Elizabeth Ratcliffe, Year 2
Day 5, Covid-19 self-isolation. Safe in the knowledge that my covid-y brain fog would prevent the creation of an insightful article on current medical affairs, I am going to review the simple trivial pleasures that have gotten me through the past five days. The idea for this piece was forged somewhere between my latest dose of painkillers and the next Netflix episode that I will certainly doze off during, and is partially for both my own entertainment/distraction and because I should contribute to the paper that I sit on the committee for. I cannot promise nuance or complexity, but I hope this is vaguely engaging and possibly funny.
Spoiler alert – read at your own risk!
Entertainment
The Hating Game – Sally Thorne
4/5 stars
A trashy novel – PERFECT for enjoyably mindless reading!
The Hating Game follows colleagues/archnemeses Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman navigate the world of publishing and balance the fine line between love and hate.
A simple and unrealistically romantic novel, with an enemies to lovers plotline—what more could a girl want? It would be an ideal holiday read and with the constant breeze from my window that can’t close properly and the brief rays of sunshine that Leeds managed this week, I could almost imagine I was reading on a beach in the south of France.
Almost, but not quite.
I would recommend this book – it was a brilliant distraction from covid that I devoured!
And if reading isn’t your thing Amazon have just adapted it into a film…
Jacob Wesley Rogers’ Music
5/5 stars
A beautiful distraction – give his music a listen I promise you won’t regret it!
With fewer than twenty songs on Spotify, Rogers is not yet a household name and I’m borderline embarrassed to admit that I found his music on TikTok (insert eye roll here). The 25-year-old singer/songwriter’s aesthetic is eclectic, eccentric and objectively cool, evoking the glam-rock fashions of David Bowie and Elton John, which let’s face it promises good music. Although his repertoire is limited to a mixture of singles and EPs and he ‘only’ has 279,359 monthly listeners (for context Drake has 53,662,363) his varied and emotive music alludes to the beginning of a very successful career.
His songs chronologically transform from paired back covers of The Pretenders’ ‘I’ll stand by you’ and Yazoo’s ‘Only You’ to his brilliant indie/rock and indie/pop originals. Rogers’ has the skill of all great songwriters to create songs that every listener can identify with and he effortlessly pairs them with big melodies. ‘The Pretender’ tells the story of an inappropriate first love that is equally depressing and beautiful; and with lyrics like “And we embraced like the sand and the sea, I handed over contraband parts of me”, it tugs at the heartstrings. My personal favourite ‘Jacob from the Bible’ addresses the complexity of forgiveness, identity and religious guilt through a soaring melody and lyrics that are tangibly passionate. Whereas ‘Dark Bird’, his latest release, is like a 70s pop/rock song with a disco-y chorus that reminded me of long car journeys listening to my parent’s music – fun & nostalgic. It is blindingly clear from the 250 words I have just written that I am a big fan but if my ramblings can’t convince you to give his music a chance, Elton John thinks he is a ‘future superstar!” and I don’t think higher praise really exists. So don’t listen to me, listen to Elton!
The Choice
3.5/5 stars
Nicholas Sparks at his best -> my emotions at their worst
A classic Nicholas Sparks film: boy meets girl, they’re an unlikely match, they’re both played by gorgeous actors, they fall in love and just as you’re getting comfortable, drifting off into a covid-y nap. BAMM!! Suddenly you’re in the middle of the husband’s tortuous decision about whether to turn his wife’s life support off and suddenly I’m applying the four pillars of medical ethics like it’s nobody’s business. It was acutely emotional and I was right there with them – truly immersed in the story.
The film made me laugh and made me cry which is what I consented to when I put on something by Nicholas Sparks. My only objection is that the film focused more on the husband’s career as a vet rather than the wife’s blossoming medical career, this didn’t really detract from the plot but I’m deducting half a star because I can.
If you like a soppy romantic film it’s ideal (just maybe bring a Kleenex).
Bridgerton
4/5 stars
Takes Jane Austen & makes it sexy…
I promise I’m not that late to the party, COVID just gave me the perfect opportunity to rewatch Season 1 of Netflix/Shondaland’s Bridgerton, just in time for the release of Season 2 in late March. However, just in case you’ve been burying your head in the sand, Bridgerton glamorously captures the intrigue and suffocating etiquette of Regency London in a heady wash of pastels and florals. Romantic, funny and actually surprising, this series kept me thoroughly engaged the first time I watched it and mostly engaged (between naps) the second time; and I’m really looking forward to the next series coming out.
