Hi India, my first paid subscription on Substack. I have loved your writing for years but the thing I recall most regularly about you, was your commentary of the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony on Twitter and the shared joy in the moment. I miss that feeling. Excited to be here.
Oh God, wasn't that such an AMAZING moment? I miss it too. I did feel it a little bit with Paris, but the communal joy of London was on a different scale. Also welcome and HELLO and thank you for subscribing!
But it is hard, as a garden writer. Because we are always supposed to be nice, all the time. And sometimes some of us have got things to say which would be slightly more challenging. But I think we'd better not.
Question- how does paid subscription/ founder membership work if you live overseas… in say Australia? No boxes being posted out, no events to attend. Are the benefits only for UK residents? Not snark, just curious.So many on writers on substack have large overseas followings.
This is an excellent question. The idea (Substack's idea I mean) is to "support the work" of writers you like by paying more out of the goodness of your heart, but I do see that it's very annoying to not get any benefits when UK residents do. The issue is I can't send beauty boxes overseas, a) because of the cost and b) because of customs. Slightly counter-intuitively I suggest you downgrade your subscription!
Oh that perfect dessert! Me and my daughter are going on Saturday. Every year we do a Liberty Christmas potter followed by an afternoon tea, but this time we are doing a Claridges breakfast. Cannot wait! Thanks for your lovely newsletters India xx
Your assessment of the difference between Twitter and this lovely place is perfect - I just hope the migration doesn't change it. Do hope the boiler gets fixed soon!
Yes quite, and lots of smug-sounding “life hack” posts full of management speak too. I keep looking at Notes thinking that this is exactly what I didn’t want and why I was so glad never to have tangled with Twitter. I’ll probably stick to reading newsletters on my inbox with a quick peek at comments at the end.
I had boiler madness for years, and I had a 90+ year old mother living with me, and it always ALWAYS conked out just before really cold snaps. So I am astonishingly well-provided with electric space heaters which all my friends borrow when their boilers conk out. Just reading Rivals now for the first time in about 30 years - I had forgotten how strangely wholesome her books are. Might watch on TV, but would have to get Disney, and would like to watch Slow Horses (I love the books) but would have to get Apple. It is endless!
It's really jolly and fun and perfectly captures the book BUT personally I would save myself for Slow Horses, which is just extraordinarily brilliant. What make of heaters please? Think I need some as backup.
seems the closest they have now, but mine were a lot cheaper. On the other hand, that was several years (8+) ago! Thanks for steer on Rivals v Slow Horses, I had pretty much decided that, but still haven't committed to Apple. I almost never watch anything on Netflix, so it seems crazy to get another subscription. But it may yet happen.
The thing about apple tv is that you only need to commit yourself for a month at a time! So you could watch all the great stuff like Slow Horses, Pachinko, Foundation, Bad sisters and then leave again
Lovely party! Lucky you. We are all completely smitten by RCB, not that we weren't before, but ..... Boilers just do decide to stop when most inconvenient. Off to watch Paddington in Peru.
He's very good but I do feel RCB (who I keep calling Rupert Pennant Rea by accident, this being a former editor of The Economist, don't know why it's so lodged in my head) should be blonde.
I think I must be the only person in England to have not seen that man’s penis and I’ve seen a hell of a lot of penises in my time. Not that I was a tart, just popular. Well, perhaps a little bit of a tart.
I love your restraint in the 'Substack is not Twitter'section.
I do look forward to this newsletter 😅 always brightens my day.
Thank you so much!
Hi India, my first paid subscription on Substack. I have loved your writing for years but the thing I recall most regularly about you, was your commentary of the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony on Twitter and the shared joy in the moment. I miss that feeling. Excited to be here.
Oh God, wasn't that such an AMAZING moment? I miss it too. I did feel it a little bit with Paris, but the communal joy of London was on a different scale. Also welcome and HELLO and thank you for subscribing!
Have you listened to Pandora Sykes’ Riders podcast yet? RCB interview - he’s hilarious about prosthetics
I have it good to go but not listened yet because haven't finished Rivals due to endless distractions. But this weekend!
It IS nice that Substack is nice.
But it is hard, as a garden writer. Because we are always supposed to be nice, all the time. And sometimes some of us have got things to say which would be slightly more challenging. But I think we'd better not.
Everything in the garden is lovely.
I think you're allowed to be a bit spiky sometimes!
I may quote you.
