I’m always a bit nervous listening to a new Charli XCX album - I like a lot of her music but have found a full album can get a bit out there for me. The last one was not one of my favourites. But thankfully, this one was a lot better, bigger, bolder, brighter - it hits you right from the start with those iconic vocals and production. They are pretty much all good songs throughout with maybe a slight dip in the middle, and some great guest stars (Christine and the Queens!) to make an overall good listen.

This was one of those twisty short stories that Deaver does so well, but this time it’s an audiobook read by the marvellous David Harbour. I whipped through it super quickly. Interesting insight into death row and how people campaign against it regardless of the crimes and the feelings of the actual criminal themselves. The twist ending didn’t quite work in my head but I got the vibe and I do love the twists when they come.

I’m not sure it fully counts as horror, because the scares were really minimal, ramping up slightly towards the end but even so nothing like a ‘proper’ horror movie. Instead, it was actually a serviceable mystery movie, with lots of leads and red herrings and suspicious actions, plus characters you’d learn to care about moments before they were brutally murdered.

The US chat shows did their best to struggle through the two-ish years of lockdown but now guests are appearing regularly in person again (questionable as that is), the entertainment value has shot right back up. This video absolutely brightened my day, with Kelly Clarkson hosting Anne Hathaway on her show and getting seriously competitive in a singing contest. The job? Identify a song from the opening beats the band play and start singing it as soon as you recognise the tune. There are three reasons to love this video.

I don’t think I would have read this if I hadn’t picked up a six book digital collection - all the Dune books written by the original author. So it was too easy to finish the last one and move on to this. I usually hate introductions and prefaces that spoil the books but this had some insight from Frank’s son Brian - who has continued the series after his father’s death - and it was actually good to get a bit of context around this and made the reading of it much easier.

I bought this book around the time we watched the film, but then didn’t enjoy the movie version at all so was reluctant to pick this up. Eventually I have managed to get round to it and glad I did because the book is so much better than the film. All the things I disliked about the film (Sherlock being smug and solving it all, the mother turning out to be a terrorist) just aren’t present in the book. Thank goodness, and it was so readable, I’m keen to see how the second one turns out.

I’m never quite sure how to feel about reading plays, it sort of works but also I feel like you’re missing a crucial element of the whole thing. But of course, you have to start somewhere and knowing this was the basis for My Fair Lady has had me intrigued for a while. It’s a lot shorter than I expected, and I was surprised how similar it actually was - although of course the ending is vastly different and the characters slightly less fleshed out. A good read though.

Obviously, I was going to read a book by the legendary Dolly Parton - and then when I saw that the audiobook featured both Dolly and Kelsea Ballerini, that was my chosen format. It took a while to get into it, because they had a narrator who I didn’t really gel with and then various voices dipping in and out for the characters - but gradually I got into the story and was really hooked by the end. I listened whilst being outside in the sunshine and that just made it all the more glorious.

Generally speaking, spirits such as gin, vodka, and rum, are packaged in nicely crafted glass bottles - very reusable, recyclable and perfectly acceptable in Christine’s new regime against unnecessary waste. However, I couldn’t help but be excited by the concept of Gin in a Tin and managed to get my hands on one. It looks like a sleek over-sized hip flask and it’s full of delicious sloe gin. I thought this was genius.

Of course, I only listened to this because we recently finished watching the incredible Pam & Tommy on Disney+. I had only vaguely heard of Mötley Crüe anyway, and certainly didn’t know their music or what it was all about. If I’m honest, I was expecting the worst, loud angry headache-inducing hard rock, right? You know what? I really loved this album. That Dr Feelgood song is completely stuck in my head and I don’t even mind! I can’t see that I’m going to listen to any more of their albums, this is supposedly the best and most successful so I went straight to the pinnacle and loved it.

So, at first, this is just the album you’d expect - some surprisingly good dad-rock from Bryan Adams who’s been doing this for so long he can probably write a good soft rock song in his sleep. But then, out of nowhere, Brian Cleese pops up with a really dramatic song-opening monologue, which makes you think you’re in for something a bit more Meat Loaf rock opera. And then the album goes back to the regularly scheduled middle-of-the-road rock. It’s weird but also completely listenable. Very odd.

This book has been around for a while and been revised a few times, but fundamentally the story doesn’t change - Mary tells her story of being the victim of a bigamist who defrauded her of hundreds of thousands of pounds. It’s well written and highlights just how easy it would be to be manipulated by a smooth-talking guy who did what Will did, but I do wonder about how deep into debt one might go for their other half. You don’t know until you’re in the situation, of course, and having read this, it’s a good warning about staying aware of the signs of manipulation.

