Wuthering Heights: so much style; so little substance.

Breakfast for dinner? That’ll do.

Heading to New York on Thursday. Any recommendations for must see exhibitions I should be trying to see? Or experiences beyond the tourist attractions?

Been spending a lot of time walking around the woods close to my partner’s house in my free time. It’s gorgeous no matter the weather and makes me feel alive.

Having a Dr as a boyfriend sometimes means you find things like this in his house and you just accept it.

Returned to the LGBTQ+ youth group I volunteer with after they closed for a bit and it was so great to connect again with some of the service users that I’ve known for 3 years now. They seemingly have grown up so much in a few months. How did that happen? Is this what it’s like being a parent?!

Third week of the new job done and I am finally feeling like I am starting to make progress and understand what the hell I am doing being an Executive Director of an arts charity, ha!

Hamnet, what an a complained film with such heart. It’s testament to Maggie O’Farrell’s original novel that her depiction of loss resonates so strongly on film. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal absolutely soar. I was a blubbery mess at the end.

The sound of midnight last night was punctuated by the screams of Duolingo users losing their streaks having got too caught up in their evening plans and not practicing…

I like how people now write essays instead of blogs.

Marty Supreme is a brilliant film with a centrally flawed and unlikeable character that makes it so difficult to feel anything towards him but banal hatred. Maybe that’s the point. Timothée Chalamet is quite something though, even if I loathed him.

Whenever I visit my parents it feels like a holiday. Their apartment overlooks the marina and it’s just gorgeous on a clear day.

Happy Christmas 2025 (Every year I make my own Christmas cards featuring me with some plants. Here is this year’s tradition continued.)

My relationship is really difficult at the moment, but reading this was a good reminder that relationships are messy. “None of us are easy to be with because none of us were raised in a perfect emotional environments.” open.substack.com/pub/hasifff/...

I don’t want end of the year lists of the best of this or that. I want survival guides for getting through 2026. I want strategies for hope. I want joy subscriptions and suggestions on peaceful living.

Really enjoyed this writing on the need to make art and not have a job that isn‘t fulfilling. „I refuse to accept that the majority of our time must be spent doing shit that does not light us up.“ open.substack.com/pub/amiemcne...

Small pity party from me… I‘m on evening 9 of no plans, which at first was nice but has incrementally chipped away at my mental health. Had cancellations from a few friends the past few days that highlights how much I need to develop my friendships in Nottingham but in your late 30s that’s tough.

Winter walks through the muddy fields and getting confused by the crops already starting to grow…

Today I walked up to a stranger, a man dressed head to toe in colourful clothes and accessories and complimented him on how he dressed. We chatted about the joy of colour in clothes and ended with a hug. Sometimes it’s lovely to connect with someone over something as simple as colour.

Went to London with my sister today for a cultural day. Saw Grayson Perry at the Wallace Collection, Every Brilliant Thing at SohoPlace and lunch at Mildred’s with desert at Italian Bear Chocolate.

Incredibly proud of my family today as a national campaign from Asthma + Lung UK launches to encourage students to take their inhalers out with them featuring my cousin. Zoe died following an asthma attack whilst at uni. You can read about her, and the campaign here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Working on a project that is entirely personal, being led by you and your ideas is such a joy and privilege. I spend so much of my freelance making other people‘s visions come true that I forget how much passion I have for making the arts happen when I‘m the lead artist. 😍

Always surprised by how a bit of sun makes me feel alive again after the grey of the skies.

Felt really smug this morning getting to the gym before 7am only to realise I left my phone at home and couldn‘t actually get in. Turned right back and drove home. Doh.

Have been freelance for over 12 years and today marks the first time I‘ve had to file a claim for an unpaid invoice. Am hoping the individual pays up quickly as I really don‘t want to go to court over it. *fingers crossed*

Does anyone have any tips for commuting? Am currently having to drive 1-2 days a week for a 3-3.5 hour round trip for work and it is so exhausting me.

