Editor’s letter

Often, it’s only when the worst begins to pass that we have a chance to properly reflect on what happened. We go from reactive — coping, at any cost — to reflective: ‘what was that all about?’ And so, even though we hope the worst of lockdown has passed, it feels as though we’re all mourning something right now.

There are those who have lost loved ones, some to Covid-19, to whom our thoughts, naturally, turn first. Others, spared that, may have lost dreams, projects, businesses, hopes. And then there is the resurgence of historic grief, for people who died before this ever began, for whom mourning is suddenly intensified.

And so, we have taken time in this issue to reflect on what grief feels like now, in a time of national crisis. Is it made more bearable by being so general? Or less so because of the storm of other pressures? Read Liadan Hynes’s careful analysis, something that speaks to all of us right now, and let’s remember — this is a moment to be kind to ourselves.

If you’re anything like me, there is a distinct blurring of lines between what’s real and what’s not. Frankly, the cast of Ozark feel closer to me than my friends... which is why cooking is so very important — and grounding. We have simple, delicious one-pot dishes from Rachel Allen, powerful pickles from Susan Jane White, and a clever ‘fake-away’ from Sophie White.