in my student kitchen, with the occasional brownie / mug cake thrown in.

I would join a dance club, go to the gym regularly and take long walks during my study breaks.

I'd have co-ordinated stationery and I'd never find myself without TippEx again.

I would have made a great group of friends by the end of my second week and we'd do everything together (with Facebook photos for proof).

I'd have time to read for pleasure, to finish my photo album, and to go wandering the streets of Cambridge in search of quaint coffee shops.

You don't have to be a genius to guess that many of these things didn't happen. It is only now, after two terms, that I have started to find the balance between work and play, and I am still in the process of discovering how long I can work for in the evenings before I fall asleep and my essays stop making sense.

However, underneath my rather trivial expectations above lie some deeper, more important hopes.

For example, I hope to find out what I want to do with my life.
Maybe I'll meet my future husband.
I'll discover who I truly am - what I like, what I dislike, what clothes I like to wear, what social activities I like to do.

And when these things don't seem to be slotting into place, it can be so easy to get discouraged. If my expectations haven't been met by now, will they ever be sorted?

We can put so much pressure on ourselves to make our life look how we imagine it to be that we sometimes stop ourselves from appreciating it as it is. I'll be the first to admit that expectations and aspirations are important - they're what drive us forward, what motivate us - but not when they become so rigid that you can't see past them.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that we need - I need - to be more flexible in our approach to life. Life doesn't always go to plan, and our lives don't always match up to our expectations. But worrying about it when it doesn't go our way doesn't bring any benefit; it only stops us from enjoying the good things.

Matt Redman, a well-known Christian song-writer, writes about finding 10,000 reasons to praise God - even in the hard times. Even when things aren't going our way. He sings about finding hope in all circumstances; about thanking our Creator for giving us one more day to experience His goodness and infinite love.

It takes courage to let ourselves go and live in the moment. It will take a while for me to get used to resting in God's arms, safe in the knowledge that even when I don't know what I'm doing, God does.

It's a work in progress. But then, if our lives were perfect, and our aspirations fulfilled at a touch of the button, there would be very little fun in it.

Life updates

2017-06-22T18:43:00.000+01:00

I promise I'll be back soon. The summer holidays are beginning and my notepad and pen are calling. Until then, you might like to take a look at some of my most recent pieces of writing.

I wrote this for the Christian Union in Cambridge, in anticipation of their May Week Garden Party. Feel free to send me an email if you'd like to hear more about what God has to offer you, or how my faith affects the way I live.

I've still been blogging for Varsity. In fact, I've just written my last column for them. I think that I'll run out of cafés and restaurants to visit very soon (or rather, I'll run out of money) and it is time my writing takes a new direction. Keep your eyes peeled for the odd article here and there next term. I've listed a few of my reviews below.

- NOVI - "Whether you choose to start or end your day there, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it either way"

- Bedouin - "I’d recommend the tagine zaytoun: chicken, carrots and green olives simmered slowly in a turmeric and coriander sauce until the carrots are meltingly soft and the chicken is tender."

- John Lewis espresso bar - " I was doubtful as to what constituted ‘cake’, according to the terms of my card agreement, so avoided the thick fudgy chocolate cake and the cheesecake (I mean, it was ten o’clock in the morning after all) and plumped for a nice, safe slice of carrot cake instead."

A warming bowl

2017-06-01T10:35:00.002+01:00

I didn't realise how time-consuming cooking was until I started cooking for myself. I used to read the "30 minutes and under" sections of cookery books and magazines with a slightly disdainful air, thinking that 30 minutes was nothing for a decent meal. But now that I have to be in charge of preparing, cooking and eating said meal - and trying to fit that in around my busy schedule - it becomes a bit more of a chore.

The thing is, I genuinely enjoy cooking. (What, you hadn't guessed by now?) It helps me to relax, and forces me to take a bit of a break, even if I do sometimes attempt to learn French vocab at the same time.

Here at college we have the option of buying food in the canteen, or cooking for ourselves in the tiny kitchens. It's a handy system in that you pay for each meal separately so there's no fear of losing money if you can't make a meal. I like to go to the canteen because it forces me to be sociable (particularly important after a day in the library), but it does mean that I don't cook as much as I'd like to.

It's a difficult trade-off. But when some evening event crops up that means I can't eat with my friends, I have to take the initiative and make something for myself. Beans on toast, scrambled eggs or a baked sweet potato are quick and easy, but not quite as enjoyable to make (nor, I would argue, as enjoyable to eat).

So, what do you cook when you need to cook but don't have much time or many ingredients?

Red lentil dahl wins, every single time.

Lentils are so good for you (fibre and minerals), and the red ones barely take ten minutes to cook. An onion is a kitchen staple - as are the spices I have listed here. Fresh ginger may seem like a bit of an extravagance, but it's so useful for adding to stir fries and curries that a thumb-sized piece, costing around 40p, is one of the best additions to your shopping basket. Coconut milk, in the same vein, can seem expensive, but if you buy the packs of creamed coconut you can cut a piece off and add it to some hot water, thus using only the amount you need.

In an ideal world, you'd use more than just three spices. I'd recommend adding some turmeric if you can stretch to that. (Use the rest of it in turmeric milk, or throw it in a smoothie!) You could also peel and dice some carrots or sweet potato with the onion and cook them until they become meltingly soft. And if you're making this for a certain someone - or for a larger group - then it's definitely worth spending a little extra money to buy some fresh coriander, which really lifts the dish.

I do love serving this with rice, but this recipe makes a big enough bowlful that you'll barely miss it, and it keeps the time down, too. Naan bread would also be a delicious addition.

Simple lentil dahl (serves 1)
1/2 onion, chopped
sprinkle dried chilli flakes or half a fresh chilli, chopped
1tsp ground cumin
pinch ground cinnamon
little piece fresh ginger, finely chopped
70g red lentils
100ml coconut milk
Optional: handful of spinach leaves, chopped fresh coriander and yoghurt, if wished, to garnish.

1. Fry the onion for about 3 minutes, until softened. Add the spices and fresh ginger and cook for a further minute. Add the coconut milk and red lentils (and carrot/sweet potato here, if using). Simmer for 10 minutes or so until the lentils have absorbed most of the liquid.
2. Stir in the spinach and fresh coriander, if using. Serve.

These past few months in media

2017-05-06T15:20:00.003+01:00

After a splurge of posts in January, I'll admit that I have somewhat neglected this blog. (Not my column for the Varsity blog, though!) So, here's a little list to let you know what I have been up to.

