It's that time of year when we attempt to create a cosy autumnal ambience using plastic tat and a selection of mini supermarket pumpkins. Just me?
I say 'attempt' but there's not much to it. After stringing up the fake-leafed garland, I've placed the pumpkins at either side of the fire place. It's fine. Does it scream AMBIANCE to you? You don't need to answer. In fact, what with the quickly-rotting peel on the little pale pumpkin to the right of the picture, the ambience is nearer rotting veg than New England fall. It is what it is.
 |
| Forcing the serenity. |
I finally did it. I edited myself into a big enough frenzy that I had to mentally shout, ENOUGH! TIME FOR REINFORCEMENTS! In less hyperbolic speak, that means I approached the lovely editor I use at this stage, and asked if she was game for another adventure. Happily she was, so she's currently working her magic on the manuscript. This is excellent news for me. For a short time, my brain can forget the goings on in Applemere Bridge. It can stop whirring all night as it attempts to concoct the perfect Christmas ending without it being similar to the previous two Christmas endings. It can stop reading anything - social media, other novels, news reports - with a critical eye, spotting which commas are extraneous and choosing better words than the ones selected by the author. My brain can finally CHILL. For as long as the editor has hold of the thing, I'm living a life of serenity.
 |
| Film Club |
Film Club on BBCiPlayer is wonderful. Sweet, poignant, vulnerable, and funny. Two friends, obsessed with film, with one currently recovering from a breakdown and debilitating agoraphobia. I hoovered it up and felt all the better for doing so. Congrats to Aimee Lou Wood and Ralph Davis for creating something so lovely.
 |
| Riot Women |
The iPlayer also contains the second series I saw off this week - Sally Wainwright's Riot Women. It's fantastic. Obviously it is. Everything Wainwright writes is... right. Managing to combine humour, drama, authentic characters, and stunning northern locations, this is spot on. The short synopsis is that a group of middle-aged women start a punk band. The longer synopsis is more complex, involving divorce, grief, caring for elderly relatives, caring for grown up children, sexual assault, mental heath, and work place misogyny. To be able to write a witty, cathartic screenplay embracing all that, is impressive. Maybe it particularly hits the spot for middle aged women? Good. Write more for us please. It's brilliant, I loved it, and I felt seen.
 |
| My crap photo does NOT do this justice |
My Wednesday brunch place has had a menu rejig. The upshot is, they've added shakshuka. This has filled my heart with joy. I bloody love shakshuka! Their version is thick, warming, and utterly tasty. Not as spicy as I make my own, but all the better for it. Of COURSE I'm happy to see my friends, but the fact that in these chillier months, I get to shovel a bowl of shakshuka into my mouth while I do so, is marvellous.
 |
| Boozy Sunday, innit. |
Out and About
I had a boozy Sunday in town. WHY, I hear you ask. WHY NOT, I reply. It was all based around Sunday dinner, but the pre-meal beers, during-meal wine, and post-meal more beers added to the fun. A few days later I was back in town, on the mission for some new clothes. Despite visiting several shops, it was a failed trip. I struggle when the only clothing options are chunky knits or blingtastic party wear. Where are the regular tops, people? Tops that I can wear with jeans in the pub and not look deranged? Answers on a postcard please. Meanwhile, I'll stick to Vinted.
Whatever you're doing, hope it's bringing you joy. And if it's not, probably best stop doing it then, right? Or you do you. Whatever you want. It's literally none of my business.
Have a lovely week, folks.
No comments:
Post a Comment