Positivity amongst the problematic.

While a scrap of 11-second content I made on social media about a problematic song by a three-man band in their glory days of the early 2000s goes low-key viral and brings in equal amounts of empathetic ex-emos and newly outraged incels, let's find some positives. 

What have I enjoyed this week? 

This is when I open my Google Photos tab and cringe, yet again, at just how many snaps I have taken of this and that and nothing and everything, and how many desperately need deleting. I never thought I'd become the person who has over 11,000 photos and videos and who knows what else stowed away for a rainy day on their tired little device. I'd judge those people, once upon a time. Look at me now! It doesn't help that I adopted a cat recently. Those ridiculous numbers are about to skyrocket. 

'ah, but how will you capture us? we know the secrets of the Fire Swamp! We could live there quite happily for some time, so whenever you feel like dying, feel free to visit.'

Outdoor cinema. But only if it's my favourite film. I won't endure overpriced snacks, the chill in the air or the fight for a basic deck chair for much else. 

Summer dresses. I am famed for my love of and dependence on summer dresses. In a way I hate how predictable I am; I recently saw the same distant friends twice, one day after another, and they commented on my outfit the second day, 'ah, today Grace's dress is blue!' (it had been pink the day before), and I cringed internally. But then? They bring me joy, and I look good in them. Yes, some are a little bit worn out and ratty around the edges because I wear them non-stop (between washes) for weeks before sadly bundling them away in a box under my bed until the following year, and so on and so on. 'Repeating outfits' as they call it on social media, which in actuality means 'wearing your clothes'. I could rant, but I won't. This paragraph already reads like strangled short bursts. 

Candlelight. I've been lighting candles and burning incense on my mantelpiece, and I have to say, it's a mood and a vibe all in one. A moove. A vood. A mibe. 

My recent spread. Of tarot cards, that is. I shuffled my favourite deck recently and they just tumbled out in perfect order; The Star, The Six of Pentacles, The Nine of Pentacles - and The Chariot, which came out first bit sat comfortably above all. Message received, thank you. I'll do my best. 

Bits n bobs shops. I know I could get a box with three of these candlestick holders inside somewhere like Lidl, or even better, my ancient local wholesale warehouse that sells stinky meat in the same room as jigsaw puzzles and notebooks, ESK, for less than a fiver, BUT it's nice to see them all out on shelves displayed so satisfyingly and optimistically priced at £9.95 on an adorable retro ticket sticker. I also enjoy the novelty (needless) boxes of matches with gold foil prints of a tiger jumping through a cloud of stars; the tea towels and tote bags printed with sassy messages; velvet makeup bags with googly eyes and local candlemakers' waxy brews preserved perfectly in misshapen jam jars. No I won't be buying anything, but it's nice to visit, observe and absorb. 

I should have, shouldn't I?

The little details. I followed a person on Threads not too long ago whose account's entire purpose, it seems, is to make a note of and celebrate the small moments and intricacies of strangers' everyday lives, out in the wild (/the city). They will post things like 'a woman peers into the bookshop window, her breath fogging a small patch of glass'; 'two strangers silently battle over a seat on the tube before smiling at each other and moving along'. It's so lyrical and beautiful and, of course, I am furious I didn't think of it first. 

Thank you for reading.

G. x