(image source)

TV and Drama
Gilmore Girls (Netflix)
I'm a little bit late to the party with this series, and to be quite honest, I haven't even watched every single episode. Nevertheless, it was a source of evening entertainment last term, and one that I would recommend. The storyline isn't too dramatic, but contains just enough intrigue and comedy moments to keep my interest.

The Shawshank Redemption
I'd been waiting to watch this film for almost five years, ever since we looked at a poster for it in one of my GCSE English classes. It didn't disappoint! It's a story about friendship, perseverance and, most of all, hope. 10/10 would recommend.

The Crown
I started to watch this series with my cousins in Madrid and have continued to do so now that I'm back at uni. (It has replaced the Gilmore Girls-shaped hole in my life.) It has made me really think about all the responsibilities placed on our Queen - not really in terms of decision-making, but in terms of public pressure and what is the 'right' thing to be seen to be doing, whether it is what she wants to do or not. I have always had tremendous respect for the Queen, and this series has only made me like her more.

Dead Poet's Society
What a classic. I had always intended to watch this film, but hadn't got round to it until this term. It felt a little strange, watching something set in a high school; having just left school this year, the boys in the film seemed incredibly young. It made me feel nostalgic for school days, excited about reading new books, and sad, all at once.

La La Land
I really enjoyed this film, once I got it into my head that it was a strange sort of musical/film hybrid. Beautiful songs, and an unexpected twist at the end.

Call the Midwife (BBC)
I attempted to continue watching this series this term, but I didn't do very well. Still, the episodes I did watch were heartwarming, as per usual.

Books
El Palacio de Medianoche - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Bit of a weird book to list here, but I picked this up before I went on holidays because I recognised the author's name (you might know him as the author of the acclaimed "The Shadow of the Wind"). It's a book for teenagers and it was quite refreshing to read a story that seemed a little bit lighter than the adult novels I have been reading recently, if only because it clearly took place at another time, in a slightly different world.

Belgravia - Julian Fellowes
I bought this with a Waterstones voucher I found hidden away in my purse. I loved Downton Abbey when it was on tv, and this book transported me back into its upper-class English world. It isn't the best book I've read this year, but it was thoroughly enjoyable and was a good choice for the Easter holidays.

Runaway - Alice Munroe
I tried to read a few pages of this book every night last term, and, being composed of short stories, it didn't take me long to get through it. Some of the stories were linked together; many were sad and disappointing, but in that sense, they reflect the ups and downs of everyday life rather well.

Le Chateau de Ma Mère - Marcel Pagnol
I read the first book in this series (La Gloire de Mon Père) last year for my A-Levels and thought I had better finish off the set. This one was easier to read than its predecessor (though perhaps that just means my language has improved since then) and it was equally charming.

Other books on the go (not yet completed) are:
La Peste - Albert Camus
Thrush Green - Miss Reed

As well as numerous texts for my degree, including Lorca's Romancero Gitano (pictured above, from my Instagram).

Chocolate and cardamom buns

2017-04-26T16:46:00.000+01:00

Cardamom is a spice that I will always associate with my mother - not because of its name, but because I first encountered this distinctive, sweet spice when I baked a polenta cake flavoured with cardamom and rosewater for her birthday almost ten years ago. We had just returned from a family holiday to Paris, where we had eaten a Lebanese meal in a department store one steamy summer's evening. We didn't want to eat anything too heavy, so a plate full of mezze was perfect for us: stuffed vine leaves, light and crispy pastries, slathered in roasted aubergine and houmous. The desserts, to my ten year-old self, seemed extremely exotic: delicate mousses and cakes flavoured with pistachios, rose and cardamom.

Since then, I have started to use cardamom more frequently in my cooking. It's such a versatile spice; you can use it in korma or daal, as well as adding it to warm milky drinks and baked goods like these buns. It's a rather distinctive taste, so I understand if it's not for you; but it's definitely worth a try.

This is a recipe from Cheta Makan, and I stumbled upon it a few weeks ago via Pinterest. I can't say that I was specifically looking for a sweet twisted bun recipe, but I have been longing to make Izzy Hossak's pretzel buns from her first cookbook for a good two years now, and the idea of chocolate in a soft, yeasty bun proved irresistible. Fragrant, cardamom-scented twists of glossy-crusted dough combine with toasted hazelnuts and melted dark chocolate to make a bun so deliciously decadent that you could give me a tray of these for my birthday and I would be happy.

They're great for a lazy Saturday morning breakfast, or an afternoon pick-me-up, served with a mug of coffee or a cold glass of milk.

Chocolate and cardamom buns (from Carr's flour, by Cheta Makan)
I'd really recommend watching the video so that you know how to fold them. It's not as difficult as it may seem!

Happy Easter?

2017-04-20T00:18:00.000+01:00

Instagram made Easter stickers.
Facebook offered me some e-cards.
People posted on Twitter wishing me a 'Happy Easter'.

But why?

Why do we, in a society which seems so keen to separate itself from religion, continue to celebrate a religious festival? Christmas, too, this year, stirred up similar feelings of confusion for me. I understand that for many people, Easter has become synonymous with springtime - a celebration of new life (lambs, chicks and daffodils); a symbol of hope, if you like, after a long, dark winter. Don't get me wrong - I love chocolate eggs, roast lamb and family Easter egg hunts as much as the next girl, but I can't help but feel more than a little bewildered at the prominent position of Easter in a society which rejects so many other aspects of the Christian faith. Just like Christmas, this religious celebration has been seized for commercial gain. Like giant limpets, multi-national companies sensed the potential goldmine of the Easter bunny many years ago and they have been exploiting the occasion ever since.

For Christians like myself, Easter is one of the best days of the year.
Without Easter, Christianity means nothing.

Easter brings joy - joy in the knowledge that we were created by a God who loves us; a God who will always forgive us when we ask, even when we do things which hurt Him. He is a God who will go to any lengths to save us.

He even died. Just for us.

Thanks to Easter we know that, when we die, we do not have to fear death. We are given the opportunity to live with our Creator forever in a place free from sickness, death and hurt. A perfect place, full of love and laughter and light.

Chocolate eggs are all very well and good, but I'd say that this gift makes them look positively rubbish in comparison.

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." John 5:24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjSio8jur2Y

Breaking News!

2017-02-01T23:28:00.000+00:00

Just a quick post to let you know about some exciting blog-related news: I'm writing a column for the university paper's new online blog platform!

Varsity is a well-respected student newspaper here in Cambridge, and when I heard that they were on the hunt for new columnists, I gladly offered to write for them.

