Nice Life Reminders Pip-Life something GOOD for the weekend

Let’s Play Something Good For The Weekend! It’s Time For Episode Nine

March 28, 2020

Hello, hello, hi!

Firstly thank you to everyone who has helped me over the last few days in all sorts of ways. I so appreciate this and it’s honestly made a huge difference and I am keeping a list of you all so I can get in touch when I am feeling less wobbly.

Now let’s talk about some non-wobbly things? Let’s talk about some GOOD things to check out over the weekend? I understand that many are going through the sort of times that are not simply something you ‘cheer up’ from. But there is absolutely no harm in putting some positives out there in case one of them is just the thing someone needed to see/read/hear. So let’s do that.

Something Good For The Weekend

Something Good To Do

Open Universities have a bunch of classes starting in June, which is not too far away. You can apply for fee relief in a few seconds via their site and before you know it you will be counting down the days until your course begins. I started studying online at Curtin University (via Open Universities) last year with just one unit. I began with Creative Writing. There are lots of different things to study and these units can count towards a degree … or masters, even.

I was already enrolled in a writing unit for June (and am in the midst of one now), but I’ve just added a second June writing subject to edge me closer to the world’s most slowly acquired degree. I want to make the most of these strange days and escape into some excellent reading and some more accomplished writing. Maybe you fancy doing that in your own area of interest?

ALSO? Grow a secret garden for butterflies!

Or plant a garden inspired by Emily Dickinson? I think that’s a good idea.

Or learn illustration techniques to unlock your creativity!

Something Good To Know

Map makers have been sneaking illustrations into maps. Things like spiders and faces and MARMOTS. It’s so cool!! I found out about this via trusty favourite, Swiss Miss.

Something Good To Watch

What have you been watching, champs? I have not been watching a lot, to be honest. My brain is a bit scrambled!! That said here a few ideas …

Watch this video about an intrepid Melbourne dog-walking business. You’re going to LOVE it.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist – Such a fun, positive, wholesome show featuring everybody’s favourite TV mum, the former Lorelei Gilmore aka Lauren Graham. (Stan)

The Detectorists – A few people recommended this one to me, including my friend Kate. (Kate has a new book out and you absolutely should snap it up!) I have only just started this but it’s as funny and charming as Kate promised it was. Perfect for days like these. (Netflix)

Stateless – What a cast. What a landscape. What important (but heartbreaking) subject matter. This stars the brilliant Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale), Marta Dusseldorp (Janet King), Asher Keddie (Offspring) and Cate Blanchett (one zillion movies). And some ace fellas too. (ABC iView) It’s not cheerful, so know that. Personally I like watching tough stuff during tough times. It gives me a perspective shake-up.

Something Good To Read

You could read my book? It’s called When Life Is Not Peachy and it’s sadly perfect for the sort of tricky days we are having now. You can buy it or order it from anywhere that sells books.

You could read Kate’s book that I mentioned above? It’s called Starting Over at Acorn Cottage and it’s under $5 on Kindle.

You could read Dot magazine with a preschooler friend? Their latest BIRDS issue looks very interesting and pretty.

A beautiful storybook? How about Priya Dreams of Marigolds and Masala by Meenal Patel? Yes!

What is self-regulation and how can you do it? I like finding out about feelings. Maybe you do too?

I am reading a few books at the moment. I detailed them here.

And this tweet thread is hilarious!!

“Please tell me about an extremely niche section of twitter that you never knew existed until you made them angry. one time i made Feed Swans Bread Twitter angry after i suggested food alternatives. FOR MONTHS I got angry tweets, until I finally deleted it. YOUR TURN.”

Something Good To Listen To

Listen to the amazing isolated vocals of Cyndi Lauper as she sings Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

Listen to Georgia Fields singing like a lovely bird in a glittery dress.

Listen to Clare!!!

Something Good To Cook

Salty Chocolate Caramel Bars from Beatrix Bakes at The Design Files?

Vegetarian Ramen via the legends at Bon Appetit? 

The Garlickiest Fried Rice via Epicurious?

White Sandwich Bread a la Julia Child via Dinner With Julie?

