19 Comments

What a delightful read. Particularly love the idea of compromising and doing something in this life, rather than bemoaning the fantasy always being out of reach.

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Thankyou Tess. I am definitely still learning this as I go but yes, God, but what a good thing it is to experience, to learn that you are mortal, finite, not everything and nothing in a future eternity...

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I am not supposed to be on screens because of a concussion but I snuck on for this and I’m so glad I did.

In reverse order:

5) I have one of those schlong hottles and they’re the best, especially for the cummerbund cold strip when wearing non high jeans

4) holy shit that Dr. Becky (who’s known around here as DAKTARRR BACKY because of the accent) is GOOD. Thank you, I will hold onto that.

3) My stepson turned 18 this summer and is FINALLY not a picky eater, so even though I hope it ends for your kid sooner than it did for him, it most likely will eventually

2) OMG the gender divide reason on the instructions is SO astute, I recently rescued a peg board from having too many holes drilled in it by insisting we look harder

1) Welcome home!!!

You are a delight!

xMarsh

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Concussion! Well personally I am of course delighted that you have come here to stay a little soft in the head. 5) I haven't really got to grips with the wearing of it yet - I've been hugging it rather than attaching it to myself. And now my daughter has in fact nicked it. On the bright side she'll have the structurals worked out out in no time, as she's descended from engineers on the other side of the family and it shows. No she isn't old enough to build a cabin bed flatpack. 4) DAKTAR BACKY with the voice is just undeniably good. 3) I do actually really appreciate hearing about older kids who finally started eating more than 12 things. I appreciate it a lot. It seems a bit of a silly thing to moan about but... it hasn't been easy. 2) Taking a bow. 1) no YOU are a delight for writing this lovely comment

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I *also* worried a lot about the eating thing. Totally reasonable to moan, it's hard!! And embarrassing when one has (in my case) prided herself her whole life on eating everything and not causing a fuss.

With the big kid, I read a bunch of stuff when he was small that showed that the biggest predictor of whether someone will be a picky eater forever is whether or not their parents are picky eaters, so then I relaxed, and it's now proving to be true. With my daughter, I'm reminding (telling??) myself that indulging her pickiness will mean she gets to avoid having to spend all the therapy dollars unlearning some of the weird food stuff I got from "you must always eat what's in front of you".

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I feel like you write these just for me sometimes. Properly honked with laughter at Wotsitgate.

Also I just bought a pair of Carel shoes whilst in Paris and I am very happy to see my (large sum of) money has gone towards all that lovely art...

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I bet you feel such kinship with old Frédérique Picard as well now. Didn't you spend your first wages, at 21, at a sculpture at an auction that was was 80% of your salary? Come on Kerry we know you did it.

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Look those Acupuncture trainers were an investment and I have no regrets…

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AND the Maharishi pants with the dragon on

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Thankyou for writeing this its made my evening, i love your writeing so much

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Gosh how kind.

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You are such a funny writer!

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<3

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Welcome to Kentish Town Sophie! I ogle the Hampstead mansions all the time but actually us bottom of the Heathers get The Southampton Arms and the Thameslink. WINNING

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Love your writing ♥️I have found you through the comments on Hanif Kureishi his Substack.

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Omg that hot water bottle!!!

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It’s reassuring to read that my daughter is not the only child that only eat about 12 or so things (at 12 years old), most of them beige and unhealthy except carrots and kiwis. School/packed lunches are a nightmare. I have now given up as long as she eats *something* and takes her vitamins. I’m pleased to report that she has started to eat jam recently (only berries, only on pancakes).

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I often have dreams of Clerkenwell living. My first London flat was on St John Street. I realise now that it's unlikely to happen again, as first, I don't live in the UK, or even the northern hemisphere, and second I don't have the million or so quid required. And writing freelance is hardly going to create the life where I can have a glamorous dual hemisphere existence. I did recently book into the Zetter on a bargain rate and live that life for three days.

And, knowing chefs, there's often a gaping chasm between childhood memories and what they themselves consume after a 12 or even 18 hour day. I'd guess that the friend perhaps got a kick out of Wotsits and Dominoes.

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November 13, 2022
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Gosh thankyou Brandon Mudd. Did not know I appealed to wrestlers, what a thrill. Please don't tell me you're not actually a wrestler.

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