SUNDAY SPECIAL: books, clothes, television!

Good morning!

I’m writing to you from Spain, near Girona, where the wind is crazy, so the willow tree is having a bad hair day, but the poplars are sprouting tiny baby leaves, and the rosemary is covered in light purple flowers. I bought some tulips and anemones at the market in Girona yesterday, made a mixed bouquet which looks so pretty in the blue jug my Mama gave me a couple of years ago.

I got back from the Palasiet thalassotherapy wellness clinic in Benicassim on Friday evening quite tired because the last leg of the train ride – between Barcelona and Caldes de Malavella (which was free, and for good reason!) – turned into something like that scene in Airplane where they keep changing the gate as the plane rushes past, and the passengers keeps running to the next one, except this was a train in slow motion, because…maybe a sleepy driver, or the price of diesel?! Anyway, we inched along, and nobody knew whether the train was actually going to get to their stop, because the information kept on changing. Not that it was being announced over the loudspeaker, but the lady next to me was getting updates on her phone and telling everyone around her. So I sent my husband on a wild goose chase to various different stops to collect me, and then ended up being able to get to my Caldes de Malavella after all!

Anyway I got here, tired and achy, which made me a tad grumpy as I’d spent two weeks doing aquagym and having physio, and left Palasiet feeling better than I have in ages, but c’est la vie. Maybe I need to become a mermaid, but one who lives in warm seawater, and that has a physio to massage away fibromyalgia aches and pains every day. 

But I slept well, and reading India Knight’s Home Weekend Column yesterday morning cheered me up, as it always does. If you don’t read India’s Substack, you’re missing out; it’s like getting a letter from a friend, with all sorts of lovely photos and links to click on where you discover more nice things. India also convinced me to buy Kate Young’s new cookbook, Dinner at Mine. As if I don’t have enough cookbooks…or buy enough books on a…weekly (yikes) basis, but I have extenuating circumstances for this one. I’ve been uninterested in food until, well, two weeks ago, because of my colitis – which even under control since October was still gave me anxiety. But he thalassotherapy clinic had amazing food, and my tummy never staged a protest, and I even had ice cream!

I seem to be reading about six different books at the same time, so I’m a bit of a literary scatterbrain. On my Kindle I’m enjoying The Society of Shame, by Jane Roper, about a politician’s wife who accidentally starts an anti-menstruation shaming movement when a photo of her with a stain on her trousers goes viral after she comes home in a taxi (the driver snaps the photo), finds the garage on fire, her husband in his underwear with his girlfriend passed out on the lawn. It’s funny and would make a good film.

I also regularly dip in and out of Trudi Nicola’s Little Sparks of Light, a book of beautiful poetry. It sits on my night table, and if you haven’t got a copy, I highly recommend it. Just lovely ❤️

I’m listening to Watermelon, Marian Keyes’ first novel (I think it was her first novel), which I’d read ages ago when it first came out. I love Marian Keyes, and must watch The Walsh Sisters, the TV series which I’m thinking must be a sort of mash-up of her various books, which I’ve recorded. Have you seen it? So far, I’ve only seen one episode, so it’s waiting for me when we go back to Switzerland.

I’m also listening to Annabel Monaghan’s Summer Romance, after having absolutely adored her Nora Goes Off Script, a much needed lungful of fresh air.

As for clothes, I keep looking at this dress from Maison Hotel. I’m a sucker for summer dresses, and definitely have more than enough, but it keeps on popping up to taunt me! I caved for this dress from Daughters of India, but in a different colour (I think I got a light orange but can’t remember!!!) because I already have this colour, which I wear all the time as soon as the temperatures rise. It’s soooo comfortable and light, and people are constantly asking me where I got it from. Their dresses are not super cheap, but the fabric is gorgeous and considering I have many more really expensive dresses in my closet that I don’t wear, this one is a good investment.

I also got this fun short-sleeved sweat-shirt from Five, and these pants, which are light and comfy, and a couple of their tee-shirts because so many of mine were beginning to look rather grotty.

Yes, I love clothes… and I’m currently quite frustrated because so many of my nice things don’t fit me, partly because of the medication I’m on, but also because I’m only just beginning to be able to move again after being ill for ages. I’m trying to be kind to myself because I’ve been through the mill, down the rapids and the river, so my body is trying to adjust. It’s weird; I’m super patient for all kinds of things, but with my body…not so much.

On Substack, I loved Anna Wharton’s When They Drop Bombs, Words are Your Flowers, where she writes about how we must absolutely make and write beautiful things, because the world is so dark, and we need light. And she says this, which I have to believe…

Earlier today I read Things That Make Me Happy, by Sara H on Substack. Sara writes a glowing review of  One and Only, a romantic novel by Maurene Goo, which she says is the perfect read for non-romance readers. It’s going on my list of need-to-reads, mostly because the premise reminds me of one of my favourite films, Only You, with Robert Downey Jr. and Marisa Tomei, a mega romantic feast for the eyes because Italy photographs so well! Have you seen it? I’ve watched it multiple times!

My husband and I are watching Season Two of The Last Thing He Told Me, with Jennifer Garner, which I think I’m enjoying more than he is!!

Also, super exciting news for Beth Lisogorsky who (like me!) has a book coming out next year with Empress Editions. Beth, who excels at writing film and series reviews, writes about Love Story, the series on John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, which I’d love to watch, but – so far – it isn’t^ on any of our streaming platforms. Beth also shares the cover for her novel, so please go congratulate her, because getting a publisher is a huge deal!!!

I must go and ice my heel now, which is very boring, but I have a bone spur that is making walking pretty painful. My body is always full of wonderful surprises!

Wishing you a good Sunday,

With love and gratitude,

Francesca xx

Have you read my poetry book, Illicit Croissants At Dawn? If you have, please leave a review on Amazon!!