Frozen peas (a lazy veg option but could be whizzed into soup), broad beans, and those rough as sandpaper green beans that you slice and boil. There’s no way to cook these last two to redeem their awfulness.

Gaetz not Gates…but at least he’s gone, for now

“Catholicism was something that was done to me…”. So true, but there’s such kinship with others around the world who grew up with the same memories. Holy water dispenser by the front door, unsticking communion hosts from the roof of your mouth with your tongue, making up sins for confession…

More culture shock from my trip to New Jersey and Georgia: massive billboards everywhere for lawyers specializing in personal injury claims. Ubiquitous 12ft tall plastic Halloween skeletons. Packaged grated cheese containing anti-fungal and anti-clumping agents. No way to recycle glass bottles.

Good morning. An hour ahead of you here in Europe but also wide awake. Jet lag from a trip to the US working in mysterious ways. Could be the moon as well.