Visiting Flaming June

and further proof of life

I’m just checking in to let you know that I’m still here. I am stunned by the support on my last post Like What You Like. I’m so grateful to those who read it, those who subscribed because of it and those who skimmed it just to look at the pictures. Even those who clicked in and clicked off - at least for a second there was a glimmer of hope. And a special mention to anyone that shared it or restacked it. I meant everything I said in that writing and I’m just glad it connected in any way possible. Now I’ve got that out of the way let’s catch up.

I’ve been reading about four different books recently. I like to say I’m between books instead of admitting that my attention span is utterly shot. So in tribute to each half-read book, this post might be a bit scattered as I update you. I want to make sure everything I’m sending out is good, solid writing that I fully believe in, so if you were hoping for a long form piece don’t fret, it is in the works and I’m excited about it which is usually a good sign. For now I want to make sure you have a bit of interim reading so I’m writing this as a short & sweet reminder that, although I’m not a scheduled machine, I have no intentions of abandoning you. Promise.

Visiting Flaming June

I have two favourite paintings that I cannot rank as number one and number two so they remain tied. One is Decadent Young Woman. After the Dance by Ramon Casas and the other is Flaming June by Frederic Leighton. The former is how I feel in winter, the latter is how I feel in summer. Unfortunately the former is currently in Barcelona so a visit will have to wait. But a few months ago I read this substack before it was behind a paywall. I’m glad I caught it when I did because I learned that Flaming June was in the RA collection until February 2025. The RA (Royal Academy of Arts) is in London. And luckily for me, London is a train away.

I orchestrated a visit. I had some friends to see anyway so the timing was perfect. On my last day in London I saw her in all of her borderline-fluorescent oranges. It was spectacular. The painting might as well have been in a room unaccompanied by other works the way it demanded attention. There was no avoiding it in the light-blue room - a perfect complement to its ripe tangerine hues. If you can stop by before next February, I highly recommend it. I also advise taking your art history friend if you’re lucky enough to have one and like to learn about why such a colour of paint is impressive for its time.

I’m craving time in nature?

Please note that I am just as perplexed as anyone reading this who knows me irl. I am a city-dweller through and through. I like tall buildings and well-planned cities with roads in grids and a café on every corner. I like walking seven minutes to catch a connecting train at one of many stations in a city centre. Yes I want to order my coffee on an app ahead of time so I can get in and out and avoid the morning rush queues. Yes I can see the bin bags on the pavement and yes I’m choosing to ignore them because that’s just part of the scenery. No I will not cross the road at the crossing and you can’t make me.

BUT recently, I’ve been imagining walks through fields of grass, crispy and fresh from icy weather. I’ve been thinking about the nearest hikes I can reach without a driver’s license. And suddenly those chilly mornings where it’s freezing but the sun is bright are seeming better suited to standing on top of a mountain experiencing all of the awe I possess instead of at a window seat on a train. Is this one of the side effects of frontal lobe development? Anyone know? I’m not about to climb Kilamanjaro à la Christy Turlington, though I would hope to venture on any hike in such style. But it seems like a good time to take a walk in some less polluted air.

Four books in rotation

1. The Fran Lebowitz Reader by *shock* Fran Lebowitz

This is my chapter-before-bed book. I’m slowly getting through it, not that it’s a particularly tough read but it reads like a collection of thoughts. Funny thoughts at least. I love her Netflix series and her dry humour so I appreciate her experiences of life in this book. It does not fit in my shoulder bag. That’s the only downside.

2. The Cost of Living by Deborah Levy

This is the second book in her autobiographical series. I love the covers of these books. This is the yellow one. I flew through the first one, the blue one, not only because I read it on a plane but also because the font size is huge. Her writing style is right up my street but for some reason I’m getting stuck on this one. Maybe because the chapter I’m on is mostly about her husband? And I don’t read a lot of books about men because I could just read the news if I wanted to. This is the only thing I can think of that has me noncommittal to her words. I’ll finish it at some point. Maybe when men stop annoying me.¹

3. Asleep by Banana Yoshimoto

I should preface that I am only a few pages into this and I actually do really like it despite the topics of its three short stories exploring new genres for me. Again, love the cover of this one. Has that 90s soft club aesthetic about it. I guess I can’t really judge it yet so it lives in the rotation for now.

4. [redacted]

I’m gatekeeping this final book. Sue me. (Please don’t <3) It’s a re-read for me and technically I have shared it on Tiktok before so I’m not completely hiding it. I just need it as mine for a little longer, even though I’m aware the nature of books is to be read by many. All I’ll say is that it’s fiction, an easy read and not exactly inciting complex levels of debate or critical thinking. It’s just a nice book that I like a lot.

Reference Library Recents

a.k.a pics I like as of late

this fit on Paloma Elsesser - she can do no wrong in my eyes

Joni Mitchell forever - been listening to Hejira a lot lately

there’s always time to share fries with your mum

a look for the boys this winter, must have dog

The string section in the final third of Frozen by Madonna

Sometimes music doesn’t feel real. This is one of those times. Also the anthem of my glove-less hands this month.

Gift guides are taking over, some of which are great, but I’m very aware of this and equally overwhelmed by them. However, ‘tis the season so I will be putting some up on tiktok for those with a budget who want to shop chic² because money does NOT buy taste.

I’m still not sure if I want to create paid subscriptions, mostly because I love reading for free and I want to give that to everyone. But I do write most, if not all, of these at coffee shops so if you would like to support my caffeine habits and see more Substack posts in your inbox you can help a girl out at the button below. No pressure, just thought it was a cute way to announce that I’m verging on bankruptcy xx

Thanks for reading. See you soon for something long form.

1. Disclaimer: I do not hate men. I just don’t prioritise them (besides friends and family) and can you blame me in this political climate.

2. Bit of a buzzword now but I can’t find my pocket thesaurus for a replacement so working on it