Things I've enjoyed recently
Spring is finally here plus a round-up of good books, films and TV.
Well, hello spring. Isn’t it glorious to finally see a bit of sun? At every given opportunity, I am basking in the 17-degree heat, hanging the washing outside to dry and drinking iced coffees. I’ve also popped a couple of bottles of rosé in the fridge because it is definitely pink wine season, right?
How are you doing? I’m counting down the days until the Easter holidays when I’ll get a whole ten days off work and hopefully a bit more sleep. The lighter mornings are lovely, but our house is directly opposite some woods, and I’m being woken by birds warbling at 5.30 most mornings.
The dawn chorus is beautiful, but I’ve always been a light sleeper and I struggle to nod off again, even when I shove my AirPods (with noise cancellation and brown noise if you’re asking) in my ears. I know I just need to go to bed earlier because I’m tired and I look it too. If anyone can recommend a concealer for dark shadows that really works, I’m all ears.
Today’s the last day of mercury retrograde and anyone who believes in all that stuff (I do) will breathe a sigh of relief. As soon as it started, our dishwasher packed in and it remains unfixed despite two attempts to replace it with new parts. Our new one arrives next week, thank goodness. Then there was the news that Marks and Spencer in Swansea is closing, a travesty in my opinion. Goodbye to the high street indeed. It’s been an intense few weeks (although not because of the lack of dishwasher) and yesterday someone drove into the back of my husband’s car. He’s fine, apart from mild whiplash, and there were no kids in the car, but still.
I’m writing when I can but it’s virtually impossible when you have a small child and work full time. I’m trying to cobble together a second draft of my novel but during the week, I’m so immersed in my job and ‘the juggle’ that I rarely have the headspace to think, let alone write. The novel feels too big, if that makes sense, because it keeps moving in different directions. I have no idea sure when it’ll be in a decent shape, but all I can do is keep chipping away at it.
As usual, I can’t think of much to write for this Substack, but here’s a round-up of some books, films and TV I’ve enjoyed recently. Because I haven’t done one of these posts since the end of January, there’s quite a lot. Perhaps if I consumed less, I’d create more. Now there’s a thought.
First up is Hamnet, which I put off going to see at the cinema because it sounded so depressing. I also wanted to finish the book first (reader: I’m still halfway through it, not because it isn’t good – it is – but it is rather bleak) but I went to see the film because I knew it wouldn’t be on for much longer. I even packed tissues because all I’d heard was how traumatic it is. And yes, I did cry, but not when I thought I would.
I really wish I’d enjoyed it more. Now, it’s a good film and is very lush and immersive visually. It has powerful performances (Jessie Buckley definitely deserved that Oscar although I’m not sure it was Paul Mescal’s best film) but I left feeling a little underwhelmed. I think it’s partly because, at two hours, the film was too long (although there was a lot to cram in) and I needed to get home in time for bedtime. I was also distracted by a few things, namely when one of the characters said ‘OK’ (the word didn’t come into usage until the 1800s, fact fans, but then we knew that, didn’t we?) and the fact that the actor playing the actor playing Hamlet (there’s a long performance of this at the end of the film) had very obviously bleached blonde hair.
A better film, also starring Paul Mescal, is All of Us Strangers (Disney Plus), which I’ve wanted to watch since it came out in 2023 and am still thinking about. Andrew Scott, Jamie Bell and Claire Foy are so quietly affecting in this. It really made me sob.
As an elder millennial, I was obviously going to fall in love with Love Story (Disney Plus). This biopic of JFK Jnr and Carolyn Bessette is heaven for anyone nostalgic for the nineties. The clothes! The music! I love it all. And sure, it gets a bit dull in places but who cares when they’re such a beautiful pair.
There was a lot of controversy around the star of I Swear (Netflix) at the Baftas but don’t let that put you off seeing this excellent film. As you’ll know, it’s based on the true story of John Davidson, a young man with Tourette’s, and it is outstanding. It’s not an easy watch at times but it really raises awareness of a much misunderstood (and often debilitating) condition and it’s also hilarious. Watch it!
This weekend, my husband and stepdaughter are off to London to see some shows so I’ll be solo parenting. I don’t mind too much because it’ll be nice to spend some quality time with Aeron and we have his gymnastics class and two birthday parties to keep us occupied. I might treat myself to a film once he’s asleep and I’m thinking of watching The Materialists (NOW), which has had mixed reviews but looks fun.
In books, as I’ve mentioned, I’m halfway through Hamnet and plan to return to it because Maggie O’Farrell is such an excellent writer. I’m generally not interested in any historical fiction pre-1900, but she has a way of immersing you completely wherever and whenever the novel is set.
I’ve recently discovered Cathy Rentzenbrink and devoured Ordinary Time, which sees Ann, a vicar’s wife, trying to fix her struggling marriage. It’s both funny and sad and a real page turner. Her other novel, Everyone is Still Alive, is also good.
Claire Lynch’s debut novel, A Family Matter, is just fantastic and such an important account of women’s and LBGTQ rights during the 1980s. It’s heartbreaking and will make you incredibly angry. I think everyone should read it.
I had a new Kindle for my birthday last month as it takes a long time for Aeron to nod off and I find that reading makes the time pass more quickly. You might not have heard of Well, This is Awkward by Esther Walker but it’s a lovely novel about love and loneliness. Esther’s Substack is also a great read.
I’m currently enjoying Same As it Ever Was by Claire Lombardo, another domestic novel about love, marriage and motherhood. When I finish that, I’ll be starting Wreck, the new(ish) Catherine Newman. She’s such a great writer.
Over the next few weeks, I’m planning to see the Gwen John exhibition at the National Museum Cardiff (and also take Aeron to see the Museum of the Moon, which is also there at the moment), do more writing while I’m off work and find a new cleaner because, quite frankly, our house is turning into a real dust bucket.
I might dip into the new Michelle Pfeiffer drama, The Madison, and Louis Theroux’s Inside the Manosphere is also on my watch list.
I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Sarah x