June 2025 Newsletter

What’s been going on

In my head

I am writing this with a sense of elation and that giddy feeling of nearing the finishing line.

Elated because I have finally, finally managed to bake a decent loaf of sourdough bread. I know this might sound like a small thing, but the bloody quest to not create flat depressed loaves has been going on for years. When you’re one of the Bake Of alumni there’s a strange sense that to admit you’re crap at anything related to flour and ovens makes you a fraud. It’s a cross I bear.

Imagine feeling shame for your sourdough efforts? It’s ridiculous for sure. But now I am hurtling towards my 50’s I am becoming better at just saying ‘I am shit at that’ and being okay with it. I am becoming more myself. What a relief after cosplaying as a competent human for so many years. My name is Holly and I was a finalist in the Great British Bake Off and I am crap at baking sourdough.

A lovely pal from yoga gave me some of her sourdough starter. Then she gave me some much coveted dehydrated Basil & Bloom starter shipped in from America. I haven’t dared open that yet for fear of buggering it up. Then I tried and tried to make sourdough. I even watched videos and I HATE using moving images to learn. I just want a step by step with pictures, okay? Aware that makes me sound like someone who says ‘shall I ask The Google?’

Anyway, turns out high hydration dough is not for me. I tried and tried but it was a cruel mistress. So I did what any sensible woman would do and asked another friend who produces loaves like this:

And because she knows me, and because we have similar sensibilities of not being big fans of macho sourdough rhetoric, she just messaged me her recipe in about 6 lines. And well, it worked. Look!

I am going to share the recipe below in the correct ‘on my table’ section because I am a pedant like that.

In other news we are almost half way through exam season. Eldest has 27 exams to sit in total. That seems like overkill to me but I was desperate to leave education despite prolonging the agony and extending through to a degree. It all feels a bit archaic doesn’t it? Examining kids and basing their grades on whether they can retain knowledge on a short term basis and vomit it out under timed conditions. Perhaps our exam grades should be a changing thing? Re-examined every 5 years and the results adjusted accordingly. I shudder at the thought! I remember almost nothing.

So there we have it, bread, exams and, let’s be honest, summer is threatening isn’t it? I love the summer. It can’t come fast enough.

This is reader supported, which means that the more of you who subscribe the more time I can spend writing. If that sounds like a good thing then there’s a handy button below. There are free and paid options. Paid means less chance of me trying to sell my sourdough to the poor folks of Leicester. Their future is in your hands:

In my basket

One of my friends is so clever she’s only gone and become a double doctor! Not content with listening to the aches and pains of her patients, she’s now a PhD doctor too. Some people just don’t know when to stop collecting qualifications. They shame the rest of us! Ha. Anyway, I got her this mug because she is deeply impressive. Turns out you can personalise lots of stuff on the Mr Men website and it’s very reasonable too.

Sainsburys have the most gorgeous selection of pyjamas in stock at the moment. Now I am on a PJ ban because my drawer won’t close until I sell or donate some of my current selection. However, if I were in the market for a new pair then Sainsbos is where I’d head to. Have a look at these beauties:

Something for everyone, whether you’re a lover of peeling Spanish prawns or gobbling down knickerbocker glories whilst wearing your PJs.

There’s a birthday coming in June and the son in question is very into slime. I have treated him to some far flung specimens from the US. I must admit, American slime brands are just super inventive and polished. Look at these babies:

Listening & Reading

I am part way through this delightful illustrated book about childhood. It’s not for kids. Most definitely for grown ups. So many little well observed moments. I’m lapping it up. I wouldn’t normally bother with a picture book but I am trying to extend my reading beyond domestic thrillers, partly because I am trying to write one myself and I don’t want to accidentally plagiarise.

I’m also part way through The Names which is a book based on a very clever idea where we see the parallel lives of the same child if he were given each of three different names. I love the concept but I am finding the root of the child’s life, being born to a violent man, quite hard to listen to. I’m aware I am easily upset by this kind of thing. It’s not gratuitous though, not at all. Do you think names make a man or woman? I was supposed to be called Rebecca but my Mother’s mean friend stole her baby name. I wonder what Rebecca would have done with her life? I like to think she might be a fibre artist living in Barcelona.

I ploughed through Careless People for the good of every one of you, so that you don’t have to read it. It’s the true story of what it’s like to work at Facebook, for Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg no less. It’s grim stuff, though the book feels a bit whiny. I wrote more about it over here if you want the low down, as well as the awful things I experienced in my own corporate life in advertising.

Podcast wise last month I loved Jo Brand on Adam’s Buxton’s podcast. God, she just has funny bones doesn’t she? I still remember watching her stand-up as a teen on my tiny wall mounted bedroom TV. She was usually dressed all in black and did a great piece on her time working in mental institutions. I believe there was a story about a man who ate the head of a pigeon. I hope I didn’t make that up.

Katherine Ryan has a second podcast called ‘What’s my age again’? where she gets scientists (sounds a bit L’Oreal to me) to find out her guests biological age through a blood test. I loved the episode with Romesh. She’s a generous interviewer whilst also injected that little bit of Katherine into each episode. Long may Katherine reign!

A new series of Lady Killers is back with the distinguished Lucy Worsley. If you love a bit of history but without the irritating snorting of The Rest if History podcast, then this is for you.

Obviously I am always waiting for Friday when my two favourite podcasts Older and Wider and also Before We Break Up Again are out. Incredibly different but equally brilliant. If you’re after a laugh, some good recommendations and home truths Older and Wider is where it’s at. Before We Break Up Again is an insight into a slightly unusual relationship between Jessie Cave and Alfie Brown and how they manage life with 4 kids and separate creative pursuits.

