Our 2024 Eurovision entrant, Hollywood-flavoured tunes, and ELLE mag back on newsstands NOW
I’m off on a trip shortly, so no giveaway this week.
On Sunday, I’ll be jetting off to a residency at Lighthouse Arts, Newcastle.
I’ve been to Newcastle once before, but it wasn’t under the best circumstances and was a whirlwind visit I barely remember. This time around, I’m due to work on my novel manuscript in little cottages dotted around the lighthouse on the Nobbys-Whibayganba headland. The set-up is that for five days, you rotate which cottage you inhabit with other artists so your view changes each day. It sounds so good! I applied a couple of months back and was stoked to be selected for a spot. Really looking forward to properly getting a look at the rest of Newcastle as well.
For those interested in applying for the next round, the details of the residencies are here and here’s a sneak peek on their Insta:
So next week’s newsletter will likely be a photo dump from my first couple of days in Newcastle (sorry, not sorry). I’m not sure what I’ll see other than the residency’s surrounds, but it’s fair to say there will be some lighthouse, mainland, and ocean action from that perspective. Hopefully I’ll make a breakthrough or two on my story as well. Fingers crossed!
Until next week, stay safe and as stress-free as possible. : )
News
1. In October I mentioned that after closing in 2020, ELLE Australia magazine was slated to make a comeback in 2024. It’s finally here! In newsagents now, it features gorgeous up-and-coming actor Sophie Wilde on the dreamy blue cover. Two issues are planned for this year and four in 2025, so I’m keen to support the earlier issues to the future ones definitely materialise. At the time it vanished from newsstands, ELLE Australia was my favourite magazine. It was a dream come true when my article on becoming more stress-resilient was published by them in 2018. Life’s been tough as a print magazine in recent years, but I’m wishing them a long and prosperous comeback.
2. So pleased to see Emma Stone doing it for the awkward girls at the Oscars yesterday, taking home the award for ‘Best Actress in a Leading Role’ for her role of Bella Baxter in the Frankenstein-esque Poor Things. Thrashed-out voice? Tick. Wardrobe malfunction? Tick. Starting sentences and not finishing them? Tick. But somehow manages to make one of the classiest speeches you’ll ever see by acknowledging the part the people around her had to play in her success and displaying true gratitude. Yes, girl! We salute you.
3. How unique and precious does this adventure game look? Nominated for a slew of awards at the Freeplay Independent Games Festival Awards last week, Wayward Strand is about a girl exploring a hospital on an airship in 1970s outback Australia. The pastel graphics palette looks soothing and the game aims to encourage empathy and an appreciation of intergenerational friendships. The lives of the elderly residents of the hospital ship unfold as the main character interacts with them. It’s also designed to be replayable, as the story is unique depending on which patients you visit when. For those who don’t have a gaming system, it’s available on PC. Sounds like a very good time.
Reviews
1. Dear shampoo manufacturers: please, for the love of all things holy, increase the size of your samples so people with long/curly/thick hair can trial them properly ~ Sincerely, Ranty Rebecca. Now that’s out the way, I’ll tell you about my experience with a sample of OUAI shampoo and conditioner for medium hair from Sephora. The shampoo had a smell reminiscent of laundry soap in a comforting kind of way. The conditioner reminded me more of Johnson’s baby oil. Either way, they smelled clean and pleasant. The shampoo seemed good, but I couldn’t really tell you as the tidgy sample only covered half my head. The real hero here was the conditioner, which managed to detangle my hair despite the tiny sample dollop I was using. Considering how dry and misbehaved my hair usually is, this is no mean feat. I would seriously consider buying it in future, although the price does just about stop my heart -- $58 for 300ml. If you’ve got some cash to splash, this is worth a look.
2. When Australia was choosing their 2019 Eurovision contestant (let’s not get into the whole ‘Why are we even in Eurovision?’ debate), I was quietly devastated that South Australian duo Electric Fields wasn’t chosen. We went with Kate Miller-Heidke instead and that’s fair enough, but Electric Fields’ ‘2000 and Whatever’ was my pick of the bunch that year:
Flash forward to this year and Electric Fields has been selected to represent us. I couldn’t be more thrilled! In 2023 and this year, broadcaster SBS has done away with the voting system and simply chosen who’s going to the song contest themselves. Last year, it was Voyager performing their ‘80s-flavoured metal anthem ‘Promise’, which I honestly thought was a great choice:
But back to Electric Fields. This year, their song will be ‘One Milkali (One Blood)’, an upbeat pop/electro number. At first, I wasn’t sure I liked it as much as ‘2000 and Whatever’, but it’s grown on me after a few listens. I think this could really go off at Eurovision and rank well with the right staging and I’m sure we’ll be proud of them regardless. Go you good thing!
What I’m Feelin’ Right Now
A skirt made of tulle pom-poms
Interlocking gold rings
Adding peanut butter to cereal
Glossy, midnight-blue lips for an evening outing
Staying in a Dune-inspired dome tent
Leather-look pants with sneakers
Skeptically trying the new Pizza Shape-flavoured hot cross buns
Travelling to the Netherlands
Ballet flats that look like real pointe shoes
Giveaway
Last week’s giveaway, Young Elizabeth by Nicola Tallis, was won by Katherine Ryan. Yay! I’ve sent you an email, Katherine.
As I’ll be away next week, giveaways are on hiatus until I return.
Playlist of the Week
Old Hollywood glamour, but very now: