As always, this can be found HERE on substack, should that be your preferred place of reading things.

DAY TRIP 28/2/2026

This weekend we took a little day trip to Chichester, as part of an effort to try to get out of the Brighton bubble more often.

I’d read something recently about how you should do things like change your walking route if you go the same way every day, as it’s good for your brain to see different things and makes sure to keep you engaged. As you almost don’t recognise the monotony until it’s too late and you end up buying a motorcycle or a karaoke machine or have an affair, to try and add something else - anything - to your life.

Chichester for those unaware, and as far as I am concerned - is the place between Portsmouth and Brighton (where I grew up and where I now live) where posh people live. They also have the renowned Chichester festival theatre, which is where the posh people go to watch theatre. The only not white face I saw was an older black guy singing jazz standards by the clock tower in the centre of the town. So I hope this gives you a vibe.

They also have a really quite alive high street with all the shops that make any other town high street look bleak. How they manage to make a card factory look joyful and bustling, I simply don’t know - I suppose thats what money can buy you.

We had a lovely day walking around and being stared at by men who look like they’d strangle a waiter for giving them the wrong fork, and I found some absolute bangers in a charity shop dedicated just to books. Huge sheet music section, though mostly opera (obviously) but they also had these pub songs and music hall book as well. And the sea shanty book came from a really lovely and well stocked book shop near the train station that had a particularly slutty and gorgeous dog in it, who apparently LOVES people who wear all black - so if you wish to go tickle a spaniel, be sure to wear your darkest outfit.

Other charity shops much less success, as I don’t really think the local demographic is in line with my interests. The most telling thing for me was that in a case on the counter they had a Joanna Lumley and Lulu biography next to each other front and centre - I feel not displayed for the joy factor, but with pure sincerity and no regard for how deeply camp those women are.

We also saw a child smiling and laughing while chucking coins at a woman sat on the floor asking for change, like she was a busker. The woman was smiling too, so not entirely bleak - but did have a sinister air about it - the mother looking on proudly as her child throws coins at a person in need. Though I suppose thats an improvement over what I thought they’d do in Chichester, which is kill them or send them to Bognor Regis.

This may sound like a criticism, but I had a really really wonderful day. It was nice to see something else for a few hours and to do something purely for the joy of doing it. We’re going to be doing more of these within an hour of Brighton day trips hopefully and who knows what we may see. Next stop - Hastings?

SOME THINGS I’VE ENJOYED RECENTLY - 1/3/2026

I did a few of these sort of lists over reels a while back, which was nice but I think I’d like to try adding them onto the end of some casual writing posts, rather than throwing to the algorithm of social media.

FILMS -

JURASSIC PARK MARATHON!

We watched every Jurassic Park mainline film from beginning to end and It was glorious and here is my ranking

Jurassic Park
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
Jurassic World
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Jurassic World Dominion
Jurassic Park 3
Jurassic World Rebirth

I was convinced I’d seen Dominion, but turns out I hadn’t and I’d actually confused it with Fallen Kingdom.

Really enjoyed all of them, except rebirth really - which felt like blockbuster slop. Still watched it though.

The Digimon Movie

With the Pokemon anniversary meaning those pocket monsters are absolutely everywhere, it has got me thinking about its slightly less popular digital monster counterpart.

I thought I had clear memories of this film, but turns out I must have undergone some sort of psychosis because I remembered NOTHING except a few jokes in it, which were somehow burnt into my subconscious. It feels like 3 episodes smashed together, but the animation of colouring and vibe just really really got me in the feels and mada me all nostalgic and warm inside.

Edward Scissorhands

Obviously I’ve seen this film more times than I could count - but I haven’t rewatched it in so so long. Did I remember it beat for beat? I sure did. Did I well up at the end? Of course I did. Was gorgeous to revisit this. I found it recently on blu ray in a CEX for a couple of pounds, so picked it up with this revisit intention and I’m so pleased I did.

MUSIC -

Katzenjammer - Kiss Before You Go + Le Pop

I mentioned in my last post on here how I was getting some cd’s for those no phone (so no music streaming) days. And I’ve had the two albums above by Katzenjammer on repeat via music service, so have ordered the cd’s of both for a few pounds online. Both of those albums I can’t seem to just pop on one song without then listening to the album its on from beginning to end. I get about half way through a listen and have a moment of ‘oh my god I’m in love with this’ every. Single. Time. So I’ve been loving that and its arriving on CD so that I can enjoy when I decide that my phone can go into the bin.

