Here's a nice quick dressing for a salad. It's in German but the description is in English and you can see what Marie does with the ingredients, basically all into a jug and use a hand/stick blender to mix. youtu.be/x_13jZF6yLM?...

When buying oil(s) for cooking it can be a bit of a minefield. Personally I use a cold-pressed rapeseed oil and an extra virgin olive oil for mine. Worth checking for offers in supermarkets as they are getting expensive. www.theguardian.com/food/2026/ap...

I do think taking trains instead of flying will become more and more popular in Europe. That said, people will still enjoy the speed and convenience of flying. www.theguardian.com/business/202...

If you are interested in finding out which companies use sustainable palm oil, please have a look at this.

As someone who spent some years in a relationship with a German, I did notice some differences from dating a British person. None of these were bad differences but many of them were good for my semi-already thinking-German brain. youtu.be/KEuq7j_B6_w?...

This is joyful. Hopefully the rest of the population here will be able to use it too. I try where possible to not buy products containing palm fat or oil though sadly that can be tricky for some items. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

This is an interesting and timely article. There has been a massive increase in content uploaded by so-called influencers who have no background in cookery. There's a reason 'qualified' chefs are respected. www.theguardian.com/food/2026/ap...

Oh dear, this is sad. He was such a respected conductor. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/a...

Since it is #Shakespeare 's birthday (perhaps) today, it seems apt to upload the link to this on YT. Dame Judi is related distantly to the great astronomer Tycho Brahe, and her 10-times great aunt may have been in service at Elsinore. youtu.be/uHUTBLSU6NQ?...

Jonas and Malin dancing on stage at the Wiener Konzerthaus last night. Looks like they are really enjoying themselves. youtube.com/shorts/a8dvY...

Exactly 10 years ago today we were on Bankside hoping to take part in Shakespeare Lives - The Complete Walk only some chap called Obama had been there earlier and all the screens were either switched off or were showing static. We went back the next day and spent some time watching all the clips.

A 5-star review for The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui with Mark Gatiss in the title role. The first photo you genuinely don't recognise him but it's clearer in the second. www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/a...

I guess this was always going to happen in these circumstances. More airlines will no doubt take similar actions or greatly increase flight prices. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Jonas and Malin discussing their Magische Töne tour which starts tonight in Vienna under the baton of Jochen Rieder, and finishes in Frankfurt on 09/05/26. Budapest, Hannover, Essen, Freiburg, Stuttgart, Luzern and Mannheim between these dates. youtube.com/shorts/GZGYA...

For people who like personalisation, Veganism and fountain pens, Cult Pens UK is now selling Chasing Threads notebooks where through the medium of sewing you can personalise your own design. The refillable paper is 100gsm so should suit fountain pens. cultpens.com/collections/...

Lidl UK has XXL week (probably fortnight) starting on Thursday. Yet again they are doing a pack of 50 slices of Gouda which I have yet to see someone buy. Also 800g bags of M&M's. Having walked into the M&M store in Leicester Square before immediately walking out this is something I would never buy.

The Donauturm (Danube Tower) has the highest restaurant and cafe in Vienna at 170m and 160m respectively, each with 360-degree views. It was one of many things we had on our increasing to-do list for Vienna. youtube.com/shorts/BhaE-...

Just had the Scottish Greens at the door in anticipation of May 7th. It's strange, I live 5 minutes walk from the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood but only ever hear from the Greens.

Well, there's a shock. The German Deli's first stock of white asparagus is sold out. It usually does sell out very quickly.

This looks a really nice and easy recipe. More interesting is that in 2023 78% of all pasta bought in Italy was either spaghetti or penne, including their variations. www.theguardian.com/food/2026/ap...

While I think this fine is disproportionate for the offence, I do think people littering should expect to be hit with a penalty notice when caught. If they did this in Edinburgh they would make a fortune. www.theguardian.com/money/2026/a...

Another flight has left without all passengers going through passport controls. I wonder how many more we'll hear about. I still have to register my details but I won't going on any holidays this year and probably not next either. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

My very random DVD viewing today by chance kept it in the family. First up was Braveheart, a film so historically accurate it's like watching a documentary. It stars Brendan Gleeson as Hamish Campbell, Wallace's best friend. 1/2

Good god, not another one. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

An interesting article. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

I know a few people who would normally travel further away but will be holidaying either in the UK or less popular destinations on the European mainland. Probably a good idea this year. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

For people passionate about Shakespeare and fountain pens, Paperblanks has created a Wars of the Roses themed notebook with 120gsm paper. They are not cheap but the paper is excellent and they come in a variety of sizes and formats. #ShakespeareSunday www.paperblanks.com/en/product/j...

