Add to List - #99
'Tini weini disco
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
The all-season duvet (winter edition).
This week I clipped together the two lighter duvets I own to sleep under a poofy 13.5 tog cloud.
Brb not leaving my bed for most of December.
Confession
I spent a lot of the first few days of the week lying on the floor?
I’m okay, don’t worry. But there’s something therapeutic about lying your spine on a hard, flat surface sometimes. If you prop a big book behind your head, it’s actually got a name — Alexander Technique. And well, my kitchen was the spot. And, in addition, to clipping that high tog duvet together, we recently turned on the underfloor heating in our kitchen. A warm reset.
Shook
Please can someone feed the cast of Wicked?
It’s absolutely not okay to have three female skeletons like this on our screens. I’m not body shaming them; I know they’re probably fighting a big batch of internal demons but the weight loss from the cast is rapid and unlikely to be sustainable. Can we stop this. Please. I think Hollywood has a responsibility to remove people who are clearly this unwell from our screens. And now the body positivity argument is being used as a defence for their weight loss. And it’s scary.
And also wtf is in this Wicked juice, why can they not stop preening each other in every interview? Why are there crying at everything? What is going on?
**still gonna go and see it, obvs
Cook
I attended my first ever Thanksgiving on Thursday — a warm comforting meal with friends. We all went round and said things were grateful for. And, there were at least 4 variations of potatoes — something I can definitely get behind.
And I hosted a little party of my own! An eats before beats dinner with the most brilliant group of friends. The occasion? A pre-game for our disco night out. A big one. Think: glitter balls, multiple DJs, and 17,057 steps until the small hours. On the menu beforehand — and there were menus because I am a sucker for committing to a theme — were: ‘tinis and weinis. Strong cocktails and tarted up hot dogs? Yes, essential fuel for dancing until 4am.
not me over committing to a theme I am forever changed by the invention of a ‘pickled disco ball.’ A mix (shaken, not stirred) of (extremely cold) vodka, cornichon brine, fresh cucumber, and a sexy lil’ dill frond garnish. I shall be remaking these at Christmas. They’re perfectly savoury, absolutely moreish, and of course — suitably lethal.
And, earlier in the week I knocked back a delicious glass (or three) of Merlot at Guy Ritchie’s, The Lore of the Land. The Fitzrovia spot scored 83 in the Top 100 Gastropubs list this year. I didn’t eat any of the food, but I would give them high marks for the wine glass alone (truly it does make a difference to the taste). Plus, extra marks for my companion bringing a roll-up backgammon board. Minus points for not letting me win.
Book
Nada.
Only the books this week have been behind my head for that ‘Alexander Technique.’ Maybe the words have gone in via osmosis?
Look
It’s extremely rare I go ‘out out’ so of course, Friday was the night to commit to the club. And also my wardrobe choice. So to match the glitter balls on the venue’s ceiling, I sported this backless halter.
Naturally, during the over-excitement of Basement Jaxx dropping ‘Where’s Your Head At,’ I broke one of the straps at the back. Thankfully, I did have nipple covers on, otherwise there would have been a little too much panic at this disco.
Can’t Stop Scanning
Girlbands forever.
Yesterday’s hangover had me binge-watching The BBC’s documentary about girl bands.
A lovely nostalgia-soaked bit of viewing reminding you of the success and fall of All Saints, to Atomic Kitten, and Mis-Teeq all the way up to Little Mix.
I am forever fascinated by 90s and 00s pop culture — and this is an illuminating look behind the closed doors of the post-spice girl boom is a reminder on some of the hardships our pop girlies of yesteryear suffered, as well as a joyous trip down memory lane.
Forward Planning
One more of these next week before I take a festive break! I plan to make it extra-special for you.
Remember: our Writers IRL festive hang happens this Wednesday (3rd Dec), London Bridge. If you write on here and you’re looking for a chance to connect with others; sign up link and details here. All very welcome. We can’t wait to raise a glass to a year of good writing together.
Omg the pickled disco ball is my dream cocktail ……
So agree with you about Wicked . It’s so awful to see. Thank you for writing about this