Wonderful people. And Guinness.

Hello all,

So I’m still in Dublin and I’m having a lovely time.

A change of scene does wonders and I’m grateful for it.

I feel my mind opening up and hopping with possibilities in a way it hasn’t done for a long time.

Being with my friend helps.

She is a get up and go person while I am a depressive, ‘can’t we just stay in bed all day?’ person - but somehow we work well together. As she says ‘you’re alright once we get you going,’ which is true.

It’s made me think about partnerships and how much we influence each other. With G, I become a better version of myself.

This last couple of years in lockdown, I was a not so great version of myself. Left to my own devices I can fall into a depressive, slobby slump.

One of the biggest learnings from lockdown is how much I need people to keep me afloat and buzzing. I always thought I was an introvert because I need a lot of time on my own and a lot of sleep but I really, really need people too.

Yesterday I met Nieves who some of you will know from the writing sessions.

We met outside Bewleys coffee house and she came up to me with blue hair and a huge smile and we had a bear hug.

‘I know you so well,’ she said. And she does - even though we have never met before.

We wet to Neary’s - a gorgeous old pub off Grafton Street - and we chatted and she showed me photos of the pots she was conserving for the National Museum in Ireland. The pots were from 2000 BC- can you believe it?

We talked about her three degrees, including her studies of feminist theology - I had no idea such a thing existed - and she told me that there are female Catholic priests in other parts of the world? Did you know that?

It felt like we visited the whole world in our conversation.

It felt good to remember that the whole world is still out there and that I’m ok once I get going….

What I’m reading.

OK. So I mentioned last time that I’d been reading articles about work and the anti-work movement that’s flourished in lockdown... and burnout. There is lots to be written on this and I’ve started jotting down thoughts but they are not ready yet. So consider this a cliff hanger…

Also reading…. Viv Albertine’s two books. Oh my god, she is just brilliant. Her book reads like she could not give a sh*t what anyone thinks of her - it’s so honest and unapologetic - but actually she says she does care what people think. For those who don’t know her, Viv was part of The Slits, an all female punk band in the 1970s. She hung out with Vivienne Westwood and the Clash and the Sex Pistols and despite being in the middle of all this, her voice is so normal and relatable.

The first book Clothes, Clothes, Clothes, Music, Music, Music, Boys, Boys, Boys is about her time in the band. The second, To Throw Away Unopened, is about her relationship with her mother. Both are fantastically good. Funny, honest, clever, moving and so so so well written. They are like a punch, in a good way. If you can be punched in a good way. I don’t know. They made me sit up straight.

It reminded me of an article I read somewhere about how the rise in MFAs (Masters in Fiction writing ) has led to a lot of beautifully written books - but many don’t have much of importance to say. Viv’s books have a lot of important things to say about being a woman, a mother, about the con of romantic love… about being an artist. Really, really good.

I think I made the point there. They are good. OK?

What I’m watching

Salvage hunters!! has anyone seen this before? An antiques guy travels with his trusty companion around Britain in search of weird and wonderful old things, giving a kind of informal history lesson at the same time. Really enjoyable.

The Lost Daughter - a film version of a book by Elena Ferrante that dares to acknowledge that some women are not natural mothers. Mum didn’t like it - she said it was too much of Olivia Colman looking moodily out to sea, which is true. There is a fair bit of that. I still liked it. Did you ever read My Brilliant Friend (also by Elena Ferrante) - she has similar energy to Viv Alerbertine. Honest, direct, clever and powerful writing about being a woman. I’ve read a few by her and they are all great. There are a lot of characters and names to get the hang of but stick with it.

What I’m buying.

Guinness and toasted sandwiches. Heaven. Put me in an old pub with a pint and there’s nothing more I want in the world.

Workshops!

We have another one tomorrow (Saturday 29th January) - do come and see Nieves’ blue hair. Pay what you can. Don’t let money be the reason you don’t come.

Love and Guinness.

xx