Helen McGinn It’s been a while. How are you? Yes, me too. Always tired. Could be my age, kids, work, hormones – take your pick. Anyway, it’s been a busy few weeks so I thought I’d share some highlights. First one, I’ve finished writing fiction book number three! Well, the first draft so there’s more work to be done but the bones are down on paper. This one takes a book club to Florence, then one of them to Mull and it’s been a joy to write. I’ll let you know as soon as I have a cover and a publishing date to share.
In other news I nearly (virtually) met Dave Grohl. He was booked as a guest for Saturday Kitchen but then Storm Eunice happened and so I didn’t get to (virtually) meet him after all. Still, I read his book The Storyteller and can’t recommend it highly enough, it’s a fabulous read.
I also met the singer James Morrison on the stairs recently. I’d just done a drinks feature on This Morning and he sang live afterwards. As I passed him I told him he’d sung beautifully. He was very kind and gracious but all I could think was OH MY GOD YOU SOUND LIKE HIS MOTHER. But then I thought, it’s fine. It’s not like I’m ever going to see him again.
Except.
Guess who’s on Saturday Kitchen this weekend? Yup, James Morrison. I’ll just style it out as best I can.
Current rosé in the fridge: The Hidden Sea Rose
Price: £7.00 - Buy From Sainsbury's
I picked this wine to go with a spicy seafood dish on Saturday Kitchen recently and it’s got all the right things going on. Lots of fruit, freshness and just completely delicious drinkability. What makes it even better is that for every bottle sold 10 plastic bottles are removed from the sea (the brand works with the ReSea Project to make this happen) and so far they’ve funded the removal of 10m plastic bottles to date. I’ll drink to that.
Current red in the rack: Summer Road Old Vine Grenache
Price: £8.49 - Buy From Waitrose
This is a juicy, joyous gem of a red wine made from the Grenache grape grown on old bush vines. It manages to be both medium-bodied but stuffed full of raspberry and black cherry flavours, the kind of wine that definitely makes you think of brighter days ahead. Talking of which, it’s great with anything barbecued but also roasted veg or tomato-sauce drenched pasta.
I loved “In Just One Day”.
A tender well written book that struck a few nerves as I too lost my brother a few years ago.
I know I will read it over and over
Thank you so much – and I am so sorry to hear you lost your brother too. Sending you lots of love x