How many times do people give you a recommendation and you say: “Oh, really? Cool. I’ll add it to the list!” followed by you going away and not adding it to any list, anywhere?
Add to List is the Sunday round-up containing the small things that brought me joy, evoked an emotional reaction or became some short-lived stability in the past 7 days, all documented in one place for you.
Thanks for reading!
Obsession
Rivals on Disney+.
Jilly Cooper’s iconic steamy novel has been made into a screen adaptation.
Bijou bonking. Camp and colourful. Hilarious, horsey and horny. Don your jodhpurs and saddle up for this joyous adventure in Rutshire.
Plus, Aiden Turner with an 80’s moustache regularly topless? It’s a no brainer.
Confession
Andrew Garfield doesn’t do it for me.
The coverage of Andrew Garfield taking Florence Pugh in cardboard cut out form to the premiere for We Live in Time has taken over my news feed.
This behaviour is outrageously good. His Chicken Shop Date episode revealed him as a wholesome, humble man who supports women and isn’t afraid to talk about the emotions he feels (namely, heartache, grief, longing). Is he the real life Adam Brody? This man is doing what all women want (and deserve).
Yet, despite a recent penchant of mine for Auburn-tinged men (it’s a new thing that has taken me by surprise too) Andrew just doesn’t do it for me. I don’t know why, I want to fancy the pants off him, but I just don’t.
Shook
Liam Payne’s death.
Celebrity deaths are always shocking. Social media means we grow up feeling like we’re growing up with people when we don’t know them at all. Our centre-of-the-universe culture means we are all main characters, over-sharing, over-bearing, listening to others do the same. In some ways it is incredibly healthy to hear about the inner turmoil and mental health struggles of our idols but when somebody dies as a result of this type of struggle it suddenly feels like a mass-marketed label we all collectively read on the same podcasts and ignored, evading responsibility through hopeless bystander effect.
I am not a one-directioner, but the band still holds nostalgic significance. This is the first death from the X-factor-celebrity-talent-hunting singing competition era. It feels a bit like a Black Mirror Episode. Why do we all crave fame and fortune when it’s so apparent how much it impacts so many for the worse? Why does nobody appear to make it out from child stardom unscathed?
The biggest shock of Liam Payne’s death for me isn’t his actual mortality (though it is terrifying as he’s the exact same age as me). No, the real horror is how quickly the information of the transcripts of the 911 phone call and the pictures of his dead body were all publicly available within hours of his death.
It might be one thing to deep dive, screen shot or crazy fan-stalk when someone is alive, but at the very least, when they die, let them do so in peace. Please.
Cook
Creamy cannellini and sun-dried tomato bowls.
I’ve been targeted by a plant based meal prep company. My algorithm thinks I am considering veganism. I am offended. No, thank you.
I love chicken and salmon too much. I also think paying for any plant-based meal kit is definitely not cost effective when the raw ingredients cost so little.
However, the montage of creamy bean bowls, tofu curried noodles and daal-dipped flatbreads got into my subconscious somewhere. On Friday night I ended up invention testing something of my own: creamy cannellini bean and sun dried tomato stew. Packed with spinach and garlic, both fresh and sun dried tomatoes, and sprinkled with parsley. I served it with a dollop of creme fraiche and a grilled garlic flatbread. Autumn in a bowl. I went too big on my quantities, and have been heartily enjoying leftovers all weekend.
I also went to Oriole for dinner this Wednesday. I enjoyed three courses and cocktails to the sound of smooth, sexy piano. More on this soon👀.
Book
No books this week. Go on, judge me.
Sometimes, we need to consume our stories through the screen. Alongside Rivals, here’s some stories I’ve enjoyed this week:
Wow. 10 minute episodes are a revelation. Why don’t more shows do this? I tell you why: it takes considered, sharp, comedic writing. Each ep holds multiple hilarious beats alongside at least one major event that heightens the drama. No episode feels like a dud. You can binge four without even realising. And, there’s always chance for a tea break.
Messy, sexy and silly — this is comedy writing at its finest from Oliver Lyttelton. I’m excited to hear a second series is coming to our screens very soon.
Monsters (The Menendez Brothers Story), Netflix
The drama series based on true events, this show delves into the story of a famous California family’s murder case from 1989. The real life twins who were convicted of killing their parents are about to be released from prison. Don’t be fooled by the high glamour, orange-filtered shots and wealth-laden costumes; this is a dark, gripping tale of family, revenge, abuse and power.
Can’t Stop Scanning
A Viking Map of London.
I love
’s newsletters. I particularly loved this week’s London Time Machine feature where Matt Brown took us back in time with his Viking sketch map. Here, we see London (not yet named as such) existing as a series of small hamlets. You can read the full article here.
I wonder what a time-travelling viking would think if they wandered down Cloppenham high street on a Friday night now? Then again, Infernos is equally as barbaric as their history.
Forward Planning
Pitch, listen, write, sleep, repeat.
Monday is nearly here again and it’s time to get back into my weekly routine.
I have a couple of events on this which I am excited about: S3x talks at Soho Housewith Emma Boynton on Wednesday, Heather Small in concert on Friday, and Stratford Literary Festival on Saturday.
Plus, I’m doing some science reading for an upcoming author interview. And rehearsal planning for our RE-PRODUCTION fundraiser. If you haven’t got your tickets yet, get them using the button below.
I loved Cheaters, utterly brilliant!
Am also hoping that Rivals ends up ‘review worthy’! 🤞🥰
love the viking map :)