01. Best night at the Wheeler Centre seeing Sloane Crosley. She talked about writing both fiction and nonfiction, noting that “In complimenting fiction, people say ‘It’s so believable, so realistic’ but in complimenting memoir they say ‘It’s unbelievable!’”. Plus I was thrilled to hear that there’s a movie script for Cult Classic underway, and that her new work of narrative nonfiction focuses on grief (Grief is for People, out next year).

02. Two movies this week – Aftersun which was basically two hours of tension, but very, very good. Truly captured how it must be for a child living with a mentally unstable parent – the ‘vigilance’ for the child was exhausting. And then for laughs, Magic Mike’s Last Dance. My favourite bit was when my friend said, “I’m not quite sure what they’re getting at…” and we both screamed with laughter (because it’s such a subtle movie).

03. Cooking: Lots of things from RecipeTin Eats Dinner by Nagi Maehashi (favourites so far – Tuscan chicken pasta bake; beef and bean enchiladas; chicken gyros).

04. Recipes for Afloat Pink Gin but also the Her-B Fizz. (spritzes – my version of clutching to what’s left of summer).

05. Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist – I’ve read two (The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell and Trespasses by Louise Kennedy); have another (I’m a Fan by Sheena Patel); and I’m interested in Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. Homesick by Jennifer Croft, and The Dog of the North by Elizabeth McKenzie

06. Adele singing George Michael’s Fast Love. The new(ish) doco, Freedom Uncut, is on my viewing list for next week.

07. Lots of other things – new doona cover, Heide Market (below), German Film Festival 2023, Strangelove Yuzu.