The Swipe Volume 2 Chapter 26
It’s sunflower season. Well, actually, it’s everything season, as the garden reacts to the hot wet weather with an explosion of fecundity. My cucumber plants, grown late from seed and slow to start, have filled the greenhouse in the space of a week. Our trug, which I planted with two tiny squash plants, is invisible under a ramble of greenery and fruit. The brambles from next door which I’ve somehow managed to keep in check this year have rewarded my patience with great heaped handfuls of sweet, finger-staining blackberries.
And of course, the sunflowers, high and proud, shining in late summer sunshine, some taller than me. In February they were seeds in a packet. Now they are a spectacular show. A little time, a tiny bit of effort and here we are, nodding along to each other, shoulders back and chins high.
Wherever you are, whenever you are, however you are, welcome to The Swipe.
Rob is reading…
The Witches Of Vardö by Anya Bergman.
Why is it that one half of the world’s humans seem so intent on making life difficult for the other half? Slapping down diktats on body autonomy, on how they should behave, how they should speak. If, gods forbid, they step outside their lane, then the punishments can be—well, cruel and unusual doesn’t quite fit the bill.
Anya Bergman’s novel is set in Norway in the 1660s, when having a knowledge of herbs, being a midwife or even dancing could get you accused of witchcraft and then—well, cruel and unusual. It’s a dark tale but beautifully put together, describing how three women, accused and abandoned to the brutal inquisition of the state, tread the narrow and treacherous path to salvation. It’s pulpy, horror-tinged but utterly compelling.
Rob is watching…
TLC and I choose to fill the yawning gap in our televisual lives between the Olympics and the Paralympics by picking up the thread on some favourite shows we’ve let drop for no good reason apart from laziness. Hence, we’re watching Lupin S3 on Netflix. A twisty turny crime caper with a deep soul and a big heart, set in gorgeous night-time Paris? Don’t mind if we do! The first two seasons of Lupin were an absolute lock and the latest (I’m guessing the last in which case BOO GIVE US MORE) has the same propulsive energy, wit and charm. If you have not then you should is all I’m saying.
Rob is listening…
I will never fully understand the urge to procreate. There. I said it. I’m too selfish, too much in love with a solid eight hours sleep a night. The world does not need a l’il Wickings barrelling around telling bad jokes and ranting about low-quality science fiction. However, songs like Alana Wilkinson’s With A Boob Out at least allow me to see some of the reasons in the pro column. It helps that she’s come up with a brilliantly ear-wormy tune and a hilarious video to pin it all to.
Rob is eating…
At The Moderation. An excellent pub on the southern approach to Caversham Bridge, Reading Writers chose it as the venue for our last summer social. It has a reputation for good South East Asian food and boy, did the kitchen deliver. A big menu of Thai, Malaysian and Singaporean grub could be a warning flag, but all the food came out brilliantly. The spice level was on point, the flavours full and vibrant. Service was crisp and brusque, which I had no problem with—with food this good you son’s need to over-compensate with gushy waitresses. We had a big table and everyone left full and happy after an evening chatting about Douglas Adams. I can’t recommend it more highly.
Rob’s Low-Key Obsession Of The Week…
The time finally came to retire my old Quechua day bag and trade up to something a little more befitting of my standing in society. C and I have lusted after Roka London’s colourful offerings for a while. I gifted her one in a lovely teal for the anniversary. She nearly didn’t get it. So pretty the nice bag, stay with Robbie.
After that, the inevitable was just around the corner. Mine is in mustard, has pockets and secret zips for days and is a delight to tote about. If you’re a believer in the mobile creative life, a good day bag is essential. The sort of delightful object you can grab and go and look great while you’re doing it. The Roka is perfect for my needs and rugged enough to last for a very long time.
Which is just as well, cos it cost enough.
Daniel Lavery, The Chatner, talks through one of the big problems around pet and baby ownership. His two dogs have become lead characters in his writing and their fussy mannerisms are portrayed hilariously. This episode is a revolting highlight.
Trainer and film nerdery clash in one deliciously indulgent listicle. There are so many iconic sneakers out there in film land, and this GQ piece will probably inspire a rewatch or two.
Meanwhile, the release this week of Alien Romulus has brought out some inspired merch opportunities. If you’re on a budget, Siren Craft’s Something In The Water is a berry-fruited sour in a nicely designed tie-in can. I’m sure they’re flying out the door of the new Reading tap room. But for real-deal bragging rights, you need to get in line for the limited edition Reebok BB400 Mids. These, paired with a patch-covered boiler suit would raise your Ripley cosplay to the next level.
I’ve treated TLC to a couple of different adult Lego sets over the past year—a collection of tiny succulents and a wild-flower bouquet. The new Polaroid build is high on our must-have list. The story of how it clicked together is a fascinating insight into how Lego devise and create their products. Clever and inspiring.
A new edition of Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles Cookbook is being released in time for its twentieth anniversary. Gabrielle Hamilton, late of Prune, has written a new foreword celebrating her friend, which absolutely nails the man’s spirit, verve and philosophy of life. The world seems slightly sadder and smaller after his passing.
An article on Japanese methods of counting, which rapidly spirals into some very odd places. I love how language has accidentally evolved and continues to do so, leading to a situation where, given the right circumstances, a rabbit is considered to be a pigeon.
Writing sex scenes—the biggest fear and stumbling block for many writers. I try to avoid them whenever necessary or, like David Nichols, fade to black as the temperature rises. I salute those who choose to draw back the curtain and show us all how the dirty deed is done.
The conspiracy theory around chemicals being seeded from aircraft to keep us docile is stubborn, annoying and of course, entirely inaccurate. To anyone who points at a funny-looking cloud as evidence of nefarious government activity, there is only one response—clouds really are just that strange.
Finally, I’m delighted to announce long-time X&HTeam-mate Clive is re-releasing his film archive in sparkling new restorations. First up, his 1999 superhero comedy The Diabolical Revenge Of Dr. Snake explores many of the tropes which are now commonplace in cape fiction. But he was doing it back before the beginning of the millennium. I’m part of the team which brought this back to life, and I hope you enjoy it.
The Diabolical Revenge of Dr. Snake (1999) – New restoration from Clive Ashenden on Vimeo.
Slate’s reader-driven list of Summer Struts is a great playlist to stick on this weekend. I mean all weekend—it’s 49 hours long. I’ve embedded a Spotify link below so go ahead and dig in.
I couldn’t resist Outroing with this banger when it popped up, though. Another fine example of a song which becomes even better with a strong video attached. Enjoy Annie Lennox and all her avatars crowding a stage which isn’t quite big enough for all those egos.
See you in seven, fellow travellers.