Each week I'll be reviewing a new place to eat in Cambridge, hoping to inspire you to take a break from your studies and/or take a trip up to visit this beautiful town.

You can find my column here: https://www.varsity.co.uk/violet/11803

Don't forget to check out the rest of the columnists, too!

Taking time to rest

2017-01-18T19:46:00.000+00:00

2017 is well underway. The Christmas decorations have gone back up to the attic, last year's calendar has been sent to the recycling bin, and everywhere, everyone is taking steps towards becoming a 'healthier, happier version' of themselves.

As many celebrity health gurus have been telling us, being healthy doesn't just imply physical health. We need to look after ourselves mentally and emotionally, too.

I'm the kind of person who always needs to be on the go. If I'm not working, I feel guilty. Even when I'm supposedly having some 'down time' in front of the TV, I fidget and paint my nails, knit or catch up on my latest emails. I'll read something as I eat my breakfast - sometimes a new novel, but more often than not, it's a set text for my course, or a foreign news website online.

But after eight weeks of intense study, I knew that I had to take a complete break. At first, it was difficult to switch off from the world of work. At first, I would jump out of bed and say, "I want to be washed and dressed and ready to start work at 9:30." While this kind of motivation and forward planning is an invaluable quality of mine, and something I particularly appreciate when it comes to exam season, constantly setting targets for ourselves is not good, either.

It has only been in the last few days - just as I'm preparing to return to university for another exciting, exhausting term - that I have truly been able to embrace the joy of doing nothing. I have started to appreciate the luxury of waking up slowly, gently; ambling downstairs, rubbing sleep from my eyes, to drink a leisurely cup of coffee and watch the birds eat from the feeder in the garden. There's a great pleasure to be gained from spending an hour curled up on the sofa with a new book, or from talking with friends about nothing in particular.

In a world dominated by to-do lists, pinging mobile phones and constant activity, we need to bask in these little moments of calm, whenever they appear. We need to make time for these occasions and give ourselves the opportunity to experience the inner tranquility that comes from simply doing nothing, without feeling guilty about it.

This year, I'll be looking for little opportunities to rest. Will you?

This month in media

2017-01-11T19:48:00.000+00:00

Slightly late with this post (again), but that's because I took some much-needed time to relax over the Christmas holidays. I spent several weeks working, baking and catching up with old friends, as well as coming up with new blog ideas and an exciting new venture in Cambridge, which will be revealed soon.

For now, though, I'll leave you with a little snapshot of what I have been reading and watching this past month.

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TV and Drama
The Great Christmas Bake Off (BBC): would you have expected anything less from me?

Call the Midwife Christmas special (BBC) : I've been a loyal fan of this series since it first began several years ago. Though it has changed rather a lot since then - and this episode was no exception, being set in South Africa! - it always succeeds in making me laugh and cry (sometimes simultaneously).

Sherlock (BBC): like many Brits, I spent New Year's Day cosied up on the sofa with my family, eagerly awaiting the return of the twenty-first century's favourite detective. Episode One felt a bit too James Bond-y, in my opinion, without the subtle mystery and clever deductions of earlier series; but Episode Two blew all my doubts away.

'Big' the musical : we caught this musical during our short stay in Dublin and it was even better than I had expected. Granted, I haven't seen the 1988 Tom Hanks film so have nothing to compare it to, but the sing-along tunes and insightful jokes had me hooked from the beginning. I was really impressed by the children in the show, who had clearly worked very hard to ensure that their dance routines and American accents were just right. It was also the first time I felt myself identifying with the adults over the children, which was an interesting development!

Vis-a-Vis / Locked Up (4od) : a friend introduced me to this exciting Spanish TV series, which is basically the European equivalent of Orange is the New Black. You'll grow to like pretty, blonde Macarena, who, though she initially seems weak and feeble-minded, develops a strong character of her own over the course of the series.

Books
The Nightspinners by Lucretia Grindle: I wrote a long review of one of Ms Grindle's books just before I stopped blogging. I loved it, but wasn't so keen on this one. This book tells the tale of two identical twins: one is murdered, and a year later, her sister starts to receive sinister messages and signs similar to the ones her sister received before she was killed. Perhaps, as a twin, this story felt too real for me; and though I enjoyed the book, it did set my heart pounding late at night, which isn't a quality that I usually look for!

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco : I first picked this up because its name kept popping up in lectures, and I'm glad I pursued it. I do love a good historical novel, and this one combines a series of chilling murders with an isolated monastery high in the Italian hills. This too made my heart pound, but it wasn't quite as frightening as The Nightspinners, purely because Italian monasteries are not places I tend to frequent in my day-to-day life.

Frenchman's Creek by Daphne du Maurier : this reminded me of why I fell in love with reading in the first place. Du Maurier's enchanting story about how a young noblewoman finds freedom from dull city life in the Cornish countryside captured my attention from the beginning. I could almost feel the warm sun on my face and the foaming sea on my feet as I read this, and ended the novel feeling relaxed and uplifted. Would definitely recommend.

Cartas Marruecas by José Cadalso : this book is a set text for us this year, so I obediently worked my way through it over the holidays in preparation for my return to university. It's a series of letters sent to a Moroccan nobleman from his servant who is travelling through Spain, noting the cultural differences and practices between the two countries. The stereotypes he describes are just the same now as they were then, which made me smile.

Le Bel Inconnu (author unknown) : this probably isn't a book you would want to read, but it formed part of my reading this month so I thought I'd tell you about it anyway. This is another set text (French, this time) about a young knight who has no idea who he is or who his parents are. When a quest to save a young maiden in a faraway land is presented at court, he jumps at the chance, hoping to prove himself to King Arthur and his knights. We follow this young knight through many dangerous lands and battles, sighing when he gets distracted by a mysterious fairy princess and cheering when he defeats the challenges that lie in his way. This book was tough, language-wise, but story-wise, it gets a nine out of ten from me. I'm looking forward to studying it in depth this term.

Cake for breakfast

2017-01-06T22:48:00.000+00:00

With the inevitable healthy-eating, whole food mantras floating around on the Internet this month, I thought it would be the perfect time to share this cake with you.

I baked Sophie's Morning Glory loaf cake a few weeks ago. I had been going a little bit crazy on Pinterest during the last few weeks of term, just itching to get back into the kitchen at home and try something new. Old favourites are all very well, but sometimes you get the urge to experiment!

