This and that
Socks, new Substacks, a price rise (but not for you), Sally Rooney, resilience, spitting, and Ursula K. Le Guin being wise
I have had to accept that it’s sock weather. I’m in a new red pair, feeling cosy but sitting here waiting for a train wondering whether my feet look slightly ecclesiastical. (Though at least the socks are not the actual monsignoral - I think even papal? - red ones from Gammarelli in Rome, which always make a good Christmas present for people’s aged fathers. I must stop saying Christmas. Yesterday’s post sort of uncorked me).
Couple of things I quickly wanted to alert you to:
Lovely Willow Crossley, genius flower stylist and general person of taste, has moved her newsletter to Substack, and I think you’ll like it. Food, fashion, flowers, yes please.
Laetitia Maklouf, whose brilliant books (specifically this one) introduced me to the concept of small-steps, non-scary gardening when I knew literally nothing and only had four pots, is back writing her newsletter - about all sorts of things - and it is wonderful. Today’s, below, is a prime example. Again, I think you’ll like it.
Raffaella Barker, as in Hens Dancing and so much other goodness, has also moved her newsletter to Substack. She describes it as ‘a soft inviting sofa for the mind’. If that doesn’t appeal, I don’t know what could.
There is so much to read. Yesterday I spent the day catching up with newsletters. The weekend papers sat unopened. I felt bad about it, but then I also felt good. It’s so nice to occasionally only populate your head with cheerful and/or interesting things rather than upsetting or alarming ones.
Speaking of Substacks, I’ve only recently grasped that I pay 20% VAT on every paid subscription and tax on every non-UK paid sub. I’m going to have to put my prices up to reflect this. BUT NOT FOR YOU! I massively appreciate your loyalty and the price you paid when you signed up is the price you pay forever, wherever you are in the world - you are locked in to it until the end of time/Substack/me (bleak concepts).
This forthcoming hike of £2 a month or £22 a year will only apply to new paid subs taken after next Monday October 14. Needless to say, if you’re reading this and have been considering a paid sub, now would be a good time. You will then also be locked in to that price forever, regardless of any hypothetical future hikes.
If you are an existing paid subscriber, the only way any of this would affect you would be if you unsubscribed, changed your mind and then resubscribed after October 14, because then the new price would automatically apply.
PS my accountant is looking into this - if I’ve got it wrong (I am not especially numerate) I will of course let you know and reverse the hike. But I don’t think I have got it wrong. If you’re reading this as the UK-based writer of a newsletter, I’d be really grateful for any info you have. It seems a mad situation?
