Lockdown 3 - survival tips

So here I am again, finally after many weeks, my last post back in the damp dark days of November. Blame lockdown fatigue, like so many other people I've found this winter particularly hard. Dark, cold, endless rain and ever present the constant grim news of the pandemic. I've been hibernating basically or drifting slowly like this lonely swan. January is over, the days are getting longer, very hesitantly brighter and a sense of hope is returning. I can feel it in the birdsong that now wakes me every morning. This time will pass. 

Here are a few of the things that have inspired me during these long dark days, maybe they may inspire you too.

Hodmedods 

Decent bread is surprisingly hard to come by in rural areas (something that really shocked one of my Italian colleagues, such is the norm of a proper village bakers in Europe). There is still plenty of room for growth for artisan bakers in towns and villages across the country. Luckily, whilst searching for heritage beans during an afternoon of veg plot planning I found that I could order by bread and beans together from Hodmedods, the specialists in sustainable British grown grains and pulses. They’ve teamed up with the Penny Bun Bakehouse in Lowestoft and the Earsham Street Café in Bungay, both independent businesses who have suffered during the pandemic lockdown. Now I can order excellent bread with very reasonable postage costs and the temptation of lots of additional interesting things to include in my order, such as camelina seeds, heritage flours and best of all sticky dark flapjacks. Get your daily bread (and beans) here https://hodmedods.co.uk

Beta Bee

Since winning a jar of their summer honey I’ve been hooked. Simply the best honey you’ll have ever tasted, rich, complex and floral, too good to share to be perfectly honest. I provided the sceptical family a blind taste test against a main supermarket brand and they couldn’t believe the difference but now I have to hide my stash. They also do a fantastic range of natural lip balms and my personal favourite, the lavender and tea tree is always in my bag (although very keen to try their new rose geranium too).
Shop their products here https://betabee.co.uk

Some Good Mavericks Podcast

Loose yourself in the wonderful world of Charlie Gladstone, the founder of the Good Life Experience amongst many other things. His podcast features a cornucopia of entrepreneurs, creatives, growers, makers and eccentrics, the ‘mavericks’ of the title. I binged on these whilst pottering around the kitchen on rainy afternoons. You’ll laugh, feel inspired and will be endlessly noting down songs, recipes, places and people to further explore. Brilliant and inspirational, his lockdown radio even has a section on ‘pet sounds’, recordings of various pets snoring which is both hilarious and an uplifting tonic for the soul.
See the full list here https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-mavericks-podcast/id1249333134

Travelling Through Podcast

Back in pre-pandemic times, I spent many a lunch hour escaping the rigours of a hectic office within Travelling Through, a tiny independent bookshop hidden behind Waterloo station. Specialising in travel books, it also served fantastic coffee and cakes from the basement which opened onto a passport stamp sized oasis full of flowers and sunshine. It was the perfect place to plan an escape from the humdrum reality of the 9-5. Sadly, the shop has since closed its doors but Emma Carmichael, the owner, has continued in her mission to inspire and now has a podcast, Travelling Through, featuring many of the interesting passers-by who used to frequent her shop. It’s hugely therapeutic, all the more so because her recordings capture the sounds of London life, the chatter in a café, the hiss of an espresso machine, the rumblings of a passing double-decker. This feels like eavesdropping an interesting conversation while having a coffee with a friend. Catch the conversation here https://www.travellingthrough.co.uk

Gujarati Rasoi

One of the things I’ve missed the most during lockdown has been eating out, not that I did this very often, but I loved exploring small cafes and restaurants and trying new things. Lots of restaurants opened up a takeaway or pick-up and Instagram has been awash with photos of such feasts. Sadly, these have been out of reach for us rural folk, away from the bright lights of the city but a tiny few have considered this inequality, providing an excellent delivery nationwide. As soon as I found out that Gujarati Rasoi was planning a delivery service, I was first in the (online) queue. I’ve frequented the street food stall at Borough Market over many years, snatching a hot spicy samosa between meetings. Not only is the food (vegetarian and often vegan) simply delicious but the consideration taken to keep the packaging sustainable is impressive. The personal messages of thanks with each box are a lovely touch, and extra appreciated during these lonely times.  Definitely try the mung bean dhal, thepla, aubergine barthu and of course, samosas but I’d easily eat everything. https://www.gujaratirasoi.co.uk

Happy Kombucha

2020 became the year I went fermentation crazy. Kraut, kimchi, lacto-ferments, yoghurt, kombucha, I've tried them all. A multitude of bubbling jars sits on a shelf in the larder and making viili yoghurt has become a weekly ritual. Happy Kombucha has a brilliant selection of kits and starters, as well as a ton of support and information to get you started. I’ve genuinely felt better since eating more fermented foods and have found the process fascinating. Get your fermenting bug here https://happykombucha.co.uk

Natural Navigating with Tristan Gooley

Another positive of the lockdown has been a chance to explore my local area. With travel restricted and nowhere else to go, adventure has had to be found close to home. In the last 10 months I’ve found medieval carp ponds, the remnants of an ancient field, the birth places of local authors I didn’t even know existed but by far the best experiences have been more natural than historical. Getting up at dawn to cycle to the river I’ve been astounded by the most beautiful sunrises, disturbed deer appearing like magic from the morning mists, breakfasted on blackberries as swallows and swifts darted over my head and trout tickled my toes in the waters below. Tristan Gooley has written a series of books on looking for natural clues whilst out walking and they really open your eyes to the natural world. Suddenly even the standard local dog walking route to the market square has come alive, now that Tristan’s clues have unlocked the door to the wildness on our doorsteps. Truly fascinating and I cannot wait to use his tips when we are allowed to travel further afield. Learn natural navigating tips here https://www.naturalnavigator.com/tristan-gooley/

The Tinned Fish Market

Sardines, OK, let’s face it anything fishy in a tin is the food of gods as far as I’m concerned. Whether eating mejillones with an ice-cold manzanilla in a side street tapas bar in Cadiz or covering toast in oily sardines for a lonely lunch at home, food simply doesn’t get better or simpler than this. A little taste of the sea conveniently in a tin. I’ve enjoyed everything from Portuguese sardines, Spanish squid and octopus to French smoked oysters and Icelandic cod liver, there isn’t one I haven’t enjoyed. One of the best things about lockdown has been the chance to enjoy a fishy lunch at home, no colleagues to complain of the smell (my working from home colleague, Sid the cat, has made no complaints). The Tinned Fish Market offers a variety of fantastic tins, including a monthly delivery service. Each box is beautifully packaged with gorgeous fish themed cards and colourful string. I’m slowly working my way through their range. Anyone struggling to think of a gift idea for me? Get me a box of fish! Catch your fish here https://www.thetinnedfishmarket.com

Phil the Squirrel

Ok not one I can easily share but over this last year I have become rather intimate with a large grey squirrel. This cheeky rodent now knocks on the window to request his daily nuts but repays his breakfast with hilarious antics in the garden. He's even joined in a Zoom meeting with my colleagues. He makes me laugh every single day which is just the sort of medicine we all need during pandemic trials.