Life Updates
Hey hey everyone! How are you all doing?
May I take a moment to appreciate GETTING THROUGH SEPTEMBER (cue streamers falling from the ceiling and a momentary happy dance). Only 2.5 months left for me now before I embark on my Eat Pray Love Year TM - aka. the year I dedicate to writing and music full-time and see where the heck it leads me.
(On a side note, I haven’t seen that movie since it was first released in 2010 and I think I need a rewatch. I’ll probably find it insufferable?? But also… vibes?!)
Oh yeah. Speaking of vibes. They are BAD right now. I mean BAAAAAD.
My workplace has become a putrid stew of toxicity and misery, and we’re all boiling alive in it. I’m trying my best to remain cheerful and resilient, focusing on serving the students (who are all lovely) and bringing my best to each day as I check yet another square off my calendar… But Goooodddddd, the crappy treatment from higher-ups just gets worse and worse, the upset from those in restructure chaos is too potent not to be absorbed, and on top of that I’ve had to fight tooth and nail to get the holiday dates I am entitled to, because apparently no one has understood that me being chucked on the dump heap kind of leaves an employment gap??? Like YA THINK???
OH and the straw that broke the camel’s back? Two random men came into the shop the other week AND TOLD US WE CAN NO LONGER USE OUR AIR CON SLASH HEATER. I literally laughed in their faces and said “you’re winding us up” to which the more serious one replied in a very deadpan tone that no he was not winding us up and maybe we’ll need to wear hats and scarves when Winter rolls around.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE FROM ME, UNIVERSITY GODS? THE CLOTHES OFF MY BACK? THE SHOES OFF MY FEET? HOW ABOUT MY LEFT INDEX FINGER? HERE, LET ME GRAB A SCAPEL!!!!
You know what, the one thing this reminds me is that finally leaving all this shit in my rear view mirror is long overdue - and honestly, all the fear and doubt about this massive life change is now being replaced with excitement and a general sense of being ready. I’ve been given a very rare gift to explore my potential for a small amount of time and I really do wonder where 2027 may take me. Maybe nowhere. Maybe somewhere halfway to where I want to be. Maybe even a little further than that. It’ll be fun to find out, right?
In the meantime, deep breaths. Eyes on the horizon. Dig my warmest woolly scarf out of the back of the cupboard.
And err, get well? I’ve been SICK for a whole WEEK and I feel ROTTEN. But it’s given me a bit of extra time off work at least, so that’s something! Ten weeks to go!!
ON A NICER NOTE - Matty and I went to Centre Parcs at the start of September with our bestest pals Paul and Andy as a surprise for Paul’s 40th birthday! He had no idea where Andy was taking him, or that we were also going to be there - in fact I’d been messaging him on the journey up pretending I was stuck at work and acting my socks off to a point where Mat moaned at me to stop hamming it up as I was making the secret too obvious. WELL, CLEARLY NOT, because Paul was VERY surprised when we drove up behind him at the check-in desk. He jumped out the car with a look of utter confusion mouthing “what are you guys doing here?!” which then morphed into multiple utterances of “YOU FUCKERS”. Hee hee heeeee!
We had such a nice time!! I’ve never been to Centre Parcs before and I just loved us all sharing this gorgeous cabin in the woods with squirrels and deer (ACTUAL BAMBI-STYLE MOTHERFUCKING DEER) frolicking in our garden. There were probably one too many hills and brisk walks for my liking, and everyone pissed themselves laughing at my constant moaning, but I loved all the activities we got to do, from swimming to glow-in-the-dark pool to a beautiful boat ride in the sunshine where we all nearly capsized the boat and drowned. (So relaxing!!)
I had a lovely time at the spa with Paul too - we swam in the pool, lounged in the steam rooms, had peppermint tea and even bumped into someone I know in the hot tub! (Fans everywhere darling!) It was so special to share such a lovely morning together and we both left feeling serene and RADIANT!
