#66 A Slow Sunday Scroll ☕️

career advice, a sally rooney livestream & anti-summer vibes lol

If you are new around here — welcome to The Hyphen! I send out a 'Sunday Scroll’ email every other weekend and it’s full of things I’m reading, loving, inspired by. It’s only available to paid subscribers as it takes me quite a while to pull everything together. For just £1.30p a week (if you subscribe annually, you can read everything behind the paywall!) All the best bits. :)

It’s my favourite season of the whole year and I’m VERY happy about it. The knitwear, soy candles and blankets are happening; the Oscar-contender films are coming out soon — cosy season is upon us.

I’m not a Summer girlie. I am not the target market for ‘Brat Summer’ or Aperol Spritz or group bikini pics. I would rather sit by a log fire in a pub with books and friendly dogs or than go to a hot island. I prefer cold water swimming than frying myself on the beach. I love a peaceful swim at my local Lido at 8pm during the Autumn/Winter months, much more so than the hot days when the queues go round the block (which I avoid.)

I find Summer kind of overwhelming. The big collective scramble to desperately to have ‘the best time ever’. The constant need to Enjoy The Weather at all times. Instagram becomes full of rosé and boats and sunglasses and bumbags. It all feels too busy, too saturated, too many crowds everywhere. I promise I’m not a grump. I love the colours of Summer: bright blue skies, the yellow of daffodils and sunflowers, the purple verbena.

But you’ll always find me in the shade.

"I don’t love summer. I don’t love gatherings or sunlight or the beach. But I really really love being alive." — Lena Dunham

The weather can truly affect people’s moods. We know this. Sunlight boosts serotonin and many people can feel sluggish in the colder months — which is why I often feel like an alien admitting this love of rain and cold. My serotonin levels go through the roof at the mere sight of a trench coat or an orange leaf or a thick sock.

Last weekend I visited the Isle of Wight with my husband. It rained all weekend and we had the best time. We drove around the island in our little (borrowed) car with the rain pitter-pattering against the windows, listening to the radio and I got to wear a big knitted jumper, and then when the sun did peak through, it was cold crisp blue skies, not too hot. We sipped hot chocolate in a National Trust café in a little hut on a hill that used to be an old look-out post. It was grey, and it was perfect.

"I love a rainy day. Because, ya know? Sunny days? There's too much expectation." — Oprah 

If you are keen to visit the Isle of Wight (come rain or shine), here are some favourite things we got up to:

A super short guide to the Isle of Wight

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Last week I was too overwhelmed with a book deadline to write this Sunday Scroll, so I suggested an ‘open mic’ thread instead. I loved reading through the 250 glorious comments! love you all!

Substack sent me my ‘Summer recap’ and apparently I read over 2 million words this Summer. What?

Who knew I was such a big Substack reader?

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In case you missed it:

• My 2024 creativity retreat in Wales this November with Ease Retreats! If you’re interested in joining my creativity retreat in beautiful wintery Wales this November with some welcoming like-minded women, there’s still one room left! Who’s going to take it? We’ve just confirmed the full itinerary & I’m really excited! And we have a special guest! Drop Tanya at hello@easeretreats.com a line if you’d like to see the itinerary & book the last spot.

• My 2025 creativity retreat in Tuscany is selling fast! If you’re interested in spending a week in Italy together learning all about how to make life more creative and joyful with like-minded people, then you can book directly here.

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Now for your reads and recommendations of the week: Your Slow Sunday Scroll ✨

I love pulling these round-ups together for you. Below are lots of juicy links, including: career advice, reading inspo, event recs and the stuff I’m buying.

— Things I Know About Writing
— Why Liz Gilbert cut off all her hair
— Hilary Mantel was my mentor
— No, I’m Not Always Available
— I Love the Kids in My Life. And I’m Raising None of Them.
— Lena Dunham pays homage to the legend
— The femininomenonal ascent of Chappell Roan
— Does a four-day week make you happier?
— Earth’s aunties
— How Long Should You Cold Plunge?
— How to Have a Career
— How to do nothing (ICYMI)
— Substack have launched “Live streaming” (and I don’t think I’ll be using it).

— I’ve been sent a copy of There’s Nothing Wrong With Her by Kate Weinberg, described as a surprising funny tale about a woman with chronic illness.
— A Year of Living Curiously. The idea is to spend two minutes a day adding wonder and wisdom. I’ve also ordered Nigel Slater’s new memoir about small moments of joy.
— Sally Rooney’s new book Intermezzo is out in two days. I’m going to be seeing her at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on Wednesday. It’s sold out sadly but I wanted to share the details for the (free!) live stream for anyone who might want to watch from the comfort of home.
— Michael Rosen’s latest book Rosen’s Almanac is a Sunday Times bestseller this week (you’ll love it if you like words, phrases and poetry!) I am interviewing him on October 1st in Henley - tickets are available here. (I’m also speaking at Folkestone Book Festival this year. The topic is ‘modern day exhaustion’. Few tickets left here.)

— For fans of Rick Rubin, he has an interesting YouTube channel, interviewing creative types.
— A thing about me, I love watching people receive awards! Here’s Davina McCall receiving a lifetime achievement award.
— In Vogue: The 90s — this documentary (on Disney+) looks good.
— Richard Gadd won an Emmy for outstanding writing for Baby Reindeer & here is his heartfelt speech.
— Really excited to see The Outrun, starring Saoirse Ronan, the film adaptation of one of my favourite memoirs, out in cinemas Sept 27. There’s a new paperback tie-in too, with a new afterword by the author Amy Liptrot.

— Always on the hunt for an eco soy-wax candle that doesn’t emit any horrible things. I’ve been enjoying this Wild Forest one lately. But my faves are always from Self-Care Company.
— A denim trenchcoat.
— A fun loafer. And these.
— I feel like everyone has these Adidas Samba trainers and they go with everything.
— The School of Life, founded by Alain De Botton, have released a new journal.
— Martha Beck and

Rowan Mangan

have launched a brand new online community called WILDER and it looks epic!

Happy weekend! Do hit the ❤️ if you enjoy these round-ups :)

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