‘Rituals’ I practice during my annual colds etc.:

• Watch The Sopranos, doesn’t matter which season.
• Read Honoré de Balzac’s “Father Goriot” (a magnificent read)
• Eat a lot of honey. I am Vinnie fucking Pooh during any cold. If there is a pot filled to the brim it will be gone in 2-3 days.

This year I’m also terribly fond of ABBA, particularly of “Does Your Mother Know?”

And I marathoned Boardwalk Empire, which I didn’t manage to finish last year, since I had too much schoolwork (still do). A beautiful, beautiful tv series. A lot of impeccably structured characters, you don’t want to switch to scenes of only a single one that you’re invested in – much like I do in True Blood – because everyone is interesting to watch. My favourites so far are Jimmy Darmody, Richard Harrow, Gillian Darmody, Charlie ‘Lucky’ Luciano and Arnold Rothstein. The only character whom I dislike is Nelson and I still think the actor is doing an incredible job.