This was a surprisingly good, short but intriguing film. It mostly drew attention because we like Julia Stiles, and at first I wasn’t sure we’d get through the whole thing as getting deep inside heart transplant operations isn’t really what I want to watch. But mercifully the operation side of things was only brief - the majority of the film was talking, discussing the implications and moral questions surrounding one heart with three potential recipients.

One of the first things I had to address when I started thinking about reducing waste was my meal delivery box. I’ve learnt so much over the years getting a weekly delivery with great recipes and the ingredients all laid out for you - gained a lot of confidence and started to understand how to throw together a meal with the basics in your store cupboards. But I couldn’t ignore how much plastic and waste was coming into my house each week.

I was determined to finish the book before watching this and, mission accomplished, took the opportunity of a tired evening to consume the lengthy movie. It’s fair to say it’s a lot better than I thought it would be, bringing the characters to life and telling the story really well… but on the flip side to that, there isn’t a huge amount of story to be told and the emotions are very rarely accessible - it just feels like a very flat couple of hours.

I’m halfway through my 30 Days of ShadowDraw challenge and really enjoying the chill vibes this month is giving me. The app allows you to pick a drawing and then effectively guides you through tracing how the picture comes together, so you end up with the finished result. I’m loving getting some use out of my Apple Pencil and occasionally feeling like I’m actually making some progress. Occasionally, I have a bout of doubt and say ‘but this isn’t really me drawing, it’s just copying.’ And then Mr C said, quite profoundly, ’the Core Challenge was just you copying and you didn’t have any problems with that’. Which is true and beats that imposter syndrome down. I’m doing what I’m doing and I love it!

This is such an odd little book but it was completely readable from start to finish. At first, I couldn’t really see where it was going - there was a lot of detail about our protagonist’s life, including her husband’s obsession with trapping a raccoon, but things gradually started to pick up pace. The underlying concept didn’t quite hang right for me, this odd little rejection club, but it didn’t really matter, the fun was having this adorably oddball collection of people forced to spend time together. A good read, and a happy finish. Apparently there’s more in the series, so I’ll be looking out for the next one.

Thankfully, this movie was a step back to the great for Spider-Man, ending this first trilogy of films on a really high note. It wasn’t perfect but it was very well done, particularly as the Multiverse aspect could have been very confusing. The more elements you throw into a movie, the more messy it gets, but this was handled spectacularly, remaining entertaining all the way through.

Recently, I’ve become obsessed with reducing waste. Although, I suppose it’s not that much of a recent phenomenon, it’s something that I’ve been mindful of for the past few years, with an increasing focus on our planet. I’ve made sensible changes where possible - sourcing toilet rolls from a paper-based subscription service, scrapping all physical mail and magazines where possible (Christmas Radio Times excluded, obviously!), and choosing glass options over plastic if available.

Oh lovely Emily Dean. I used to listen to the Frank Skinner show regularly and I remember the weeks she took off when her sister died, such a sad and difficult time. But I stopped listening and had only vaguely been aware of what happened after that. This book is incredibly honest and detailed, a look at how grief can affect you in many different ways and some ways to try and deal with it. Emily doesn’t seem to have had a traditional upbringing which makes it kind of hard to relate to, but most can relate to imposter syndrome and feeling out of sorts in your own skin. Great book, well written, tragic tale but somehow uplifting at the same time.

This album is the epitome of hit or mmiss. There are a good few songs on there, although none of those humungous essential U2 hits. I really, really love Numb, it’s one of my OG U2 favourites. And Some Days is a great track too. But the problem with this album is that it really doesn’t fit together. The transition between Numb and the next song Lemon (some kind of disco number) is really jarring. And at the end, we suddenly jump to old school slow and meandering country with the wonder that is Johnny Cash. Getting Johnny Cash on your album should be a highlight but actually I sort of wish it wasn’t there. So mixed feelings from start to finish.

Yay for Dolly! What a genuine legend she continues to be. This album is full of general Dolly goodness but with a few added extras in there. I love the fire of Woman Up, obviously, but particularly as it follows the soft whisperings of a tragic story like Blue Bonnet Breeze. When Dolly’s whispering in your ear, you’re absolutely listening. I wasn’t so bothered about the guest stars, all men, but overall a good album.

I’ve attempted this before but didn’t get past the first couple of pages, this time I was determined to make a better effort - there’s the big film on the horizon and I wanted the inside track. Plus it’s such a cultural phenomenon that it had to be on the list. I got through it this time, which is a bonus, and elements of it were interesting…. but ultimately I did find it pretty dry (pun intended, considering the lack of water on this planet). The characters are all so stiff and hard to invest in, and even the ‘hero’ Paul isn’t particularly sympathetic.