Oh yeah and KARAOKE. Anyone who knows us, knows we take our karaoke VERY seriously, so having our own little “SingPod” was iconic. We blasted out everything from Avril Lavigne to Whitney to Robbie Williams. Paul and Matty impressed the waitress with their epic harmonies on Torn, and when the machine tried to cut us off during One For Sorrow we kept singing with gusto, ending on a beautiful acapella momo worthy of a musical. It was truly the best time ever and a break away I will always remember!
In other news - my cousin Erin and I went to see the hit play Oh, Mary! this month after having heard nothing but rave reviews about the show. It was absolutely BONKERS with Jinkx Monsoon playing an alcoholic, slightly demonic, rampaging Mary Todd Lincoln who hates her husband and kids and just wants to be a Cabaret star God Damnit!! She was such a force of nature and we hooted with laughter from start to finish. Honestly, the strangest, most original thing I’ve ever seen on-stage, but definitely worth the hype. I love as well that ANYONE can play Mary - any age, race, gender, body type etc. - all you need is a ratty wig, a hoop skirt and a glint of insanity in your eye. GENIUS.
We popped into the V&A museum before the show too and really enjoyed looking around the displays of vintage jewellery and costume design. Of course the fashion section was CLOSED - the one thing we bloody went to see - but we had fun regardless. The Japanese lacquered urushi pots were an unexpected highlight!
I also got to ask one of staff members about whether an evening exhibition would be realistic because I have a scene set at night at the V&A in The Love Campaign and wanted to check it would work. She told me YES! Scene approved by an expert, woohoo!
Creative Updates
First of all, writing-wise, I’ve finally submitted my brand new adult rom-com The Love Campaign to my agent and I’m now waiting for her feedback and for a general update on my author career… AHH, it’s quite scary sending out something brand new and hoping it will be as well received as the first book. This story has a very different flavour to Just For Likes which I’m hoping will make it more marketable but honestly, who can guess what editors are looking for at this stage? I just have to keep writing and hope something hits eventually.
I’ve also been diving into my magical realism Christmas book, which has been SO MUCH FUN, but I’ve hit a bit of a stumbling block with it and have to untangle a few knots… Which is fine, but also I’m realising I’m mega burned out and I kind of don’t want to?? I’m giving myself permission to go slow, take a break and come back to it when I’m in a better headspace. I think coming straight off the back of another novel, and with all the stress of my day job, my brain has kinda melted into gloop and gone NO MORE, JUST LET ME SLEEP, PLEASE, I BEG OF YOU. I’ll let it nap for a tiny bit, then it’s back to work bitch!
In other exciting news - I finally released my bubbly acoustic song Pretty Little Things this month! I’ve been working on this one for a while and it’s so great to finally have it out in the world:
This song is the theme tune to my (as of yet unsold boo-hoo) rom-com Just For Likes and it’s all about finding joy and whimsy in the ordinary moments, as well as the magic of falling in love. I wanted to make a little video to accompany the song so I filmed clips all summer of the people, places and things that brought me joy. It’s a gorgeous time capsule of the final summer of my 30’s, thank you so much to everyone who agreed to be in it:
I love writing and recording music, but the hardest part is always getting people to find it once it’s out! Thank you to everyone who has listened or shared, it really does help so much, and fingers crossed more people will discover the song as time goes on.
Matty and I also celebrated 1 year of hosting our Trivia Tuesday nights at Teds this month - I can’t believe it! One whole year of being silly on the mic, fielding heckles on different types of dinosaurs, and having to laugh when someone names their team Quiz On My Face, thinking it’s really original and hilarious. (Lol). No seriously, I love doing this quiz, it utilises all my skills and I get to be a team with my husband which is the best. I hope we get to keep going for years to come and maybe even take the quiz on the road to pastures new? That would be cool!
Also shout-out to the lady who won the booby prize of the Downton Abbey jigsaw puzzle that has been sitting unopened in my computer room for over 6 years, who was absolutely OVER THE MOON to receive it. That unwanted gift finally went to its spiritual home and I’m utterly thrilled about it.
ONE LAST PIECES OF NEWS - Tickets are now on sale for my leaving do at The Wedgewood Rooms on December 22nd:
My lovely pals Hometown Show are headlining with their unique brand of rip-roaring country, folk & bluegrass, and the equally lovely Megan Linford will also be performing her gorgeous acoustic folk songs.
