I went the DIY route and used Lush hennas with great results (used to work there, hurrah employee discount!). Henna on its own makes a lovely bright coppery orange-red, but for people who wanted other options Lush does three additional colours using henna as the base.

It’s probably a ghagra choli and not a dress, since the skirt is the same in both pics but Madhuri is wearing a different bodice.

The Bollywood costume was made for Madhuri Dixit in Devdas, but apparently it was too heavy for her to dance in. I found this promo photo.

I spent the first year of motherhood feeling exactly the same as you. I never understood what my son wanted, I didn’t know how to play with him, and I couldn’t think of anything worse than him being saddled with me as a mom. None of the other mothers I saw in baby groups were like me, and I couldn’t say anything…

Wore heels to a drinks reception as I have no dressy flats that’ll stay on my feet. Needn’t have bothered since the reception was mostly academics and the wine was crap. I loved clicky-tapping my way through the tube; everyone turned at the noise and it was very ~Who is she?~

A few years back, at the height of its popularity, I let a hairstylist talk me into a Pob.

Only everyone else has said this, but it needs repeating: You can do it!

I have a little paintbrush I got from Home Depot (never used for painting!) and I use it for basting and marinades. It works better for me than one of those basters.

I’m up to level 276 in Candy Crush Soda, without paying a cent. I’m very proud.

Rock me, Sexy Jesus.

Petition for a Royal Family version of Gogglebox.

You are not your job. Even if you feel tired and unhappy all the time, you can take a little free time to do something for you. Knit one row of a scarf. Colour a page in a colouring book. I write gay porn and post it online. No matter how much or little, it’s a thing you did. If you watched an entire series of Parks…

I also really love Much Ado, and there’s a really good modern adaptation on YouTube called Nothing Much to Do. Everyone is a teenager in New Zealand, the acting is really good, and the series is written by a group of young women.

Babraham Rd is my personal favourite within Cambridge, but one of the termini of the London Tube’s Central Line is Cockfosters, and the proper announcer’s voice saying it always makes me giggle.

The vase thing happened in my city, at the Fitzwilliam (most British name ever). Totally informal since I work at a museum that isn’t the Fitz, but most of my coworkers give the guy’s story the hairy eyeball. The vases were on a window ledge next to the stairs and he claimed to have tripped, but considering their size…

Jia, I’ve been a fan of yours since you explained exactly why you had to be so rude, but I can’t let another minute pass without telling you how ardently I admire and love your writing.

Incredible. Father Ted will never stop being funny.

I save bread?

Cash bars are only acceptable for conferences and people you hate. Some of the latter might be a necessary evil, but that’s no reason to inflict misery on all the wedding guests.