166. send someone a care package

A small and easy task, last year I got together a bunch of feel-good objects and made my brother a care package. Inside included a feel better book, a box of slime and a journal and pen.

101. Perform a spiritual ritual

A few months ago I sat down with my Mum and sister and we discussed how bereavement is never celebrated properly after the funeral of a person in English society. People are often remembered on occasion amongst people but there is no ritual in place to engage with the dead person. In Bantu society, however, there is a ritual anyone can partake in, in which you remember the dead and honour your ancestors with offerings. My knowledge of Chinese society is small but I understand a similar ritual takes place. In terms of our African ritual, the ritual for the dead is very simple. You simply gather together and place in front of a lit candle food and things like cigars or alcohol which the person would've appreciated. You pray together, thinking about and talking about the person, you then open the offerings, pouring them onto the floor, then clap your hands three times. The next day you take the food to the homeless if possible and that's the end of the ceremony. It might be superstitious but it's actually very cathartic to be able to remember the dead. Plus it's one of the few times you get to do this in the company of other people who remembered them. Bereavement is always hard but to have the opportunity to celebrate lives with other people is worth a lot.

194. Attend a Podcast

This was an easy one. Mainly because I love the podcast in question - RHLSTP (Richard Herring's Leicester square theatre podcast. We ended up seeing Mark Steel and My Dad Wrote a Porno, both amazingly good.

127. Try a new food

Arepas; Venezuelan round corn breads. Sort of like a pitta bread, or tortilla, arepas have an almost cheesy, flavour that's probably best described as the ultimate umami flavour. Oh, and it's gluten-free. I had mine with halloumi and it was delicious. Truly a lunchtime treat.

Octopus Takoyaki; Japanese Octopus Fried Balls. Found these at a Japanese festival at Trafalgar square. A bit like a fish cake but with more seasoning and an almost sour accompaniment, Takoyaki is fantastic.

168. make a shoebox present

This year I decided to pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child led by Samaritan's Purse. It's a charity organisation where every year people pack shoe boxes with gifts for children aged 2-14 around the world. It's a fun alternative to the usual monetary donation and involves shopping around for cuddly toys, stationery and hygiene products for kids. If you're interested in sending a box the period is now over but there's always next year. Here's the link https://www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/how-to-pack-a-shoebox/

189. Read 1 book for each month for 6 months

Tipping the Velvet

This year I discovered Sarah Waters through a copy of the Night Watch I picked up in a charity shop. An English writer who I've come to love, her books have a common theme; history, sex and lesbians. That said there's more to them than that. The books are also beautifully written and constantly captivating - Fingersmith being the best example of this (try and find a book with more twists).
All of this said after the Night Watch and Fingersmith I found Tipping the Velvet slightly less captivating. Perhaps it was the lack of shocking twists or the fact I'd grown slightly more accustomed to historical lesbianism but for whatever reason, this was a slow read for me. Despite this, it was still a good book. Reading about lesbians and cross-dressers in the Victorian era is truly eye-opening and never dull. And if you haven't read Sarah Waters yet I highly recommend it.