May 2025 Postcard Newsletter

What I've been up to, what I've been consuming and one outdated 'pearl of wisdom'.

Hello loves

We’re in the midst of half term holidays here, when a trip to the speech therapist and a wander around Lidl counts as a day out. We even took marmite and peanut butter sandwiches to eat on the twenty minute bus ride.

It’s raining all week, I have stuff to do, thus I have declared the next three days to be ‘May Art Club’. I’m itching to paint/draw a few ideas I’ve been thinking about, so everyone is coming along on the ride with me.

What I’ve been up to:

• Sharing videos of my bare face and my cluttered kitchen on youtube.

• Announcing a sale of my artwork this coming Sunday 1st of June at 11am over on Instagram. This will be a love letter (drawing?) to our kitchen.

• Creating video content for Tell the Story of Your Home. Once you sign up (£34.99) you receive:

  • Twelve illustrated chapters on how to refine your story and make your house look like the most inspiring and glorious expression of you

  • The accompanying audiobook

  • Bitesize seasonal styling videos, as and when I create them, on the exclusive channel only accessible to those who have purchased the workshop.

What I’ve been reading: This piece by Jordan Stephens. He’s one of my favourite writers to read on substack. I do not know his music, I’m too old, but I first noticed him a few years ago because he reminded me of my brother and an affection based in recognition compelled me to follow him. He’s a beautiful, thoughtful, imaginative writer and thinker. And this piece he published last year on his sobriety spoke to me, very loudly.

What I’ve been watching: Last week I went to see A New Kind of Wilderness at the picture house with my friend Maz, and it took all of sixty seconds to feel the tears soaking my face. They did not stop for the duration.

The documentary follows a family living on a farm in Norway. Maria Vatne is a photographer, bringing in the main source of income, her partner Nik grows the food, the kids are homeschooled. Very quickly, we are told of the tragedy from where the film unfurls.

It is beautiful, heartbreaking, inspiring, tender, mysterious. I came out with an urgent need to run home and hug my kids.

What I’ve been listening to: Have you watched the recent Doctor Who episode, ‘The Interstellar Song Contest’? Kiruna Stamell, old friend and once upon a time flatmate, appears as Nina Maxwell. So this feels like the perfect opportunity to revisit her (double) episode on my podcast On the Irregular.

What I’ve been eating: Watermelon, apricots, almonds, apples, rocket lollies, tuna kimchi salads. Three bowls of cheerios in a row. Gold Bars.

What I heard that made me laugh: ‘The dating landscape is a whole new world. I’ve had to google A LOT.’

What I remembered that felt like a pearl of wisdom at the time, but is probably completely outdated for current fashions: for the perfect shape, all fitted denim and leather jackets should be one size too small.

Oh well, one day, this pearl will be relevant again.

Ok, love you, I’m off to impose a three day ‘art club’ on my kids.

Java xx