Although the easing of restrictions is welcome, it has still seemed rather strange!
I've been so used to the fact that theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries have been closed for so long that reading about performances and exhibitions has been almost like learning about things happening in another sphere, rather than something I might like to act upon.
There are many events and activities which look very appealing.
I'm not sure when I'll be able to take a trip to London, but The Woman Who Fell in Love with an Island is very tempting. It is all about Tove Jansson's home in Finland, and the fantastical world of the Moomins she created, told through the perspective of the Walthamstow Wetlands! There is an interactive trail and an exhibition in the Engine House, but the website also provides a wealth of information including a wonderful video of Jansson on her remote island.
And while Alice in Wonderland is the inspiration for another literary themed exhibition, this time at the V&A, it touches on how this children's story has influenced so many facets of life since its publication - everything from psychedelia to avant garde cuisine to quantum physics! Take a look at it here.
If you don't feel like venturing far, there are now an increasing number of book festivals streaming online throughout the summer months. This week, for example, it's the start of the Hay Festival which I found incredibly stimulating last year as I listened to many talks with authors I might otherwise not have discovered.
And we're approaching the end of the month, so I'll be distributing the log in details for our May online book group meeting this week. On Monday 31 May we'll be discussing 'Here We Are' by Graham Swift. Reply to this email if you'd like to take part.