We’re switching it up a bit today, by which I mean I drafted The Offcuts for Sunday and then didn’t publish it so I’m sending it out today instead. Oops. The week before Christmas is always once that feels pretty manic and this year feels no different. My view is that you simply have to embrace it, however, trying to find time to sit and think and write then becomes difficult if not entirely impossible.
A special mention this week for
’s un-Christmas helping to bring the scrooge out in all of us. I was lucky enough to contribute along with some other incredible Substackers to share pet peeves, annoyances and things that make your eyes roll into the back of your head. Give it a read and if you’re leaving a little Grinchy yourself, leave a comment to purge your sins.
Solo trips are often reading heavy and very audiobook focused. In the last week (and a bit), I finished listening to Odyssey by Stephen Fry, Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher and Galatea by Madeline Miller. The final chapter of The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides was read on the plane home.
I started reading Why We Sleep on Friday and even from the first instalment I’m scared I’ll be disappointed. Not because of the content per se, I’m hooked on how sleep still manages to elude us in so many ways scientifically. The book is easy to follow and I’m more than intrigued. But all I could think was, I wonder if they’ll mention the impact of sleep deprivation and disrupted circadian rhythms on those with newborn babies. In particular, primary caregivers ergo mums ergo women. The book begins to emphasise just how important getting seven to nine hours a night is, so you would think that a global experience shared by so many that proves impossible to achieve that same level of sleep at least gets a look in. I’ve now reflected back to my reading of The Body Keeps The Score and feel a bit deflated by the same realisation, that the physically traumatic common experience of over 40% of the world’s population (on the basis of 80% of women going on to have children) was quite absent. I’m not shocked that I didn’t even clock it myself until now given that misogyny in healthcare is so systemically enforced. I’m sick of the defensive that it’s a “woman’s” issue and therefore not a universal one. Shouldn’t we all want to learn? Sigh. I’ll keep you posted once I finish the book.
What else have I been reading?
The Rediscovery Of Circadian Rhythms (some stats that made my jaw drop and a great read before delving into Why We Sleep)
Plaster
What I’ve been listening to:
Sally Rooney thinks career growth is overrated
Mia Khalifa on The Louis Theroux Podcast
The problem I find with winter accessories is that you can never have too many. To really bring your outfit together with coats, scarves and gloves you probably need a whole array of options. Capsule wardrobe I think not. But over consumption plays on my mind so I admit it’s in everyone’s best interests to dig a little harder, optimise and be versatile. This scarf from TBCo is high on my list and I am currently practicing restraint (and manifestation) for a post-Xmas sale purchase.
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. When we were little, we didn’t know the words but we’d give it a good go anyway. I have a distant memory of my sister being very small and sat in the front of a shopping trolley swapping out the lyrics of ‘Now bring us a figgy pudding’ from We Wish You a Merry Christmas to
‘Now bring us a piggy porker’. I have no further context at this time.
I’ve just added Glance Back to my Chrome browser and it hasn’t disappointed. The premise is that your laptop will take a photo of you daily, at a random time when you open a new tab. Like an advent calendar of gormless mugshots. You can add a comment for each one and take a look back on your catalogue of selfies whenever you like. Perhaps over the next 12 months I’ll have enough to create a Glance Back 2025 wrapped.
My Airbnb in Lisbon was gorgeous, I can’t deny. I mean that writing nook? Dreamy. But the shower was in the bath and instead of having a panel, I had to contend with a shower curtain. When that disgusting slimy flacid film of wet cloth touches my skin I recoil. I think they should all be banned forever, especially in rental/ holiday apartments.
I haven’t been too familiar with Carrie Fisher or her work. I’ve never seen Star Wars (I spent many hours playing Lego Star Wars on PS2 with my brother if that counts for anything). I loved listening to her narrate her autobiography Wishful Drinking. You know how much I love Audible for autobiographies. She had an incredible sense of humour and her life story is quite a mad one. This week we’ll take some wisdom from her. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What’s important is the action. You don’t have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow.”
Loved having you as a guest grinch, Mary. ❤️ The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud (or typing on Substack) for all to hear indeed!!
Look forward to meeting over a coffee together in 2025. Merry Christmas and thank you so much for sharing your drafts with us on here. I have loved reading them and look forward reading more in 2025!!