How many times do people give you a recommendation and you say ‘Oh, really? Cool. I’ll add it to the list!’ and then you go away and do not add it to any list anywhere?
Well, I present you with Add to List: the Sunday newsletter containing small things that brought joy, evoked an emotional reaction or became some short-lived stability for me in the past 7 days.
Obsession
Sunshine (Part 1) by James Smith.
Another song from the east-London sweetheart, James Smith. This one is the song of the summer.
I know I said it a couple of week’s back with Molly but THIS ONE is my favourite yet. They just keep getting better and better!
Also if you’re one of these cool and trendy TikTokker people, follow his dancing in public vids and watch him smirk through the embarrassment.
Confession
I got a tuk-tuk in London.
Who the HELL would pay 40 pounds to go a couple of blocks around Soho you say!? Well, me. And well, it was fun.
We sang to Natasha Beddingfield and Abba. It definitely feels as dangerous as it looks, though. No seatbelts. Hugging your riding companions is the only recommended safety mechanism.
Shook
It’s been goose bump central this week.
This week there was a lot of feels.
I hosted my final conference for work and moderated a kick-ass all-female panel with 3 inspirational female writers; we celebrated their best-selling, female and queer publishing success to huge rounds of applause.
I announced to the same filled Southbank Centre that I was quitting my job to focus on writing; I got an overwhelmingly rousing cheer from an audience of around 600 fellow writers. Moving stuff.
I said goodbye to some colleagues who have become close friends; we know that this friendship will go beyond the corporate badge but saying goodbye was still emotional.
I watched two of my best friends get married this weekend; I was taken aback with just truly how much everyone in that room loves them so. I have never heard a cheer like that for a wedding breakfast entrance. Ever. They deserved every whoop, cheer and whistle; they are such good eggs.
To summarise, I haven’t made it through a day this week without crying my eyes out. I was doing well today, then I put the Glastonbury highlights on...
Book
Evenings and Weekends by Oisín McKenna.
I have to admit, initially I struggled to get into this book in the first third because there’s a lot of characters and I kept getting confused.
It’s Richard Curtis-esque in the sense that many parallel storylines intertwine but without swoon-worthy cliché or bumbling floppy-haired men who inappropriately flirt with their political secretary. Despite my character confusion, I kept reading because of the setting. The attention to detail in the city’s description is impressive. The book puts the feeling of London’s summer into perfect poetry. Both euphoric and oppressive, the book is set against the accurately observed cityscape, acting as both a love letter and a warning sign to this city.
Reading it this week on a London bus in 28 degree heat put me right inside the pages. The writing is lyrical without pretention. You can feel the drumbeat of 2019’s heatwave through McKenna’s emotionally fluent, spoken-word influenced prose.
This contemporary depiction of queer life across London’s summer hot spots such as London Fields, Hampstead Ponds and Kingsland Road will tug on your heartstrings with both joyous moments of expression and freedom and unsettling moments of financial and emotional instability.
Cook
Not a lot again. (Eating out).
It’s all a bit of an on-the-go blur because I’ve been out a lot.
The highlight that sticks out for me this week was the Garlic Prawns at Randall & Aubin.
Can’t Stop Scanning
Glasto Highlights.
I still can’t believe I’ve got to my 30s and haven’t made to Glasto yet? Next year is my year. For now, the highlights videos from the comfort of my sofa will do (and are a much, much cleaner alternative).
Lil’ Simz absolutely owned the main stage. Janelle Monae’s costume game was fabulous. Coldplay looked genuinely magical. I love that Chris Martin asked the audience to put their phones away and put their hands in the air. I cried twice watching highlights from the sofa hungover today.
And, of course, the legends slot with Shania looked rootin’ tootin’ hootin’. In the spirit of that slot, I’m re-sharing one of the most fun bits of writing I did last year inspired by the time I went to see her live.
Forward Planning
Next week is my last week in my current job!
After nearly 8 years it’s coming to a close. I’m really excited for the next chapter but I know it’ll be an emotional week.
Predicting: cheers, beers, tears and incoming future-fears.
Reminder: I am hosting a Substack writers meet up on 10th July in London Bridge. Sign up here. And tell your network. All very welcome.
Amazing writing . Bring on the book
So excited for this next chapter for you! No pun intended xo