Here are three things I learned reading The Marmalade Diaries: 1) Coal is still used for heating houses in the 21st century (at least in the home of British octogenarians); 2) Kedgeree is not just a meal the Victorians liked to eat (I may need to try making this classic dish of smoked haddock, hardboiled eggs and curried rice; and 3) Three-fruit marmalade is an abomination (I do love marmalade, and the title of this book is what first drew me to it.) I also love diary books, whether fiction or non, and Ben Aitken’s account of his time spent living with Winnie Carter during the worst of the Covid pandemic lockdowns is one I really enjoyed; it was full of heart and humour.