Question- how does paid subscription/ founder membership work if you live overseas… in say Australia? No boxes being posted out, no events to attend. Are the benefits only for UK residents? Not snark, just curious.So many on writers on substack have large overseas followings.
This is an excellent question. The idea (Substack's idea I mean) is to "support the work" of writers you like by paying more out of the goodness of your heart, but I do see that it's very annoying to not get any benefits when UK residents do. The issue is I can't send beauty boxes overseas, a) because of the cost and b) because of customs. Slightly counter-intuitively I suggest you downgrade your subscription!
Good grief no!
Oh that perfect dessert! Me and my daughter are going on Saturday. Every year we do a Liberty Christmas potter followed by an afternoon tea, but this time we are doing a Claridges breakfast. Cannot wait! Thanks for your lovely newsletters India xx
❤️
🙏
Your assessment of the difference between Twitter and this lovely place is perfect - I just hope the migration doesn't change it. Do hope the boiler gets fixed soon!
I do too. I think people are just a bit overexcited. Feels like being shouted at tho, especially the strident political opinions.
Yes quite, and lots of smug-sounding “life hack” posts full of management speak too. I keep looking at Notes thinking that this is exactly what I didn’t want and why I was so glad never to have tangled with Twitter. I’ll probably stick to reading newsletters on my inbox with a quick peek at comments at the end.
UN ROBINET MAGNIFIQUE 🌭
Quite
Hahahaha
Thanks for linking that stunning piece of beautiful, brave, raw writing by Brandon
It's incredible, isn't it? If I was a publisher I would snap him up (assuming he doesn't have one already).
I’ve read his novel “The Late Americans” but this is much more powerful writing
I love Zola. What a treat, thank you!
Ah ok - didn't know but now I will too.
If you are a Zola fan, Brandon also wrote an extremely enjoyable essay on him for the London Review of Books - strongly recommend
The glamour (and hilarity) of this post! ❤️
It was SO glamorous. I literally live in a field and smell of dogs.
🤣
I had boiler madness for years, and I had a 90+ year old mother living with me, and it always ALWAYS conked out just before really cold snaps. So I am astonishingly well-provided with electric space heaters which all my friends borrow when their boilers conk out. Just reading Rivals now for the first time in about 30 years - I had forgotten how strangely wholesome her books are. Might watch on TV, but would have to get Disney, and would like to watch Slow Horses (I love the books) but would have to get Apple. It is endless!
It's really jolly and fun and perfectly captures the book BUT personally I would save myself for Slow Horses, which is just extraordinarily brilliant. What make of heaters please? Think I need some as backup.
Delonghi, from John Lewis online. This:
https://www.johnlewis.com/delonghi-hsx4324w-slimline-convector-heater-white/p109619769
seems the closest they have now, but mine were a lot cheaper. On the other hand, that was several years (8+) ago! Thanks for steer on Rivals v Slow Horses, I had pretty much decided that, but still haven't committed to Apple. I almost never watch anything on Netflix, so it seems crazy to get another subscription. But it may yet happen.
The thing about apple tv is that you only need to commit yourself for a month at a time! So you could watch all the great stuff like Slow Horses, Pachinko, Foundation, Bad sisters and then leave again
Thank you! That is good info, which I will probably make use of.
That is super helpful, thank you so much.
Apple has a lot of vg stuff including Masters of the Air, which I LOVED.
Lovely party! Lucky you. We are all completely smitten by RCB, not that we weren't before, but ..... Boilers just do decide to stop when most inconvenient. Off to watch Paddington in Peru.
Oh what a nice way to spend an evening! Report back please - consensus seems to be lovely but no Hugh Grant, thus not quite as perfect as Pad 2.
We all enjoyed it very much - Olivia Coleman great, as ever, but definitely missed Hugh Grant. My "Hard Stare" brooch much admired.
Is it acceptable to go and see it without any kids in tow?
Totally. There were more adults than children!!!
I'll say. Brooch of brooches!
IMO, his penis, and bum, are a lot more attractive than his phizog
He's very good but I do feel RCB (who I keep calling Rupert Pennant Rea by accident, this being a former editor of The Economist, don't know why it's so lodged in my head) should be blonde.
Weirdly (in view of the name) I could see a young Rupert Penry-Jones in the part. Definitely should be blonde and much more beautiful.
I think I must be the only person in England to have not seen that man’s penis and I’ve seen a hell of a lot of penises in my time. Not that I was a tart, just popular. Well, perhaps a little bit of a tart.
Hahaha, 'not a tart, just popular' is brilliant ❤️