Add to List - #91
October-y things, and one hangover after another
Hello, thank you, and welcome. I love you for being here!
Add to List is my Sunday round-up. It’s the small things that brought me joy, evoked an emotional reaction, or became some short-lived stability in the past seven days.
Obsession
Lots to munch on this week.
In general I’ve been adoring all that October has to offer in its first 5 days so far. The light, the weather, the longer nights filled with hot choc! cinemas! popcorn! crunchy walks! crunchy foods! getting drunk (in a cosy way!)
Honestly, all you need to do is stare at a tree in the crisp sunshine and realise how wonderful and insignificant existence is while at the same time rendering this world utterly magnificent.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another kept me entertained on Friday night. A crazy, plinky-plonky-soundtracked epic. It’s as political as it is testosterone-jacked. Chase Infiniti is absolutely magnificent. And honestly, thank God someone finally made a film about what it’s like to be constantly on the hunt for a plug socket to charge your phone at all times. Leo Di Caprio is basically me for the middle section of this film (in case you’re new here, more reading on my low battery ways.)
me, most days Grow — the family-fun film about a pumpkin competition caught me incredibly off-guard during yesterday’s premiere (cue me weeping my hangover away in a cinema full of children). Good pal and writing legend Barry Hutchison a.k.a JD Kirk was a co-producer on this Scottish-grown project (and he has a great Substack, Hack of All Trades too — make sure to give it a read). The outstanding cast and production team have delivered heartfelt, heart-filled, environmentally conscious fun for all the family. The tiny ones in the cast (Priya Rose Maxwell and Dominic McLaughlin) were SO eloquent during a live Q&A afterwards. My bet is these acting seedlings are going to develop into huge, huge stars. And after working alongide Nick Frost, Golda Rosheuvel, Tim McInnerny, and Jeremy Swift (to name only a few) they’ve learnt from some of the best in the business. That said, no matter how much I love pumpkins and all this harvest-season nonsense, I stand my ground that I absolutely hate Halloween.
Confession
Yes, Yes, Yes. I know, I’m a day behind this week.
But yesterday was a big bag of crisps to myself on the tube kind of day. I managed to make it to a film-screening, and to the pub. As well as having my third nap in 24 hours to the sound of Married At First Sight (more on nap 2 below).
Shook
The new UK protesting ‘laws’. Honestly WTF. Time to go and stare at an autumn tree again.
Cook
Somehow it’s mostly alcohol on the list this week, but you’ll survive (as I did — just).
Sorbet-based cocktails, Oriole — Celebrated the delightful Oriole’s birthday on Tuesday with live jazz and brilliant cocktails. I got chatting to Bolivian Spirit distributors and Italian cocktail makers, as well as the lovely husband and wife owners (who also run Swift and Nightjar). When asked how they manage their professional relationship, they replied ‘if we’re challenging each other, then we know it’s a good idea.’ Loved that.
Portuguese Wine and non-substantiating olives, The 10 Cases — I adore this place. And I really think there’s not much more amazing in life than a great glass and a really, really good conversation. Did I need to eat more than this measly bowl of nocellaras? Yes, absolutely. Did I come to regret that later in my night? Also absolutely.
Lageritas, Blood Sports Bar — You guessed it. Lager. And Frozen Marg. Literally— what it says on the tin. Tastes like being on a bad (but good) holiday. For one night only I was transported to somewhere akin to Austin, Texas. And well, I think me falling asleep in the bar after two of these means I was probably in the right time zone, somewhere?
Prosecco that unlocked spiritual moments, The Landseer Arms. I won’t try and explain how or why, but those bubbles did something to our souls.
Oysters + Cod Schnitzel, Parsons — Unassuming fish restaurant tucked away in the heart of Covent Garden. Good oysters, a delightful cod schnitzel, doused in some of the best tartare sauce I’ve had in a while. If you’re not too large a group, sit across the open window from one another, and open the sash of your inhibitions, order some fizz, half the menu and treat yourself to a lovely evening at this adorable London institution before it’s too cold.
Book
Say Nothing, Patrick Radden Keefe.
Don’t you just ADORE getting book post?
One of my good pals lives in Edinburgh and for that reason we can go long periods of time without chatting to one another. When we do, it’s often a full-few-hour-life-download, with all the big revelations, hard emotional moments, nonsense chat, and the kind of good new ideas only real friends can share with one another. On our last call I dropped into conversation I was interviewing a Northern Irish actress and it’d been interesting thinking about Irish culture and how entertainment has been shaped by modern Irish history.
She recommended I watch Say Nothing on Disney+, I haven’t watched it (no longer have a subscription after the old ex-boyfriend login failed two years on — we did well until now guys). Anyway, I always pledge to read a book before the TV adaptation and I ADORED Radden-Keefe’s Empire of Pain. He’s truly an inspirational journalist with patient, deft investigative skills. Have to admit, I’ve not started the book yet, but I have taken a significant stab at the Percys.
Look
We’re turning things more autumnal in the wardrobe colour palette this week.
And, I am pleased to report the black boot collection is back until at least February ‘26.
Can’t Stop Scanning
This beautiful poem, One Good Wind by James Pearson. How gorgeous is that?
Forward Planning
This week I’ve got two foodie spots penned: Lagana, Shoreditch and Dorian, Notting-hill. And Pasta Grannies are excitingly nominated for food content creator of the year, so I’ll be popping to the ITV-sponsored awards night.
Otherwise, I’m trying to harvest the seeds of my previous labours over the next few weeks and use the longer evenings to cosy up with a hot chocolate and stay in doors and on a budget. And avoid one hangover after another**
**Until next month, at least.
Parsons is definitely outstanding . Great to read this , loving the black boots