Watching

Half term means one thing here. A cinema binge. We’ve been three times. I will explain how I fund this later. First here are my recommendations:

For the 8+ through to adult members of the family try Thunderbolts. It’s the latest Marvel offering but it’s not too long (for Marvel) and is good fun. Lots of sarcasm, baddies, goodies, Russian accents... you know the drill.

For the younger members of the family I’d heartily recommend Lilo & Stitch from Disney. Does contain themes of parental death and social services involvement BUT it’s not dwelled on and my son didn’t seem distressed by it. In fact the other kids in the cinema didn’t seem to care either. Maybe they’re all tough cookies? Anyway, it’s good. Has some teary bits, some funny bits, lot of cute moments.

Now I DO NOT RECOMMEND the latest Mission Impossible film. And I am reliably informed by my 10 year old that children won’t like it either. The best way to describe it is ‘serious nonsense’. No humour, a storyline that’s non sensical and way too many close ups of Tom’s face. I try not to judge anyone who gets fillers, but I feel he may need an intervention before he loses his sight through his pillowy cheeks. Tom! We want you craggy! Go on, let is all hang/slide out!

On TV we have hugely enjoyed Sirens on Netflix. Anything with Julianne Moore is always a pleasure and she is just such a vile witch in this, I love her character! It’s a tale as old as time; rich man replaces wife with mistress, creates a vacancy etc. The downstairs staff steal the show for me with their group WhatsApp bitch fest and general knowingness.

Dept Q is new and on Netflix too. Filmed in Scotland it’s a predictably gritty police drama. Lots of ticks from me for these facts alone.

Oh and how do I fund all these £££ cinema trips? I buy whatever the limited edition drink cup and popcorn tub is (which come filled) even if they’re not for the same film we’re going to see, and then after we’ve had our fill very carefully wash them and pop them on eBay… so far I am breaking even on all our trips. Winner!

Visiting

I booked to see the wonderful Jenny Eclair last year but the show was postponed. Well, we were NOT disappointed. I’m glad Jenny took the time to get it just right. In fact the wait might have built my excitement to fever pitch. Jenny’s show is based on her life, but if you’ve already read her memoir worry not, it’s different and still worth you time and money in spades. I took my younger boyfriend and we both laughed until our cheeks hurt. He was most surprised at how rude a woman in her 60’s could be. I reminded him that I will be that woman in just 15 years, so he better believe it.

Still some dates left - GO!

Links you might like

1. Helen Oxenbury on the art of illustrating childhood. (Helen illustrated We’re Going on a Bear Hunt amongst many other books).

2. What dying is really like. I found this fascinating. Aware it might be polarising.

On my table

I promised you the sourdough recipe and I’m good to my word. If you don’t have any sourdough starter please don’t try and get any. This sourdough life is a bloody nightmare. Once you’re on the train it’s extremely hard to get off. You’ve been warned! I’m not even joking. Just buy it; not the starter, the finished bread. Also I have posted a nice salad recipe for those not into sourdough BS, just scroll down.

Makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 100g active starter

• 500g strong white flour - the quality does annoyingly make a difference. This is very very good, silky and strong, reasonably priced for the quality

• 300g water

• 8g salt

• 30g rice flour

Mix the starter, flour and water into a scraggy mess. Leave for 1 hour. Knead in the salt, then carry on kneading until silky. Cover. Every half hour for a total of 3 hours, stretch and fold the dough. Use wet hands to do this. After 3 hours shape into a proving basket covered in rice flour to stop it sticking and leave covered overnight in the fridge.

Bake the next morning in a Dutch oven from cold, don’t forget to slash the dough with a very sharp knife to allow it to properly rise - set the temp to 235c. I used a chicken brick thing I found in a charity shop for £5. 35 minutes with the lid on then 15 ish with it off. Ta da! (Scant instructions on purpose as trying to put off anyone who’s not already on this wretched sourdough ‘journey’).

For a delicious, fruity garlicky chicken and mango salad look no further.

Ingredients:

• Cold roast chicken

• 1 mango peeled and cubed

• 1 onion, very thinly sliced

• Green beans, lightly steamed and doused with cold water

• Cooked broccoli, fried in olive oil

• Olive oil

• Apple cider vinegar

• Black pepper

• Salt

• Garlic, peeled and finely chopped

• Fresh dill, coriander and mint, finely chopped

This is an assembly job that works very well with leftover roast dinner bits. Essentially toss everything together and then make a dressing with the olive oil, vinegar, pepper, salt, garlic and herbs. I put mine into a jam jar and shake furiously. Pour over the top, toss well and serve. Very good for packed lunches too.

Making and Mending

Scott had a clear out of clothes he has ruined with bleach. Anyone would think he’s a regular little cleaner with such casualties but alas, he is not. He’s a work in progress on that front.

Anyway. I can’t bear to throw bleachy clothes away so I got busy with some (more) bleach, twine and leftover dye from an abandoned lockdown crafting session.

You may have missed

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Last months posts have included:

1. My most viewed recipe ever - banana bread - but not for the reasons you think.

2. Hot and sour noodle salad recipe and a little life update.

3. Bad bosses - the low down on the book about working for Facebook plus some horror stories of my own.

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My month in pictures

(Sorry this is behind a paywall but, well, they’re personal photos, not THAT kind, they’re my life and so they’re not for everyone and their dog).