Something Good To Make

Make an Easy Peasy Blanket with me and some of my crafty pals? (below)

Easy Peasy Blanket

Or make some cheerful rainbow collages for your window? I think that is SUCH a good idea. This project is via Art Bar Blog. (below)

A simple knitted blanket also seems like a great idea. Knitting and crochet and craft in general is very good for us in tricky times. The blanket below is via The Purl Bee.

And now for a few stolen lines … from my book (written with my late great-grandfather!)

A tonic of big things

My great-grandfather Frank W Boreham did his own fair share of communing in nature, especially in Tasmania, Victoria and New Zealand.

“We have the trees as teachers and preachers, and many a man has learned the deepest lessons of his life at the feet of these shrewd and silent philosophers,” Frank said of trees and I’m sure he meant women too. Not just many a man.

He advocated for spending time in nature taking in the tonic of big things and creating a little distance from between ourselves and our troubles.

“Immensity is magnificent medicine; that is one reason … why the doctors send us to the seaside,” Frank wrote. “We forget the tiddley-winking in the contemplation of the tremendous; we lose life’s shallow worries in the vision of unplumbed depths”

And he saw the migration of birds as further proof that the natural world affects us in ways we might not be completely conscious of.

“We are all affected more than we know by forces that we cannot see,” Frank said.

“Crocuses break through the snow; nodding daffodils smother the bank; yellow primroses carpet the leafy woods; bluebells swarm along the hedgerows; and the birds sing their mating-songs in utter indifference to the horror of the world’s stark tragedy” he wrote.

I must admit some parts of Frank’s writing are a little too devout for me, but when I was feeling my worst I would sift through his books and editorials looking for words of wisdom from someone connected – by blood – to me.

Even though I had never met him, it felt like his writing had been waiting for me … and so many of his observations about human nature and life acted as a sort of familial salve.

“We get over things,” my great-grandpa Frank promised in his book Mushrooms on the Moor. “It is the most amazing faculty that we possess. War or pestilence; drought or famine; fire or flood; it does not matter. However devastating the catastrophe, however frightful the slaughter, however total the eclipse, we surmount our sorrows and find ourselves still smiling when the storm is overpast.”

“Nature heals her wounds with loveliness. She gets over things,” Frank concludes … and I want to be like that too.

I want to patch myself up, push on and make things a bit lovely, if possible.


I’ll see you back here very soon.

Stay well, peach pies!

x pip

 

When Life is not Peachy

Order When Life is Not Peachy by Pip Lincolne
Amazon has pre-orders available for other countries, too.

8 Comments

  • Reply Madeline March 29, 2020 at 7:39 PM

    Thank you for sharing these good things while we’re all feeling very wobbly.
    I love the Detectorists. You might like Wurzel Gummidge (also written and staring Mackenzie Crook). It was on the bbc at Christmas.

  • Reply Jane @ The Shady Baker March 29, 2020 at 4:28 PM

    Thank you for always sharing so many good things Pip! I heard Girls Just Want To Have Fun on the radio in the last few days, for the first time in ages. Seriously, how good is it. x

  • Reply Hazel March 28, 2020 at 6:55 PM

    Two more shows that I would recommend for you Pip, if you haven’t already seen them are:

    Back to Life by Daisy Haggard

    And

    This Way Up by Aisling Bea

    Both brilliantly written by brilliant women.

    X

    • Reply Miranda March 29, 2020 at 4:30 PM

      I second Back To Life.

  • Reply Reannon March 28, 2020 at 5:25 PM

    I must be really losing it because this post almost made me cry. I so appreciate that you put together all this goodness for US Pip when things in your own life are not peachy. You are a VERY good person.
    I’m reading this on my phone while I wait for my kid to finish work but once I have time tonight I’m going to click on so many of your links. Thank you. Thank you for being so good & kind xx

    P.S I’m watching The Good Place, I think I have a few eps left until it’s all over. It’s been a lovely show to escape into while crocheting my EPblanket 🙂

  • Reply Anorina Morris March 28, 2020 at 2:07 PM

    I just love your posts Pip. And now that it’s getting cooler, I think I need to join you in making an Easy Peasy Blanket too.

  • Reply Bianca March 28, 2020 at 12:55 PM

    Just beautiful Pip, every link and every word from your Great Grandpa xo

  • Reply Jo March 28, 2020 at 12:08 PM

    You’re awesome xx

  • Leave a Reply