If you have ever watched Pride and Prejudice and thought ‘this is too prudish for my taste’, Bridgerton is the perfect series for you!
Food
Salt and Vinegar Pringles
4.5/5 stars
I am a salt & vinegar girl so I have (almost) no complaints…
I bought them for a reason and I will always love them. That vinegary-ness that is so sour it burns a little is perfection, although not ideal for a very sore throat (but I soldiered through).
HOWEVER, I have deducted half a star because Julius Pringles (yes that is his name – I googled it!) has had some sort of minimalist makeover that I do not approve of.
Although I am not deterred and will obviously buy them again – they are a classic!
My Breakfast Wraps
5/5 stars
Created pre-isolation these wraps have truly come into their own – cheese, avocado, egg, tomatoes – they’re an ideal filling breakfast with all the food groups. What’s not to like?
Perhaps it’s a little self-indulgent to award these wraps five stars as I created them but I am reviewing them so…
Morrisons Kitchen Aromatic Shredded Duck
3.5/5 stars
Better than expected!!
For £2.75 I didn’t have high expectations for my little “treat yourself you have covid” fake-away but it was surprisingly tasty and almost as good as my local Chinese. I decided to go rogue, ignore the instructions and crisp up the duck under the grill with the sauce on it (which I would thoroughly recommend). All in all, a very good dinner which made me feel a tiny bit fancier than pesto pasta would have done.
Other
Amazon
0.5/5 stars
Please don’t judge me too hard…
It’s ruining the planet, it’s morally beyond dubious and one has to sell their soul to Jeff Bezos BUT it’s just so damn convenient! From where else in the confines of my self-isolation could I order a book, Morrisons groceries, a moisturiser and a fob watch for placement? They just make it so easy to sell out to capitalist overconsumption!!
So, in order to regain some of my self-indulgent moral superiority, I’ll only rate Amazon half a star (the products were good) and I’ll reflect upon my actions/spending choices and do better next time. (Maybe).
Woodhouse Moor PCR Testing Centre
2.5/5 stars
Could have had a better outcome!
As getting my PCR test was my last venture into the real world, I want to give the experience 5/5 stars. The staff were lovely, the centre was quiet, I didn’t have to queue and I got to walk through Woodhouse Moor which was looking exceptionally springlike with crocuses emerging through the chaos Storm Eunice left in her wake. Would have been a perfect trip out had it not been for the dreaded NHS automated ‘you’ve got covid’ message which put a dampener on the experience.
COVID-19
0/5 stars
I would like to speak to a manager about a refund!!
I am very grateful that my experience with covid has been comparatively mild and inconsequential thus far, but I am also SOOO over having covid. Firstly, it’s really boring, secondly, I have no desire to cough up my own lungs and thirdly I’d like to be able to do literally anything and not require a nap! I am DEEPLY regretting the number of immunity/’built different jokes’ I have made in the past. True I got to do a lot of nothing, but I cannot emphasise enough: I do NOT recommend Covid!
Lizzie’s Self-Isolation Breakfast Wraps
Ingredients:
- Tortilla wrap(s) – I go wholegrain it feels healthier
- Nando’s Medium Peri-Peri Sauce – other brands and levels of spice are available
- ½ Avocado
- Polish gyros seasoning – trust me it works
- Lemon juice
- Egg(s)
- Cheese – I’d recommend a selection for some variety – e.g. cheddar, feta and grated mozzarella
- Sliced tomatoes
- Salad leaves – I like spinach and rocket
- Salt & pepper
- Cumin seeds – these go sooo well with eggs
- Butter
Method:
- Melt the butter in a frying pan, scramble your egg(s) into it and season with salt, pepper and cumin seeds.
- Meanwhile, mash the avocado with some lemon juice and gyros seasoning.
- Assemble the wrap: a smear of peri-peri sauce, then avocado, egg, salad, tomato and finally crumble on the cheese. Fill it as much as your heart allows then try to roll it up.
- Quickly wash up the frying pan and get it back on the heat.
- Toast the wraps until the outside is golden brown, slice in half and serve (with a cup of tea).
Have one wrap, have two. Go wild and add crispy bacon, black beans, some pickled jalapenos, fresh coriander, roasted peppers – the world is truly your oyster.
THE WORSLEY TIMES 
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