At the risk of public humiliation, I have to say that counting sheep breeds is exactly how I get myself to sleep. Alphabetically. Although other fibre-producing critters are also permitted - it's the only way to get the Q. And if I ever get that far, I cheat for the X with Exmoor Horn...
I remember reading this wonderful car boot anecdote on your website and being baffled that Brian could say no to fresh pineapple for 80p. I still think of him and hope his future decisions are wiser than that one. Brilliant writing Tom, as always. Looking forward to Monday!
OMGosh how did I miss that your mum makes art, too, and exquisitely? What is that elegant squirrel, pen/ink, acrylics, mixed? Gorgeous! (Apologies if answered within. Sufficiently impressed to scroll down immediately upon seeing it, to comment.)
I dreamt about meeting Jim in a big branch of Waterstones, where he was sleeping on a pile of books. He came back to my brother’s house on the train with me. My brother was having a big family party at his house (which of course wasn’t the house he actually lives in) and Jim made friends with everyone at the party. I feel slightly guilty that Charles didn’t feature.
I enjoyed re-reading your boot fair history. I’ve also thought how sad it must be not get a thrill from looking for and, even better, finding things second hand. My flat is full of things I’ve acquired over decades of jumble sales, charity shops and boot fairs, starting in 1970 when I was 7 by spending all my holiday money on an orange wooden mask from a church hall sale on the way to Wales or wherever we were going. I guess the fact that we stopped at a church hall sale on the way on holiday explains where I picked the habit up from. I still love it today.
Probably completely irrelevant, but I’m reading Doris Lessing’s Memoirs of a Survivor, and your post made me think about her description of the market at the top of the narrator’s building. Your piece made me laugh out loud several times, anyway. Thank you!
My first time reading your Substack Tom, and I knew I’d be sticking around at Carol Shields. I find most Substack posts too long but yours kept on giving and made me laugh despite it being 3am
I can't get past laughing at your opening, if I read another 'oh here's a countdown to my book cover' I might blow up my laptop. Show the damn cover or don't but quit it in the meantime. Another wonderful piece here Tom.
Thanks Tom, your car boot descriptions really cheered me up this morning as I incubate a pesky cold. I love your descriptions of your Mum's car boot acquisitions - reminding me of my sister, who also has the ability to find the best things in charity shops.
Regarding "Poor Things", I thought that there was much to admire, and I loved the imagination and set designs. However, I spent the entire film with a queasy feeling in my tummy. Last time I felt like this at the cinema was at Cronenberg's "Dead Ringers".
Please tell your mum she has a fan in Idaho. I especially like her Green Man. I bought The Villager, by the way. I can't do a paid subscription, but I will quest for your writing (on paper) with dedication.
Well, I certainly love the rambling and general thing-ness of all you write about, as obviously plenty of other people do, too! If I had any advice to give anyone, which I don't really except to myself, it's that life is too short to write anything except for the damn sake of it, and to scroll past all the advice without giving it more attention than can't be helped.
My husband's grandfather was banned from a pub in Bulwell for fighting when he was 80. I wonder if he knew this guy.
Dear Tom, Your lists and compendiums are the jewel in the Crown of all Internet listicles.
At the risk of public humiliation, I have to say that counting sheep breeds is exactly how I get myself to sleep. Alphabetically. Although other fibre-producing critters are also permitted - it's the only way to get the Q. And if I ever get that far, I cheat for the X with Exmoor Horn...
I remember reading this wonderful car boot anecdote on your website and being baffled that Brian could say no to fresh pineapple for 80p. I still think of him and hope his future decisions are wiser than that one. Brilliant writing Tom, as always. Looking forward to Monday!
Ah car boot sales and wondering about how drunk men knock people out. I'm Scottish so this is all perfectly normal to me! Love this. Happy Sunday.
Thanks! And Carol Shields - yes. The Stone Diaries is permanently etched onto my brain. How she gets from A to Z in that book is almost miraculous.
OMGosh how did I miss that your mum makes art, too, and exquisitely? What is that elegant squirrel, pen/ink, acrylics, mixed? Gorgeous! (Apologies if answered within. Sufficiently impressed to scroll down immediately upon seeing it, to comment.)
It's a linoprint. Her work is featured in all of my most recent six books: https://tomcox.substack.com/p/the-magic-room-including-free-book?r=1w12vm&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=48973002
The squirrel is brilliant! Would have loved to have it for this https://open.substack.com/pub/notesfromlinnesby/p/art-anxiety-self-delusion-stories-cfd?r=2u2cxe&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post (which discusses a literary squirrel)
I love that you felt you had to tell us that you're not organising your own boot fair. :-)
I dreamt about meeting Jim in a big branch of Waterstones, where he was sleeping on a pile of books. He came back to my brother’s house on the train with me. My brother was having a big family party at his house (which of course wasn’t the house he actually lives in) and Jim made friends with everyone at the party. I feel slightly guilty that Charles didn’t feature.
I enjoyed re-reading your boot fair history. I’ve also thought how sad it must be not get a thrill from looking for and, even better, finding things second hand. My flat is full of things I’ve acquired over decades of jumble sales, charity shops and boot fairs, starting in 1970 when I was 7 by spending all my holiday money on an orange wooden mask from a church hall sale on the way to Wales or wherever we were going. I guess the fact that we stopped at a church hall sale on the way on holiday explains where I picked the habit up from. I still love it today.
Probably completely irrelevant, but I’m reading Doris Lessing’s Memoirs of a Survivor, and your post made me think about her description of the market at the top of the narrator’s building. Your piece made me laugh out loud several times, anyway. Thank you!
Thanks Mary. I came within a whisker of buying Memoirs Of A Survivor last week so I will head back to the bookshop and get it!
I got my copy completely randomly from the local Oxfam bookshop. It’s a beautiful, disturbing novel.
Lovely piece, learning about your mom and what you share. Love the bit about the ordinary cabinet and the paparazzi!
See I knew there was some scouse heritage in you … you are too funny not to !
My first time reading your Substack Tom, and I knew I’d be sticking around at Carol Shields. I find most Substack posts too long but yours kept on giving and made me laugh despite it being 3am
Thanks Rachel. How lovely to hear!
I can't get past laughing at your opening, if I read another 'oh here's a countdown to my book cover' I might blow up my laptop. Show the damn cover or don't but quit it in the meantime. Another wonderful piece here Tom.
Thanks Tom, your car boot descriptions really cheered me up this morning as I incubate a pesky cold. I love your descriptions of your Mum's car boot acquisitions - reminding me of my sister, who also has the ability to find the best things in charity shops.
Regarding "Poor Things", I thought that there was much to admire, and I loved the imagination and set designs. However, I spent the entire film with a queasy feeling in my tummy. Last time I felt like this at the cinema was at Cronenberg's "Dead Ringers".
Please tell your mum she has a fan in Idaho. I especially like her Green Man. I bought The Villager, by the way. I can't do a paid subscription, but I will quest for your writing (on paper) with dedication.
Well, I certainly love the rambling and general thing-ness of all you write about, as obviously plenty of other people do, too! If I had any advice to give anyone, which I don't really except to myself, it's that life is too short to write anything except for the damn sake of it, and to scroll past all the advice without giving it more attention than can't be helped.
My husband's grandfather was banned from a pub in Bulwell for fighting when he was 80. I wonder if he knew this guy.