This carrot cake is unlike any other carrot cake you've tasted. In fact, I'm not even sure it should be called carrot cake. But it is essentially that - a cake (or rather, loaf) made with all the key ingredients: carrot, nuts and dried fruit. It's a loaf that is most definitely suitable for breakfast - not too sweet, with juicy cranberries, crunchy pumpkin seeds and a satisfyingly spongy interior. There's no sticky cream cheese icing - though that could have its place here - and the oats sprinkled on top positively sing "I'm good for you".

Eat it on its own, or spread with a little butter (nut or dairy, your choice). Alternatively you could jump on the cake toast train (like Molly and the others) - but do make sure to cut yourself a thick slice. I cut a rather skinny slice of cake which fell to pieces inside the toaster and resulted in a ten-minute struggle with the toaster and a plastic spatula.

I'll admit that this recipe isn't quite like the original. I used more plain flour than spelt flour, swapped chia seed eggs for real eggs, and used walnuts instead of pecans. I imagine you could throw in any combination of nuts/seeds/dried fruit that you wanted - I think raisins and walnuts would go together particularly nicely. I also ran out of maple syrup so used honey instead, which lent it a distinctive - though not unpleasant - aftertaste.

In short: bake, and enjoy.

Morning Glory Loaf (adapted from Whole Hearted Eats, original recipe here)

1 1/2 Cups Flour (I used a mixture of spelt flour and plain flour)

1 tsp. Baking Powder (slightly rounded)
1 tsp. Bicarbonate of Soda
1 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
3/4 tsp. Ground Ginger
1/8 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
6 Tbsp. Maple Syrup or honey
2 Tbsp. Caster Sugar
1/2 Cup. Unsweetened Applesauce
4 Tbsp. Oil (e.g olive oil or melted coconut oil)
2 eggs
1 Cup Grated Carrot (about 2 large)
1/4 Cup Shredded Coconut (Desiccated coconut)
1/4 Cup Cranberries
1/4 Cup Chopped Pecans
1/4 Cup Pumpkin Seeds

1. In a bowl combine the flour, baking powder, soda, spices and salt. Mix the maple syrup, eggs, sugar, applesauce, and oil togetherl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until halfway combined.

2. Stir in the carrot, coconut, cranberries, pecans, and pumpkin seeds and mix just until combined.

3. Pour the batter into a parchment lined pan. Sprinkle the top with some seeds and oats and bake in a preheated 175 C (350 F) oven for 55-65 minutes, or until the top springs back.

Homemade gift ideas

2016-12-18T22:15:00.002+00:00

I told myself I would never be one of those bloggers who wrote a Christmas gift guide. To me it seemed like the ultimate trap, just another means of encouraging the purchase of useless gifts that will end up in the dustbin, contributing to the masses of landfill that are cluttering up our countryside.
(Cheerful soul, wasn't I?)

But the truth is, I do love Christmas shopping. Actually, I'll be more precise than that: I love shopping for gifts. I love picking out things that will make people smile; I love searching for bargains; I love the satisfaction that comes when you've wrapped and labelled a pile of gifts, ready to hand them out over mulled wine and mince pies later on in the day.

Giada has a really great Christmas gift guide this year (and a good giveaway!), and Etsy has some good quirky gifts, too. I personally hate spending large amounts of money on gifts - not only because I'm a student, but also because I don't think the amount we spend necessarily makes the present any better. Some of the best gifts I've received have been made up of tiny little things - trinkets, really - but what makes the difference is that they have been specifically chosen for me. For Emma.

I'm aware that it's not always practical to buy everyone a sweet, meaningful gift. I'm aware that sometimes we have to give gifts to people we barely know at all - but there's a solution for that too, away from the boxes of body butters and tubs of lip balm that will only be used occasionally, if ever.

Tiger is a really good shop for little gifts, as is the latest addition to Belfast's Ann Street: Stostrene Grene. Keep an eye out for local craft markets, or check Easy if you're looking for something a bit more special.

Homemade foodie gifts are handy because you can make them in bulk on a Sunday afternoon, wrap them up in brown paper and send them off to be eaten by the grateful recipient. See my list of suggestions below!

Jam
Jam is difficult to make in the winter without spending oodles on fresh fruit imported from the Southern Hemisphere, so if you haven't had the opportunity to make plum jam this year, you could try making your own marmalade - either with real Seville oranges, or with a tin of Mamade (we swear by the stuff).
You could also try chutney - Nigella has a good pumpkin chutney recipe in her book 'Kitchen', or you could go for the classic onion chutney, or Mary Berry's Christmas Chutney.

Biscuits and sweet things
Chocolate bark is having a moment, but you could also try making these little chocolate/dried fruit pebbles for something a bit neater.

I tried making fudge a few years ago, but it was a disaster. Unless you're a seasoned fudge-maker, I wouldn't recommend it - no matter how easy the recipe says it is to make!

Biscotti and cantuccini are slightly more unusual but are incredibly tasty, and will be much appreciated if you know someone who likes to have a little biscuit with their coffee. Try the BBC recipe, or, if you're worried about nut allergies, why not attempt their gingerbread biscuits? (See my attempt at them here.)

For friends who like to bake, you could try making your own cake/cookie mix by layering up the ingredients in a glass jar and decorating it with a ribbon and hand-drawn label. If you're really stuck for time, you could buy a supermarket cookie mix (the Tesco one is good) and put it into a little brown bag.

Chocolate truffles are in theory a good idea, but their short shelf life makes them a bit of a pain. Good as a last-minute present, though!

Hot chocolate kits are also a lovely idea at this time of year. Similar to the cookie mixes, all you'll need to do is combine hot chocolate powder, mini marshmallows and maybe some chocolate chips in a tiny jar or cellophane bag, perhaps adding a mini liqueur for adults.

You could also try making a little set of recipe cards: pick a theme (cakes, jams, curries, pasta dishes), collect a few recipes on Pinterest, and print them out onto pretty card.

Or how about buying in bulk and dividing the products up between several people? A little parcel made up of socks,handcream and some chocolates is thoughtful and budget-friendly.

How do you feel about buying gifts? Do you love it or loathe it?

This month in media

2016-12-14T20:38:00.000+00:00

So, technically I'm a bit late with this month's post, but I thought I'd write it anyway. Unfortunately I haven't had the time to read anything other than books from the college library, but I look forward to changing that over the Christmas break (Waterstones here I come!). On the other hand, I have seen several films and plays which you may enjoy; do leave a comment below if you have any opinions on them (or even better, leave your own suggestions)!

Film/Drama

Rules for Living - this play takes a relatively normal family with a few secrets and throws them all together over Christmas dinner. Each character has their own 'rules for living' - that is, set things that they must do when triggered by something else ( e.g so-and-so must dance until she gets attention). Some of these rules made me laugh out loud, but there were also moments when I felt truly touched by the messy, fractured relationships within the family. A Christmassy play with a deeper message.

Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios (Women on the verge of a nervous breakdown) - by Pedro Almodóvar
This was my first experience of an Almodóvar film, and whilst it won't be my last, it didn't have me rushing to watch another. The central character, Pepa, has just been dumped by her boyfriend, and over the course of the film we see how she tries to cope with this. However, she hadn't banked on a phone call from her good friend Candela asking for help because she has got into trouble with a group of terrorists; nor had she imagined that the engaged couple coming to view her apartment would be related to her ex-lover. The film is, as the title suggests, very focused on women - a refreshing change from Hollywood action films. Though I enjoyed it (relatively speaking), it's not my favourite film, though perhaps that's because I watched it in the early hours of a Saturday morning.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
My one cinema trip this term had to be dedicated to JK Rowling's newest release. It took me a while to get into the film, but Eddie Redmayne's geekish charm soon won me over. I like the way it brings up events which only received a brief mention in the Potter books (Grindelwald), and though it is slightly dark in places, it is a good way to escape back into magical life when real life (essays!) becomes too much to deal with.

A Streetcar Named Desire
I studied this at school a few years ago and love it now as much as I did then. Carrying on with the theme of watching films with female protagonists, this play is exciting, tense, and heartbreaking all at the same time. Not one to watch if you want to feel uplifted, but definitely worthwhile - even if it's just for the music and Marlon Brando's biceps.

Music
Hozier: good for when you're driving, helpful when you're studying, calming when you're trying to relax... Hozier's first album is just perfect. But then you probably knew that already...

Michael Bublé's Christmas Album: need I say more? Due to short university terms, we celebrate Christmas (affectionally known as Bridgemas) on the 25th November, so I felt it was perfectly acceptable to break out the Christmas tunes before December had even begun.

What to see and do in Provence

2016-12-09T16:48:00.003+00:00

I'm a little bit obsessed with Provence. (Just take a look at my Instagram for proof!)

After several trips there I feel that it's time to share some of my 'insider knowledge' with you so that you can choose the best places to visit when you go.

My trips have been focused inland, apart from a few séjours to the beach or to Marseille, so I'm afraid I can't offer any advice on Cannes, Nice or St Tropez (save what I've read in Bonjour Tristesse). Perhaps in the next few years...

I wrote in one of my earlier posts about the varied landscape of the region, and in my opinion that's one of the things that makes Provence so great. You can visit the beach, or climb into the wooded hills, kayak through a gorge or explore the dusty country villages and beautiful towns; you're never any more than a few hours away from a different landscape!

So, we'll start with the northern region of the Vaucluse. It has pretty towns in abundance, perched on the slopes of the Luberon Natural Park, which forms a barrier between the Vaucluse and the region to the south (known as the Bouches-du-Rhone). You'll find plenty of ideas online, but here are my top picks:

Visit:

- As many of the markets as possible. Apt has a really vibrant Saturday market where you can find almost everything you could ever want piled upon stalls tucked amongst the streets. (Top tip: the prices for fruit and veg vary greatly between the two 'sides' of the market, so do shop around!)

- Abbaye de Sénanque, Gordes: this pretty limestone abbey is still inhabited by monks today, but they run regular guided tours. Just make sure to dress appropriately (i.e. covered shoulders and knee-length skirt/trousers); they do have wraps if you're stuck, but it's best to avoid as much hassle as possible. It's a great place to take shelter from the sun, learn a bit more about the history of the region and get the Provence photograph of the lavender fields.

- Village des Bories, Gordes: park your car in the caravan park just off the road and walk the 1km or so into the site. (We did this by mistake, but it's actually quite a nice walk.) A borie is an old stone hut, mainly used by farming communities, and they have been so well preserved that you can go inside and have a look at where people used to live. Some of them even have two floors!

* You could also visit Gordes on your way back. It's a rather touristy town, but is a good place to stop for ice cream. *

- The Ochre Trail at Roussillon or Colorado Rustrel : this region used to be a key mining area for ochre, and this is reflected in the orange-tinted buildings of the area. If you're just looking for a quick walk, go to Roussillon, where you'll find great canyons of ochre rocks and 'one of the prettiest villages in France'. If you're more of the trekking type (though to be fair, it's not too difficult in terms of terrain), Colorado Rustrel is the place for you. There are several different tracks, each taking you through a different area of the park - and it truly does feel like Colorado.

- Fontaine de Vaucluse : this is a rather well-known feature of the region, but it's still worth a visit. According to Wikipedia, it is the biggest spring in France, and gives its name to a geographical phenomenon known as a Vauclusian Spring. It's a bit of a strange one - the water level rises and falls at different times of the year, and you never know what it's going to look like when you visit. I've been there twice and it has been empty both times! Do take a moment to sit by the river and watch the water wheel turn slowly at the bottom of the village. There's also a very nice jewellery shop.

- Mont Ventoux : you may have heard of this mountain if you're a Tour de France fan. It actually claimed the life of an English cyclist in 1967, and there is a shrine for him near the top. In fact, this year they had to skip the top bit of the mountain because it was too windy for the cyclists! At 1,912m, it towers over the region and can be seen from almost everywhere. It looks like it has snow at the top of it, but it's actually sand. But you don't have to be a cyclist to enjoy the stunning views over the region (on clear days you can apparently see to the Italian border!); there's a road up to the top, and in the winter you can go skiing there.

- Avignon : Avignon is rather touristy, but rightly so. It played host to a series of popes during the 14th century, and each pope who lived there added bits onto the impressive Palais des Papes. It's fascinating to see how the building developed over the years. Avignon also plays host to a festival in July, so take some time to go and watch a play or a concert. (Don't bother paying to visit the Pont d'Avignon; just look at it from the river bank!) There's a good park-and-ride network around the medieval walls, so park outside and get the bus into the centre.

Studying on Saturdays

2016-11-24T23:15:00.000+00:00

One of the challenging things about the past month has been finding my own routine. During the week, it's been pretty easy: get up, get dressed, eat breakfast and head out to the library for the day, taking breaks for meals, classes and lectures. But at the weekend, I like to do something different. My theory is that if you work hard enough during the week, you can afford to take the weekend a bit slower - just how it is meant to be, really.

So, how does that translate for me?

I usually end up working for part of Saturday, and then head out in the evening to the college bar or to a play at the local theatre. One good thing is that every weekend has been different so far; I had my mum to stay last weekend, and we watched the fireworks together; but I've also spent one Saturday evening in my pyjamas watching Miss Congeniality, mug of hot chocolate in hand.