BOOKS -

Naked Civil Servant - Quentin Crisp

A classic, obviously. Though I have had it started but unfinished in an ever mounting pile of books which I’m now getting through - and I FINALLY FINISHED IT. A real joy. I love personal essays and I love biographies and this is the best part of both. I also really recommend the film and the follow up An Englishmen in New York, where he is expertly played by the incredible John Hurt

Wow, No Thank You - Samantha Irby

Deeply In love with Samanthas writing. I’d devoured ‘We Are Never Meeting In Real Life’ and ‘Quietly Hostile’ and somehow hadn’t done this one yet, but it’s been sitting there for a while and now I’m chipping away at it. Again, perfect for my love of personal essays - she makes me howl with laughter. No books have made me descend into hysterics quite like hers and David Sedaris. Highly recommend. It’s also a great one for before bed if you just want to get a chapter or two in, as they’re self contained so you can just take it bit by bit and have it be a little treat before bed.

That’s all for this one I think. But my friends say that all I do is consume things, so I will never run out of things to tell you I’ve loved or loving.

As someone that does occasionally enjoy a bandwagon, I’ve found that I’ve grown a particular fondness for people’s end of year ‘In’s & Out’s’. The ones I agree with can make me feel that I was ahead of the curve and correct all along. The ones I don’t agree with I can come to the clear conclusion that the person who said it should be killed, or at least maimed.

On my own list for something that was firmly in for 2026 I had ‘Ask questions’.

So I have been asking. Quite a lot.

Usually fairly mundane, like asking who did an illustration behind a cafe counter. Or asking someone to describe the sort of person that buys a particular perfume and why they think that is.

Though sometimes a more casual line of questioning gets people talking and then I can ask more probing questions, like if they’ve had a favourite shoplifter and who would play them in a film.

At a small local vegan supermarket, I learnt that a man earlier than day had come in completely covered in blood and paced round the aisles before approaching the counter and gently asking “Where can I find the olive oil?”. The staff suggested that instead, maybe they could call an ambulance - a question to which he let out a guttural scream and left the shop.

Would I have learnt about a man covered in blood who really wanted olive oil if I’d just bought overpriced miso soup and left? I don’t think I would. So it can be a really wonderful things to engage with people in your day to day, not just for the joy of giving some human interaction - but so you can selfishly exploit what they tell you, for your own benefit.

So I thought as a writing exercise for myself, as well as possible entertainment for your eyes - If I learn something that sticks with me, I’d get it down for here. Possibly very short, but it’s a nice something to read eh? So why not have something to distract us from the ever growing death, war, disease and corruption.

Things I Have Learnt This Week By Asking Questions #1

When purchasing some packets of microwave rice, because who has the time to actually cook it properly and cost effectively - I decided I’d had enough of dealing with technology, had some cash on me and wanted to interact with an actual person.

In this particular shop, the only people who don’t use the self service are either paying by cash or need something behind the counter - booze, cigs or scratch cards. Considering the area of Brighton I live in, the queue is usually fairly lengthy and packed with a glorious variety of the grizzled, dishevelled and weathered.

When I get to the front of the queue there’s a tiny red haired woman in a thin strapped loose fabric top, wobbling from side to side, wailing….

‘BUT WHYYYYYY’

“10 at a time, that’s the law”

“BUT WHYYYYYYYYYYYY”

“I’ve told you, I can’t sell you any more”

“BUUUUUT WHYYYYYYYYYY”

“It’s the law, I’m sorry”

“BUUUUUUUT WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY”

“You can only get 10 at a time, we’ve been over this”

“So if I leave… I can have more?”
“Technically, yes”

And the woman turns, using the counters for balance - leads herself cackling quietly to the door of the shop, her unsettling laughter growing ever quieter as she leaves - then volume returns as she makes her way back to the queue. A fistful of lottery tickets grasped in her withered hand. Her horrid little cackle growing ever closer.

My turn was up, and as the young man behind the counter scanned my terribly convenient rice pots I asked what can you only get 10 of. Turns out, lottery tickets.

It also turns out that this woman had been doing this on loop and does so often. Having to have the rule of 10 tickets explained each time. Leaving the shop and coming back in, with the misplaced confidence of someone who thinks they’ve managed to trick someone by putting on a plastic nose and glasses.

“Does this happen a lot?” I ask.

“Far more often than you’d ever think possible” he replies, sighing.

Sighing and looking behind me to see she’s right there again and ready for another round of tickets. The cycle continues. Fuelled by what I assume is just the pure love of the game.

Portrait Of A Lottery Woman by Joe Black. Watercolour

Day Trip 28/2/2026 + Things I've Enjoyed Recently 1/3/2026

Things I Have Learnt This Week By Asking Questions #1: Ten Tickets, Technically