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The release of the film 'The Dig' on Netflix this weekend has been a delight. Whether or not you've read the book by John Preston on which it is based, or are famiiar with the story of the unearthing of this extraordinary Anglo-Saxon treasure in a field above the river Deben in Suffolk, it offers beautiful scenery, excellent casting and a powerful message.

The excavation of this important find, on the eve of the Second World War, was achieved by a Suffolk-born, self-taught archaeologist, Basil Brown, played magnificently in the film by Ralph Fiennes, who you can see interviewed by Simon Mayo about the role here.

Basil had little formal education, leaving school at 12, but he continued to read widely and to attend evening classes while working on the land. He learnt Latin, French and German and his studies led to him writing a book about astrological charts and being well regarded in archaeological circles.

Basil was engaged by Edith Pretty to excavate the burial mounds on her land at Sutton Hoo. She, too, had a passion for archaeology but had been unable to take up a place offered her at university.

The legacy of these two quiet but determined individuals is immense. And in these days when everything is turned upside down it's perhaps a timely reminder that, while school and university studies are currently disrupted, all need not be lost.

Certainly we can do all we can to cultivate and encourage a desire for knowledge in the young people we know, and to support their teachers however possible. And we have huge riches in the books and internet resources available today.

It's been great to see the creativity of authors and illustrators reaching out to children on social media, Zoom and websites, for example. They've offered tips on writing and drawing, as well as maths and history lessons too. Frank Cottrell-Boyce has been running creative writing sessions and readings throughout lockdown.

Young people have risen to the challenge too. This week a 14-year-old in Cheltenham was featured in the 'Guardian' for reading bedtime stories on Zoom. He started doing it as respite for his neighbours who had young twins and were battling Covid, but now he offers his service to any family each night at 7pm. Read more here. 

There was something rather soothing and reassuring about the inauguration of President Joe Biden last week, don't you think? It was as if we'd all been holding our breath but then felt able to release a huge sigh of relief.

Much is expected of him, of course. But after such chaos and confusion, anger, violence, sorrow and uncertainty, his quiet dignity brought a sense of calm and a renewed hope for the future.

So many, throughout the world, are seeking a sound, strong and wise leader and the hope is that Biden will be able to bring compassion, empathy and experience to this formidable post in these most difficult times.

He has certainly inspired nations with a spirit of change and new life evident in the installation of Kamala Harris as the first female Vice President, and the first Asian American and the first African American to be Vice President.

And in selecting Amanda Gorman to deliver the Presidential Inaugural poem.

This young woman is America's first National Youth Poet Laureate. She's just 22 but her stunning presence and assured delivery gave weight to beautiful, inspiring and rousing words which have stirred the global community.

Raised by a single mother, Amanda had a speech impediment as a child, but found that poetry unlocked her voice. Naturally it was a schoolteacher who introduced her to poetry. Something to ponder there, too

Amanda was inspired by the poet Maya Angelou, whose autobiography 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' was acknowledged in the design of the ring Amanda was wearing on the day.

She learned how to deliver her words with conviction through musical theatre, memorising the lyrics of a song from 'Hamilton'. This influence can be heard in her poem, too. The creator of 'Hamilton', Lin-Manuel Miranda sent his congratulations and encouragement to Amanda after the inauguration, saying:

"The right words in the right order can change the world...Keep changing the world, one word at the time."

Amanda Gorman's poem, 'The Hill We Climb' will be released as a hardback book this spring. Penguin Books plans to print 150,000 copies in its first run. This is an extraordinary number, warranted 'due to overwhelming demand'.

How wonderful that so many people have been moved by these words. And when so many of our creative industries have been stripped back in these difficult times, the value of film, theatre and literature to be highlighted in this way, contributing to our sense of wellbeing and purpose, has been inspiring and uplifting. It does indeed bring hope.

These are historic times, I heard a comedian say this week, between quips, "but I'd rather not be living through them".

I'm sure many of us have been feeling the same, realising how much we should appreciate safe and comfortable lifestyles, and longing for 'slow' news days.