One way to make Saturdays feel a bit different is to spend some time in town. I tend to go into town as soon as I wake up in order to avoid the tourists, taking my laptop with me so that I can work over a coffee. I head back to college at around midday, stopping via Sainsbury's or the local market to stock up on fruit and vegetables for the week.

Here's the list of where I've been to so far:

Marks and Spencers' Café

M+S doesn't win any points for atmosphere, but their maple-pecan plaits are delicious, as are their almond croissants. It's on the first floor, so is removed from the hustle and bustle of the streets down below, and you can watch the goings-on in Market Square from the window. If you go in the morning it will be relatively quiet, apart from a few elderly couples, so you're sure to get a seat. It's relatively big, too, which means you can stay there for a few hours without being asked to move on.

Indigo Coffee Shop

This is perhaps one of the tiniest café's I've ever been to, and one of the cutest. It's definitely more of a place to visit with friends, though; I've heard talk of a "no-laptops" policy, and to be honest, there's not very much room at all inside. Food and drink is reasonably priced; they sell many varieties of pukka tea, and a "dirty chai" latte - chai latte with a shot of coffee, on my list of 'drinks to try'. You can have panini, toasties and soup here, as well as cake or little cubes of brownies. The lack of background music and the proximity of tables to each other means that conversation travels quite easily, though, it's not the best place to go to if you get distracted by others.

Fitzbillies'

I'll admit that I didn't try to study here; I went here for breakfast with Mum, and then for coffee and Chelsea bun with my college family. Fitzbillies is a Cambridge institution, and it lives up to that reputation, filling up immediately almost as soon as it opens - on Saturday mornings, anyway. Food and drink is priced to reflect this, though a Chelsea Bun to take away will only set you back two pounds or so.

Stickybeaks Café

I have fond memories of visiting Stickybeaks when I went to Cambridge last December for my interview, and I decided to relive the experience a few Saturdays ago, taking my half-finished French essay and hungry stomach with me. My cappuccino was light and sweet (not in a sugary way, but in a non-bitter way); my almond swirl, though tasty, was a bit dry. It's not quite as small as Indigo, but isn't big either, so it could be a push to find a seat, particularly on Saturdays. I also made the mistake of sitting in the window and ended up getting distracted by all the people walking past. I've heard it's good for lunch, though, so I may pay another trip.

Starbucks

I never, ever thought I'd be writing about Starbucks on this blog. In fact, I never thought I'd write anything complimentary about it at all. But I have to say, if you're looking for a quiet(-ish) place in which to work, with food and drink readily available, it's hard to beat. It was slightly busier than Marks and Spencers', but most of the customers primarily bought drinks to take away, so finding a quieter place to work was no problem. I didn't feel as if I needed to give my table up either. Their Earl Grey tea is light and refreshing, and their fruit toast filled a gap on a cold, rainy morning.

Jamaica Blue
This café in the centre of the Lion Yard shopping centre is unusual in that you can't order at the till; you have to order from your table. This gives it a slightly more upmarket feel, but on the other hand it means that you can't see what you're ordering! I chose a blueberry scone, which came lavishly spread with lemon curd and cream - a real treat. I got a bit of a shock at the bill, though. I also had to wait for about ten minutes before anyone even came over to take my order, though that may be because I just chose the seat myself, rather than waiting to be taken to a table. It was busy on Saturday, and with the waiters/staff members about, I don't think you'd be able to stay here for too long. It would be a nice place to take a break from a shopping day, though.

So, what's the verdict? All of these places have their merits; and as much as I love the idea of supporting local businesses, the independent cafés are often small and very busy, so they're not the best place if you need to spend a few hours writing an essay. The cake and coffee quality may be better there, but if you're looking to prioritise your studies.... My advice is: save the independents like Indigo for a trip with friends, and don't be too disdainful of chains. Like me, you may find that they surprise you!

Belonging

2016-11-13T23:40:00.000+00:00

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"A sense of belonging".

I wrote that phrase in an essay a few weeks ago without really thinking about what it means.
But halfway through my first term away from home, I've decided that it needs to be addressed.

In some ways, I feel as if I'm in a sort of limbo. It's almost as if this is a holiday; that my life in NI is on hold for the moment and will resume when I return at Christmas. This is a temporary space, where I'll spend eight weeks eating and studying and then go back home, to my friends and my family.

Except.... this is my home now.

This thought hit me when I was lying in bed trying not to think about all the work due for the week ahead. And it really shocked me; not because I hadn't thought of it before, but because the reality of it hadn't fully sunk in until then.

When I go back to my family home, I know that I will miss things about Cambridge. And yet when I'm here, I miss things about home. For the next four years of my life, I will be pondering this question:

Where do I belong?

Is it here, with new friends and libraries and books?
Is it in Northern Ireland, with my family and friends and familiar places?

And then that got me thinking about the Year Abroad - will I face the same issue?

And what about in the future? I've always said I wanted to travel. But if I do, where will I truly belong? I'll have put roots down in so many places that were will be a tangled muddle of friendships and memories scattered across the globe.

It would be very easy to to hold back in this situation, afraid of the vulnerability that comes with putting down roots and making a life for yourself. You could spend eight weeks here barely mixing with anyone else, walking from the library to your room every day, cooking by yourself in your tiny kitchen. You could make friends, but not close friends, because you don't want the complications that come with having friends who live a plane journey away.

But that's not how life works. It's often hard to deal with change, but the truth is, we need it. We need changes to make our lives interesting; to challenge us, to enable us to grow as we wade through the joys and the trials of living. We need to meet new people, to build friendships, and to learn about the world around us.

Yes, it can be hard. Yes, it sometimes means that you have to step out of your comfort zone and invite someone to go shopping with you, risking rejection. And yes, sometimes you'll feel as if it was all so much easier back home, where people knew who you were and you knew who you were, too. Here, it can be confusing; you're forced to introduce yourself every time you meet someone new, repeating the same spiel of information over and over again ("My name's Emma, and I study MML"), without truly having a meaningful conversation. It's tiring and frustrating, but it passes; conversations extend and expand, and friendships form - even when you can't see it happening yourself.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines 'belonging' as being a member of an organisation, or having an affinity for a special place or situation. And whilst belonging is both of these things, I would argue that it's also more than that.

'Belong': to feel appreciated and valued by members of the same society. To feel secure in your own identity, knowing that your qualities are what make you stand out as a unique individual. Belonging involves give and take; it is both a conscious effort to reach out to others, and reciprocation when they do the same to you. It can be difficult, but it is also extremely rewarding.

