Why I'm choosing Substack over social media

And A Reason To See You Again

I am trying to remove myself from the news cycle. It is not working. I have hostages and Palestinians and Congolese and Ukrainians on my head all the time. And Afghan women. And the Bibas family. On my head, in my head, deep in my heart. When I need a break I turn to Substack where I go and wallow to regain some sense of composure and calm.

Substack is not the new Twitter, it’s not a wordy equivalent of Instagram nor a replacement for any social media platform. It is, for me, the opposite of the quick takes and snippy comments, it’s long form reading (but not too long), it is intelligent conversation and somehow it feels safe. Of course there is some kind of algorithm behind it all and I just know that Substack wants me to try all the features like video and livestream and, I’m sure if I did, it would place my words before more eyeballs, but I can just choose to read. And sometimes write. And if it helps clear my head I think I will keep on doing it. I would suggest the same for you - if you haven’t been onto Substack try it out (You might need to follow a few people to get a feel for what is out there. My advice? Don’t follow any news people.)

In fact, have a look at this video from Tim Minchin about avoiding social media altogether - I think he makes an excellent point. I just have to extricate myself from the lure of Instagram but I am getting closer, I can feel it.

I think this is the part where I should tell you to subscribe to my Substack so that I don’t have to post on Instagram…

Lonely Mouth

This is one of the most relatable things I have ever read - from Pandora Sykes on her Substack.

I was telling my husband how hard I find it not to snack and he told me I had a lonely mouth. It turns out that there is a Japanese word — kuchisabishii — for when you want to eat something not because you are hungry, but simply because your mouth needs company. The literal translation is ‘lonely mouth’. I feel so seen

I am rather thrilled that I have something in common with Pandora Sykes, even if it is just that we both have lonely mouths.

A Reason To See You Again

It’s always tricky to rave about a book when you can’t actually tell anyone what it’s about, but then again maybe that’s one of the reasons I loved it so much. While there is no riveting plot there are riveting characters, so acutely drawn you feel like you know them.

A Reason To See You Again tells the story of a ‘regular’ family over three generations and it’s the fact that it’s a regular family that makes the book so comforting, compelling and so easy to identify with. While nothing really happens the characters lives unfold before you so effortlessly it’s like you’ve always known them.

But what really stood out for me was the relationships between mother and child (in more than one generation) and the way that they played out. A reminder that maternal relationships can be difficult and hard to navigate, that being a mother is not always the most fulfilling role and that there is more to a person than their designated role in the family.

A book about nothing and everything, this is the kind of book that makes me feel like I have found my people.

Food

I made a Mexican themed dinner in honour of my son’s birthday the other night and was just about to add a chocolate cake to the menu when my husband suggested insisted that I make a tres leches cake. Three milk cake for my son and I who are both lactose intolerant - how could I go wrong? It was absolutely delicious and worth taking the lact-eeze.

I made reuben sandwiches for the meat eaters from The Cook and The Baker because it is a no fail (and spectacularly easy recipe). I do find it hard though to page through the recipes for caramel fudge, passionfruit custard squares and baked white chocolate raspberry cheesecakes to get to the three savoury recipes. But again, worth it.

I cooked pumpkin in the air fryer and I am now one of those people who wax lyrical about air fryers. I expect this trend to last up to three weeks.

Also tried to make Peking Hoisin Chicken from Better Together Kitchen. I chose the recipe because my son loves duck pancakes and I can’t bring myself to cook duck. But it turns out I couldn’t find pancakes and my son didn’t come home for dinner that night. Still hubby said the chicken was delicious even it I served it with cucumbers and rice.

bettertogetherkitchen

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Every week I think ‘I’m not going to write a newsletter this week - but when I start I somehow feel a tiny but lighter - so thank you for indulging me.

See you next week

Lana