Songbird

@Matineegirl @AppleTV Really enjoyable x

People with @AppleTV I highly highly recommend Your Friends & Neighbours. Just finished watching it. It’s sharp, smart and entertaining. Really pleased that there will be a second season.

Retweet if you do. #GretaThunberg

@Matineegirl Oooh doesn’t it though ?

Well can’t wait to go and see this and cry! Looks so good.

@hwinkler4real Amazing 🥰

fantastic

@vera_kober_art Beautiful

My cornflower painting

@JoannaCannon Wow ! I’m sold - just reserved at library and thank you x

Oh my goodness, this book. THIS BOOK. I don’t know where to begin, so maybe I’ll start by telling you what it’s about. This is the story of Helen, an art therapist who works in a mental health hospital. Helen is having an affair with one of the doctors, Gil, who is married (don’t hold it against her though, Helen is lovely). Helen is beginning to wonder how she got herself into this situation and where her life is going, but then a new patient arrives on the ward … someone who intrigues Helen so much, he provides a very welcome distraction from her own situation. Thirty-seven year-old William Tapping has been kept prisoner in a run-down house by his eccentric aunts and hasn’t been outside in broad daylight for at least twenty years. He also has a beard down to his waist. These facts alone make Helen want to better understand his story, but when she discovers he’s also an exceptionally talented artist, she decides to investigate further … what happened in William’s past, and why did his aunts feel compelled to hide him away for so long? There is a line in this book which I think is the very heart of the story: ‘But surely it’s the unconventional kinds of imprisonments that are the hardest to escape’. And we all have them, don’t we? Even if we don’t realise it at the time, even though it’s only when we look back that we can appreciate the high walls we have built (personally speaking, I appear to have made a small, but life-long, hobby out of it). Also, it’s only when you look back at the end of this novel that you appreciate just how powerful it is. It’s so exquisitely written, so quietly perfect, the story just unfolds effortlessly in front of you … yet you reach the final page and then realise you have been subconsciously processing your own life for the past four hundred pages. Isn’t that the sign of a brilliant (and brilliantly told) story? SHY CREATURES switches between the 1940s and the 1960s, as William (and Helen’s) story is told. I don’t know if it’s the era, or Helen’s voice, but it had a beautiful Brief Encounter feel about it at times (and I say that as a huge compliment, it’s one of my favourite films). It also meant Celia Johnson was my internal narrator for several days, which was a complete joy. I usually offer you books which are yet to be published, but SHY CREATURES is out right now … not only that, if you have a very strict HB rule, it’s out in paperback from @wnbooks @orionbooks NEXT WEEK. I also have the very great privilege of being able to chat to @ClareDChambers on Sunday afternoon, as part of @DerbyBookFest. As someone who has worked in psychiatry (and who believes very strongly in the many bridges between medicine and the arts) I have so many questions for Clare (who is, I agree with India Knight, a complete genius). If you are in the area, we would love to see you there (ticket link below). Event attendance or otherwise, I can’t recommend this book enough to you. I only shout about books I love, and I adored this one. If you read it, do come back and tell me what you think – I would love to hear! derbybookfestival.co.uk/events/clare-c…

@LoveGrowingVeg 🥰

The most important crop I have. My late son James planted some blight resistant potatoes here many years ago. We call them “James Potatoes”, surprisingly 😊 Thought they were gone, cleared the area and up they came. Will plant some in my main garden💚🌱. Memories everywhere 💔

@Rael571 It is a beautiful poem I love it too x

A favourite poem of my mum's. She had a lifelong love of WB Yeats. The photograph is called Chant sacré by Charles Emile Joachim Constant Puyo, c1899.

@Thehullboy1 @MindCharity You are amazing ! Followed you all the way and been wondering all day how you were doing - bless your ❤️ xx

THE YOUNGEST PERSON AND FIRST UNDER 18 TO RUN THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE UK🫡 £111,000 Raised for @mindcharity 1347KM Ran (837 miles) 1 car crash and 2 of the most difficult but greatest months of my life. I’m an emotional mess tonight but I just want to say, no matter how dark a place you are in. It can and WILL get better. 2 years ago I was in the darkest place in my life, 2 years later we have made history. Thank you to everyone who believed in me. I love you all very much. I’ll do a post when I’m able to process what’s just happened. MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS ❤️

@Thehullboy1 @MindCharity Fantastic !!!! 👏👏👏👏👏

£100,000 RAISED 🤯 Truly speechless. When I began running I said my all time goal was to raise 100K for @mindcharity - never did I imagine we would do it on this challenge alone. I don’t even know how to word this, this is already the greatest day of my life and I haven’t even finished the run yet. To whoever donated £20,000 anonymously, you have a heart of gold and thank you so much for believing in the challenge. Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported, I will forever be grateful for you all ❤️ 16 miles to go!

@Thehullboy1 Sending you massive hugs Champ !!! ❤️

A message before the finale tomorrow ❤️

@Thehullboy1 Amazing ❤️

50 MILES TO GO❤️

@Thehullboy1 @BBCBreakfast Yes Marcus 👏👏👏👏

Thank you @BBCBreakfast! Forever grateful for this morning ❤️

@jeaIousheart @tomasmithmusic This is a brilliant song I love it x

cannot stop watching this video… obsessed @tomasmithmusic

@IanBourneArt ❤️

To all of you who’ve been so kind about my art stuff, I thank you. I used to try and reply to every one, but life has been so dark for a while all I can seem to manage is a ❤️. And, my output has been poor. Rest assured I value every word. Business will be resumed soon enough 🙂

@Thehullboy1 @MindCharity Champ !!! 💜

£50,000 POUNDS RAISED FOR @mindcharity 💙 Tearing up typing this. Thank you to everyone who’s believed in me on this challenge. To be able to reach this when the goal was originally £20,000 is genuinely mind blowing. I know for a fact that the money will go to save many people’s lives and that’s all because of your kindness and support! 4 days to go until I hopefully become the youngest to ever have ran the length of the UK. Let’s keep stomping, mental health matters!

@Thehullboy1 Been following you right from the start - keep going you are an inspiration xx

£3000 raised in the last 24 hours is just unbelievable. Thank you so much for all the support on the challenge, 6 days left to go ❤️

There's not a single bad bone in this man's body. We must celebrate good people, good men and Gary Lineker is one of them. An inspiration and a role model to millions. Hold your head high @GaryLineker Standing for justice is a noble value. One that good people appreciate 🙏🏽

@JoannaCannon @thebookseller Yes ATCOTD should have won ! I adored it 🥰

Huge congratulations to all the winners at @thebookseller #BritishBookAwards #Nibbies (I have no favourites but especially Butter!). I do think there should have been a Mindblowingly Amazing Book of the Year category though, and I think All the Colours of the Dark should have won it BUT WHAT DO I KNOW 🤣