Kate Nicholls

Thank you to everyone at Salt Books for making it possible to get Maria’s story out into the world. Her love of boooks was inspired by her father, who ran a family publishing house. I am deeply touched that Salt is publishing her story.

When Biden talked nonsense he was asked to resign. Trump has been talking nonsense for some time now. One wonders when some kind souls will ask him to step aside, put on his slippers, and settle down In the Florida sunshine!

Thank you Erica.

I’m lucky — I’ve met Maria because I got to read an early draft of this remarkable novel. I can’t wait for you to meet her next year!

Classic mince pies recipe Benjamina's mince pie pastry is just short and crumbly enough for the perfect pie but still very easy to work.

I love Rome but on December 1 I yearn for a warm mince pie, and making a wish with the first bite.
My Italian friends look at me as I've come from outer-space.
But there is nothing better, unless it’s my mum’s Christmas pud.
Hey ho!
Pandoro will have to do.

www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes...

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ha ha your post takes me back. Emma Peel…I thought she as so cool. The flick ups!

What happens when you kick millions teens off social media? Australia’s about to find out | CNN In the next two weeks, social media platforms will start deactivating accounts for children under 16 in Australia under new laws designed to reduce harm online. Other countries are watching, but some ...

Wowzer the ban is total: Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, and YouTube.
Let’s see what happens!

It’s a shame about YouTube, that seems pretty tough, because there are so many fantastic educational sites on there.

edition.cnn.com/2025/11/29/a...

The stories bones tell.

Naia was alive approx 12,970 to 12,770 ys ago.

Her adult teeth hadn’t fully developed, and tell-tale signs in her limbs indicate she was not yet 20

Sadly:
"Healed spiral fractures in one of her forearms “suggests rough handling either as a teenage girl or as a child'"

Tom Stoppard, playwright of dazzling wit and playful erudition, dies aged 88 A theatrical sensation since the 1960s, whose dramas included Arcadia, The Real Thing and Leopoldstadt, Stoppard also had huge success as a screenwriter

This is very sad news. What a writer we have lost!

www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/n...

Mercury Exposure Among Artisanal Gold Miners in Madre de Dios, Peru: A Cross-sectional Study Exposure to mercury, a toxic metal, occurs primarily from inhaling mercury vapors or consuming methylmercury-contaminated fish. One third of all anthropogenic mercury emissions worldwide are from artisanal gold mining, which uses mercury to extract ...

Here is a paper by Carmen Gastaňaga et al on the impact of illegal gold mining in Madre de Dios, Peru.

My daughter Maisie McNeice is an artist who works with biologist in this area. Some years ago she had an exhibition in Berkeley illuminating Carmen’s work.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

'Women are afraid to get pregnant': Fighting mercury poisoning from illegal gold mining in Brazil Munduruku people in Brazil are battling miscarriages and loss of sight and sound, a community leader tells Sky News.

Organic Methyl -mercury forms when inorganic mercury, used by gold miners, is converted by bacteria into a toxic compound that bio-accumulates. It is harmful to humans and flora and fauna.

Illegal gold mining is a direct consequence of socio-economic inequity.

news.sky.com/story/women-...

Love this post. You are so right. Farmers are under valued to our shame. When students tell me they want to go into tech and I suggest they study agriculture they look at me as if I’m crazy. Soon healthy soil and clean water will be more valuable than gold!

Pope Leo XIV Gives Homeless Mother Key to New Home Pope Leo XIV gives a homeless Sydney mother a blessed key to her new apartment through the global ‘13 Houses’ campaign.

That’s lovely and all but I live 7 mins walk from St Peter’s and the homeless lie in full view of the Basilica, along the Tiber and across Rome. 13 keys spread across the globe seems utterly disproportionate to need.

ewtnvatican.com/articles/pop...

Yes! Love to hear this.

Thank you The Bookseller. This has made my day! I am loving working with Salt Publishing, and feel very lucky to have found such a warm home for my book. I’m excited to share Maria Mendeleeva’s story. I have grown to love her and her gloriously, eclectic family.

Salt acquires Kate Nicholls' 'evocative' debut novel Salt has acquired Kate Nicholls’ debut novel, The Maternal Element.

Thank you The Bookseller for this. It’s made my day! I am loving working with Salt Publishing, and feel very lucky to have found such a warm home for my book.
www.thebookseller.com/rights/salt-...

Analysis: Ukraine’s Zelensky faces hideous choice between bad deal and no deal | CNN The gaps between Kyiv and Moscow remain too explicit, and their reasons for obstinacy too drenched in sacrifice, anxiety and blood.

If he accepts a bad deal, I fear Europe will feel the consequences swiftly.
.

edition.cnn.com/2025/11/28/e...

YouTube video by Mosfilm Dersu Uzala | DRAMA | FULL MOVIE

One of my top 5 films.
Having raised a family, in an unfenced tented camp in the wilderness, the film captures the overwhelming feelings of living in a space where humans are not dominant. It’s wonderful, awe inspiring, humbling, at times terrifying.

All about Friendship.

youtu.be/sFaL03SKEzE

Lovely.

I sympathise. I feel the same way about Rome. I’ve never loved a city before, but I love Rome and miss it when I’m away.

The Hidden History of Women Game Designers - JSTOR Daily Nineteenth-century women turned music lessons into interactive entertainment, complete with spinning wheels and ivory counters.

Correction: this super article was written by Carmel Raz. November 26, 2025.
daily.jstor.org/the-hidden-h...

Ooops. So sorry I didn’t check. I see it was Carmel Raz. It is indeed a terrific piece and thanks for posting: as always I enjoy your posts.

Sorry to hear that Carla. As one who has had back issues sympathise.

a computer generated image of a galaxy with a few lines of light coming out of it ALT: a computer generated image of a galaxy with a few lines of light coming out of it

The number of high school students, taking physics at higher level, who know so very little about quantum mechanics astounds me. The system has let them down and unless they work independently they are ill prepared for college/uni.
We’re 1/4 way through 21st century! Let’s catch up!

Oh my giddy aunt another gem of an article by Jennifer Ouelette. I had no idea about these women. Just the hidden gem stuff I love to learn.

a tree in the middle of a forest with red leaves ALT: a tree in the middle of a forest with red leaves

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends and family.

This looks interesting.

Budget 2025: £5m for books for schools, minimum-wage rise and reduced business rates for smaller shops

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has revealed her second Budget a day after the details were controversially leaked, with a pledge of £5m for books in secondary schools and a 4% rise to minimum wage 👇 #BookSky

Who said scientists are cold hearted….this is so touching. The relief and wonder in his tears are very touching.

London Book Fair 2026: Joanna Prior, Tom Weldon and Bob Carrigan among industry speakers

London Book Fair has revealed the first line up of industry speakers for the 2026 Fair 👇 #BookSky