In bed by 9.30pm reading a book. The fact I find this delightful doesn’t distract from the fact that I can feel my age creeping up on me…

Happy birthday to me. I‘m off on a solo trip to Paris for a few days to decompress after a busy few weeks. Looking forward to experiencing Paris after many years away.

There is no LGBT without the T. Standing up for my trans friends, colleagues, peers, lovers and community, always.

Asked for a recommendation from my favourite bookseller today. After much thought she said “the book I want to recommend is only in hardback” to which I responded, “for you, I’d buy hardback”. There was a pause before we both cracked up laughing, blushing profusely.

My tulips are slowly getting there and I‘m so excited to see them bloom!

Subsidised theatres produced a 1/3 less shows in 2024 compared to 2023 painting a bleak picture of rising costs, the need to co-produce and a change in audience wants. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Feel like I need a lay down after reading The aber Sting by Paul Murray. What a thrilling read with such engrossing characters. Can see why it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2023.

There’s a moment when you‘re reading a novel and the story begins its climax and it’s like running down a hill really fast. You find yourself turning page after page, hurtling towards the pinnacle of the story whilst also trying to slow yourself down to saviour every last word. I love that feeling.

Today I spent a lot of time talking about plants and flowers. I‘m really grateful for that and how the LGBTQ+ community has brought me closer to some beautiful things, like nature. Here are the bluebells in my garden, which are unlike any bluebell I‘ve seen before!

You know what the arts are missing at the moment? Hope.

A difficult couple of weeks but getting out into the countryside for a 6 mile walk was just what I needed to be reminded of being grounded to the simpler things in life; nature and the outdoors.

Have been a fan of Martin Parr’s photography for years. Was hoping the documentary I Am Martin Parr would at least reveal more about his process and opinions on photography, instead it’s just a nice look at the Britishness of his work. A like warm tea affair.

Arts Council England have announced the next round of Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP). Applications Open: 24 April Closes: 22 May Decisions: 24 July www.artscouncil.org.uk/dycp

I might be having a mid-life crisis. Last night I booked not one, but two trips to Paris as part of the Eurostar sale. One a solo trip for my birthday because sometimes you just have to treat yourself.

Absolutely adored Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly. The sort of queer family exploration that fills you with so much joy. Not often I laugh out loud whilst reading, but this proper chuckled me. Worth a read.

If you work in the arts as a freelancer take a moment to undertake the @freelancersmake.bsky.social’s Big Survey. It’s the final one & is so important to track what freelancers experience. It’s been used to lobby and change policy at Government level! freelancersmaketheatrework.com/big-freelanc...

This morning I described my relationship to working in the arts like an abusive relationship I keep returning to. Wow. Okay. Why would anyone put themselves through that? Repeatedly?

Looking for recommendations on what to do in Cambridge. Has been years since I was last there. Would love: - veggie restaurants - places to see (contemporary) art - best cake places - walks Whatcha got for me? This replaces my trip to Malaga this week 🥲

Where would you look for a very last minute holiday after your surprise one for your dad has fallen through because of illness? Where do you book last minute flights/hotels/deals in the sun?

I love reading, it brings me so much joy.

I think my therapist is stalking me. Either that or we have excellent taste in culture and food because it’s the second time this week they’ve rocked up to the same place as me. 🤣

Caught the @nationaltheatre.org.uk’s Live of The Importance of Being Earnest tonight at @broadwaycinema.bsky.social. It was incredible. Ridiculous. Camp. Masterful in ensemble comedy. Haven’t laughed that much at theatre in years. Do catch it in cinemas, it’s definitely worth it.

Today I had the pleasure of bringing a group of actors together to film on a train. A series of short films about the vulnerability of women and girls using the train network that will be shown to hundreds of staff. Months of work and such a different use of my producing skills.

Oh I do scrub up well. Occasionally. 💃🏼