The things I love - August

Welcome to August’s ‘First Thursday’ newsletter, a celebration of the all the good things this month. Can I start by asking, if you enjoy this newsletter ‘like’ it by pressing the heart, or share it with anyone you think might be into it?

Do you know about fun berries? They will make your life better. You might not be able to buy them as easily as a strawberries or raspberries, but that's the fun. And they have the best names of any food. Jostaberries, Worcesterberries, Tayberries, Loganberries, Mulberries, Boysenberries and finally, the winner of the best-named berry, the Chuckleberry. These are all UK-grown berries and they are at their peak now. Some are native berries that we just don’t eat as much as strawbs and blueberries. Some are hybrid berries - berries that have been bred to be a mix of two or more berries - Jostaberries are a cross between gooseberries and blackcurrants and chuckleberries which are a cross of a cross (stay with me) between jostaberries, gooseberries and blackcurrants. My 3-year-old son picks mulberries in our local park with his nursery. So while most of these berries might need to come from a really good greengrocer or a gardener friend, some are ready and waiting on the mulberry trees. They are the most British of fruits, and I love them all. I eat them like sweets from their paper boxes but jam them, cordial them or pavlova them.

I spent a really lovely few days in Deal before school was out. It is the easiest and most perfect trip from where I live in East London. I spent the first few days there on my own working on some writing (without being too big reveal about it I’ll tell you more about that soon). I stayed at The Rose in Deal which has been a writing retreat for me several times. I love it there so much. I wrote at the end of Deal pier surrounded on all sides by sea - the pier is one of my most loved places to write in the whole world. While I was there I was treated to a transcendent massage and reflexology treatment with Kate at the Pelican rooms and to a brilliant yoga class with Matt from Ashtanga Yoga Deal, an ex-Hacienda DJ who made me feel so welcome and it properly set me up.

John and I spent a night at Updown Farmhouse. We were hosted by Ruth and Ollie the owners but I am planning to go back very soon on my own dime. We were there for our tenth wedding anniversary and it was very special. Updown is the English country dream. Red brick house, rambling gardens and a sunny lawn brought up to date with bold wall hangings and pops of colour. I loved the interiors so much. But it all started with the food, which was the real treat. Seasonal food over fire, simple and perfect, eaten under a pergola in the magic summer evening light. Ruth told me that since opening they have made the focaccia to one of my recipes which was a very sweet thing to know, though theirs tasted better. The amazing team were so kind to us and all the other guests. And there is a perfect green and white striped swimming pool surrounded by trees and birds. A very, very special treat to toast 10 years.

Below for my paid subscribers is a summer reading list for food lovers and a holiday cooking ‘hack’. Tomorrow, free for everyone, is a deep dive into all my newsletter takeovers.