Good afternoon all! I realise it’s a little later today, it’s been quite a week…
Anyway - big news: I’ve just posted my first reel on Instagram (it’s about pasta). I realise it was rather imperfect, but I’ll be posting more (better?) ones soon. Stay tuned.
First thoughts
It’s very windy here. Whistling through the windows, the lamp posts outside looking distinctly precarious.
The neighbours’ piano playing is back, and it was so nice that I stopped the podcast that I was listening to so that I could enjoy it. I think they are playing something from Amélie. I was obsessed with that film while I was at high school, (I think I mostly just liked the idea of being a ‘kooky’ French girl) and would listen to the soundtrack on the way to school. Anyway, hearing the little strains of different pieces as my neighbour gets bored with a piece, stops half way through, tries something else, does a little scale in-between… It reminds me of practicing music myself, and I miss it.
For those who don’t know - I play (or at least used to play) the harp. Well, a small Celtic (Scottish/Irish) harp called a Clarsach. When I moved abroad at 18, I stopped. It seemed silly to try to get this thing the size of a child on a plane, and I felt worried about something happening to it / felt that it would need extra insurance. Then I continued to move around for years and never really quite got back into it. I have decided that 2021 will be the year that I do. [Side note: I’m really sad that the Edinburgh International Harp Festival had to go online this year - even though they did an amazing job of adapting. It will be online again in 2021. I can’t wait to go again sometime in the future *in person*. Fingers crossed. ] It’s really one of the most lovely instruments, and I also miss the community around folk music, classical music, and Scottish/Irish culture in general.
This week I have been swamped with work / life, trying to function and trying not to resemble Gollum too much. Also the looming idea of what to do about Christmas when I live abroad is a whole other minefield, which I am simultaneously avoiding and fretting over. The amount of culture-consuming I did this week was minimal, as I find in times of stress I go back to the familiar. Re-watching TV series, re-listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks, re-cooking dishes I already know, listening to Diana Krall on repeat. But here are a few bits and bobs which may well be interesting or new for you.
Email Newsletters
Photo by Ryul Davidson on Unsplash
This might be shooting myself in the foot here, but I do believe that by boosting and supporting others, we all grow. These are some newsletters I’ve been really loving recently, and you might like them too.
The Greater Conversation - Alya Mooro
This is a weekly newsletter centering Middle Eastern women’s experiences through storytelling. Every Friday there’s a piece from a guest writer, and reading / culture recommendations. It’s absolutely gorgeous.
The Single Supplement - Nicola Slawson
This is a newsletter which discusses all elements of being a single person, I also think that this is a really important read whether you are single or not. It deals with the societal pressures of singledom, but equally the concept of identity through your relationships. Sometimes it’s light and funny, sometimes more philosophical, and always insightful. Here’s an interesting interview with her on the Storyteller podcast about the newsletter.
The Tiff Weekly - Tiffany Philippou
Journalist, podcaster and coach Tiffany Philippou writes about her observations on life, and daily challenges. It always makes me think differently about things, and it’s just exactly the right length to browse over your coffee break.
Events
Photo by Gez Xavier Mansfield on Unsplash
The Royal Ballet Live: Within the Golden Hour
For £10, The Royal Ballet is presenting a programme of ballet excerpts and set pieces.
It might be a nice way to make an ‘event’ of an evening. Dress up maybe? Get a glass of wine on the go? The trailer is here and it looks fantastic. (Although it must be SO difficult to rehearse with a mask on.)
TV
Cook, Eat Repeat. - Nigella Lawson - BBC
I’ve been watching Nigella Lawson’s new TV series Cook, Eat, Repeat. It’s very similar to her previous stuff, but with a slight lockdown twist, and I just love it. I met her once at an event she did at the Queens Hall in Edinburgh. I was working at Valvona & Crolla at the time, which she actually mentioned during the talk. So afterwards when I went to get my book signed - I had a little chat with her about V&C. She was much smaller in real life (although maybe that was just because she was sitting down). The attitude to life and atmosphere in Nigella’s writing and TV shows reminds me to enjoy the little things and to spoil myself sometimes.
YouTube
I dressed fancy every day to awaken my dead soul. - Leena Norms
I know I’ve been mentioning her in almost every newsletter and I am sorry, but also not sorry at all. (I’m probably going to sign up to her Patreon.) Anyway - this video is about dressing up (to a an almost ridiculous over the top level?) to try to make yourself feel better during lockdown/semi-lockdown. I tried this yesterday (see: InstaStories), and it did really help. I found it especially interesting at 18:26 - when she talks about the idea of clothes as something which can reflect our core values.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch with your thoughts, ideas and suggestions at catrionamedia@gmail.com
(If you are nosy - like I am - you can find out a bit more about me here).
Until the next time,
Catriona
(🔊“cah-tree-nah”)