1. I had dressed in my swimming kit this morning with the briefest and most unusual sense of Ugh, another time loop morning. But by the time we got to our spot, the sun was low and bright, blazing gold, and the mist on the river was so thick I thought it was smoke from a hidden bonfire. Once in the water, gilded terns flew over us, and the temperature was noticeably warmer — too cold to be cool, even, but warmer than early spring. On the way back to the bank, the sun reached through the trees in misty glowing fingers onto the surface of the river, and small fish leapt ahead of us. I said, stupidly, ‘Are we in a Disney film?’ Sumer is icumen in (just about), as they say. 

2. I always like Pop Culture Happy Hour, and I’ve really enjoyed their coverage of the Oscar nominations this week; firstly, for their recognition in Thursday’s episode of Best Song nominee ‘Husavik’ as the only contender that actually fits the brief, and secondly for mentioning today the sheer, visceral joy that is Tom Holland’s old Gene Kelly/Rihanna appearance in Lip Sync Battle. Two summers ago my instagram feed was just hourly screen grabs from this routine, which looked like I was having a breakdown but felt waaaay too good for that. If you know anything hotter, then, honestly, good for you. 

3. Speaking of Husavic, I imagine anyone who would watch Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga has already done so, but if you haven’t, may I recommend it? Over this strange previous year, it’s been a baffling bit of delight and comfort, the only film I’ve watched three times over the lockdowns, and an oasis of optimism and gentle silliness. Silliness gets such a bad rap, but I’d take physical comedy and magical elves any day over the po-faced dumbness of a Breaking Bad or a Killing Eve, programmes so convinced of their own holy importance that they end up as over-budget soaps. I gave up watching the real Eurovision when I quit twitter, but my goodness, the Song-A-Long still makes me beam every single time, and Husavic still makes me cry every single time. As for Dan Stevens’ Lemtov — he’s great. Utterly, utterly marvellous, heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time. Is it a perfect film? No. But it’s perfect for now. 

4. I’ve never counted myself as a huge Patrick Kielty fan, but after listening to his Borderline stand-up special on Radio 4 a few weeks ago, I very much am. Whenever I brush up against the news I find myself panicking about how awful people can be, how countries turn against themselves, how civil wars happen, how we take peace for granted until it’s too late, how ridiculous divisions can be and the terrible, unnecessary price we pay for them. Patrick Kielty covers all this, in his 28-minute look at the Troubles, with wit and intelligence, grief and anger, but above all with insight and with hope. Please listen while it’s still available. 

5. I am old, Father William, as the poem doesn’t go, and it’s most noticeable when I despair at Radio 4 presenters. I really really really miss Sue Lawley and Kirsty Young, Mariella Frostrup and Eddie Mair — presenters who made me feel like there was an adult in the room. I’m all for Young People Having Astounding New Ideas, but sometimes it’s nice to make eye contact with people who have lived longer than a decent pair of shoes, and silently share the wistful memory of a time when it seemed that just believing in something could make it true, or useful, or correct, and things weren’t a thousand complex shades of right and wrong; or even better, have an adult express that feeling with clarity and grace. So I am old. Advantages: I can enjoy a great deal of time spent rearranging my seed packets, or finally learning some bird calls, or not being quite so swayed by fashion, or laughing. Disadvantages: the unstoppable march of time and the ever-chilling hand of Death. All this is to say: David Sedaris, in the passing of years, has turned more to the subject of death and ageing, and I love him even more for it. Like his most recent book, Calypso, his latest Meet David Sedaris series is full of gloom and endings, but somehow all with a lightness and humour that makes them thoughtful, rather than bleak. Another one ideal for this odd moment in history. 

6. The housemates and I have taken to only watching sub-90-minute films recently (see: unstoppable march of time). Shirkers is a wonderful slice of memory, loss, beauty, ambition and the power of young dreams; The Barkley Marathons shows human determination at its most pointless and yet most joyful; Rope beautifully displays James Stewart being the father I always wanted, and contains some of the most pleasing cinematography I’ve seen for a long time; The King of Kong is blood-boiling and ludicrous and well worth googling the aftermath once you’ve watched it; The Life of Brian has some questionable moments but even more hilarious and sharply-observed ones. ‘A touch of derring-do?’ ‘Ah — about eleven, sir.’ (Who can ever explain the mysteries of what any individual finds funny?) 

7. If you want to read my latest book in ebook, it’s out now, otherwise the paperback will be out in July. It’s not a hard read, but it is quite a nice one.