Starstruck, Juana Molina, timballo

and unending nuts

Hello!

I had thought that by this time autumn would be settling in, but instead I’m enjoying this last gasp of summer sunshine that’s happening in the UK, as are the tomatoes that I thought wouldn’t get enough of a chance to ripen but now almost certainly will. It’s nut harvesting time on the allotment, which is a fun job initially (shaking the tree to make nuts fall, climbing the tree to get the tough to reach ones) until you must shuck hundreds and hundreds of nuts, then crack hundreds and hundreds of nuts, then roast hundreds and hundreds of nuts.

Outside of this seemingly endless task I've been busy enjoying the final moments of time off before I must embrace the back to school mentality that September usually inspires. I like the feeling of settling back in to routine which is often disturbed in the summer, and as such I’ll try to be a little better at sending this newsletter out more frequently. It might get a bit shorter, but I think that’s no bad thing. For now I have lots of nice things that have enriched my life over the last couple of weeks to share with you, so, if you’re after

Something to read

The Wedding Group by Elizabeth Taylor!!! Not that one. I had been ignoring this little book that I bought a while ago, but picked it up to bring to the beach and hoovered it up. It’s a late 20th century story of marriage and families that reminded me a little of the Bloater. I actually got the tip to read it from a podcast about that book, so maybe that’s partially why I make the connection, but it’s similarly funny and strange and small in scope. I loved it! I have ordered more of her books so I might have to skip this section of the newsletter for a while because I don’t think I will read much else. If you’re after something more contemporary, I also read last year’s I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel, which I really liked and I have to say found extremely relatable in parts. That was also a less embarrassing book to read alone in public which was a plus - WHY the publishers gave Taylor’s book this cover I will never know.

The cursive font! Such a disservice.

Something to eat

Last week during the show we were discussing pasta bakes and their global iterations. I truly adore pasta bakes and make them often, and find there are few more satisfying leftover lunches than last night’s pasta bake. Recently I made an Italian timballo with moderate success following guidance on Rachel Roddy’s instagram (my queen), and can vouch it was a delicious meal although my sauce was not quite wet enough after the bake and I should have used finer breadcrumbs. Other chatroom recommendations for pasta bake inspiration: Egyptian macarona bechemel / baked Artichoke pasta / Squash rigatoni bake / Imqarrun il-Forn (I have also made this, delicious / Leek and mackerel penne / surely that’s enough to be getting on with, but honorary mentions to two suggestions that are variations on the theme: Turkish Cypriot lamb pasta / funeral potatoes.

Something to watch

I watched the third and final season of Starstruck, a show I really really like, and actually thought this last season was it’s best. 6 x 20 minute episodes, very funny, very easy, very nice, and this final season had the perfect ending, I thought. But now for the first time in a while I find myself adrift without a show: no more AJLT, no more John Wilson, no more Starstruck… just endless Wire left for me. I might have to retire this section too for a bit while I finish that. Great show!! But I need something to mix it up with, you know? Maybe it’s time to start Reservation Dogs… been meaning to watch that… let’s see.

Something to listen to

I loved this EP I heard recently: I came to it a little late, but enthusiastically. I heard No Angels and thought it sounded like Giggs whispering, kind of like that iconic ASMR version of that Real Housewives scene. But no, it’s an Australian musician called Mike Midnight - whole thing is wicked, and also features a cameo from Noa who some people will recognise from Stroom’s Voice Actor release. Excellent atmospheric downtempo music that when listened to at night makes you feel unstoppable.

More nighttime music coming via R.E.M (!) - amazing song called Tongue (do I need to listen to their wider discography to find more gems??) / some vintage UK hardcore via DJ Biz / one of my favourite singing voices Colin Blunstone / new Jamma Dee album / very good very short John Glacier and Surf Gang / beautiful Cornish music / this Blissful Dancefloor Hooliganism compilation raising money for DIY venue and collective Gut Level in Sheffield: I DJ’ed for them last year, and it was just great, really special place, so if you do feel like supporting them via this excellent compilation please do.

Last piece of music for this week is this unreal Juana Molina song that I became obsessed with on a flight: I listened to it over and over again, having a bit of a moment, and as soon as I landed was googling all about her. Her music is amazing, especially the album Halo - so original, so transportive - and her story is equally interesting. She’s a huge Argentine TV star who quit at the height of her success to make music, and how happy for us that she did. She hasn’t put anything new out for a while, but seems to be performing live a lot in Argentina: I’m hoping she comes to Europe so I can see her live.

I also enjoyed another episode of a podcast I’ve previously recommended here called Search Engine. This recent episode is about ambition and happiness and whether anyone actually enjoys their job. It’s centred around an interview with Craig Finn, the lead singer of the band the Hold Steady (whose music I can’t say I like much, so if you’re the same, don’t be put off), and it made me think of some MOTHs that periodically appear about achieving success. I thought it was a good listen and found lots of it resonated with me, because negotiating between aspiration, ambition, drive, desire - whatever you want to call it - and contentment is something I find quite complicated.

At points I think possessing some form of one of the above has pushed me to get things I want, whether personal or professional, but sometimes that same drive has stopped me from enjoying the things I thought I wanted, as I instead look towards the next thing. Especially when what you desire involves making something, sometimes you can lose the joy in the process by focusing too much on the outcome. I think I experienced this a bit when making Digging. Something Finn said on the podcast episode made me think of the famous letter Kurt Vonnegut wrote to some young children who wrote to him to invite him to talk at their school. As September rolls on and my back to school feeling amps up, I think I will try to remember the advice Vonnegut gave the children. It is perhaps a bit corny to the modern reader, though my corniness receiver is likely dialled up too far. Regardless, it is good and timeless advice.

I think I will leave it there. Till next time! xx