I just finished watching the second series of The Flight Attendant, HBO’s dark comedy crime mystery show starring and executive produced by Kaley Cuoco. It was brilliant, potentially even better than the first series. 2020’s initial outing followed the adventures of Kaley’s character Cassie as she, a flight attendant on a fictional airline, woke up in a hotel bed in Bangkok next to a dead body. Gradually the mystery unfolded …

A few years ago, boxed wine was the kind of thing you had when you couldn’t really afford the good stuff. It was looked down upon. Apparently, now, that’s all changing, and boxed wine is actually what we should all be buying. Unless you’re buying super posh wine that needs to sit in a cooled cellar and age for a few decades, there’s no actual advantage to having wine in …

I've had a few months now that are more passive, reading challenges, so it's time to turn the creative flow back on and do something productive. I’m going for something a bit more traditional this month - it’s June, it’s potentially summer, the sun should be out more than it isn’t, and there should be an opportunity for some good photos. That’s right, it’s a 30 days of photos challenge, …

At the start of May's 30-day challenge, I thought it was going to be a bit of a slog to get through a poem a day. By midway through, I was coming round to the idea, and by the end of the month, I think I'm okay with a bit of poetry now and then. I don't think it's something I want to keep up reading every day, despite having …

In coming up with plans for my various 30 day challenges this year, I stumbled across the 30 Days Wild initiative - an annual challenge from the Wildlife Trusts that encourages people, particularly kids, to get outside in nature and do wild things every day. It can be a fundraising thing, or just a participatory thing and it’s such a great idea. From 1-30 June, take part in the UK’s …

I’ve gone down a bit of a subscription rabbit hole recently. In working through various replacements for household goods as I go through this zero-waste obsession, I’ve found a lot of things that offer subscriptions, so that if it’s something you get along with, you can have it turn up to your door without thinking too much about it. Given the current pricing pressures in the UK, subscriptions can be …

I’ve mentioned before that I’m completely into the Top of the Pops replays on BBC Four at the moment, as they have reached the early nineties and I’m loving this era of music... we’re heading rapidly towards Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls and so much more goodness. They recently rounded out the year 1992 with the Christmas special, and at this moment in time, Whitney Houston had her vice-like grip …

Often, if I have a spare minute to fill and I’m near an Apple TV, I’ll pop up YouTube and have a riffle through what the US chat shows have been up to. I’ve often posted here about Jimmy Fallon and James Cordon and the silly antics they get up to, but I’ve got a new go-to that I tend to check first - Kelly Clarkson. If you’d have asked …

The zero-waste challenge is still ongoing in my household, or maybe I should call it the reduce-waste-as-much-as-possible-because-zero-is-unrealistic challenge. When I use things and throw things away, I try to take a minute to think about if there’s a better alternative, and quite often find that there is, even if it’s not a perfect swap. That’s good news and it’s always a nice feeling when you embed something more virtuous into …

I've not set any hard and fast rules about how much to update my blog during a particular 30 day challenge because they're all so different, and have different outputs. I only wrote an intro and an outtro to the Core challenge because what else is there to say? I didn't gain a six pack so let's move on. Meanwhile, I wrote three times about the Marvel Comic book challenge …

I’ve been meaning to write about Slow Horses for a week or so now, having wrapped up watching the six-episode first season - it’s brilliant! The first episode had me concerned, the opening sequence of a terrorist hunt in an airport going wrong was fab but then followed up by a grumpy boss being awful to his employees. However, the intrigue overrides that and once you hit the second episode, …

Another month has ticked into action which means it's time for another 30 day challenge to begin. This time: 30 Days of Poetry. This has come from a combination of lingering thoughts about Emily Dickinson following the exceptional Apple TV+ show, and the after effects of dipping into comics last month. Not two things that appear to have much in common at first, but the thing about the comics is, …

And we’re done, 30 days of comic books done and dusted. Have I learnt anything? Quite a lot actually but I think the main result of this thirty days is to prove that the Marvel comics are too complicated for me. Brilliant but hard. However, the Star Wars reboot - with that hard cut off between current canon and previous legend - is much easier to deal with. I mentioned …

