The marmalade diaries : the true story of an odd couple / Ben Aitken.

Under no circumstances am I to inherit the house -- What the hell are your doing here then? -- Never say you know the last word about any human heart -- Beyond the pale of her curiosity -- You'll always be late for the previous train -- Every silver lining has a cloud -- A picture of herself by accident -- Things are never past their best; they just become best at something else -- What stops us saying to people we love that we love them? -- Deep breaths please -- Almost got to I love you.

From the author of The Gran Tour, a portrait of an intergenerational friendship. Recently widowed, Winne, 84, was in need of some companionship. Someone to help with the weekly food shop and offer tips on the crossword. Ben, 34, was looking for a new housemate. As the UK was locked down in 2020, Ben and Winnie's lives interwove, forming an unlikely friendship, where lessons were learnt (heat the red wine in the oven with the plates; preserve or pickle whatever you can; never throw anything away) and grief, both personal and that of a nation, was explored. Charting both their time together, and the details of Winnie's life that are shared with Ben in fragments, The Marmalade Diaries, from the author of The Gran Tour, is a very human exploration of home, of the passage time, of the growing relationship between an odd couple, told with warmth, wit and candour.