It’s the May bank holiday in the UK this weekend! If you’re in need of some inspiration, here’s my list of great things to see, do, read and watch…
Celebrate the start of peony season
Call me crazy, but I get really excited when I buy my first peonies of the year. They just look so blooming beautiful! Be warned though, they are very fussy flowers. I bought some last week and before they’d even had a chance to unfurl their petals, they’d collapsed in a limp heap. Thanks to some advice online, I managed to revive them by wrapping them up in wet newspaper and leaving them soaking in a sink of water all night. After their bad start they now look magnificent. Look for peonies at your local market this weekend – they’ll be a fraction of the price you’ll see in supermarkets.
Eat street food
This weekend I’ll be sampling the delicious street food at the Ely Markets’ Vegan & Vintage Fair. There’ll be something to please my whole family, from curries and salads to vegan hot dogs and pizza. If you live in or around London, then head to the launch of Lewisham’s late night Model Market where they’ll be amazing food and live music over the three-day weekend. If you’re up north, then Eat North Leeds sounds amazing!
Visit a bluebell wood
After a busy week a long walk in the countryside is such a tonic. If you want to make it even more special, seek out your local bluebell woods. They’re looking particularly beautiful right now, and that magical feeling you get when you finally stumble across a sea of blue flowers never gets old. To find a bluebell wood near you, this guide from the National Trust is really useful. Just remember that bluebells are really delicate – be responsible and stick to designated paths.
ReadBottled Goods by Sophie van Llewyn
I devoured this novella in one day. A captivating story about life in 1970s communist Romania. We meet Alina, a young woman whose life comes under frightening scrutiny by the secret services after her brother-in-law defects to the west. The subject matter is heavy, but the touch is light. I quickly became caught up in this fascinating novella with touches of magic realism. It’s a gem of book.
And if the weather’s iffy…
Let’s face it, wet weather is always a distinct possibility on a bank holiday weekend. If there’s a gloomy moment, I’m planning on whisking us all off to the cinema to see Avengers Endgame. It’s one of the film franchises that feels like there’s something for everyone in my family and we’re all excited to see the last instalment. If noisy superheroes aren’t your thing (they weren’t always mine) lose yourself in a good old fashioned who-dunnit. I’m currently enjoying The Bay on ITV – catch up now on the itv hub
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