Wish I'd seen this before I'd visited a Wellness Hotel in Germany in 2016. I broke the no speaking in the sauna rule about 20 seconds after entering. The complete nudity thing also threw me at first as it's not the done thing in the UK. youtu.be/04ysYExdrR0?...

Folks in the UK, Ryman currently has a Buy One, Get One Free offer on its own brand notebooks. They are 70gsm and come in a wide variety of colours. Unfortunately they don't work very well with my Lamy fountain pen ink but other inks may work. www.ryman.co.uk/stationery/p...

Fountain pen people. I throw this video into the feed every so often, as some others do, as it shows how a handmade fountain pen is made. Yes, very expensive but for some people perhaps worth the outlay. It has English subtitles. youtu.be/P1XI1rx54hk?...

I'm not a car person by any means, but have always admired the engineering of Porsche. The fact they can make incremental improvements to their models speaks volumes. I have to say, though, that this is easily one of the best looking modern cars. youtu.be/RyUTpAnpULY?...

Käsespätzle at Weinstube Fröhlich in Stuttgart has gone up from 8 euros for a huge starter portion in, I think, 2017 to 13 euros as a main course of less than half the size (though with a salad added) in 2022, to 22.80 euros now. Crazy how much it has increased.

England thrash Scotland 84-7 in the Women's Six Nations. That's England's 35 Test victory in a row. They are definitely a class apart. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...

I love white asparagus (and green too, of course), ham and cheese but this seems wrong on so many levels. Asparagus cooked, then wrapped with cheese and ham before being breaded and fried. In German only. youtu.be/LtKldqNMdHE?...

Fair play to Jamie for 'handwriting' the menu for his newest restaurant, Jamie's Italian, just off Leicester Square. He was late diagnosed as dyslexic so it can't have been easy. youtu.be/Hmo0GsdHvvw?...

People in the UK, the German Deli in London is selling Class A Fresh White Asparagus for £19.50 a kg. germandeli.co.uk/504-frischer...

No real surprise here, with Labour, Lib Dems and Greens strongly for rejoining the EU and Tories and Reform strongly against it. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

If anyone is looking for a visual representation of where the house was in comparison to London today, Richard Wilson showed Michael Wood in part 4 of the latter's In Search of Shakespeare (2003). It starts at 44:45. youtu.be/0TcSw554rso?...

Gosh, Dame Judi's garden is lovely. www.theguardian.com/culture/2026...

Richard E Grant returns to the theatre, in this case Wyndham's, opposite Christine Baranski in Noel Coward's Hay Fever between 22 September and 12 December. Saw Harold Pinter's No Man's Land there in 2016. www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/a...

Fountain pen and ink people, Cult Pens has 5 for 4 on a wide variety of bottle and cartridge inks. Luxury inks are included too. If you prefer a ballpoint or rollerball, the offer applies to refills for those too. cultpens.com/collections/...

I often wondered what would happen to this church. The stained glass is lovely. Hopefully the buyer will not change it too much or abuse the space. www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/histori...

Goodness, I had not realised the Angela Pleasence who played the 'agent provocateur' in Series 4 of Whitechapel was Donald Pleasence's daughter. www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

This looks a really good salad. Filo parcels filled with couscous, preserved lemons and mint, along with carrots, red onion and citrus fruits. A couple of dressings too. youtu.be/eYtRpx_73tQ?...

Looks like people will have to plan well in advance this year until they are first registered. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

'This is an instrument made for people so they can rediscover themselves as human beings.' How to build a lyre from SWR Craftsmanship. youtu.be/HcfgMH_Jl5E?...

Little needs to be said about this 😉 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Oh, this is sad. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/a...

Nice interview with Oliver Mears, the director of opera at Covent Garden, about what's coming in the new season. www.theguardian.com/music/2026/a...

Interesting article, and there are few so well qualified to undertake such a task. And Anthony's diaries in the six months before his passing will no doubt be very moving. www.theguardian.com/books/2026/a...