01. Visited a pool ‘out of zone’ this week (the newly refurbished Brunswick Baths) and it was brilliant. I wish it was my local.

02. After my swim, I popped into Brunswick Bound, a terrific independent bookstore with an interesting and eclectic mix of books. Picked up the new David Sedaris and a collection of essays about islands called Over the Water. Also a new candle, even though I really don’t need any more candles.

03. The last of my Edinburgh International Book Festival viewing:

• Alistair Moffat: The North Sea – haven’t read this book but will (always interested in hearing people speak – and write – about the sea). He spoke so compellingly about how the coast shapes our sense of selves; and about all sorts of others things including the Bell Rock Lighthouse, how fish and chips became a thing, and Joan Eardley‘s stunning paintings of the Scottish coast.
• Meg Mason & Ann Patchett – they’re pen-pals (or rather, voice-note-pals). It’s a delightful chat about how they became friends, but listen for the bit about Ann’s flight to Queenstown and the rare parrots with tiny backpacks.
• Maggie O’Farrell discussing her latest novel, Land –  fairly sure Maggie and I would be BFFs IRL because she gets a bit fixed on odd things like I do (my sinkhole-thing is similar to her holy-well-thing). She also made reference to how much she loved studying geography at school (same!) and especially the exam questions where you were given a ‘square of unknown ordnance survey’ and you had to write about what you saw. That is truly thrilling to me.

04. A lovely hike around Plenty Gorge with friends (and a perfect spanakopita afterwards at Axilleon Hellenic Patisserie). And yes, #campold walking with poles but thankful I had them for our water crossing.

05. Listening – this playlist that was put together for people who love Olivia Rodrigo’s Stupid Song (that’s me).

06.The Czech and Slovak Film Festival program is out – Ashes, Flood and Last Routine all look good.

07. Quality Street are back. We had a box to celebrate the return but I also put one aside (in case they disappear again) for my Boxing Day tradition of reading and chocolates.

08. Finally got to the Cartier exhibition at NGV. Very Sparkly. Lots of clocks in odd places (e.g. in a lipstick case and on the end of a giant paper knife – “Do I have time to open these enormous envelopes…?”).