The Friday Newsletter | scrapbooking + turning 27!

Dear reader, my reasons for not writing sooner: a fatigue flare (my enthusiastic musings about my health last newsletter were a little premature!), a trip down the coast, supervising the year 12 exams (some thoughts about it) where I witnessed many a panic-attacks, starting ADHD medication and having a birthday!

It's been an up & down couple of months to say the least. I feel like I've grown more in these past weeks than I have all year. It's been quite the time!

I thank Miranda Hart, vyvanse and scrapbooking for keeping me on my feet (more on that further down)...

Since having another multi-week stretching fatigue dip, I definitely think there's something else going on with my health. I have a rheumatologist (finally learnt how to spell that) appointment on Monday and I'm going to be asking about all things chronic fatigue, POTs and MCAS. The delightful smorgasbord of AuDHD co-morbidities!

I really enjoyed working at the girls school I was at for the VCE exams this year. Seriously lovely staff/grounds/students. The only major drama was a digital design exam which couldn't have gone worse. It resulted in many students stepping out with anxiety and the chief examiner being on the verge of tears!

ADHD medication has been mostly really good! There's been a bit of tinkering to mitigate the appetite-loss side effect, but otherwise I'm crediting it with better energy and less anxiety. I completely get how they say it helps rewire your brain. My confidence, ability to set boundaries and ask for what I need has sky-rocketed since taking it.

Merlin & I (being scorpio babies) both had birthdays! I spent mine putting a giant Monet's garden tapestry up in my room, making cherry balloon bunting, op-shop browsing and eating Vietnamese food. It was just what I wanted, next-to-no masking involved : )

Above right: another endearing craft I made recently (a very hungry caterpillar wrap).

a brief trip down the coast...

Mid-October time, I pulled my fatigued & achy arse down the coast to Phillip Island for a brief change of scene and to visit a friend who was on placement down that way.

I stayed in a charming mini-house in a young family's backyard, enjoyed the sea air and pelicans.

a new hobby that's brightening my evenings...

I started journaling/scrapbooking in October and it's been the best decision I've made all year! I've been wanting to cultivate a screen-free evening routine and I thought this could help. How right I was.

It's incredibly joyful and therapeutic. Plus having a creative outlet that can be "bad" and just for me is so nice. I think it's serving me well!

I post occasional snippets (for inspo) on my TikTok.

some new writing...

I'm in frankie magazine's inaugural Evergreen issue, which is out now! It's a gardening-themed special edition and I have an essay in it about the giant no-dig vegetable patch I built in my parents front garden during lockdown (see right pic) & how it became a metaphor for my fumbling creative career. I talk about gardening's ability to be a teacher and mirror, how lovely!

It's available in newsagents, major supermarkets & online : )

cooking, cleaning, photographing and eating...

I'm still deep in cookbook shooting mode, so I don't have much foodie-goodness I can share right now (without ruining the surprise). I'm having to pace myself a lot and sometimes just photograph the food sitting down with lots of breaks. But I'm getting it done, 1/3 of the recipes to go!

Outside of that it's been repeat-meals (sushi bowls), freezer burritos (made in bulk), salads with leftovers and noodly dishes like japchae!

a new (to me) content creator i'm loving...

I have a recommendation for you... Elena Téa! Elena was suggested to me by a friend when I showed interest in scrapbooking again (as they do a lot of content around that).

Elena lives in Adelaide (South Australia), owns a ceramics small business and has a really beautiful personality and view of the world. I highly recommend their vlogs!

a podcast i'm still thinking about...

This Ezra Klein Show podcast was fascinating (annoying host aside) and changed my perspective on children's media for the better.

Highly recommend if interested in childism, phone-addiction, generational stereotypes and the like.

new favourite reads...

I've never been so spoiled with new releases! All these books are about small moments of joy and I highly recommend them to anyone going through it right who's in need of a generous dose of comfort.

A Thousand Feasts, by Nigel Slater is a collection of moments, memories and musings on food, massages, gardening, home-life and the neighbour's cat. It's Nigel at his best. I cherished it from start to finish like a really good block of (dairy-free) cheese. Will be reading again!

I kid you not, I've listened to Miranda Hart's I Haven't Been Entirely Honest with You FIVE TIMES. You might be wondering, why Phoebe? Why? Well let me tell you – this memoir about Miranda's time overcoming a decade of chronic fatigue couldn't have spoken to me more. I have genuinely squeezed this book dry (if that's possible) of all the life-lessons, science and motherly-reassurance it offers. I have never been so comforted by a book in my entire life and this will forever be in my list of faves.

I should say it's NOT perfect. The discussion around highly sensitive people in particular, but I well & truly forgive her for that.

What I ate in one year (and related thoughts), from Stanley Tucci is a total food-wank of a book, but I loved it. It's a 2023 food diary essentially. While I guess he lives a relatively recognisable homey life in London, there's plenty of celebrity-isms which are both amusing and make me hate the rich. Tucci likes food a certain way (which I found grating until I realised I'm the same, he's just honest about it) and spends a lot of the book telling you so. "Our friend Harry Styles" pops round for dinner, he films a movie in Italy with Ralph Fiennes, goes on many luxurious holidays and takes his son to get his tonsils removed. It's entertaining, livid, warm and yummy. I'll enjoy it again...

a noodle recipe for your slurping pleasure...

This recipe for Lemongrass Tofu & Pumpkin Laksa is now on my website! If you follow me on instagram you will have seen it a few times over the years.

It's one of the best things I've ever eaten. A genuine *can't talk, I'm having a moment with my food* type of meal. The ingredient list might be long-ish but the method is simple and quick.

Ok, that's it for now! Only one more newsletter before the new year...

Phoebe (they/them) x

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