10 things from September 2022

It’s excessive time I re-started sharing extra of what’s inspiring me, or bringing me pleasure.It’s excessive time I re-started sharing extra of what’s inspiring me, or bringing me pleasure.

I’ve missed it! I’ve missed telling you concerning the highlights of the previous couple of weeks frequently; lists of books, performs, movies and occasions which have sparked concepts, made me smile, or acquired the outdated gray matter working just a little tougher.

I can scarcely consider that spring has arrived, and we’re 1 / 4 of the best way by means of the 12 months.
So earlier than extra time escapes, or I get distracted by one thing else, listed here are a number of of the issues I’ve liked these days, from the primary two-and-a-bit months of 2022.

This listing doesn’t cowl the whole lot from this month; the bulk is targeted on January and February, as a result of it’s taken me so lengthy to publish this submit! I do know, I do know.

Anyway.

Brassic

We’re just a little late with Brassic, however we’ve made up for misplaced time, and at last completed the present final week. This brash and brassy sequence is outrageous, however its crooked exterior holds a coronary heart of gold.

It seamlessly, exquisitely transitions from crude jokes and outlandish, unlawful behaviour to tender and relatable explorations of matters like male psychological well being, trauma and belief. I’ve not watched a sequence prefer it earlier than and I do know Vinnie and the gang will stick with me for a protracted whereas. 

The Great Pottery Throw Down

I’m late to the social gathering with this one, too! After attempting my very own hand at throwing pots on a wheel final summer time, I watched my first season of TGPT this 12 months. It’s in contrast to some other present of its form. While its basis is a well-known competitors format, this present deftly weaves in pleasure, equality, empowerment and extra into every episode, which made it a really transferring and highly effective watch.

I personally was thrilled with the end result, however discovered the journey and the progress of every potter to be probably the most rewarding half. Seeing the opponents’ emotional journeys, and their tales informed by means of clay, was fantastic. I sit up for the following season.

Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May

This information to weathering the storms of life, in the identical approach we’d climate the world’s coldest months, was certainly one of my first books of the 12 months, and it actually couldn’t have been higher timed. Wintering is fantastically written, woven with full-hearted, private tales about serving to your self by means of not solely Earth’s darkest season, however the darkest months of life too.

May has a magical approach with phrases and I actually can’t advocate this guide sufficient, particularly if you happen to really feel you might be in certainly one of life’s ‘winter’ intervals, when issues really feel frostier and hibernation is just not a need, however a determined want.

Come from Away

February noticed my first go to to London since summer time 2019. I used to be anxious, however we had a implausible time cramming as a lot as we may into our journey – together with a night with Come From Away.

I’ve wished to see it for years, and we managed to get discount seats within the stalls on TodayTix hours earlier than catching our practice. If you’re a fan of theatre, you’ll possible have already heard the hype across the present, so I gained’t go into element; however I hadn’t seen a musical like this earlier than. There’s such an important homespun and heartfelt really feel to it, and also you nearly get a way that you simply actually are watching on a regular basis folks carry out on stage with a lot continuous vitality and emotion. It’s real and sincere and witty, and it surpassed my expectations. Wonderful stuff.

Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Cinderella

Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Cinderella was the second present of our London journey. Honestly, I had no concept what to anticipate and was just a little involved it will be extra pantomime than stellar ALW manufacturing. However, I used to be thrilled to be confirmed fallacious. It was witty, brazen and audacious, and the forged had been spectacular. I’m unsure I’d say it was that household pleasant – however regardless of what its headline tune says, it’s actually not a Bad Cinderella in any respect. I had a ball.

(Sorry).

Holly Naylor’s Stop Trying To be Fantastic

I liked seeing Holly Naylor’s Stop Trying to be Fantastic when it got here to MAST Mayflower Studios in Southampton in late January. It was accessible, open, and a tremendous instance of easy but lovely storytelling. Holly is a superb performer and I hope that’s not the one time I get to see her work. I’m very a lot having fun with what number of poetry-based exhibits and occasions are occurring in the intervening time, and may’t await extra!

[AD] The Wild Wordsmith’s Winter Writing Camp

From late February to early March I took half in The Winter Writing Camp with Amber, the proprietor of The Wild Wordsmith. Amber is a fellow phrase lover and invited me to hitch her and a bunch of different ladies on a four-week writing course, protecting completely different matters every time, designed to extend confidence and creativity. We explored poetry, memoir, fiction and journalling, with intense intervals of writing and studying, in addition to meditation. As a author, I feel you’ll be able to by no means attend sufficient workshops or programs, and I discovered lots about each every craft and my very own inventive course of because the weeks went on.

This was a gifted expertise, however I genuinely wish to share extra of what we did, with out obligation – so hold your eyes peeled for extra!

For now, listed here are among the haikus I wrote within the final day of the course.

Drawing Portraits with Oils with Stewart Beckett

Lockdown noticed me rekindle my love of artwork, and since late 2020 I’ve been dabbling with watercolours and acrylics; however for me, nothing compares to grease paints. I postpone utilizing them as a result of they’re messy (and we’re renting our house, so want I say extra!) however when native artist Stewart Beckett marketed a portrait drawing workshop with oils in Southampton’s Arches Studios, I jumped on the probability to dabble once more.

It was a full day of utilizing oil paints like I’d by no means used them earlier than, and it was implausible being again at an easel drawing from life. Oils are difficult, however I really like the depth of color and the best way they mix. I discovered lots in the course of the jam-packed day and I’m actually hoping I can return for one more session quickly to enhance my abilities additional. Stewart was an important trainer – and he’s additionally a really expert artist!

Dinner at Le Mercury, Islington

I loved a scrumptious dinner at Le Mercury with a pricey pal, who I met with for the primary time in three years on that aforementioned journey to London. I loved a really tasty cauliflower steak with kimchi, and a somewhat large creme brûlée, with lashings of tasty crimson wine in an excellent cosy and intimate setting. It was glorious. I’d completely return.

Appearing on BBC Solent

I’ve had my voice on the airwaves a few occasions now, and so was delighted to return twice in early 2022! The first was an early-morning poetry studying and chat concerning the City of Culture on the day Southampton’s Bid was submitted – through which I efficiently fielded off some tricksy questions earlier than I’d even had my first cuppa! The second was a prolonged pre-recorded interview on the identical topic, the place I used to be launched as a ‘cultural commentator’ by the stunning Tom Stroud – one thing I discovered each entertaining and thrilling!

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What I’ve loved lately: April/May 2022


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