BLOOM / March 2018

March feels multicoloured. From the smallest of green shoots to pale blue egg shells to the prettiest yellow petals from a shop-bought bunch of daffs. Assurances of sunshine replaced by whirls of white snow and the promise of egg-shaped excitement plays joyfully on the horizon. It's a month of movement; moving towards Spring with its new growth and longer days (but the enjoyment of the outdoors still remains heavily dependent on layered outfits and waterproof coats.)

Curiously Cultural

The (long-awaited) second season of Jessica Jones, starring the superb Krysten Ritter, surfaced on Netflix this month. It's a fantastic entry point for anyone interested in the Marvel Universe, being grounded in grit, determination and fully functioning (and fantastically flawed) three dimensional characters. An interesting season; it is match for match in terms of quality, depth, drama and acting with Season 1. In some ways the episodes are all the more intriguing (especially in the latter end of the season) and despite a couple of unsatisfying subplots, overall it's a strong second season. If you like unlikely heroes, complex relationships and a touch of super strength and spy-work, Jessica Jones is the show for you. Also on Netflix was the third season of Judd Apatow's series, Love. It's modern, it's current (and perhaps a tad too cutesy?) But then perhaps that's what you get when you sign up for a show titled Love. 

Literary Life

Cold days called for cosy evenings full of reading, meaning the completion of three books in total this month. Life of Pi was up first. It's a book that feels as if it's been around forever, wherein you think you know the story (and it quickly manifests that, actually, you don't). In many ways, a surprising read. Not all what you might imagine (or maybe that was just the case for me and my misinformed imagination). A little unsettling, a little long but worth the wait for the final three chapters. 

River of Ink by Paul M. M. Cooper was perhaps not given the best shot (given that three quarters of this was read in a hospital waiting room) but it was still a fairly gripping read. It touched on a topic I had never really read about before - the service of poetry and literature for a pretty tyrannical leader - but it was an enjoyable cultural experience with a satisfying conclusion.

Thirdly was Journal, the diary entries of Hélène Berr. A truly emotional read, full of insightful commentary and detailing of her life in occupied Paris. She wrote so beautifully, with such intelligence and bravery. She articulated both facts and feelings with such openness (and even optimism, at times). It was a revolutionary read, one that could not be recommended higher.

Treasures and Troves

Makers gonna make and triers gon' try. Emphatically falling into the latter category, try is most definitely the best verb to describe this little creation bubble that popped in my brain this month. It came from wanting somewhere to store bath bombs that wasn't just a wire rack, which could be visible and open yet still decorative. The result? A white wooden crate adorned with poms poms, scrabble letters and an old pair of upcycled shorts. As you do.