In Case You Missed It #4
My monthly round-up of all the excellent things.
Hello and welcome to the opposite of doom scrolling :)
Each month I send out an eclectic collection of the brilliant things I have chanced upon in the last month that I loved so much I think you might too. I keep the list (relatively) concise 😘 but I’d never assume you didn’t get there before me, hence the In Case You Missed It of it all. The archive of past editions of this series can be found here, and in the comments you are always warmly invited to share all the wonderful things you’ve stumbled across, too. I hope you enjoy this month’s curation!
ICYMI on here: we finished reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland together. I also shared some seasonal shifts I’ve been experiencing in my piece Permission To Do Nothing and for this month’s Cultural Digest I said a very fond but sad Farewell to Matthew Perry.
Slightly later than planned we are all set for our third Cult Film Club watch party and discussion group this coming Sunday November 19th. I’ve opted us in for a perfect Winter warm up — if you’re not a member already you can join us and catch up on all the going’s on past, present and forthcoming below! We’d love to have you <3
Now, onto the main event…
ON SUBSTACK
Sorry I’m Late — I fell in love too young
Give me a comfy chair to get swallowed in, a roasting fireside, a vat of hot chocolate and a stack of Jess Pan’s prose allllll day. She’s barely been on Substack a month but wow I’ve spent the best part of that month on her page, revisiting her first six posts (thus far) over and over. Each week Jess shares stories from her life working in a ‘tiny London bookshop’ — precise location undisclosed. Her writing is gloriously tactile, comforting and wry. She is also the author of Sorry I’m Late — I didn’t want to come: One Introvert’s Year of Saying Yes. And you better believe it’s gone straight to the top of my reading list.
on How to light the dark months
‘Tis the season and though I may have been very late to the Katherine May party (only just discovering her fabulous bestselling book) I’ve certainly been living through my own version of Wintering this year, lost in a constant search somewhere between comfort and nostalgia. This is a beautiful piece on how much the use of candlelight can support us through the darker days.
I could share any number of Grant Snider’s posts so I’m sharing the beautiful drawing above from his recent summary on the first week of ‘Poetry Comics Month’. A wondrous find for any fan of comics amongst you or people like me, who have never really considered them. Long-time subscribers will know how much I adore animation but I have never really delved into the world of comics before, perhaps because I’ve always found them too super-hero centric but previous share
got me onto Grant’s stunning work which explores the complexities of human emotion through the simplicity of right to left picture storytelling with poetry — needless to say, I’ve fallen head over heels in love. Plus, I cannot tell you how transformative I am finding receiving a wholly picture based newsletter every week. A surprising elixir that immediately softens the shoulders.
Another picture-led newsletter offering that Animation Obsessive brought to my attention via Notes. I’m loving everything Nishant Jain has going for him on his Substack. As well as his newsletter he has a podcast and offers video tutorials which are super therapeutic along with workshops for those who want to develop their own drawing skills whether you consider yourself a complete beginner (hi!) or a budding artist. Nishant came to drawing much later in life himself and encourages celebrating your own drawing style rather than stumbling into the compare and despair territory of those who are ‘able to draw’ vs. those who aren’t — in essence, fine art skills not required, I shall see you there! This post in particular is a great place to start <3
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on Matthew Perry, the best Friend I never knew
This piece featured on
but I’m sharing it again in case you missed it in the flurry of posts related to Matthew Perry. I read a LOT of them so won’t linger more here — this piece from Helen Lewis was easily my favourite. An absolutely beautiful read and write. on Beautiful Disasters
Speaking of addiction, this picture will make little sense out of context but all the more reason to get sucked in to the vortex of one of the best stream of consciousness pieces I have personally ever read. This comes from the unwavering mind of Alex Dobrenko and is an absolutely stunning, hilarious, daringly vulnerable, scream-lol chokingly relatable read (the acting/ audition related mania my god). It’s epically long but you will devour it as hungrily as Alex is consumed by his own inescapable compulsions.
Essay Camp
Oh wow. Desperately want to write but sometimes don’t know where to start? Summer Brennan’s Essay Camp is a pragmatist’s dream. Helping you put your ideas onto the page and teaching you how to develop them into something beautiful has been an absolute gift for me this past week. I am generally pretty good at getting stuff down these days but this really made me focus for short structured bursts in a way that I’ve heard about other people doing before but didn’t really know how to do myself. Each session I committed to was super productive in a non-hustley way and also felt like a mini apprenticeship in the discipline of writing. It was also an enormously enlightening practice in seeing what my subconscious creative play really wants to write about versus what I think I ‘should’ be writing about.
on Your scheduled meeting starts now
How to respect yourself, your work, your worth and ask for it? Loved this en pointe, hilarious and timely piece from Katie Clapham about every Substacker’s greatest dilemma! — Should you put your work behind a paywall?
PODCASTS
We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach & Amanda Doyle
Episode 252 — with Martha Beck
Want to know what’s it’s like to have a therapy session with Martha Beck? Listen to this incredible episode of We Can Do Hard Things and hear her work with Amanda Doyle. This is such a powerful listen because it affords you an opportunity to work through your own stuff in real time along with Amanda even if your own related questions are completely different to hers. What Martha shares here about getting out of the analytical brain and into the abstract, the visual, in order to change the narrative of the challenging parts of our history (and/or our relationship to them) is something I’ve been practising myself for a long time and I loved how accessibly she articulates it here.
