September: Anxiety Dreams, Meeting Randomers and Haranguing Authors.
A funny old month with some extraordinarily good shizzle happening, and a smidge of sentimentality kicking in.
“I’m totally FINE. Yeah, I’m juggling lots of things, but I am A-OK. No stressy time here. No sir-eeee” are the exact words what I jostled to a friend last weekend.
That very same night I woke from an anxiety dream, which involved me driving at speed down main street in my home town, typing on my laptop precariously balanced on the steering wheel, and spoon-feeding a small child who appeared to belong to me.
Therapise THAT.
But in truth I am fine. Chipper in fact. I’ve moved out of my beloved London flat which was slightly wrenching - it’s a great flat and I’ve been so happy there - but more than that I am excited for what’s ahead, now. It was never my plan to rent in London forever, so I’m ready for that switch and the accompanying energy change. I’m going to enjoy some family time and winter sun while I wait for my next move to materialise. It will be slow, but the plans are in place and I am learning about this patience thing, so all is well.
WHERE I HAVE BEEN
One of my favourite things to do in London of a Sunday is to get up feeling fresh, and go to the gym. Come home and make myself a breakfast that feels like a treat. Get myself ready and go to Mayfair, with the Sunday papers, or a thick magazine. It is, I consider, the height of luxury to have the means and the time to spend a Sunday this way. One Sunday this month I went to the Connaught Hotel Bar and ordered myself a glass of champagne, because, why not? As it happened, there was a man at the next table, opposite me but one up, also alone, also sipping a glass of champagne. We fell into chat and I agreed to his dinner proposal later in the week. Australian, tall and seemingly a nice person. We had dinner in a wine bar in Covent Garden - Plume. It was his choice and reservation, and he chose well. We had a good time.
Another day - a Saturday - I took myself to Claridges bar, because once again why not. I wanted to destress from shopping, before meeting a friend in The Audley - which features in this round up every month. I ordered my drink and sat at the bar to enjoy it. This time, the girl beside me was a chatter. She was lovely - getting married soon, her dad was in town visiting her, hosts book club every month that I may consider attending, and she was thrilled with her discovery of this curio of a solo woman (me) whom she had happened upon. She left, and as I felt short changed and not relaxed from the chatter, I ordered another. Then a man in a tuxedo sat down beside me. He was american, in town for a birthday party, and we had a great chat about self driving vehicles in Arizona (he gave them a thumbs up, apart from the time that the car swerved to avoid a hazard, that turned out to be some bubbles that had been blown nearby, FYI). I very much enjoy this revolving door of people encountered when out and about.
The Colbert, Sloane Square - I had lunch here a few times - superfood salad each time, which is better that the hyperbolic name suggests - and on each occasion I bumped into people I know. It is funny how this big city begins to feel smaller than you think it ever could.
I had reason to visit Soho Houses twice this month - once for a book launch and once for a long overdue meal with two dear friends. The latter was in White City House, and a fabulous couple surprised me with some tremendously good news. It is not mine to share, but you will be hearing more about it as time goes on, and I am more excited about it than a person should be. The book launch in the Dean Street house was a head scratching one. I am not sure that I really understand many aspects of book launches, and I am afraid that I have missed some fundamental point that would make it make sense. In any case, the author was not delighted with the service here - I can’t comment because no one actually came near us. White City House was a different story - a LOT of fun was had here.
On the subject of books, if you haven’t read Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe you must stop what you are doing immediately and read it. It is a work of non-fiction that has been made into a drama series, which will hit screens in November, so get ahead of that curve. The author himself was doing an “ a night with….” in Hammersmith Irish Creative Centre, and THAT my friends was a very good time. He offered fascinating insights into his brand of journalism. I loved what he had to say. It is often my inclination to go to these things alone, but the company I had for this night was one of my better ideas, and we managed to have the chats with Mr Radden Keefe at the end of the night too. Unfortunately I remain rubbish with photos, but I did try to bully persuade him to join Substack. Not to be deterred when they didn’t ask him my proposed question on stage, I also posed it conversationally. He said he doesn’t do it because it takes him a long time to write, and no one wants to hear from him twice a year (AU CONTRAIRE, MR RADDEN KEEFE). I think
Finally, a shout out to British Airways groundstaff “Charlene” at London City airport yesterday. She gently broke the news to me that my luggage was 12kg overweight, (absolutely no surprise) and I would have to get it down to just 10kg overweight, and pay a £65 fee for my trouble. I accepted it without quibble, and began to kerfuffle on the floor, which as we all know is hell. When I stood up she said, unexpectedly and lovelily, that she was waiving the fee. She made my day - not just because of the money saving element, but it was just a such an unexpectedly nice thing to do. Thank you Charlene, you great big day maker you.
GOOD STUFF FROM THE MONTH
These Cos Merino wool tops are wonderful. Under blazers, under jumpers, with sequins - I just can’t have enough. I featured the lemon one on Wednesday and continue to really really rate them. Just make sure you have an opaque bra underneath as they are sheer. This denim shirt is the perfect dark denim - excellent when worn with anything leather, or in the Canadian Tuxedo kind of way. The faux leather trousers - I am in love with. They are very similar to a stupidly expensive Anine Bing pair I almost bought a while back on sale and give the same look. I lived in them this week with a sweatshirt or slogan t shirt, but will be wearing with a studded belt and vest for dressier occasions too. The sheer skirt is M&S and I think it is a nice nod to the sheer trend - I would wear it with the chunkiest sweater I could get my hands on and a statement earring, which brings me on to these. I came across the jewellery brand this month - expensive, but the entire range is absolutely to die for. Also available from Liberty. This crisp blue shirt is from Arket and is so much better than my photo suggests - black trousers and studded belt once again will be taking me to work events this week. The last two pieces are Anine Bing - I tried both on in store an the quality and fit is second to none. The sweatshirt forced me to get rid of my existing sweatshirt collection in favour of this one, and the maxi cut and drop to the skirt made feel fancy. I think I have a love letter to that label coming later in the month because honestly - everything just feels so good. If you are only buying one/two things for the season ahead and the core items are covered, look this brands way.
MONTHLY MUSINGS
When I was at primary school, in the religious studies text book, buried in the hymn selection at the very back was this song. All us kids wondered what the hell it was doing there, I think, but we were all well aware of our place, so no one ever queried it. Plus it was sweet relief from the the “Glorious hallelujahs” and “Mary Queen of virgins”, so we considered it a banger. Anyway, it has been reverberating around my head this week, as I am a sentimental old bugger at heart.
I am keeping my full musings for this section until next week, as I want to talk about feelings of belonging, and I am just not quite ready with the full articulation of that yet. I’m sorry I don’t have more to offer now, but the what I do have to say goes deep, and it just isn’t ready for today.
In the meantime, give the song a listen and thank you for your somewhat imposed patience.
Before I go - a big hello and welcome to new subscribers. It is so very lovely to have you here and I hope you like it enough to hang around. A further big thank you to those who have been a here a while. Your support this month - particularly after this post - has meant a lot to me and encourages me to keep on keeping on.
Until Wednesday - purely fashion coming your way
Big love
Una
x
In fairness driving through Coalisland ( never mind multi tasking while doing same) would be enough of a stress dream itself 🤣