Five Things #1

Five things that have caught my attention lately. No particular theme, no particular order — just things I’ve read, discovered, tried, liked or, in one case, somehow failed to realise for several decades.

1. Reading: Wild Love by Elsie Silver

I’m currently reading Wild Love by Elsie Silver. Reading is one of my favourite ways to switch off, and sometimes what I want isn’t something worthy or challenging — it’s simply a book I can disappear into for a while.

And this is currently doing the job rather nicely.

2. Somewhere I’d like to go: Paris

Paris is calling.

I’ve visited before, but it’s somewhere I’d like to explore again — preferably without trying to cram every famous landmark into the trip.

A few days wandering, stopping for coffee, finding interesting little shops, eating something delicious and seeing where we end up sounds pretty perfect.

And after discovering how much I enjoyed travelling to Amsterdam by Eurostar, Paris feels like an obvious addition to the list.

3. Something I’ve discovered: Kinusaiga

This is exactly the sort of thing that sends me down a rabbit hole.

Kinusaiga is a Japanese art form that creates pictures using pieces of fabric, traditionally tucked into grooves rather than sewn together. Think somewhere between patchwork, collage and painting — but with fabric.

I saw it and immediately thought: I need to try that.

Which, inevitably, leads me to number four…

4. Something I’ve made: my first attempt at Kinusaiga

Reader, I tried it.

And — somewhat surprisingly — it worked!

My first attempt at Kinusaiga has actually turned out rather well. There’s something incredibly satisfying about taking scraps of fabric and gradually seeing a picture emerge.

I suspect this won’t be my last one.

Unlike crochet, Kinusaiga and I may actually have a future together.

5. Something I really should have known

For years — years — I didn’t realise that the elderly bank manager in Mary Poppins was played by Dick Van Dyke.

Dick. Van. Dyke.

The same Dick Van Dyke who plays Bert.

Apparently everyone else knew this.

I did not.

I don’t know whether I’m more impressed by the make-up and performance or concerned by my powers of observation.

Either way, I now know.