Lately...

READING a very interesting book about what makes the English so very, erm, English, and very much looking forward to losing myself in this fabulous tome - How To Be A Heroine by Samantha Ellis - which has had universally glowing reviews and was a gift from The Boy.  Lucky me.

WATCHING endless New Girl after getting the DVD box set for Christmas.  On a more rarified note, my brother and I went to the RSC on Saturday to see Wolf Hall.  Hilary Mantel's much-garlanded novel is one of my favourites, so it was fascinating to see how it translated to the stage.  Ben Miller was particularly good as protaganist Thomas Cromwell, advisor to Henry VIII.  And finally, last night I went, with two friends, to see Rent.  This was my fourth time seeing it on stage (I must have watched the - far inferior but still brilliant - film at least another eight times) and I loved it just as much as ever.  The past few days have mostly been spent listening to the soundtrack on repeat.

GETTING exciting news of not one, but two, new babies in our social circle.  Well, in The Boy's social circle.  In The Netherlands, it's traditional for the parents to send cards announcing the birth; I love the modernist design of this one, announcing Lora's birth and designed by her art teacher father.  Also, some lovely flowers from The Boy, which have lasted and lasted and lasted.

EATING lots of plain rice, hardboiled eggs, and apples.  Sound boring?  It is, but I've been on hardcore antibiotics (see below), which have played havoc with my already sensitive digestive system, so I've been trying to eat very plain food that won't irritate my stomach.  Tonight though - 4 days post-antibiotics - I am making a soy 'chicken' red Thai curry.   Fingers crossed my tummy can take the excitement.

FEELING absolutely fucking terrible just about covers it.  I wrote a post/rant about this on Friday so won't bang on about it much more.  Ironically, though, since publishing that post my jaw and head have been almost pain-free, which has been amazing (now if my digestive system could sort itself out, I would be very happy).  Thanks, also, for all your lovely comments and texts and emails after that post; I got some very good advice as well as lots of love.
 
MEETING my very first, in the flesh, blogger (well, a 5 minute hello with Make Do & Mend not excepting)!  Rebecca from Random Day Dreaming came down to Leicester for the day on Saturday, and I showed her 'the sights', aka the lovely shops in The Lanes, vintage delights in Dolly Mix Vintage, and great food at The Orange Tree pub.  AND next week I will hopefully be meeting another blogger - B of Make, Do & Spend - who is joining my book group.  I tell thee, all this socialising is most unlike me.

PLANNING train trip upon train trip.  Nottingham tomorrow, London next week, Glasgow and Leeds during the Easter holidays (we are getting the sleeper train up, and I am so excited about it)... my notice board is currently covered in stacks of tickets.