Recently, I seem to have watched a lot of second series of things, either because they’ve just been released with much fanfare, or because I’ve done a bit of a catchup. Four of the shows I’ve watched recently have all had second series’ that differ quite significantly from their first, and it’s been very interesting to watch them myself and also see the reaction to them in the wider world. …

One of my favourite things about this year so far was getting to early spring and realising the desire to get back to my vegetable garden was back. Last year, I gave it a go but chucked it all in as a bad job after a disappointing haul of carrots. In my offline diary, I specifically wrote "and that might be the gardening over with. Bored of it now." It's …

Ten days of comics later, and I'm going to be honest, I don't think I'm going to be reading all the Marvel comics that have ever been published. I like the idea of it, of course, but by day twenty I felt like the vast array of comics available was starting to get a bit wearing. I quite like browsing the covers and revelling in all the creativity that has …

As I'm looking out for more environmentally friendly product options, I couldn't ignore it when I saw someone promoting Wild deodorant on TikTok and then getting an introductory deal on the same day. I don't really need to write a long post about this because the concept is simple and really makes sense - you can buy one-offs or subscribe but overall the system is you get a reusable case …

The phrase ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ doesn’t really cover everything we need to do to fix our planet, but it’s a really good place to start and does help you think in the right way. Reuse is one of the best options, meaning new items don’t need to be made and we can really get the most out of our products. It’s no wonder that milk delivery to your door in …

So far, my 30 Day Challenges have fallen into one of two themes - either trying to embed a habit, or really giving something a good go. The comic book challenge is the latter, something I've thought about and dipped into occasionally but never had the stamina to keep up a good streak of comic book reading. One thing I didn't mention in my introductory post, is that the vastness …

There's been a TV show streaming on Apple TV+ recently, a little production called Severance, I don't know if you've heard of it? I'm astounded at how popular this show has become, not because it's not good, but because it just seems to have blown up out of nowhere. But the show features that thing that everyone loves - morals alongside a mystery. While you're trying to figure out what …

My breakfast habits are inconsistent at best, but sometimes I get into a bit of a rhythm with porridge and enjoy eating it for a few days at a time. The thing about porridge is though, and forgive me because I really am just this lazy, it's quite a lot of effort and banging around pots and pans in the morning when people are trying to sleep. You can do …

I've dipped my toe into the comic book waters before, particularly when the official Back to the Future comics first launched. I quite enjoyed reading them but it's not something that seriously stuck. If I'm honest that was mostly because I felt like they weren't value for money - I 100% appreciate the talent and creativity that's gone into creating the artwork and stories, but you can devour them so …

And so, I've done it. 30 Days of ShadowDraw, the app that lets you follow a sketch as it comes to life and practice along with it. I really enjoyed this challenge, getting the most use out of my Apple Pencil possibly ever, and feeling like I was really getting into it by the end. But even with all that, I still don't feel like I can ever actually be …

The ever expanding list of streaming services is a constant topic of conversation and consternation amongst TV enthusiasts, particularly as the current trend is for more and more silos popping up with selected own properties, and fewer general access places like Netflix. I hadn't expected the distillation of shows to go down to such a granular level as Taskmaster have taken it. The brilliant comedy panel show, that features a …

I just finished the final episode of Dickinson and wanted to celebrate what a wonderful show this has been. I wrote about it after the first season, highlighting the specific creative choices that make it a brilliant period piece (the music, the modern moments, the way the poetry weaves in and out of the narrative) and that has only continued on through the next two series. It makes sense that …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

The Book of Boba Fett has been a ride, hasn't it? The reaction to this show has been so fascinating right from the start, with claims that it's boring, that it has robbed people's joy of a beloved character, that it relies too heavily on Mando, that it spends too much time on Tatooine... if there's an aspect of the show you can name, you can also find people loving …

My second thirty day challenge of the year takes things away from the mental side of life (language learning) and more into the physical (health and fitness). Don't worry, I'm sure not all the challenges will fit into the Crystal Maze categories. Almost as if they were listening to me, Apple Fitness+ released some updates this year that included a handful of curated collections - workout schedules to help you …