Although I’ve always been a bit judgemental of the red panda (not a real panda), I was kinda looking forward to this movie. I’d forgotten it was a Pixar film but when I saw that ident, it raised my expectations even further. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my hopes, but it wasn’t an overall bad movie. In the scheme of things, it wasn’t as good as Luca, but it was better than the one where they dragged some decapitated trousers around.

I listened to the audiobook, and hearing Kelsea read these in her own voice with her own cadence was exactly the way to experience it. Occasionally a burst of emotion would crop out - stories of food disorders and the school shooting she witnessed are brutal but beautifully told - and I just whipped through the book. Wonderful.

As always, I love Jacqueline Wilson books even though I’m massively the other side of the age bracket, but it can’t be helped - these plucky youngsters putting themselves into difficult situations, learning and growing and coming out the other side. This was an interesting one in terms of a fractured family just trying to piece themselves back together (and apart), but the best bit was Wilson writing herself into the book in a slightly different form. Adorable!

Another step along the Johnny Cash journey, and this was another simple collection of songs that he does so beautifully. What I always find weird about these albums is how many covers there are, or songs that are traditional that I had no idea about… Beach Boys’ Sloop John B is on here in a different format because it’s actually an old school traditional song - who knew??? And My Grandfather’s Clock is just an old kid’s song… but also on a Johnny Cash album?!

Woohoo, what a great album from Avril doing everything she does best twenty years on from her first album. It’s just exactly what you’d expect - strong pop-punk-rock, taking no prisoners, picking you up and zipping you along the journey. I really loved this album, and can’t believe how strong a start to the year this has been compared to the last few months. Good work Avril, more please!

Just like the first one it was nothing too groundbreaking - adorable animals singing popular songs, but it was all the extra bits and bobs around it that made it great. Good jokes, lovely side-stories, a way of everything coming together by the end in a satisfying and not-too-hokey way. Plus, hold on to your hats, Bono was actually really good! If I hadn’t known it was him, I probably wouldn’t have known it was him.

This book is a memoir about life undercover in the CIA by one of the youngest female participants in such active missions. You have to go into it with a huge pinch of salt because the intelligence agency has distanced themselves from it, but even so, it’s an interesting read. How you sort of fall into that kind of work, the training that goes into it, and how being undercover for an extended period of time can really mess with your head. It was a relief when she moved on to other things at the end!

I picked up this audiobook in a sale, if I’m honest, purely because Dawn French was reading it. It was quite a dark tale, considering the audience, but Dawn’s reading really brings it to life. I enjoyed it but I don’t know that it will stick with me, particularly. Except the concept of having buttons for eyes… that’s too much.

I had some leftover bananas that were quickly ripening and sure, I could have just eaten them, but where’s the fun in that? No, instead, I dug out a Mary Berry recipe for banoffee pie - something I have never made before and to be honest, haven’t eaten that often either. But biscuits, bananas, caramel, cream and chocolate can’t really go wrong, can it? Hooray, it didn’t go wrong! I quite enjoyed making this, the only downside is it’s one of those recipes that isn’t so much baking, as assembling a layer and then waiting for it to cool, another layer, another long wait. It took me a good portion of the day to get this to its final state, but it was worth it.

The thing about breaking down the year into 30 day chunks is that February does a bit of a number on the pattern, whether it’s a leap year or not. That’s why on the second of March, I’m launching challenge three - drawing. I wrote previously about enjoying the app ShadowDraw, in fact when I first mentioned it, I was eyeing up a daily challenge they had launched to tie in with Christmas advent calendars. I don’t really want to talk about how many of those days I actually completed because it was barely any, and that’s why I’m bringing the idea back for this month.

The good news is my second attempt at a thirty day challenge was more successful than the first, in that I actually managed to do the thing every day for the full thirty days. In case you missed it, February’s task was to do the 30 Day Core Challenge that Apple Fitness+ had very kindly put up I suspect especially for me. And I did it! The first fifteen days were five minute workouts, and the second half was full of ten minute workouts, and I managed to do every single one, every single move (not always pretty but I tried), every single minute.

I don’t really know a lot about Sharon Stone, I’ve only seen her in a couple of films and missed the time when she was super-stardom. I didn’t know she’d been ill, either, but this book dives right in from that moment, and then dips back and forth in time to tell the story of how she got there and how she recovered afterwards. If I’m honest, there were a few times I wanted to stop reading because I just couldn’t properly get engaged… but I had to get to the end because it’s so beautifully written, and ultimately quite optimistic about a difficult life.