Office Ladies Podcast with Jenna Fischer & Angela Kinsey
Ok ok, so I’ve gone from a US Office skeptic to a full-blown obsessive but doesn’t that just show you how much it can benefit us if we remain open minded? ;) The Office Ladies Podcast is a deep dive revisiting of the show episode by episode, hosted by two of the show’s cast members: Jenna Fischer, who played Pam, and Angela Kinsey, who played Angela. They became best friends during their ten years filming the show together and they make for the most gorgeously dorky pair. Their incredible guests and secret insights into the making of the show which includes all of the top brass is testament to an ensemble who genuinely got on and clearly respect the ‘heck’ out of one another (Angela’s from Texas, all will become clear!) Love it, love them. There’s a fascinating episode with their Costume Designer Carey Bennett which you can find here for anyone looking for a good gateway in to the podcast (it has hundreds of episodes), or who has an interest in film industry workings!
ELSEWHERE ON THE INTERNET
Liz Stinson for Eye on Design — The Hidden History of Magic Eye
I loved this nostalgic delight for those who near lost their minds (and their eyesight) in the ‘90s, trying to spot the secret hidden images during the Magic Eye era.
Emma Gannon for The Guardian on Choosing to be child free
This is a fab piece from Emma Gannon on the importance of establishing life-markers for yourself when you move into your later years and by choice or otherwise, lead a life without children.
Olivia Reingold for the Free Press on I’m Sorry, But I Can’t Tip The Whole World
This is a great think piece on the socially problematic issue of tipping in the United States that is becoming beyond egregious and fast spilling into Europe via delivery apps and their colleagues.
Audre Lorde on The Transformation of Silence Into Language and Action
For those that need some rousing soul sustenance to support them through the harrowingly challenging times we are living in, this essay written by Audre Lorde in 1977 is all kinds of nourishing.
SUSTAINABLE SEASONAL TREATS
London Christmas Tree Rental
Have you ever considered hiring a Christmas tree? Every year, an estimated 7 million+ trees end up in landfill in the UK alone (not to mention the drain on natural resources to grow and get them to our homes, yikes!) What if instead, you could borrow one, return it at the end of the festive season and even receive the same tree back the following year bigger and healthier than ever?
Our relationship to the environment is changing - I like to think of it as a remembering more than something new that we are learning - and in the last couple of years a few of these companies have popped up and are gradually establishing themselves as a new norm.
This particular company is London based and I have shared it because apparently they still have trees available but if you’re not in London and really want to have a real tree without the environmental cost, have a search and see if there’s anyone near you offering this type of service. They sell out quickly as they’re still pretty new but you can sign up for their lists for next year too. I did this two years ago and had my first rented tree last year — it was amazing!! (And also a good lesson in not needing to have everything right now.)
Christmas Tree Library at St. Pancras
A reading nook book tower Christmas Tree?? Oh my goodness. The ‘tree’ at London’s St Pancras Station, as well being an absolute marvel to simply delight in, invites you to settle in to one of the booths at its base for a wholesome 5 minute listen to an audiobook excerpt of your choice from one of the greats — Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, Zadie Smith and many more. People are also encouraged to use the space to take a seat and get lost in one of their own books. HEAVEN.
Nkuku
I love this company for its ethical, eco-friendly, handmade Christmas decorations and much more besides. They have such a gorgeous selection of unique creations — some traditional some modern but all made with love by artisans with fair, transparent working practices and sustainability front and centre. Their beautiful collection is small enough to not feel overwhelming but big enough to have something for everyone.
Book Library inspired Christmas Tree
I love getting a little bit crafty at Christmas — got biiiig into wreath making last year with foraged bits and pieces from my garden! So why not do away with a real tree entirely this year and build your own out of your favourite books?! I had some friends who did this years ago and it looked so stunning — the St Pancras display reminded me. Takes a little time to put together no doubt but whack the Christmas tunes on and have at it — yours doesn’t have to be this big of course! I’m definitely going to attempt a mini one this year. I have also seen some other really fun alternative ideas, inspired by the above — see below!
British Heart Foundation Christmas Cards
If you’re looking for a gorgeous set of Christmas Cards but want a more environmentally friendly option, I spotted a wonderful selection in the British Heart Foundation stores with all sorts of lovely designs to choose from (from the super traditional, to others much more modern) made from 100% recycled paper, glitter free and they come in a recycled cardboard box, all of which makes them fully recyclable too of course — I’m sure many other places will follow suit, these are just the ones I’ve spotted out and about and thought were cute (and in case you haven’t been able to find any!)
Last Chance Saloon — Louise Androlia Ritual Candles
A reminder that my artist pal Louise is coming to the UK and taking final orders for her hand-painted candles for anyone who wants some in the run up to Christmas/ New Year who are UK based. (They are usually only available to US residents.) They make such gorgeous pressies, particularly at this time of year but are an equally wonderful gift to yourself too for anyone who, like me, enjoys a richly intentional transition through the end of year period and into the next… Louise also takes individual commissions (see the hand-drawn design pictured above) so you can have any design you want and not just candles but all sorts of other brilliant artworks. I can’t recommend her enough.
Any of these pieces really speaking to you? Anything you’d love to recommend to the community? What’s caught your eye this month? I’d love to hear from you!
A treasure trove of the most excellent things.
I love delving deeper and exploring all the suggestions and ideas, it always feels like you’ve picked the best sweets from a pick ‘n’ mix to share ✨🍬
Ps love Jess Pan 😍
Oh my god SIAN Unstable Series 2 !!! So proud of you & excited for you !! Made me lol so much I can’t wait to see you on my screens again xxx 😍😍😍😍 AHHHHHH I’m so excited