I’ll be playing a 45-minute set with Olly, as well as a few special guests - I CAN’T WAIT! Please come along to celebrate the end of my Uni life and the start of something brand new! :) All welcome!!
BUY TICKETS HERE!
Movie Recs
Don’t Say Good Luck - A surprisingly tender Netflix film starring Adam Sandler’s daughter Sunny, about a teen girl who gets lead in the school play at the same time her mother is diagnosed with cancer. It was really beautiful, and it has all the songs from Waitress in which of course I loved.
Anchorman - Rewatching this comedy classic in Centre Parcs with Paul & Andy was such an enjoyable experience - I laughed my ass off the whole way through and felt amazed at how many lines were still burned into my brain after all these years haha! One of the funniest movies ever made. Stay classy, San Diego!
The Love Hypothesis - Look. Was I a bit disappointed in this adaptation because I’m a superfan of the book? Yes. Do I recommend it anyway? Yes, lol. SUPPORT ALI HAZELWOOD, SHE’S A QUEEN! Also, this was genuinely cute and fun, I just had such high expectations haha.
TV Recs
RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (Season 8) - I always love a new series of UK Drag Race and this year is a really stellar line-up. So many amazing outfits and high camp drama already! Also I think The Delta Quadrant might be one of my favourite Queens of all time.
Big Brother UK (Season 23) - Oh my God, the best BB series to air IN YEARS. Screaming matches whilst dressed as animals over uncooked chicken? Fight night with Jedward? A dramatic Scouse man constantly yelling PACK IT INNNN whilst everyone breaks down over nothing? Honestly, I’m obsessed.
SNL UK (Season 2) - The crazy sketch show is back and it really makes me happy. We’ve had some great hosts so far, and Mat and I are both desperately in love with George Fouracres so we always feel blessed to have him on our screens.
Book Recs
Fruit Fly by Josh Silva - A truly twisted tale about a downtrodden female author who embroils herself in the life of a young gay male sex worker in order to write about his life for a new book. Not giving him any credit, of course. I was gripped from start to finish, and the audiobook was acted SO well, it was like watching a movie in my head!
The Name Game by Beth O’Leary - I love Beth O’Leary and this new mistaken identity romance set on a rustic island is one of her very best. There is also a huge plot twist that I really didn’t see coming!
The Princess Diaries: The Graphic Novel by Meg Cabot & Bethany Crandall - I downloaded this on ebook AND IT’S SO CUTE AND FUNNY. I love the original book series and it works so well as a graphic novel. Pure joy escapism!
Music Recs
Day and Night by Carly Rae Jepsen - THE QUEEN HAS RETURNED with a double album, and bloody hell it’s a VIBE. Some of her best work of all time, I absolutely love it. Motivation and Patience Power Passion are two of the stand-outs for me.
Life Of A Showgirl: The Encore by Taylor Swift - We’ve been blessed with 4 new surprise songs by TayTay, oh em gee! I have to admit, on first listen I was a little underwhelmed (lol sorry Tay), but they’re actually all really growing on me! Patient Zero is my fave!
Good Grief by Sara Bareilles - This is quite a gentle, restrained album by Sara, with a theme of grief in all it’s various forms. It’s not my all-time favourite by her, but I had to give her a shout-out regardless as she’s my Queen. I’m excited to download the accompanying documentary at some point and give it a watch.
I hope you’ve all had a lovely end to summer and great start of the Autumn months - Spoopy Season is beckoning! I’ll see you all again soon.
Much love as always,
Becky x
Delighted, as always! I didn't know you went to see Oh,Mary! I'm so glad you liked it. I went to one of Cole Escola's last shows by myself last year and laughed so hard. Alan Carr needs to be the next Mary Todd Lincoln. Also, love your new song and can picture it in a rom-com!! I wish I could go to your send off concert in December SO BAD!! But we will see each other soon enough! Lastly thank you for not shitting on Love Hypothesis. We must stand strong with even mediocre rom-coms!!
Nearly there ducky love! Keep f🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩 going Xx