Little Things #14
Tiny, countless collisions.
For a brief period I dated a man who would send me photos of misplaced baby socks or gloves he spotted in the street with the caption, “this yours?”. It never failed to make me laugh. The gesture was not his work of whimsy, though, but Tom Hanks, on whose Instagram we first saw the gag and shared a mutual giggle over. But even still, years later, whenever I see a forlorn beanie or misplaced scarf on the streets of London, I think of him, and I smile.
Years ago I had this theory that everyone we ever meet, romantic, platonic, or otherwise, alters our life in some way. We are like celestial bodies, circling one another in a series of near misses until some of us, in big or little ways, make contact. Each collision knocks us onto new paths, changes the way we see the world. I thought about this theory again this February as I passed a red glove stuck onto a fence one morning, waving into the abyss, and sent the inevitable silent warm wishes to a man I no longer know.
In this week of rare planetary alignments and cosmic luck, here are a few nice things to collide with. May they change your day for the better.
Cook | a few good recipes
I’m cooking more. It’s been really nice. These are meals I have enjoyed in company and alone on icy evenings here in the UK.
Baked gnocchi from Wishbone Kitchen
Kale salad with avocado dressing from MOB
Visit | nice places in London that have brought joy
Leigh’s: a lovely new little cafe in my old neighbourhood.
Sols: sunny wine bar in west London.
Prince Charles Cinema: iconic cinema in central that is currently under threat of closure. It was so wonderful to see it packed on a late late viewing on a Thursday. Keep institutions alive!
Alba Cafe: event space and cafe in Whitechapel.
The Dreamery: unreal ice cream and delicious wine in De Beauvoir.
Daunt Books (Marylebone): I had not visited the original in so long, I forgot how magical it was. The domed glass roof and wooden stacks feel like a portal to a simpler time.
See | Supernova (2021). Dir. Harry Macqueen
My wonderful friend made this wonderful film and I rewatched it last weekend and marvelled once again at how brilliant it is.
Listen | Astral Weeks
Sticking with the star theme. I’ve been listening to this album start to finish in the evenings. I do really believe that “Sweet Thing” might be the best song ever made. I played it last night as I strolled out just after sunset to try and spot the alignment, but caught only the faint outline of a new moon. It was still, I will admit, a sweet thing to see.
Read | Happy all the Time by Laurie Colwin
I’ve been reading a lot of heavy stuff and this was a welcomed easy read that follows a couple from meet-cute through to their unexpectedly won happy ending. Funny and wise.
Shop | not spending money by looking at things online.
Candles
Art
Ceramics
Linens
Cosy things
Poem | I Still Have Everything You Gave Me by Naomi Shihab Nye
I Still Have Everything You Gave Me
It is dusty on the edges.
Slightly rotten.
I guard it without thinking.
Focus on it once a year
when I shake it out in the wind.
I do not ache.
I would not trade.
Photography | Aris Katsgiannis
Loving this series of photography and videos capturing elderly Greeks, “before they’re gone”.
Also - if you are enjoying my own photography which I share in my Long Stories, I am selling my work in limited edition prints. Exciting. Figuring it all out with this first go - available only in the UK.