This month in media

2016-11-07T21:36:00.002+00:00

This month has been a bit strange for me. What with starting university, I haven't been watching as much tv as usual; and by the time I've finished reading for my essays I barely want to see another book again!

But I have been listening, reading (occasionally) and going out to see plays.

Music

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Spotify's Evening Acoustic playlist is perfect for when you need a bit of relaxing music. I don't tend to listen to music whilst I'm studying, but I'd make an exception for this. (particularly whilst trying to find obscure articles on the Internet!)

Colonel Spanky's Love Ensemble - a local Cambridge band, this group has played at a few of our college events and they're always a crowd pleaser.

The Civil Wars - I have a feeling that I'm pretty late to the party here, because this husband and wife team is sadly no longer together, but they have an incredible range of covers and originals songs, all characterised by mesmerising vocals.

Elgar's Cello Concerto - I heard this recently at a concert and fell completely in love. If I ever needed any more motivation to drop violin and take up the cello, this was it.

Warlock's Capriole Suite - We played this in orchestra last week. It's a series of pieces which sound mildly Baroque in style, but were actually composed in the nineteenth century. (I've made it sound duller than dull, but I promise you it's worth a listen!)

Drama/TV

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The Habit Of Art by Alan Bennett @ ADC Theatre, Cambridge - a thoughtful play about Benjamin Britten and WH Auden. It was the first play I went to see here, and I think it was an appropriately artsy choice!

The Caravan @ ADC Theatre, Cambridge - not quite as good as The Habit of Art, in my opinion, but still an interesting production about the life of an ordinary girl in the Eighties.

Clean Eating's Dirty Secrets, BBC iPlayer - mention any food-related trend and it's likely that I'll have heard of it. This documentary was really interesting; clean eating is something that I've looked into quite a lot, but this really shed some light on some of the issues associated with it, such as the development of eating disorders. I wrote an article about this recently for a local newspaper, which you can find here.

Books

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To the lighthouse by Virginia Woolf - I picked this up in York when I was there in September. I'd always intended to read some Woolf, but had never gotten round to it until now. A great book; the narrative takes a bit of getting used to, initially, but once you settle in it makes perfect sense. A rather ordinary tale told in extraordinary way.

Ms Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children - you may have seen the film version of this, but I hadn't even heard of it until it was recommended to me by a good friend of mine. A really interesting book, mildly creepy, but it makes a welcome break from seventeenth century Spanish.

Dangerous Liaisons by Laclos - I can't resist throwing in another set text from my course this year. Honestly, this book is fantastic - full of lover's intrigue, cunning plots and witty remarks (some of which are just as relevant today as they were back in the eighteenth century), it could rival any modern romance today.

Ode to Provence

2016-10-20T16:14:00.000+01:00

Oh Provence, how I love you.
I love your colours - your high blue sky,
your ochre-stained buildings
and the cool turquoise of the sea.

I love your smell - warm, fragrant herbs,
musty saucisson and sweet honey;
the smell of just-picked melons
sold by the kilo at weekly markets.

I love your landscape
and the rugged tracks through the mountains.
I love the roads that cut through the vast plains
of golden sunflowers.

I love your hilltop villages;
I love the plane trees which line your sand-coloured streets.
I love your fountains
and your firework displays.

I love the sun that dazzles
from dawn to dusk
and the Mistral's cool breath, so
unexpected.

I love your pain, and your vin,
and early starts in the cool morning air.
I love the long evenings spent outside
avoiding mosquitoes.

Oh Provence, how I love you.

The art of baking bread

2016-10-16T16:41:00.001+01:00

It's no secret that I'd much rather bake a cake than bake bread.
I could blame my sweet tooth. I could say that bread seems boring in comparison with the wide variety of cake/icing/filling combinations. But in truth, I'd be lying; the real reason I prefer to bake cakes is because I lack patience.

Patience is, as we all know, a virtue. (It also happens to be a fruit of the Spirit!) And it's something that I don't have a lot of. Particularly in this day and age, when we have instant access to almost everything at the touch of a button - bank accounts, world news, etc - I feel that we've lost the ability to just be still and wait. Even one of Jamie Oliver's recent cookbooks, "15-minute meals" reveals our desire for instant gratification.

Just to be clear, I'm not knocking 15 minute meals. Sometimes there's nothing better than a quick bowl of hot pasta dressed with a dollop of pesto and a sprinkling of cheese. But at the same time, I think we need to recognise the value of slow cooking. I'll admit that I have often skipped past a recipe because it supposedly requires more than one hour to make, but it's an aspect of myself that I'm trying to change, because sometimes the slow cooked meals are the most rewarding ones.

Have a think about it: baking bread, making risotto, slow roasting a joint of pork; all of these things require patience in abundance. Yes, they also require forward planning, but once you get down to it, they're surprisingly simple. There's something so magical about slow cooking, too, and how a jelly-like piece of pork transforms into a melting soft mouthful of tender meat, and how an uninspiring lump of dough doubles in size - not once, but twice.

In fact, making bread doesn't actually require that much effort; the only thing it really needs is time. Twenty minutes to mix it all together and kneed it for a bit, followed by an hour to prove, then five minutes to knock it back, another half hour to prove, then thirty minutes to an hour in the oven.... In fact, bread could be seen as the perfect thing to bake because it requires minimal supervision.

I feel inspired every year after Bread Week on the Great British Bake Off, so this month I decided to make a loaf myself. As much as I wanted to try some of the crazy flavour combinations floating around on my tv screen, I picked a simple wholemeal loaf because my bread-making experience is somewhat limited.

So, I woke up nice and early one morning and trotted downstairs to make some bread before breakfast. We had some tomato soup in the fridge which I knew would be the perfect lunchtime accompaniment. (Fresh bread for breakfast would have been ideal, but it would have meant waking up at some unearthly hour and I wasn't that keen.)
After twenty minutes of therapeutic stirring and kneeding, I was back at the kitchen table, bowl of Weetabix in hand, slowly flicking through cookery books looking for birthday cake inspiration. But an hour later, the dough still hadn't risen. Quel desastre! My fresh bread for lunch schedule was getting tighter by the minute.

(Luckily, this has happened to me before, so I knew how to fix it. Mix a bit of yeast with some warm water and leave to sit for ten minutes or so until it forms a frothy head, then mix into the dough. You'll need to add some flour to absorb some of the water. Then kneed as normal and proceed with the recipe.)

