January is always a funny time of year. Generally a bit quiet, it’s when I try to do some of the jobs I should do all the time, but usually come bottom of the list, like updating my website and coming up with plans for contacting potential new clients and collaborators. The website has had a bit of an overhaul, I’ve spruced up my portfolio pages, updated the Amass Zine section and the first monthly zine of the year is here.
It was quite a busy month for things in gutters and empty noticeboards, I ate some really nice things, played with a new old lens, held the latest Shutter Hub YEARBOOK in my hands, tried to make myself walk more (how else will I see the things in the gutters?), looked at a big moon, photographed (and have work in) Shutter Hub’s Postcards from Europe and Postcards from Great Britain, and had a lovely, lively day photographing the opening of Firstsite’s latest exhibition, Keep Being Amazing. Hmm, maybe not so quiet after all. The zines are definitely a good exercise in reflecting on recent events!
Things I enjoyed in January:
Food: I was adventurous despite my usual dislike for fruit in savoury dishes with Burrata with Blood Orange & Spicy Salty Spaghetti, a recent recipe from the Dishes to Delight Sunday email. I highly recommend signing up for it, I’ve made so made so many tasty things thanks to Bre Graham’s weekly suggestions! On the orange theme I also made Marmalade Coffee Cake from Rukmini Iyer’s Sweet Roasting Tin, which I received for Christmas, and was a perfect ‘square of cake a day’ cake. Another new recipe was Scotch Bonnet Coconut & Crispy Tofu Noodles from Mob Kitchen. I coated my tofu in panko breadcrumbs rather than desiccated coconut but the whole thing was really tasty.
Films: We watched a few good films in January – on Netflix: The Invisible Man and Rocks; and in the cinema (!) I really enjoyed Spider-Man: No Way Home. As I didn’t write in December I’ll also add The Remains of the Day and Portrait of a Lady on Fire, which were both on iPlayer but I’m not sure they are now. Portrait of a Lady on Fire in particular was beautiful – worth looking out for.
I promise I haven’t just been moving between the kitchen and the TV but will try to recommend a wider range of things next month!
What have you been enjoying? I’m always really pleased to receive suggestions of films/TV/books/magazines/recipes you’d recommend.