A pumpkin boat, garden work pods, and three-hour nights for couples
The giveaway is ‘Love Match’ by Clare Fletcher
On the weekend, we went to a wedding in the Adelaide Hills. I hadn’t been to one in a while and I was pumped, man. There was a time when I had wedding fatigue – too many of them all at once, particularly in the spring months. Now that they’re more spaced out, it’s not so much like running a gauntlet of dress fittings and organising kitchen teas and selecting registry gifts and dragging yourself to events when you’re exhausted. I didn’t have any bridesmaid duties in this one, so I could simply relax and be a guest.
It was a fantastic event all round. One thing that struck me was that there was a marriage celebrant team rather than a single person. They’re a husband-and-wife package deal. They perform the ceremony tag-team style, then the wife left and the husband stayed on to be the MC and DJ for the reception. Not only did it help the event run smoothly by having an extra pair of hands to wrangle the crowd at the ceremony (we weren’t rowdy, but you know), but it created a lively, entertaining dynamic. Plus, there was a sense of continuity as the husband was still running the show in the evening.
It seemed ideal from the point of view that the couple could work together and celebrating other people’s love stories would, I imagine, help to strengthen their own relationship. Of course, you’d have to be a certain type of personality to enjoy that type of work, but for the right pair, it’d be an awesome business. I’m surprised more couples don’t do this. I wonder if it will become more of a thing in future?
Anyway, happy loved-inspired week!
News
1. Sometimes our lives are too automated, and perhaps that is the case here – a lawyer in the UK clicked the wrong button and divorced the wrong couple. Of course, things can go wrong when paperwork is submitted the old-fashioned way, but it feels like there would have been more chance for someone to catch the error. In any case, once the error was made, the high court has decided the divorce stands. It seems to go against common sense and hopefully it will be overturned. Crikey, the law can be silly when it wants to be.
2. Who doesn’t want to glide down a river in a giant pumpkin? This is the bucket list item I didn’t know I needed. Everything about this story screams fun – the pumpkin is over 400 kilos, named after a Game of Thrones character, and is Australia’s biggest ever pumpkin. Renaming the pumpkin ‘Cinderella’ for its reincarnation as a boat, the grower’s friend decided to add a sailor’s hat and pipe to his wetsuit for the float along the river. A thousand people took to the riverbank to cheer him on. Even better, now that the fun’s been had, the giant vegetable will become cattle feed so it won’t go to waste. What legends these fellas are.
Reviews
1. I came across the concept of a three-hour night and thought it was brilliant. Have you heard of it? It’s the idea that a couple will section each evening after work into three one-hour blocks. The first hour is productive time for chores – both day-to-day and those longer-term ones that accumulate. The second hour is for having couple time where they play a board game together or chat about their day or generally enjoy each other’s company. The last hour is judgement-free alone time to scroll your phone or do whatever you want by yourself. The couple who thought of the three-hour night admit they don’t achieve it every night, but aim for using the model 3-4 days per week. It’s a useful concept to try out, I reckon.
2. If you liked the Yesterday film or generally enjoy watching Mark Ruffalo and/or Keira Knightley, you’ll probably appreciate Begin Again, available on Netflix. Ruffalo plays a washed-up music producer and Knightley is a yet-to-be-discovered music talent he happens to see sing in a bar one evening. They set about making each other’s life better. To lend weight to its music credentials, the movie also stars Hailee Steinfeld, James Corden, Adam Levine, and (side-eye) CeeLo Green. There’s nothing too deep going on in this story but it is perfect for a music-lover on the couch one night when they want to switch on something light and unchallenging that isn’t a romance or a comedy.
3. In theory, I’m into this idea – working in a purpose-built pod in your backyard among the carnations and sweet peas. This is assuming your garden is well-maintained, otherwise it’d probably frustrate you looking out over the leaf litter and cobwebs. In reality, I prefer to divide my time during workdays between different cafes and libraries, as well as at home. It’s the freedom to go anywhere that I value. Others would thrive in this environment, though. It also sounds convenient that you can move house and simply transport your pod to your new place. It’s so calming to imagine working in one of these, though, and I suspect their popularity will continue.
What I’m Feelin’ Right Now
Going ice skating
Wide-leg black trousers with gold pinstripes through them
Walking along a river at night, surrounded by twinkling lights
Solarised photos
Having a vegetarian coconut curry (mild because I’m a spice wuss)
Pointy flats with ruffles across the vamp
Glossy red everything in make-up
Staying in a tiny house in a forest and catching up on my TBR pile
Lemon-coloured gumboots
Giveaway
Last week’s giveaway, Istanbul: Cult Recipes by Pomme Larmoyer, was won by Julie Dellavia. I’ve emailed you, Julie!
The giveaway this week is Love Match by Clare Fletcher. Enter your name and email address here for a chance to win.
Playlist of the Week
A Vienna hot chocolate in your mittens: