Nice Things: August Edition
What to read, watch and listen to as well as my reflections on nature I'm noticing, questions I’m asking and answers I’ve found.
August was the month I said goodbye to my flat and moved in to a new home. It’s been a time of XL Ultragrime cleaning wipes, eating dinner off my lap and worrying about a leaky roof but I couldn’t be happier. Anyway, enough of that. I have books to tell you about! So here are some nice things from the month…
Last week I went to Queen’s Park Book Festival to watch a talk with Michael Amherst who I met at Arvon earlier this year. His book The Boyhood of Cain is a charming, magical read about a young boy’s school days. I love his voice and didn’t want this one to end. Perfect book for a weekend away (as long as your travel companion is fine with you reading out ‘just another good bit’ every few pages).
I went to Ida for dinner after where I had a delicious and wonderfully-named ‘Priest-strangler’ strozzapreti followed by a tiramisu. Is there anything more chic than dessert served in a chilled glass? The only thing that could make it more classy would be these vintage silver shell spoons.
If you’re interior obsessed like me then I wholeheartedly recommend these Substacks: The Venetian Pantry for renovation floor plans and Second Best for great second-hand finds. I’ve bought a few things Rachel recommended from eBay. She has great taste in jugs.
Speaking of… You might’ve seen my Instagram post about good search terms for finding gorgeous second-hand pottery. It’s pretty niche content, but you’re welcome.
Recently fallen in love with Katie Mawson’s stunning artwork which is made by repurposing the cloth from discarded vintage hard back books. Beautiful! The patterns look like they belong on the walls of Kettle’s Yard and I like imagining what kind of book each colour might have been.
The C Word podcast is back, and this time it’s free for more people to enjoy. Lena Dunham and Alissa Bennett “sift through the cultural trash heap one glamorous rumour at a time” to explore the lives of women publicly labelled as crazy. It’s incredibly well researched, witty and compassionate. I’m listening to all the old episodes again because I personally cannot get enough Lena.
All of a sudden my (longer) commutes are joyous because I’m reading Consider Yourself Kissed. Jessica Stanley’s book is a warm romance (but also oh so much more) that “braids the personal and the political” as it follows Coralie ten years on after meeting Adam and getting ‘everything she ever wanted’. It’s set against an eventful political decade and effortlessly weaves current events with big questions around why Adam gets to pursue his dreams, and she has to do school pickup again.
If you’re a member at The Ned I’m hosting an author book club with Jessica Stanley on 16th Sep and hope to see you there.
If you’re not reading as much as you’d like atm (I’ve been there), subscribe to the Poetry Foundation newsletter for a poem delivered straight to your inbox every afternoon and at least you’ll read one lovely little poem each day.
Saw Stereophonic at Duke of York Theatre. Fabulous set design of a recording studio in 70s California, cast wardrobe to die for and funky original songs by Will Butler of Arcade Fire.
It’s now a legal requirement that if you go to the theatre you must go to Speedboat bar before. Order the aubergine and the fried fish fillet salad which is zesty and spicy. I think the interior of this restaurant is supposed to be ironically cool in an 80s Thai hostel kind of way but I can’t help but take the stainless steel tables and turquoise windows as very serious kitchen inspo!
Should be saving for flooring underlay but instead I’m dreaming of this coat by Damson Madder.
Britain’s finest comedians are back from Edinburgh and touring. Shows I’m going to see in London include Lorna Rose Treen, Touissant Douglas, Janine Harouni and Jordan Brookes.
Despite some late nights I’m sleeping like a baby since using this Rain-on-a-tin-roof pillow spray by Halen Môn.
Nature I’m noticing…
The slight dampness snail shells leave on fingers after plucking them from the garden wall before strategically relocating them.
Cabbage whites flitting over the hedgerows in Hilly Fields park.
Long-necked Japanese anemones bobbing over fences.
Questions I’m asking…
How do I decide where to save and where to splurge?
How many chapters should I write of a new project before I go back and re-read it or even begin to think of editing?
What’s the best way to introduce yourself to a neighbour?
Answers I’ve found…
Octopuses hold grudges and they throw shells at targets they don’t like.
‘Money needs to flow. If you hold on too tightly, it can get stuck. Instead say: thank you for staying with me. Go out, bless the world, and come back with your friends’ - Ken Honda.
Not sure where to meet a man? Countess Luann has the answer…
Anyway, that’s it from me. See ya!