Three and a half hours after I had begun to make the bread, and ten minutes before we were due to have lunch, I took it out of the oven. It was perfectly fine.

Baking bread, therefore, isn't just a nice ritual that makes me feel like a farmer's wife; it's a life lesson. Sometimes the best things come to (s)he who waits.

This isn't the exact bread recipe I used, but it should be pretty reliable if you want to have a go yourself. Or better still, leave me your favourite bread recipe in the comments so I can attempt to improve my bread-making skills!

A weekend in York

2016-10-09T23:38:00.000+01:00

I would have written this as a ‘City Guide’, but I don’t feel that I’m qualified to write something as informative as a guide to the whole city (/town?) of York when I only spent a few days there. Still, I’m bound to take a few more trips over the next few years, so some updates will appear over time!

York is a beautiful town in Yorkshire, in the North of England. We recently spent a long weekend there helping my sister to settle into her new home.

The town has two universities and a rich history. It dates from 71AD, when the Romans set up camp in Eboracum, as they called it, and since then has been shaped by the Vikings, the Normans and various English kings. As the history of York website says, York was at the centre of events in England for almost 17 centuries, and the architecture and decorations on the buildings reflect this. Today it remains a relatively small town (in terms of town centre and places to see) but is nonetheless a treasure trove for anyone wanting to explore English history - or pretty, Instagrammable streets.

I’ll take you on a quick tour of the town and its coffee shops.

Start your day with a walk on the City Walls. Bring a scarf because it might get chilly! And make sure you wear sturdy shoes (ie not flip flops!). You can walk all of it if you wish, or just take a section; I’d recommend starting at Bishopgate, in the west of the town, because you’ll get a good view of the railway station, York Minster and the surrounding areas.

Once you've had enough of walking, come off the Walls at Lerner Bridge. You could make a coffee stop in The Perky Peacock, which wins ten points for location (in the actual Wall), or you could stop on your way into town at Brew and Brownie. (I haven’t tested it but anything mentioning chocolate and coffee sounds good to me.) If the weather is good, walk through the Museum Gardens free of charge and marvel at the old Abbey and the old Hospitium there.

Head over to the Minster. If you like, stop for refreshment in Bennett’s, an old-style tea room with simple food and big windows for people-watching. It’s right in front of the Minster too, so you’ll have one of the best views in town. Take the time to go inside the the old cathedral and marvel at its Rose Window and the crypt. If you’re not afraid of heights - or of a leg workout - then take the 275 stairs up to the top of the tower. You can see almost all of York from here!

Time to descend the tower and spend some time in the centre of York. A visit here isn’t complete without a walk through The Shambles - one of the best-preserved medieval streets in Britain, and one of the most photogenic. You could wander through Stonegate on your way, where I’d recommend a special treat in Betty’s Tea Rooms - slightly less busy than the café at Harrogate, but just as lovely. There’s also a Chocolate Museum (I’ll test that out the next time I go) and lots of pretty shops to explore.

Oh, and if you happen to be anywhere near Leeds Bradford Airport, do take a short detour to the High Trees Garden Centre, where you’ll find gifts, plants and some lovely scones.

Have you ever been to York? What needs to go on my 'to-see' list for next time?

This month in media

2016-09-29T16:22:00.005+01:00

This is another new idea of mine. I've been reading and watching a lot of things recently (the perks of being sick) and I wanted to do a little post to summarise them all up and share my recommendations.
Let me know in the comments what you've been reading / listening to / watching this month!

Books (image)

The Secret History by Donna Tartt - I actually preferred this book to the critically acclaimed The Goldfinch; perhaps because of subject matter (a groups of Classics student at a New England college), which seemed slightly more relevant to me than the characters in The Goldfinch. Not sure yet if that's a good or a bad thing! Probably one of the best books I've read this year.

Decline and Fall and Scoop by Evelyn Waugh - currently in an Evelyn Waugh fan-girl stage, Decline and Fall was a random charity shop purchase and was worth every penny. I raced through the book in a matter of hours and it genuinely made made laugh out loud once or twice. (I'm sure the French family I was staying with thought I was a bit weird.) I didn't enjoy Scoop quite as much, but it was good nonetheless.

Game of Thrones by George RR Martin - yes, I'm still working my way through this series. But I did manage to finish two instalments in just under two weeks, so I'm pretty pleased.

Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola - this is one of my set texts for uni this year and I have to admit that I didn't think I would like it quite so much. I've read one of Zola's books in translation (Germinal) and it was a bit of a struggle, even in English; but I found this novel much more interesting and engaging. It's a fascinating study of humans and the lengths they will go to to achieve their desires.

Films (image)

The Grand Budapest Hotel - my parents didn't like this film, but I really enjoyed it. I loved the unusual cinematography and Ralph Fiennes' quirky character - not to mention the star-studded cast. (Doesn't Jude Law just have the most perfect voice?)

Paddington - another family film, I'd forgotten how much I liked this charming rework of the traditional stories. We used to read the books when we were little, so this was like a trip down memory lane, only with better graphics. The animation is incredible.

Young Victoria - not quite what I was expecting; but then I'm so used to seeing Queen Victoria portrayed as a plump, grumpy old woman that this was a refreshing change. A really lovely film that made me feel more sympathetic towards Victoria and her dear husband, Albert. (I haven't been watching the latest BBC series so can't compare the two! Though apparently Jenna Coleman watched this film before taking on the role.)

Amélie - I wasn't really keen on this film. Yes, it's a classic, but I didn't warm to the central character, which for me is pretty key. There were some funny moments, but to be honest I just didn't enjoy it that much.

TV
The Great British Bake Off - need I say more? Quite possibly my favourite TV show of all time. Not sure how I feel about it moving to Channel 4, though...

Community - this was recommended to me because I needed a series to binge watch when I was ill. Now I would recommend it to you, too! Light, funny, with loveable characters.

Hunted - I wonder if you've ever dreamed of running away and going off-grid? It seems that it's much harder than it used to be, particularly with the help of CCTV and IT whizzes. Channel 4 has created a fast-paced, exciting show that has taken the boredom out of several evenings.

Music (image)

Rebekah Fitch - Rebekah has just released her first two singles; see if you can't stop yourself from singing along!

Rivers and Robots - I met this band back in June at Moira's Big Weekend and since then have been listening to their albums All Things New on repeat. It's quite a relaxing album that is the perfect accompaniment for going to sleep, reading the Bible or having a wee doze, encouraging prayerful worship and thankfulness.

Izzy Bizu - a recent discovery of mine, her songs are refreshingly new and quite good for when you're working.