Week links

Slight return (fanfares not included)

Nothing to see here, just me quietly side-step shuffling back into the room. Accompanied by neither hand-wringing apologies and lengthy exposition, nor fanfares and ‘lucky you, I’m back’ vibes. My plan (which is perhaps an overstatement) is simply to let the words randomly tumble out across the page once more. The best of friends (and you know who you are) are those you might not see for an absolute age, but fall back into conversation with as if the time apart were measured in minutes not months. That’s what we’re aiming for here.

I’m easing back in with a collection of links to ‘good stuff’ that has caught my eye this week and that you might enjoy perusing at your leisure over the weekend. (Shamelessly inspired by the likes of India Knight—more on whom later—and Austin Kleon.)

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I have an unfortunate bout of norovirus (not mine) to thank for finally surrendering to the thrall of The Traitors (BBC iPlayer) last year. After randomly selecting episode 1 of series 2 as a seemingly easy way to kill time on a long night, I was hooked. Series 2 was hoovered up in a couple of days, swiftly followed by series 1. So I was there from the New Year’s Day get-go for the latest series, and just like the 25 contestants and millions of viewers became completely embroiled and invested in the drama from the outset. Yes, there were format flaws (the seer concept might have ramped up the finale tension, but in hindsight only served to make the end game feel too mean and the result too inevitable) and some distinctly annoying faithfuls exhibiting a heady combination of full main character energy and zero self-awareness (insert eye roll for every ‘why am I still here?’ and you’ll be seasick), but it was still camp and compelling and full of Claudia, and three times a week brought joyful relief to January very much Januarying. Consider me resident badge-maker for team ‘Alexander is King’. He actually got a long way for someone doomed from the start, surely down to his full-on, undeniable enthusiasm for absolutely everything. Long after I’ve forgotten who actually won series 3, I will remember Alexander’s operatic mimicry of creepy dolls singing nursery rhymes backwards, enthusiastically hauling stone ‘penises’ up a hill, skittering through the woods at breakneck (pony!) speed and, of course, diving into a hedge in pursuit of a shuttlecock. The man didn’t half-arse anything and would have been a very worthy winner. The Rest is Entertainment podcast segments on The Traitors have been a joy to listen to as Richard Osman is genuinely a superfan as both viewer and admiring TV maker. His excitement for the forthcoming UK celebrity version is infectious—apparently there are some really big names in there—I genuinely cannot wait. In this post-finale week, when Traitors talk has been everywhere, this peek behind the scenes from the BBC is a great read if you’re having withdrawal symptoms.

As a (sort of) collector and (sometimes) seller of books, this article on identifying first editions, from the Pan Macmillan newsletter, is both useful and fascinating. What are those long lists of numbers all about?

Budding screenwriter? (Tentatively raises hand.) I was over the moon to stumble across this incredible resource, this morning. And having binged all series of The Split (BBC iPlayer) over the Christmas holidays, I might very well start there. Thank you in advance, Abi Morgan.

Fresh gorgeousness from this morning’s inbox, here is Persephone Books’ Valentine’s (and Galentine’s! I heart Leslie Knope!) offer. Would I love to be gifted a beautifully wrapped Persephone book? I mean seriously, who wouldn’t? But it’s the fabulous postcards that particularly caught my eye—I recognised the illustrations from the wonderful Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, my very first Persephone (and often a favourite January reread). In fact, the second illustration is personally apt for Galantine’s as one of my absolute favourite humans did actually say to me early in our friendship “without highlights my hair is really a more boring blonde … like yours!” (Still makes me laugh.) Friends forever, united in mouse!

India Knight’s excellent newsletter, Home, is the perfect blend of intelligence, inspiration and wit (recently entertaining us with mouldering crabgate—a highly amusing story best enjoyed as a reader without the highly unamusing ‘real life’ stench). I always look forward to reading her words, and my particular favourites of India’s newsletters are the (free!) Sunday art posts. This week’s share, The Breakfast Tray by Elizabeth Okie Paxton, is an absolute stunner. I saved the image to my phone and found myself returning to it through the week. The story it tells and the colours it uses—oh my! I’m always grateful to anyone who gently toes away the dead leaves and moss to show me the entrance to a rabbit hole, and this post certainly did that. I’ve looked into the work of the artist and the Boston School she was part of, and was overjoyed to see (and actually understand!) references to the influence of an old favourite, Johannes Vermeer. Go forth and subscribe to Home, if you haven’t already.

Sunday

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OK that’s more than enough to be getting on with for a (re)opening gambit. I will let you be on your way and very much look forward to sharing some more thoughts, inspirations and connections with you some (unspecified) time soon.

(It’s lovely to be back!)

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