Some of you have mentioned that you've often selected historic fiction for your reading because stories of hardship, tragedy and suffering in different times help you to get through any of your own present difficulties.

I'm not sure I'm quite that resilient, but the books I've highlighted this week certainly look to the past and offer up other perspectives.

The children's title 'When the World Was Ours' shows us how three families were affected by the war in Europe. It's based on the author's family's experience so is disturbing and poignant but it also brings a story of courage, resilience, friendship and, overwhelmingly, hope.

The other book is 'The Bloomsbury Look'. This is a beautiful and fascinating insight into the lives of a group of intellectuals as they challenged societal norms and celebrated and experimented with creativity and individuality. They were unusual people but I have always found their lives intriguing and their designs, images and writings always stimulate, inspire and uplift me. Do scroll down for more details.

Whether we are on 'the frontline' of the crises today, are struggling with challenging personal circumstances, or are in the privileged position of knowing that all that is required of us is to 'stay home', I hope that you will find something helpful to draw on from your reading in the next week.

The need for clear and effective communication has never been more evident than in these past 12 months.

Not only do we need a single, straightforward message for a community to engage in a common goal, but it's also important to keep heads clear and emotions in tap when dealing with something threatening and unfamiliar.

There is a great skill in presenting complicated or difficult information in a palatable and accessible way and the two books I've selected this week help to highlight this. I hope you'll be able to take a look at the titles below.

This week I was also reminded of the power, comfort and pleasure to be found in the succinct, carefully chosen words crafted by the poet.

'Time to be slow' by the late Irish poet and thinker, John O'Donohue was sent to me by a friend, and has remained with me in the past few days.

It begins

This is the time to be slow,
Lie low to the wall
Until the bitter weather passes.

You can listen to the poem being read by Fergal Keane here. He selected it last spring in a series on Radio 4's Today programme where well-known people shared their favourite poems of comfort and hope.

It has also been included in Poems on the Underground. You can read it here. Whenever I travelled across London on the Tube, it was always a huge delight to see a poem instead of an advert in the hoarding above our heads. Find out more about the initiative here. Buy the last collection here, or look at poems that have been selected specially to give us courage and hope for this new year here.

Thank you for reading.

The start of a new year is usually marked with an optimistic listing of opportunities and experiences to try, and a resolve to adopt better habits and get rid of bad practices.

Traditionally, it's accepted that these efforts are over-ambitious and rarely pursued for very long, but this year we can all be forgiven for not wanting to think further than the next meal time or getting to the end of the day.

Sometimes, though, it's helpful to have a focus and a goal - so long as we appreciate the journey as much as reaching the destination, and are not too hard on ourselves if we don't come up to the mark!

Of course our choice of activity or diversion is limited by the restrictions on our lives today. These exceptional times are noteworthy in themselves, though, so perhaps you keep a note of what happens day by day or propose to do so in 2021? Diaries of past lives in different times are certainly fascinating, as you can see from my recommended titles this week - Great Diaries and The Closest Thing to Flying.

But if keeping an account of our thoughts, feelings and challenges seems daunting, there are other means of acknowledging and celebrating each new day.

In your regular exercise outdoors, why not take stock of the natural environment like Alistair Campbell, in his appreciation of a Tree of the Day? Or learn to recognise birds by their song, like Melissa Harrison.

Or why not knit or sew a temperature scarf or blanket like the writer, Josie George? Each day she knits a couple of rows in a colour of yarn she's selected to reflect the weather, ultimately creating a scarf in stripes and blocks of colour recording the changing temperatures throughout the year. A fascinating idea!

For me, I'll continue with my book journal, recording the titles I'm reading through the year, though perhaps not being so concerned about exceeding any previous tally - I doubt I'll ever beat the number of books read in 2020!

I hope you will find a way of measuring the value of your days this year, and will join with me in delighting in the riches of books of all kinds.

I wish you health and happiness in 2021, and thank you for reading.