Felted hybrid doll creations, unlikely podcasters, and a tour of bookish museums
Viva la ‘Becks and the City’!
I’ve started a new short story. It’s a crime-dystopian mishmash. I set out to write a cross-genre crime story and dystopian is my other favourite genre. Only trouble is, it seemed like one of the hardest pairings to achieve when you’re aiming for a maximum of 5,000 words.
Creating a whole depressing world and then adding a mystery to it in that space is a tough ask. Historical fiction and crime, I’d suggest, mesh much more naturally. I’m rubbish at history, though, so I felt trying to make crime-dystopian work was a better bet for me, despite the problems.
The scenario shows early signs of working. I’m only 500 words in, but I reckon it’s doable. At around the 1,500-word mark, I’m planning to shift venues and then have a murder happen halfway through. It’ll then take more of a thriller turn as the protagonist battles to survive. That’s the plan, at least.
I’m hoping to have it complete, or near enough to, by the end of the week.
Anyway, that’s me right now. How are your creative endeavours going? Let me know in the comments.
News
1. Pumped to watch some Olympics over the next couple of weeks but sorry, I’m not getting up at 3am to watch any event live. If you, like me, missed out on the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, you can now catch it on YouTube. My highlights are Lady Gaga’s pink fan dance number, the interspersal of the musical acts and acrobatics with coverage of the teams going down the Seine in boats, Juliette Armanet’s rendition of ‘Imagine’, and who can forget Celine Dion? Going al fresco this time around created a festive, inclusive atmosphere. Great stuff.
2. Podcasts aren’t just for comedians and twenty-something influencers, older people can, and have, gotten in on the action via this program run through aged care facilities. Some of the participants’ life stories sound fascinating, particularly the gentleman who fought in two wars, became a magistrate, and was an extra in the Harry Potter movies. What a fab way to try something new, as well as combat loneliness for the participants and listeners. Long may it continue.
3. A nerdy guy who’s also kick-ass at sports? Hot. Steve Nedoroscik aka ‘Pommel Horse Guy’ isn’t even competing for my country, but I support him all the way. He cheered everyone else on all day, competed in only one event, took off his glasses and slayed. And can solve a Rubik’s cube in under 10 seconds. He helped secure a bronze medal for the United States in men’s gymnastics and won hearts internationally. Nailed it, but like, actually did.
Reviews
1. Here’s a dear little tour-by-article of several bookish museums in England that brought me joy. How cool would it be to get a teensy deerstalker hat for your pet with a little Sherlock Holmes pipe? Maybe you’d like to cruise through Samuel Johnson’s five-story townhouse and check out his garret? Or an audio tour of Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s house and garden? Maybe one day I’ll get to these places, but for now I’m content to read about these experiences.
2. A friend who’s setting up a party planning business requested suggestions of blockbuster movies made in the past 25 years – the ones people tend to quote from regularly. I came up with Barbie, Mean Girls, Hunger Games, Top Gun: Maverick, and Harry Potter but for a moment, I was hard-pressed to name anything other than superhero flicks. And while I’m a fan of action movies, maybe we could offer an alternative to comic book characters occasionally? Having said all that, we watched Deadpool & Wolverine on the weekend. With its multiple cheeky nods to the mechanations of the production companies and how they influence which superhero films get made, it’s the superhero movie for people sick of the genre. Of course, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman are a winning combo, plus Emma Corrin as the big bad baldy was a stand-out, acting-wise. The plot loses itself mid-way but sticks the landing. The soundtrack, as you’d expect from a Deadpool movie, is a highlight and songs are perfectly, ironically paired with the action sequences. All round a good time. Could’ve been better, though.
3. I tried a sachet of Charlotte’s Magic Water Cream (available from MECCA at $50 for 15ml). Boy is this stuff pricey. In the past when I’ve tried water creams, I can’t really say they’ve ever really knocked my socks off, at least not for the price. I’ve enjoyed the sample and left it at that. That record still stands. This one was nice on application – wet, but not greasy. My skin was hydrated after using it and didn’t break out the next day. It’s cruelty-free and fragrance-free, so it ticks those boxes (although I don’t mind a gentle scent), but overall meh. Maybe at about a quarter of the price I’d be interested.
4. Amy Coleslaw’s i_felt_kitsch Instagram page is delightfully bonkers. Thrifted Barbie, trolls, and other doll faces are inserted into felted creations like lemon tree offcuts, two-headed dinosaurs, McDonald’s fries, and corn cobs. Mildly weird; majorly cute and mind-bending. Just my jam.
What I’m Feelin’ Right Now
Making vegetarian loaded wedges
‘Survivor’ by 2WEI and Edda Hayes
Reading tips about how to get into a state of ‘flow’
Cracking out the ol’ Bananagrams
Heading for the hills as soon as a fitness instructor calls an exercise ‘fun’
Fairy floss in weird flavours
Shoulder-length hair in a ponytail with a sideswept fringe
A breakfast of fresh fruit and a Danish
Visiting a planetarium
Giveaway
Last week’s giveaway, Sulari Gentill’s The Woman in the Library, was won by Meg. Fab stuff! I’ve sent you an email, Meg. : )
Giveaways will be back on the scene next week.
Playlist of the Week
Speak my love language: