A Small Going Away Gift
Have a little something before I go on holiday for a week down south
I made the decision to abandon any kind of schedule here on Substack a few months ago to allow for more time to create, which strangely seems to have encouraged me to post more consistently anyway. It’s funny how the ideas begin flowing once you remove all pressure and expectations. As a result, I’ve shared a think piece each week about music, movies and philosophies that have interested and entertained me. Today will be much the same, but less formal and more diverse, because I’m on holiday, baby!
My housemate and I will be flying down to Tasmania for a week tomorrow to make the most of the colder weather in the island state’s off-season. Neither of us have been before, but everybody I know who has has loved it. I’ve been craving nature lately and Tassie has some of the best rainforests in the country, so it should be a nice reset. We’ll be staying in Hobart for three nights and Launceston for two, driving up the coast in a hire car and *hopefully* visiting Cradle Mountain if the conditions are good.
Since I’ll be without my laptop and having a screen detox of sorts, I wanted to give you a small parting gift before I go to tide you over until my return. I’ve collated some of the notes that I’ve posted over the past few weeks in hope to create some discourse about what I’ve been watching, reading and listening. Feel free to comment with your own and I’ll be happy to check them out when I get back!
What I’ve been reading
As anybody who has spoken with me in the last month will know, I’ve been entranced by Darby Hudson’s poetry and podcast. He explores the magic in the mundane and boldly does the opposite to everybody else simply because it feels right, which has greatly influenced my own outlook on life. I’ve even started recording voice memos on my phone, which is the raw format of his podcast, every day as a kind of audio journal to capture my unfiltered thoughts and pluck ideas from them on playback.
After finishing his podcast - twice - and checking out some of his influences, I bought a bundle of Darby’s independently published books and devoured them over a week before rereading them and making notes. His unique style of comical cynicism with hopeful undertones warms the heart and stirs the soul. I also love his obsession with cats and birds, which can both teach us a lot about how to live well if you pay close enough attention. This is one of my favourites.
What I’ve been watching
I’ve also had this whole week off, so between preparing for the trip and the odd beach visit, much of my time has been spent watching movies. I rewatched some old favourites and took a gamble on some new ones, or at least films that I hadn’t seen before. If you follow me as well as subscribe to The Drip Tray, you’ve probably seen these already. For those playing along at home, here are some of the standouts.
What I’ve been listening to
You’ll never guess what. The day that I posted about the life cycles of dead formats, in which I said that I had a number of vinyl records but no turntable, my friends got me one for my birthday! They didn’t even know that I would be posting about it earlier that same day and I was completely unaware. I was also given Tassie band Luca Brasi’s latest album The World Don’t Owe You Anything to christen it with. I love the design of Audio Technica’s Sound Burger and it works like a dream.
In my car, I’m currently spinning Lewis Capaldi’s Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent, Missy Higgins’ The Sound of White and Audioslave’s self-titled record among others. A pretty eclectic mix, but I like to have variety. Speaking of Lewis, my mum and I are going to his Australia tour this December, and my dad bought me a ticket to see Architects with him the following week. I’m also seeing Loyle Carner with a friend that Tuesday, so it’s gonna be a big week of shows. I’m certainly not complaining.
I hope you found something you like in here and that you’re staying warm - if you’re in the same hemisphere as me. Be kind to yourself and one another, and I’ll catch you on the flipside. Much love!