I haven’t written in awhile (since 19th April to be exact). It’s been a busy few months and I guess things have felt somewhat ????, but we’re back. Over the last couple of weeks we’ve had Sasha in Manchester tell us all about her love for watching things grow and Meggie in London tell us about the art of being an introvert.
On Sunday, when you receive Laura’s letter, I’ll probably be frolicking around Paris with my partner and darling friends (and fellow water signs). And yes, there will be a Paris edition of Out of Hours coming your way soon.
Lately, each day just rolls into one, and each week seems to go faster than the previous one (leading to multiple existential crises). However, outside of my 9-6, here’s a recap of what’s been happening:
I mentioned in my last letter that I wanted to start pottery as an “offline activity”. Well, I’ve done four sessions so far and I’ve been loving it. I've found it to be meditative, playful and mind numbing (in a good way). I hoped my screen time would go down, but I’ve been busy creating Pinterest boards (see a preview below) and watching Momo (the cat) on the wheel.
I finally watched Love Lies Bleeding. Despite being a Kristen Stewart hater, I loved it. If I had to describe the film in 3 words, I would say: sultry, tense and thrilling. And as always, I spent at least 1 hour scrolling through reviews on Letterboxd, here’s some of my faves (see below).
I’ve been really keen to get into more translated fiction. I started reading Butter by Asako Yuzuki and I’m enjoying it so far. Food is a big theme, specifically butter (as the title suggestions). But beyond butter, it explores female friendships, the female experience and gender roles in Japan.
I’ve finally given in and started watching Bridgerton and managed to binge watch two seasons in two weeks. I’m now eagerly waiting for the rest of the season to drop, but in the meantime, my TikTok FYP has been filling the void. If you’ve been putting it off - watch it today, you won’t regret it.
I found savoy cabbage in the supermarket. It might sound silly, but in my two years of living in Dubai, I’ve only found it twice. Sometimes it’s the small things that bring you joy. Right after this burst of excitement, I had a beetroot accident, and an employee of the supermarket announced “spillage” over the megaphone, which was quite humbling.
I spent 5 hours watching VHS footage of little Iman which had me feeling and thinking a lot of things (more on this soon).
I’ve been buying a lot of cute bows, colourful stripy shirts and over-priced lip balms. No regrets (yet).
My friend spent 2 hours teaching me about the world of K-pop, and wow, it’s a complex, yet, fascinating industry. This prompted me to spend another two hours trying to understand how K-pop groups form and how they’ve taken over the world.
I tried to hunt down a Mofusand key chain. Sadly, I’ve had no luck whatsoever. If you find one, you get a coffee on me.
I ate tacos at LILA - best Tacos in Dubai (although, there’s not much competition).
I unlocked a new level of cat mum behaviour - I bought a camera to keep an eye on the little shits (angels) while I’m on holiday. It took approx. 24 hours for the cats to realise they were being watched, and then this happened:
I’ve been obsessed with watching people on TikTok play New York Times games, and I might have bought a subscription (£2 deal for 6 months was hard to say no to). It seems I have become a victim of TikTok influence.
Thoughts from my Notes App
In June we’re:
Frolicking
Doing what makes us feel good
Being present
Enjoying the little joys
Embracing what comes our way
Exploring more (internally & externally)
Prioritising sleep
Daydreaming
ICYMI
The Surprisingly Sophisticated Mind Of An Insect
“Consciousness is a sense of yourself in the world. It’s suffering. It’s bliss.”
Have you ever wondered if insects have feelings? Get ready to spiral. In this article, Carrie Arnold questions: do insects have consciousness? Just give it a read.
I love these TikToks that bring back memories from the early-mid 2000s. It’s like it unlocks something in my brain and transports me back in time. I had completely forgotten about Picnik - the OG VSCO. I also completely forgot about formspring - the original NGL. And MiniClip - the OG Roblox(?).
What is your favourite (or least favourite) response from your friends when you say goodbye at a social gathering?
This TikToker ranks typical responses from 1-10 (1 being the best). My favorite response is when no one objects. Please don’t guilt trip me into staying; just let me leave quietly, FGS.
The Veronicas at Mighty Hoopla
My FYP has been full of Mighty Hoopla content (yes, including Jojo Siwa’s embarrassing appearance). The highlight from the festival was definitely The Veronicas performing their iconic hit Untouched.
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Do you own a granny trolly?
I came across this TikTok and immediately wanted to buy this granny trolly. And it’s not just any granny trolly, it's a Hulken. It reminds me of my days in London and Brighton hauling a weekly food shop up a massive hill with a rollie in my mouth. If one of these was around back then, it would’ve solved all my problems.
What to watch this week
Beyond Utopia: Escape from North Korea
This incredibly moving documentary tells the stories of people in North Korea who have risked their lives trying to escape. The entire documentary consists of 100% real footage, filmed on ground by filmmakers, the subjects themselves, and an underground network.
For those who love a bit of true crime. Under the Bridge is based on Rebecca Godfrey’s book about the 1997 true story of a 14-year-old girl Teen Virk who went to join friends at a party and never returned home. I loved that Rebecca Godfrey, the author, is a main character in the series, portrayed by Riley Keough. Viewers are able to experience the author’s POV as the series delves into her own trauma and memories of being a teenager.
A Week Island Hopping in Greece
On a lighter note, I’m a big fan of Moya’s vlogs. This 22-minute travel vlog documenting her travels around Greece is beautiful. I love that 99% of the time you hear the ocean - providing a soothing backdrop to the vlog. I fell asleep right after watching this.
Back in the Motherland
I’ve been loving Daisy Pyo’s vlogs - especially her recent Seoul vlogs.
I screamed (internally) when I heard the news that Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie are reuniting. It has been 20-years since the iconic The Simple Life premiered (2003). We don’t know much yet but Paris and Nicole are going to be releasing a new reality TV show. Until then, I think it’s time we re-watch The Simple Life (and if you haven’t already and you’re a reality TV fan, please watch it).
Things you should have your radar
Am I OK? stars Dakota Johnson (who I love). And given I love a coming of age film about female friendship, this one automatically lands on my watch list.
I can’t stop thinking about these tomato-based cocktails (particularly “Mom’s Garden Margarita”). The perfect drink to be sipping in your garden this summer.
Mona (Athens, Greece)
This month I discovered Mona - a boutique hotel in Athens. I love how moody it is. The hotel is a former 1950s textile factory, so there’s an industrial feel to it. Although I’ve yet to visit Greece, Mona has been added to one of many saved folders on Instagram.
Glebe House is a guest house and restaurant in East Devon, with views over the rolling hills of the Coly Valley. It looks divine.
An Edible Retreat
Astray Project has launched a foraging, fermenting and seasonal cooking retreat in Takigahara (a rural community in Japan) and it sounds incredible.
Okay this book sounds incredible. A gay couple in New York City’s love story stretches back to rural Fuzhou, where they met while cruising in a movie theater. The novel follows their story across decades, traversing post-socialist China, 80s-era Chinatown, and contemporary New York.
Another one for my TBR list. A coming of age queer story - loves it. Blessings, a novel set in Nigeria, follows a gay teenager experiencing his first love. The main character, Obiefuna, is caught with another boy by his father and sent to a boarding school. There, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, while his mother struggles to maintain her bond with her favourite son.
FYI, you can read past letters here.
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