Like the best people, I'm completely obsessed with Inside the Factory - the TV show where Gregg Wallace, Cherry Healey and Ruth Goodman go behind the scenes in various factories to show us the history, the present and the future of how things are made. A recent episode featured the nation's favourite tortilla chip (or better known as Doritos) and I was surprised at the lengthy process to get sweetcorn …

I set myself the January challenge of getting a thirty day Duolingo streak, concentrating on their French language course that I've been dipping in and out of for as long as I can remember. I ALMOST made it. If I'm being honest with myself, for the first thirty day challenge of the year, and as a means to getting back in the habit of checking into Duolingo every day, I'm …

Since The Grand Tour became more of An Occasional Jaunt, the three presenters have been trying their hand at other things, usually turning their hobbies into business ventures. James May learned to cook and bought a pub, Jeremy Clarkson got into farming in a big (tractor) way, and Richard Hammond ploughed all his time and money into a classic car restoration business. All of them have made TV shows along …

Back in November, I wrote a post/whinge about how difficult it was to track down the Marvel One Shot shorts that complement the main series. They were all over the place, some as film extras, some their own thing on Disney+, some not appearing anywhere official. Well! Disney must have been listening because they've just released all the One Shots as their own special episodes on the Disney+ streaming service. …

Halfway through the first month of the year, and that means halfway through my first 30 day challenge. It was a deliberately easy one - not having to go too far out of my way to make it happen, and something I have done before and know I can do. But even with that, resuming my Duolingo streak has meant remembering to do it each day for the fifteen days …

The new year is always a good time for new dramas to start appearing on TV, and the big bang for 2022 was Around the World in 80 Days, a big budget drama starring David Tennant as the hero in this Jules Vergne adaptation. The eight episode series followed Tennant's Phileas Fogg as he attempts that circumnavigation of the globe all for a simple bet with the others at his …

In 2021, I managed to read and review about 150 titles in my Books section, which has to be an all-time record. I say titles, rather than books, because some of them were shorts, some reference, some audiobooks, there's a mish-mash of stuff I've enjoyed all year long. But even so, that's still a lot to have managed to get through. Partly that's because of the ongoing efforts to Hibernate …

Over this holiday period, I've finally managed to listen to series nine of John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme. If you're not aware of it, this is a fantastic radio sketch programme featuring John and friends covering everything from social awkwardness, new twists on old classics, incredible storytelling and every now and again some really moving stuff. Series nine was different, there were the logistical implications of recording during a pandemic and …

Keeping track of what films are coming out when has been pretty difficult over the last couple of years, partly because of delays to release dates for obvious reasons, but also because it's never quite clear how something is going to hit our screens. With a deep desire not to go to the cinema, I'm reliant on streaming options instead, and whilst it's getting better all the time (Disney+ early …

It's become a tradition for me to write a new year post on this site, setting out what goals I'm going to try and fail at over the coming twelve months. Last year's post was a little bit different, as we were all worn down by a pandemic that didn't seem to be ending any time soon. I finished that post with the optimistic thought: "So here's to 2021, and …

Somehow another year of music has flown by, I've banked another 100 albums, both new and old, and now I have to decide which were the cream of the crop and which weren't worth the download speeds. Each week, for fifty weeks, I've listened to one new album (usually from this year, or 2020 at a push), and one older album (any time before that), and have listened to each …

Unless you've been deliberately avoiding it (and you might have, because it's troublesome these days), you'll know there's a Harry Potter celebration on New Year's Day. The stars of the movies are getting back together to celebrate the 20th Anniversary ready to reminisce about what must have been a huge part of their childhoods. I'm interested to see what is revealed. But I was also super interested to see a …

It's fair to say, I watch a lot of movies. Since starting the Film Watch process back in 2009, as of yesterday, the total is 1273 and rising fast. Initially, the goal was to simply increase my knowledge of films, but soon it became bigger and bolder than that. The aim became to watch 100 movies a year, and then to try and beat the previous year's total, and that …

I finally managed to watch the latest James Bond installment last month, having already had a few spoilers before managing to get it on screen. And then I read a post that sparked an interest in me that I kept meaning to write about... but then Christmas happened and now this terrible year is almost over and everyone has moved on, but hey. I'm still thinking about 007! This Guardian …