Although I claim not to be someone who can watch a lot of different TV shows at the same time, I do seem to have plenty of different series on the go at the moment. There’s just so much good stuff out there! But alongside the new stuff, there’s always a spot in my day for something a bit older and a bit more relaxing… something to switch off to rather than get completely invested in.

I was taking a bit of a risk here because whilst I enjoy country music a lot more than I ever would have anticipated I would, it’s really modern country that floats my boat and not so much the old traditional stuff. But Tim McGraw is such an icon that I wanted to go back to the start of his career, rather than just cherry pick albums.

This is a really good album from Mary J, with a great premise - loving yourself first and the rest will hopefully follow. I enjoyed the beats, the production, the general overall sound, but the thing I noticed most was that there was a lot of time without Mary. Of course she has an array of great featured artists and that’s brill, but I’m here for MJ and I’m not sure the balance was totally right for me.

I really quite enjoyed this movie for what it is - Dawson’s Creek but with added football. I read a review that says this is an odd little time capsule from an odd time in American (and general) history. A time before it was really known how much damage these high contact sports can do, and it was generally okay for a guy to steal a cop car and drive around with some girls naked.

Like many, I adored every episode of Clarkson’s Farm, enjoying as the host was told off every other minute by people that really do know how to farm. You always got the feeling that whilst he was being classic Clarkson, he also wanted to learn and do his bit and actually listen to the people around him. Unfortunately, this book - a collection of newspaper columns he wrote along the way - wasn’t quite as much fun, as he didn’t have the people to bounce off. It’s just a bit too Clarkson for me. But I did like him re-evaluating his own writing as we went along. ‘What was I thinking when I wrote this?’ he says at one point.

I’m always fascinated by an adventure story, but this was so much more. Elise, the author, and adventurer, plans to run around the coast of Britain, with the typical lack of planning and preparation that often accompanies these grand schemes. And, spoiler alert, that side of things all works out okay. I wasn’t so keen on the staying in many different people’s places - although their generosity must be recognised. And meeting all the different people helped Elise tell the story of her own journey.

Right up to date with Nick Dixon now, and eagerly anticipating the next installation in the series. This one was a good book, although following some pretty horrible crimes. There wasn’t a lot of home life this time, not too much Jane or Monty, but still plenty of back story and personal anecdotes to keep it interesting. I did enjoy the new dynamic with Cole, it’s fascinating to see what Dixon’s next career step brings him, the different challenges he faces and adjustments he needs to make.

This is an interesting movie because it’s brilliant thanks to Sandra, obviously, but otherwise it’s just a good film that’s kinda forgettable. I wish they could have done more with Steve Buscemi, and it felt like Sandy’s recovery came a little too easily in the end, but honestly, I could watch her in anything. I don’t think I’d actively recommend this film but if you do end up watching it, you’ll be ok.

I was a bit nervous about this album because American Pie is such a classic but I didn’t really know what the rest of it was going to be like. Actually, it was pretty good. American Pie obviously kicks things off in style, and the rest of the album is made up of shorter tunes that, if I’m honest, aren’t so distinguishable from each other, but as a whole, it’s very listenable and a strong body of work.

Oh yes, what a great album this is. Packed full of pop disco fun from start to finish, it’s almost impossible to listen to this without at least tapping your feet. I really liked the previous Foxes album I listened to and it’s been so long since then - that was in my first year of this album adventure! Definitely recommended, and this is probably an early contender for the best of year lists already.

I loved this film. It was funny, the kids were great, Paul Rudd was doing what he does best, and the story worked - the nostalgia was there, and of course the end was pretty weepy. A great movie and it feels like they’ve left it open to more, so perhaps the Ghostbusters Cinematic Universe is on its way.

I’m almost up to date with this great series, following the adventures of Nick Dixon and his fellow gang of police, doctors, friends and more. This time we’re diving into history, with an archaeological dig bringing up more than just old mosaic pieces. I like how this was part cold-case and part serial-killer and there was a family element as well. And of course, the big moment at the end of the book that is going to change the future course of the series… Can’t wait to get on to the next one.

This was a brilliant story of an incredible woman - Wally Funk who was part of the Mercury 13, a group of intrepid women who trained up in the same way as the men but never got to be the pioneers heading to the moon. Ever since then, her mission has been to get into space and she’s achieved it, although this book was written before the big event. This is all about the larger than life character that Wally is, written by a broadcaster who became her friend, and how although life wasn’t necessarily fair on her, she never stopped fighting for her dream. Amazing.