Brussels is heading for partial lockdown again, and this brings a warming smugness to a Finn’s chest: we own the pandemic lifestyle ever since our forefathers erred North at the Leningrad Oblast junction about million years ago. If you don’t believe me, look up “Finno-Ugrian suicide hypothesis“. It’s a thing. And yes, us merry people include Estonians and Hungarians, in addition to Mordvins, Udmurts and Vepsians.
Continue reading “Second Wave Entertainment”
Even though my skincare updates have become scarce as of late, this does not mean I no longer pay mind to what goes on my face. I do. Dwelling on expensive potions earlier this spring felt absurd. It was well into summer when it dawned on us that the pandemic would stick around for some time still, and we were free to talk clothes and makeup again. Then late August my skin stopped playing ball, and suddenly my epidermis became the only thing that mattered.
Continue reading “Bad Skin, Conscious Optimism”
Zadie Smith’s Intimations have been reviewed so many times by much acclaimed book reviewers that I don’t really see what more could be added. Just that the booklet is tiny, but does not necessarily make it a quick read, unless you merely scans what she has to say, which would be an absolute pity.
Continue reading “Filling Time”
September clearly is onto something. One week in and Keeping Up With the Kardashians is being cancelled. Negroni Week is officially a thing (and ongoing). Venice Film Festival is actually taking place and both Tilda Swinton and Cate Blanchett have already provided plenty of stepping out ahead of Saturday’s awards ceremony. And, apparently being in an open marriage while dating Brad Pitt is possible. (Germans! Always ahead of the game!)
Continue reading “September Mid-Week Memo”
Greetings from the Pandemic Plateau, a (mainly) mental space where nothing moves. The summer holiday traveling circus is over, the second wave est arrivée and Uranus has gone retrograde, though if you ask me, it feels as if the whole world has been exactly in there since about March.
Continue reading “Treading Water”
I’ve done the literary equivalent of sucking my thumb while listening to a lullaby of my own opinions – Pandora Sykes’ how do we know we’re doing it right? was an experience that had me nod, nod nod from the first essay to last. It was not in vain, though, as I got the validation the end that I am, in fact, doing everything absolutely right.
Continue reading “A Book To Nod To”
