Distracting myself from doomscrolling

Because nothing good happens at 2000 metres underwater

• 🎮 Tiny Tower. I find it helps me to doomscroll less if I have other things on my phone that can suck up spare minutes when I pick it up in search of dopamine. The Substack app is one place I go for that, and then this week I’ve re-downloaded the Tiny Tower game for the first time in about ten years. It’s like an 8-bit version of Sim City, blended with FarmVille. Much more satisfying than scrolling Twitter. Much less terrifying than contemplating a watery demise in a substandard submersible. 

• 📚 A Terrible Kindness by Jo Browning Wroe. This is one of those books that’s about so much more than it’s actually ‘about’. In the first chapter, we see a young embalmer, just qualified, volunteering to go and help look after the victims of the Aberfan disaster. The rest of the book shows how he ended up there, and how it shapes the rest of his life. Bleak, in some ways, but truly beautiful. (Bookshop.org | Amazon - affiliate links) 

•  👡 Fisherman sandals. I have last year’s version of these fisherman sandals from White Stuff and now summer has hit they are reminding me how much I love them. When I’m in a city, I don’t love wearing really open or flimsy sandals - I always think I’m going to end up with someone treading on my foot, or losing half my shoe down into an escalator mechanism. These are perfect for looking summery and put-together, and super comfortable. Add anti-blister stick for long days. 

ICYMI: Wednesday’s premium post was a book flight of recommendations for swoony summer romance reading. 

Last month, I introduced a new recurring feature, my take on the ‘back of a magazine’ Q&A page. Today I’m happy to be able to introduce you all to the lovely Coree from Working Moms Make It Work. As a child free adult, I’m in awe of how the parents I work with manage everything, so reading Coree’s newsletter has made me a better colleague and friend to them.

Where are you, right now?

At home, on the East Coast of Scotland. I’m an academic and I split my time between East Lothian and Belfast.

What’s your ideal weekend day?

A day in the city (we made the flight to the country during the pandemic, and I remain conflicted…). Brunch with my husband and 5 year old son, then off to yoga while they go to the playpark, meet for a museum, bookshop, tea and cake, before heading home to have dinner and read in the garden. 

What’s your favourite underrated food?

Peanut butter. On celery, on apples, on a spoon, or mixed with some soy sauce, white wine vinegar, and used as a stirfry sauce… Fat, protein, deliciousness. 

What is the book or film that made you you?

The Bell Jar, the quintessential angsty teen girl must-read. I found the angst over the top enough that it put my own teenage drama in perspective.

What’s the last book that you read and can’t stop talking about? 

I’m a prolific reader but tend towards quite serious literary fiction, so somehow I missed the Inspector Gamache mysteries by Louise Penny. I watched Three Pines and am now letting myself read one of the mysteries every month, to ensure they last longer. Not too gory mysteries, delightful, complex characters, and the smattering of sub-state nationalism - parfait!

What’s the under £15 luxury item you’d recommend to everyone?

The Beauty Pie Extreme Relief cream. It’s so moisturizing and lovely, that even my mom uses it regularly, and I’ve been trying to force a skincare routine on her for literal decades. (Ed: this sounds amazing, I’ll be in touch for a referral code!)

Do you have an album or a podcast you’d like to recommend?

I’m a Scottish political scientist so of course I’m obsessed with the BBC Nicola Sturgeon podcast. 

You've heard of a 'fantasy dinner party'; now what's your fantasy biscuit barrel/ cookie jar? Six biscuits/cookies, for the rest of your life, in unlimited quantities.

I don’t understand British people and these weird packaged biscuits…homemade or nothing.

My nana was a prolific baker and would have at least 10 jars on her shelf, ready for visitors or bribing public servants (post office, doctors, city hall). My preferred cookies are a chocolate chip with oats, a homemade oreo, gingersnaps with double the ginger, chocolate sables, oatmeal raisin, and a grocery store frosted sugar cookie. 

What is something that everyone else has done but you?

Oh everything, I’ve moved around a lot as an adult, but I’m generally unadventurous…I just want to eat tea and cake while reading a book, and go for bike rides.

Do you have a favourite Dad Joke?

What did the janitor say when he came out of the cupboard?

“Supplies!!!”

Inspired by Kendra Adachi/ The Lazy Genius, what’s saving your life right now?

My bike! I had a clunky cheap Dutch bike and hired a hybrid from The Bike Club while I figure out what I want, and I’m having so much fun. I’m significantly faster and better at hills, and I just really enjoy it.

Thanks for playing, Coree! If you’d like to learn more about her, do click through and subscribe to her newsletter:

 

If you, dear reader, would like to feature, please do drop me a comment or reply to this email. I’d love to get more of you involved here.

Speak soon,

Lily

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