Three Glimmers and a Poll | 03.25

Small moments from the beginning of spring and a question for you.

Welcome to The Autumn Chronicles, a place to shine a light on all the wonder around us as we navigate the seasons. I hope these writings allow you to sit quietly with a cup of something warm and comforting and take a few moments for yourself away from the rush and hurry. If you would like to make sure you get all newsletters directly to your inbox, please subscribe below. Thank you for being here. All photos © The Autumn Chronicles.

I always look forward to March. The transition from the raw bleakness of winter towards the joyful expectation of spring is one of my favourite times of the year. By the time March comes around, we are usually starting to notice the first signs of renewal here in the UK and, this month, we have been blessed with some beautiful weather. March arrives as a signpost, signalling that longer, brighter days are on their way and allowing us to recover the hope and exuberance that may have been lost during the frigidity of the darker months.

Now that we have crossed the threshold of meteorological spring here in the northern hemisphere, it feels as though we are in the midst of a reawakening. As my husband loves to say, “spring comes in like a lion and out like a lamb” and I, for one, am ready for some calmer days, blue skies, sunshine, warmth and beauty that is more obviously apparent. This winter has felt harder than the ones before so I am very much looking forward to the wonder, excitement and sense of anticipation that a change in seasons can bring.

Here are some of the glimmers I have experienced in this first month of spring.

Art

As a belated birthday present, my friend took to me to an exhibition of modernist paintings by Brazilian artists at the Royal Academy, here in London. We met studying Hispanic Studies at university so we share an interest in all things that emanate from Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Prior to the exhibition, we had lunch at the fantastic Jose Pizarro restaurant situated within the Academy itself, and this lunch reaffirmed my long-held belief that any day that I can eat pan con tomate is a great day. Sometimes, it really is the simple things that are the most compelling.

The exhibition itself was interesting, bringing together 130 works by ten different Brazilian artists who were active in the time period from 1910 into the 1970s. I’ve written before about how little I know about art and the more art I see, the more I realise that what I actually like most about art is colour. Consequently, I was drawn to the two paintings in the photo below above the other works on display. Both are by the artist Tarsila do Amaral; the painting on the left is of a marketplace (Market II, 1925) and the one on the right is a lakeside scene (The Lake, 1928). There is something very pleasing (to me) about the shapes she creates and the vibrancy of the colours and, while I in no way profess to be an art critic, these were the standout pieces from my turn about the galleries.

It was also a wonderful opportunity to catch up with an old friend I don’t see as often as I would like and to spend some time nurturing the side of me that loves to experience all the cultural activities that living in a big city can offer.

In Bloom

One of my favourite things about spring has always been flowers. I love autumn with its colours and magic but there is something wonderful about the world waking up and bursting into life. I had to be in Marylebone a couple of weeks ago and on my way to the Tube station, I saw these gorgeous narcissus nestled against a brick wall. The grass was covered in frost because it had been a cold night and the effect was spectacular.

I arrived just as the shops on Marylebone High Street were opening. I had some time to kill so I took the chance to walk around the side streets and observe as the world came slowly to life with cafes setting up outdoor tables, children walking to school and commuters hurrying along pavements clutching steaming cups of coffee. I saw these gorgeous flowers outside Bayley & Sage (one of my favourite shops in London!) and couldn’t help but stop to look. I love fresh flowers - the colours, the variety, the smell - and how they always serve to bring happiness to even the greyest of days.

Cooking the Books

I found out via Substack that

Angela Clutton

, author of the wonderful The Vinegar Cupboard, was moderating a panel called Cooking the Books at Stationers’ Hall in London. The discussion focused on the history and future of recipe books and the panel counted among its members not only Angela but historian and writer, Diane Purkiss, food writer, Mark Riddaway and cookbook publisher, Stephanie Jackson. As someone who owns over 500 recipe books and who loves nothing better than learning about different cultures through their food traditions, it was a lovely way to spend an evening. The debate was lively and the standout point for me was that recipe books tend to fall into three categories, (i) those that are aspirational, (ii) those that are inspirational or (iii) those that seek to combat desperation, like the age-old struggle of what to cook for dinner on any given evening. It has always been a secret desire of mine to write a recipe book so it was also comforting to hear that recipe book sales are relatively stable. Now I just have to think of a distinctive idea…

I’d love to know: what have been some of your glimmers this month?

Feedback

I have been writing The Autumn Chronicles for about 8 months now and I have been thinking recently about how I move forward. I started this publication by thinking that I would write exclusively about the seasons and my attempts at living more slowly but, as I have moved through my writing, I have sidestepped into various other topics that correspond to the season of life I am in currently, rather than the season reflected in the world outside my front door. I have done this predominately because there are many wonderful Substacks that already cover those things in greater depth and I want to offer an authentic glimpse into my world and my experiences. The seasons are always a backdrop to my writing, especially in terms of seeking out glimmers, but I am interested in how this lands with the lovely people who take the time to read what I send out into the ether.

As such, I would be very grateful for your answers to the questions below and thank you in advance for taking the time to vote. If you have any additional feedback or questions, please feel free to add them to the comments below.

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