It’s a truth universally acknowledged that Tuesdays are the worst day of the week. For me, they’re the day where I actually have to get shit done because I spent Monday doing all the little easy-win jobs and feeling all refreshed and productive after the weekend.
So, in honour of the fact that it’s cold and grey and miserable and also a Tuesday, I’m here to bring you some things that have brought me joy this week / things that continue to bring me joy every time I think of them.
This newsletter is open to people of all creeds, colours, beliefs and backgrounds, but this week all I’m gonna say is that if you don’t like musicals you will probably have a bad time.
This post-credits scene in Paddington 2
The tap dancing? The routine?? The fact that Hugh Grant is clearly having the TIME OF HIS LIFE???! Inject this feel-good ridiculousness straight into my veins. I think about this scene every time the rain does indeed pit-pitty-pat on the roof. If I knew what the Roman Empire internet meme that the youth are talking about meant, I think this would be it?! Idk.
Greta Gerwig on Desert Island Discs
I don’t think you need me to tell you that I loved the Barbie movie. Greta Gerwig’s music choices on Desert Island Discs SLAPPED (content warning: musicals) but also I loved listing to her talk about growing up. A mum that didn’t approve of Barbies and an embarrassing school-based wetting yourself incident?! We’re basically the same person!
Listen here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001thwh
Ramble by Northern Wine
If you ever find yourself in the South Lakes looking for a top feed, you’d be a FOOL not to head to Ramble by Northern Wine. My husband was recommended it by colleagues and then proceeded to talk about it on an almost daily basis for about three months, so when we were planning somewhere for dinner it was the only legitimate choice. Spoiler alert: it was THE TITS and if, like me, pickled vegetables have you in a chokehold, you should go there immediately.
Get them on the ‘gram here.
The Pottery Throwdown is back
Back in the day, I was a Bake Off girlie through and through, but then it got a bit dodgy with the ‘themed’ weeks and I didn’t love the hosting set up and ANYWAY, our relationship has been restored with the introduction of Alison Hammond and return to Bread Week. All that to say, during that rocky period I strayed to the welcoming embraces of the Great Pottery Throwdown and the Great British Sewing Bee (a moment of appreciation for Patrick Grant’s moustache).
I digress, the long and the short of it is that the Pottery Throwdown is BACK and we get to spend the next weeks watching talented potters turn lumps of clay into gorgeous works of ART that make people (me and Keith) cry. Added bonus is that it’s on at 7.45pm on a Sunday evening (an underrated TV time slot in my opinion) so it sets you up good for the week.
I have ordered my Spice Girls stamps
One thing about me is that I love the Spice Girls, so when Royal Mail announced that the were releasing Spice Girls stamps, you better believe I ordered some. And the commemorative postcards. They will be the second addition to my specialist stamp collection, a small, coveted group which so-far contains the limited edition Lord of the Rings stamps that were released in 2004 😎
The countdown to Queer Eye season 8
Speaking of fab fives that were ripped apart after the departure of one member of the group 👀 Queer Eye is BACK on the 24th of January, and we get to watch those beautiful bastards transform the lives of six deserving people once again. The kicker this time is that it’s Bobby’s last season which is, frankly, devastating. Will they replace him? Will they go on as a foursome?? Who will provide the country / Christian support that Bobby does so well???
I feel like Bobby really flies under the radar, and also does a lot of the transformative heavy lifting in that he and his team have to do an entire interiors refit in the time it takes Antoni to teach someone to make avocado on toast!!!
(Assuming he reads this, so dw Antoni just joking bbz ily xx)
This song
Liza Tarbuck on Radio 2
If Liza Tarbuck isn’t the greatest gift to radio in the history of time, then I don’t know what is. Her Saturday evening show is an absolute delight, and a treat to tune into each week. The music’s ace, she’s hilariously bonkers and it’s just such good value for money - worth the license fee alone if you ask me, so do yourself a flavour and tune in.
Listen here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b00grsmc
She’s ruddy brilliant on Taskmaster too.
These goddam otters
Every time I think about ditching Instagram, these otters pop up in my feed and it’s getting to the point where I am actually obsessed. Hercules, Pepper, Halloumi and the gang brighten my life up with their shenanigans, and I live for good and naughty otter of the week.
Follow them here. You can also shop for them via their Amazon Wishlist. I want to buy them some buckets but I don’t have a Bezos account 😭
I think that’s it for this week gang, thank you for letting share my ramblings with you. I feel like a 24 hour insta story isn’t enough to shout about the cool stuff I see on the internet, and I know I ruddy love getting recommendations from other people, so I thought I’d give this ago.
I’d love for this to be a regular thing, but as I’ve proved with my book newsletter there’s absolutely no point in me committing to that BUT in 2024, we’re just doing our best! I’m not putting a ton of pressure on myself and I‘m not letting my inner perfectionist freak show take over, so if this happens every week then great.
Let me know what you’re loving, and let me know how you’re being kind to yourselves this week! Thanks, as always, for subscribing, and if you know someone else that might enjoy this nonsense, feel free to share.
Love ya! Iona xx